Reyes' growing pains

Tim Brown over at Yahoo! Sports, takes a look at Jose Reyes and how he holds the power to make or break the Mets offense. Brown points out how Reyes is experiencing "growing pains," but he is so young, that fans shouldn't worry.

From Brown:

So, Reyes struggles some, like the rest. He went bad in the worst possible September. He lives with that too. But, he said, he’ll let his talent play, let the game come, expand the parts he can.

“Nobody can ever time when superstardom is going to hit,” [Damion] Easley said. “Everybody wants to automatically have it happen, to say this is the year he’s going to be Superman. I’ll tell you, he’s doing everything he needs to do to progress. He’s a good kid. He gets frustrated sometimes, emotional sometimes. Who doesn’t?

“This has been a valuable lesson for him, to let him know that what people write, say or cheer, it’s for the moment. He’s got to be consistent in thinking he’s the player he thinks he is. I’m sure it hardened him up a little bit, toughened him up.”

Maybe. Reyes smiled. He’s got stuff to take care of.

“Just play baseball,” he said, that simply. “Just play baseball.”

That's right. Just play the game. I've noticed Reyes starting to get angry at himself at the plate if he strikes out or misses a bad pitch.

I like this. It shows his frustration and that he knows he should and could be preforming better. Obviously, because I'm an eternal optimist with this team, I think Reyes will turn it around and start tearing it up again.

Right now, he's like an engine starting up. We're seeing sputters of power and it starts to kick it into gear, but the engine just isn't turning over...yet. Once this team breaks out of it's season long funk, with Reyes leading the way, it's literally going to be a whole new ball game.

Photo of the Day: Reyes

Two things:
Jose Reyes, I agree. The strike zone was miserable.
and
Doesn't Reyes look like a giant here? I found solace in that, at least.

(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Game Recap: Dodgers 5 -- Mets 4

First off, this was probably the most maddening game of the year, so if you didn't stay up until 1:32 a.m., you were probably better off.

The Mets had an early lead and forced the Dodgers to go to their bullpen in the fourth inning, but just couldn't hold on to the lead as they dropped the second game of the series to the Dodgers by a score of 5-4.

Nelson Figueroa was on the bump for the Mets, only lasting five innings. Figueroa allowed five earned runs on eight hits and four walks. Figueroa struck out three. He needed 104 pitches to get through the five innings.

Not good, not terrible. The Mets starters need to pitch more innings or the coaching staff is going to have no choice but to go to the bullpen. Something needs to be done, but I don't think Rick Peterson is the problem.

Ryan Church put the Mets on the board early, crushing a solo home run to deep center field as the second batter of the game.

The Mets didn't take any time off, and in the second added two runs on RBI singles from Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes. The Mets failed to score any more runs, as they had the bases loaded with nobody out, but Church grounded into a double play, 1-2-3, followed by a David Wright called strike three.

The Mets were 2-14 with runners in scoring position tonight. They absolutely cannot buy a hit with runners on base. They absolutely could have won this game, as they pounded out 11 hits and walked four times. Terrible.

The Dodgers got on the board in the second, as Juan Pierre singled in Blake DeWitt with two outs for LA's first run.

Pay attention to the two outs.

The best inning of the game was the fourth, even if the Mets only scored once. Leading off the inning, Moises Alou reached on a dribbler to third that DeWitt couldn't handle. Carlos Delgado then singled up the middle, and Alou took an aggressive turn at second, catching Andruw Jones flat footed. Alou slid into third, which would set up a coming play. Angel Pagan, starting in center for Carlos Beltran who was out with flu-like symptoms, grounded into a fielders choice, erasing Delgado at second.

With Brian Schneider batting, Pagan broke for second. Russel Martin popped up and made the strong throw to second, and as soon as Alou saw this, he broke for home. Pagan slid in safely at second and the throw home wasn't even close as Alou stole home for the fourth time in his career.

Just great, aggressive stuff on the basepath from Alou this inning. He's trying to make up for lost time, and thankfully so. This team needs some fire.

The third inning saw the Dodgers scratch back, as DeWitt knocked a two out single to right field, driving in both Jeff Kent and James Loney.

Again, two outs. DeWitt wasn't done for the day either.

In the fourth, the Mets knocked out LA starter Hiroki Kuroda as he was replaced with Hong-Chih Kuo. Kuo was the Dodgers savior, as he pitched 3 2-3 innings of scoreless and hitless baseball, walking only one while striking out eight.

He was absolutely nasty. The Mets didn't even have a shot while he was on the bump. Dominant performance.

The game breaker came in the fifth inning with one on and, of course, two out. Martin singled with two outs. DeWitt came up and crushed a ball to deep right field. Church went back to the wall and made a leaping attempt at the ball. It hit off the top of the wall, barely catching the edge of his glove. Church fell to the warning track as the ball bounced back onto the field, still in play.

Church lay there, either expecting Pagan to come over and back him up on the play and pick up the ball, or he thought the ball was already called a home run, but he paused for a second, which allowed DeWitt to chug around the bases. By the time Church got up and fielded the ball, DeWitt had rounded third and headed home for his second career home run, an inside the park job.

And from there, the Mets looked defeated. I believe it should have been Pagan's ball to field as he should be backing up Church on a play like that, but I can't be 100 percent sure. Just an unlucky bounce and chain of events. Only the Mets...

Aaron Heilman turned in two innings of scoreless baseball, only allowing one hit while striking out two. Pedro Feliciano and Joe Smith combined for one inning, with Feliciano allowing one hit and Smith recording one strike out.

Well, the bullpen looked good, especially Heilman. These scoreless innings have to be huge boosts to his confidence.

The Mets threatened in the ninth, getting consecutive two out singles before Castillo was called out on strikes to end the game.

Honestly, the strike zone was terrible, all night. I don't want to blame it on the ump because the Mets had a TON of chances to get hits and drive in runs, but I was screaming and throwing things on some of those strikes.

Game Ball: Alou. The team needs more hustle like that.

Game Preview: Mets @ Dodgers -- 5/6

The Mets aim to bounce back from last nights debacle, facing the Dodgers for the second late game in a row, another 10:10 p.m. start.

Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
RF Ryan Church
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran** (Late scratch. Flu-like symptoms.)
LF Moises Alou
1B Carlos Delgado
CF Angel Pagan** (I believe this is what the lineup card in the dugout showed)
C Brian Schneider
2B Luis Castillo
SP Nelson Figueroa

Mets vs. Hiroki Kuroda:
No Met has ever faced him.

According to John Delcos, the lineup was posted late as Willie Randolph waited to hear from Alou if he was good to go for tonight. Look for Angel Pagan or Endy Chavez tomorrow.

Let's hope the Mets can find some success against a guy they've never faced. Most players were out for early BP.

Taking extra BP

According to Bart Hubbuch, most of the Mets are out four hours early taking some extended batting practice.

He points out that Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes are noticeably absent from the hitting session.

Well good for most of the guys, taking it on themselves after last night's very quiet offensive showing. Delgado and Reyes should be leading the way with the extra BP, curious they're not out there.

Awful stats

Read this statistic:

.177—The Mets’ batting average with runners in scoring position with two outs. Of their 271 at-bats overall with runners in scoring position, the Mets have struck out 42 times.

The Mets can't get that big hit in the big spots and it's shows. The offense struggles stringing three or four hits together off a pitcher, driving in a few runs an inning.

That needs to improve. Immediately.

*****

Another miserable stat: No Mets starter has gone more than seven innings in a game.

Stop blaming Willie Randolph for this. The starters need to stretch out more, and if they do get into the seventh, their pitch count is usually around 120. I'm not a huge fan of pitch counts, but pitchers have grown accustomed to only throwing 100 or so pitches, so like it or not, I have to subscribe to it.

It's not all Willie's fault, though sometimes it might be. The rotation needs to step up and get some quick innings under their belt.

Stop blaming Willie and take a look at yourselves

A lot of people are getting very sick of Willie Randolph. That's understandable, as the very expensive Mets are only two games over .500. Here's my issue: I've never seen more fickle fans.

Sunday night and into Monday morning, Mets fans were riding high after taking two of three from the NL leading Diamondbacks. Emotions quickly turned as the Mets dropped the first game against the Dodgers Monday night.

One day he's doing everything right, the next he's in the doghouse again. Make up your minds!

I don't want to come across as some sort of Willie apologist, and I truly understand he is pretty awful at managing a bullpen. People were complaining last night that Randolph used three pitchers in the game. It's not his fault that Oliver Perez threw 95 pitches through six innings and gave up three long balls.

Do you want to keep the game close and have a few pitchers throw or tax a pitcher and have him stay in a game he's already performed poorly in?

Fans just can't seem to make up their minds, as usual. Again, sorry if I sound brash, but it's really just getting silly at this point. Do you want him to stick with a pitcher or have them try and win the game?

Randolph has quickly become the scapegoat, though Rick Peterson is not far behind. I know fans are passionate, because I am one, but until the team starts to tank, could you hold off for a bit? Again, they just took two of three from Arizona. Remember? It wasn't that long ago!!

Give him, and me, a break.

Honoring a fan

This isn't Mets related, but it's something I am truly behind.

If you haven't heard by now, a Red Sox fan was killed by a Yankee fan after a baseball infused argument. The Yankee fan then ran down a group of Boston fans with her car, killing one.

For the full story, go here.

A friend of The 'Ropolitans, Red Sox Monster, has started a petition to have a Matthew Beaudoin memorial day at Fenway Park.

Please, take a second out of your day and sign the petition.

Thank you.

Photo of the Day: Perez

Again, this photo says it all.
Oliver Perez gave up three home runs Monday night.

Honorable mention to this photo and this photo.

(AP Photo/Kevork Djansezian)

Game Recap: Dodgers 5 -- Mets 1

The Dodgers were fans of the long ball tonight, knocking three off of Mets starter Oliver Perez, and coasted to a 5-1 win in the series opener.

Perez struggled through another start, this time lasting much longer. He threw six innings, giving up six hits and two walks, which allowed five earned runs to score. Perez kept the walks down, only giving away two free passes while striking out three batters.

Perez gave up his first dinger to the first batter of the game, as Rafael Furcal homered an 0-2 pitch to center field. Juan Pierre followed this up with a single and a steal, and was driven in by a Russel Martin two out single to center to field.

Perez then got the side in order for two straight innings in the third and fourth. He did not have the same luck in the fifth, as Blake DeWitt crushed his first home run of his career to straight away center field. After getting the first two outs of the inning, Perez allowed a two out walk to light hitting Pierre, and paid for it as Matt Kemp hit a two-run home run to right field.

This is actually a better start for Perez. Kept his walks low, which was big, but he wasn't hitting the glove where Brian Schneider wanted it. He kept it over the plate too much, and it showed as the Dodgers took him deep three times. A step in the right direction, but he needs a few more of these before Mets fans will trust him again.

The Mets got on the board in the sixth inning as Carlos Beltran smoked a ball down the right field line. The ball rattled around in the corner and Kemp booted it once or twice. Beltran coasted into third with a triple, but was being waved around by third base coach Sandy Alomar Sr. It was a moot point as Moises Alou followed it up with a single up the middle, easily scoring Beltran.

Beltran didn't pick up Alomar until it was too late. They have to get the basics down, or they're not going to win anything. Nice to see Alou contributing while he still adjusts to major league pitchers.

Where the heck does the offense go? One day they're there and smacking the ball left and right, the next day they're nonexistent. So far, through these 30 games, this team has been extremely inconsistent. One day they play great, another day they stink up the joint. They need to get into a rhythm somehow and I thought they sort of did that in Arizona. Guess not.

Scott Schoeneweis and Jorge Sosa each pitched a scoreless inning of relief for the Mets. Sosa allowed one base runner, as Kemp singled during his stint on the mound.

Nice to see these guys turning in scoreless innings. Wish they meant more, like if the Mets had a lead, but alas.

Game Ball: Beltran