Lineup for Game 151

How many games left?  Here’s the lineup…

1. Angel Pagan – LF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Carlos Beltran – CF
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Jeff Francoeur – RF
7. Josh Thole – C
8. Wilson Valdez – SS
9. Pat Misch - LHP

Twitter Poll: Should Milton Bradley be a Met in 2010?

There’s no denying that Milton Bradley is a character.  He’s been suspended for the rest of the 2009 season by the Chicago Cubs due to comments made to a newspaper about Cubs fans.

With two more years left on Bradley’s contract in Chicago, the Cubs may be looking to deal the embattled outfielder to avoid any future disasters.

So I asked my Twitter followers if they would want to see Bradley on the Mets in 2010.  Here are their responses… (It was pretty lopsided.)

YES

dmoneymania said: Yes. We need talent.

BlackMagic718 said: For Oliver Perez, sure. He'll help out the offense, and Ollie can be replaced with a QUALITY starter via free agency.

NO

awolf12 said: No. No way. Uh uh. Nyet. Nein. Nope. Thanks, but no thanks.

Lou_Bolkovic said: NO! Bradley brings too much baggage and is always an injury concern. After this season we need players who are durable.

cutiepie0319k said: NO! i just don't like him.

bosco86 said: No, Bradley is a nut case that Omar, Jerry, Wilpons cant control. if they didn’t want Manny why take Bradley.

Ryan_J_Smith said: No way. Milton Bradley is selfish, conceited, and a locker room cancer. He is the opposite of what the Mets need right now

YaGottaBKiddnMe said: NO way. Because of his mental issues. We don't need that in our clubhouse. I think he may be utter poison.

julierubes said: No. The cities & fans of NY and Chi aren't all that different: criticism everywhere. If he can't handle Chi, NY isn’t better.

shyonelung said: no. Clubhouse cancer and a general idiot.

jnetty99 said: Bradley said "I need a stable, healthy, enjoyable environment,". Mets might have enjoyable but not healthy or stable

DhmkJp said: Absolutely not because the Mets need to go with a youth/power/speed outfielder next year and Bradley provides none of that.

swirlywand said: Are you kidding? Trying to test the ridiculously outrageous responses to such a SILLY question? LOL- No, in 43 languages!

swirlywand continued: Maybe we can get Elijah Dukes for Brian Schneider...you know, to make sure Beltran is flanked by not one, but TWO SHOWBOATS

gwong said: F*ck no to Milton Bradley on the Mets. He is the definition of clubhouse cancer.

And from the peanut gallery…

Retire31 said: Yes, only if Bradley causes Jerry Manuel to take off his shirt and start a brawl with him.

EliFromBrooklyn said: I would love to have Milton Bradley on the Mets. He is all about fun! The game creator Milton Bradley, that is.

drsexington said: My litmus test: If they fit in better with the 1992-93 Mets than the current ones, bad choice#vincecoleman #bretsaberhagen

Jeff Francoeur is the talk of the Mets blog-o-sphere

There is a lot of hype surrounding Jeff Francoeur and his role on the 2009 team and what lies ahead for him.  Let’s take a look around some Mets blogs about what they have to say about the Atlanta import…

MLB - Francoeur stays hot in Mets win vs. Nats

The Mets believe Francoeur will look sharp in their 2010 uni, so much so that they are inclined to approach him about signing him to a three-year contract that would allow him to become a big league Beau Brummel, if he so chose. They like what they have seen of him in and out of uniform -- from his spirited demeanor to his nuclear arm to the two doubles he produced Saturday afternoon in their victory against the Nationals.

Mets Fever - Is Jeff Francoeur our Paul O'Neill

Since coming to the Mets, Francoeur has been impressive, he's a decent fielder with a great arm and loves to use it, all the while hitting .315 ( 60 gms) with 33 RBIs and 7 HRs.

But whats been more important is the intangibles that he's brought to the table, he seemed to immediately become a main clubhouse figure and team leader.

He brings a hard nosed, passion to the team that has been missing for years. Playing through a thumb injury in meaningless games because he wants to.

Mets Merized Online - Mets To Offer Jeff Francoeur 3-Year Deal

Francoeur has been the lone bright spot for the Mets in the second half as he continues to sizzle at the plate. He came through again in yesterday’s win over the Nationals with two more doubles, an RBI and two runs scored.

Noble correctly states that signing Francoeur for the next few seasons would stabilize two-thirds of the outfield and five-eighths of the starting lineup for next season. His presence on the team has reduced Ryan Church to just a blur.

Mets Lifers - Jeff Francoeur is Mr. Met

Jeff Francoeur may be the lone bright spot of this lost season, but it's not this season that has me excited about the man with a rocket arm.

Francoeur is a heaven sent gift. The Mets haven't had a reliable arm in right since...think about it...since Strawberry? Oh wait, I forgot about Richard Hidalgo...right. Francoeur won't be the power bat and potential MVP candidate that Straw was but he's the first legitimate right fielder the Mets have had in what seems like the better part of two decades.

The Real Dirty Mets Blog - Make it or Break it: Jeff Francoeur - Starting Right Fielder in 2010?

I can’t look at the positives without mentioning his faults though. Jeff does not have the best eye at the plate, as evidenced by his lifetime OBP of .311 (ouch!) as well as his average of 120 strike outs per season. Another detriment to keeping Frenchie is his prolonged slump from 2008 through the end of his tenure in Atlanta earlier this season. In that time, he held a batting average under .250 and an on-base percentage under .300. If the Mets pay Francoeur $5 million next season, and he regresses to similar statistics, he would probably lose the starter’s job and Omar might take some of the blame.

Mets MD - Why Jeff Francoeur for 3 years is a bad idea

You want a 3 year contract, Noble? For a guy who has been worth -9.1 runs? He has been worse offensively than an average hitter. The track record is against him. He has the worst plate discipline on the team, swinging at 35% of pitches outside the strikezone. He is not good at baseball. You know who's better, and cheaper? Bobby Abreu. So, for once, Omar/Wilpons/who ever is the GM, make the right decision. Because if we sign Francoeur for 3 years, I'm done.

NY Baseball Digest – Jeff Francoeur Does Not Suck

- Unlike the other 24 guys on the roster, he actually can hit the ball out of Citi Field

- He plays every day, even when his thumb is mangled like a pile up on the LIE.
---
The hate for Francoeur is beyond me. He embodies all that is good with professional baseball. Why would you hate someone that works hard to improve himself, wants to win, and has fun doing it? Can you win with eight Jeff Francoeur’s in the lineup? Of course not. But you could say the same for most players this side of Albert Pujols and no one is looking to throw them away.

Amazin’ Avenue – Jeff Francoeur’s Intangibles

Talk about Francoeur's statistics.  Talk about his on-field performance (and the sites listed above generally do, to varying degrees).  When doing so, don't completely ignore the 2500+ major league plate appearances he had before coming to Flushing.  But please stop pretending intangibles are a significant consideration when deciding what to do with Francoeur this offseason.  Character counts, but since we can't sufficiently evaluate it objectively let's stick to what we can evaluate.  Leave the largely irrelevant intangibles topic for talk radio, the lowest common denominator of baseball discourse.  (Next up on the talk radio docket, a discussion about how David Wright and Jose Reyes aren't "winning ballplayers"!)

Where do you stand on Jeff Francoeur?

Manuel’s Musing

“If you were to talk intangibles, he'd rate way off the charts.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jeff Francoeur

Delgado’s year likely done

Carlos Delgado, who was trying to make a return to the major leagues after hip surgery this season, may not be healthy enough to come back.

“I think time is running out for him,” Jerry Manuel told reporters before Friday’s game.

It’s unfortunate for Delgado who is without a contract for next season.  Though he’s pretty much built for the American League for the rest of his career, some have rumored that the Mets may bring him back in an incentive laden deal as a placeholder for Ike Davis in 2011.

Obviously, that would put Daniel Murphy back to the minor leagues, which wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world.

But, I don’t think Delgado is a smart signing at this point.  He’s in the twilight of his career and missed so much time this year, who knows where he’s going to be for next year?

I’m just glad I’m not Omar Minaya.

Manuel’s Musing

“It's been that kind of year for us. It's been that kind of year.”

-Jerry Manuel on 2009

(Boy, he sounds so defeated.)

Lineup for Game 148

A game between two pitiful teams.  It should be fun.

Here’s the lineup…

1. Angel Pagan – LF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Carlos Beltran – CF
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Jeff Francoeur – RF
7. Brian Schneider – C
8. Wilson Valdez – SS
9. Mike Pelfrey - RHP

Twitter Poll: Do you still watch the Mets?

The Mets stink.  I mean, they’re just downright bad.  I go into each game expecting a loss and just waiting to find out which way they’ll manage to do it.

But I was wondering if I was alone in still watching this team, so I asked my Twitter followers, “Do you still watch the Mets? And…um…why?”

Here are some responses…

Lou_Bolkovic said: HELL NO - have not watched a game in a month and gave three games worth of tix to kids I know who have not been to Citi Field

ericcwu said: Nope =( Bought a Xbox a month ago when I knew the season was done. Haven't watched a game since but still follow the team.

BlueAndOrange said: Yes.. Because the season isn't over yet.

DoLLaAz said: Yes, when there isn't too much on my plate. Since I'm a fan and thats what true fans do; None of that fairweather BS.

RyanFingAwesome said: of course i do. just because theyre not winning doesnt mean theyre not playing.

mtmcq said: Because I know once this season is over, the term "finding ways to lose" will be obsolete. The '09 Mets will find every way.

cvelardi said: I haven't watched a game in a month. No offense to Pagan, Sullivan, Hernandez.. but they're no Beltran, Reyes, Delgado..

msschneid said: i havent in 2 weeks. turned it on Wed night and after seein Murph NEVER will again (well till April)

bosco86 said: Yes i still watch but mostly to see how bad Jerry and his crew can screw up!

gwong said: I haven't gone out of my way to watch them the past few weeks. I will watch Sunday since I'll be there - damn 15-game plan.

julierubes said: Yes, but it hasn't been nightly b/c of other things. I still watch b/c I'm still a fan and I want to see how the games go.

kdoster said: I still would if I could. Hoping for a win everytime...

metsgrrl said: you know the answer to that already. why? because i keep looking for some sign. of what, i am not entirely sure.

tyronem said: I watched the Mets last night so I could fall asleep.

fullnelson said: Yes I'll still watch Mets 'cause I want to and I'm fan

RobinBoyWonders said: Because I want to be able to say I saw most of the stuff on the 09 blooper reel

elZi said: I still watch, because I'm still a fan of the team.

dtmfr said: still watch the Mets. And while it's still for love of the game, it's more like seeing a comedy movie rather than a drama.

Follow me on Twitter!

Manuel’s Musing

“If you don't have those pieces in place, it's difficult to do anything, and do anything well and do it consistently.”

-Jerry Manuel on 2009

Parnell to the pen

Bobby Parnell is heading back to the bullpen for the rest of the season, according to Jerry Manuel.

Parnell, who was long slated for Winter Ball as a starting pitcher, will still start in the off-season.

This is so strange.  The season is in the tank and Parnell is going to start anyway, why not let him pitch?  Sure, he might give you only four innings or so as a starter, but that’s four innings that he won’t normally get.

That is, unless, he’ll be slated for lots of innings out of the bullpen.  We’ll just have to wait and see.