Manuel’s Musing

“The losing is really difficult. It takes a lot out of you. You're not playing for anything, but there is still a level of pride. You try to still give your fans hope that things will be OK.”

-Jerry Manuel on losing

Lineup for Game 153

Inching closer and closer to the end of the season.  Here’s the lineup as the Mets try to avoid losing eight in a row to the Braves…

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. Anderson Hernandez – SS
9. Mike Pelfrey - RHP

Murphy may break record – a good one!

Daniel Murphy is having quite a year. Beginning the season as the starting left fielder, he couldn’t field well enough to stick in that position.

Moving to first, he’s shown some immaturity at the position. But at the plate, he leads the team in home runs (not a huge feat) and could possibly break a Mets team record.

Murphy currently has 36 doubles. The team record is 44, held by Bernard Gilkey from 1996. It’s a stretch with 10 games remaining, but he has a shot.

Closer in reach, notes David Waldstein, is the doubles hit by a first baseman record. John Olerud currently holds the record with 39.

The most amazing thing about this is Olerud hit 39 doubles in 160 games. Murphy has hit 32 in only 94.

For the full story, head over to The NY Times.

I’ve been complaining that Murphy doesn’t hit well enough (or field well enough) to be the team’s first baseman next year unless they seriously upgrade at other positions.

Murphy, in my mind, will be dangled as trade bait this winter. The Mets have Nick Evans waiting in the wings to show what he can do and, to me, they are very similar players. The Mets could gamble and send one away, hoping the one they retain is the one that performs.

Manuel’s Musing

“They have pretty much dominated us. For the most part, you have to give them credit.”

-Jerry Manuel on losing seven straight to the Braves

Mets fire top Latin America scout and Luis Aguayo

In a report for the Daily News, Adam Rubin reports that the Mets have fired Ramon Pena, “the organization’s top official in charge of signing Latin American talent.”

The Mets also fired Luis Aguayo, who was the minor-league field coordinator and also served a stint as first base coach last season.  Sandy Johnson, vice president of scouting, also plans on retiring.

Looks like the Mets are none-too-pleased with their minor league system, both in terms of signings and crafting them into major league ready players.

To me, this signals a sort of last-ditch effort by Omar Minaya and the Wilpons to save face in this dismal season.  These firings cast the notion that these people are the reason the team is losing and shedding them will help the team in the future.

This reeks of desperation.

Now you need to keep you eye on who fills these roles.

Misch out of rotation; Lineup for Game 152

Jerry Manuel confirmed to reporters that Pat Misch will be pulled from the rotation for the rest of the season, likely to be replaced by Tobi Stoner or Lance Broadway, reports Adam Rubin.

I’m torn.  On one hand, why not let Misch keep pitching for the rest of the year?  What’s two or three more starts and possible losses? 

On the other hand, I do want to see what the Mets have in Stoner and Broadway.  Doesn’t look like either can be an impact player for next year, but they are under the team’s control and could help a few years down the road.  Let’s get a preview now.

And here’s the lineup they will run out at Citi Field tonight…

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. Anderson Hernandez – SS
9. Nelson Figueroa - RHP

Poll Results: Fans say Santos shouldn’t be the starter in 2010

In my latest poll, I asked fans if they want to see Omir Santos as the starting catcher next year. Here are the results…I’m not sure who I would want manning every game behind the plate next year, so if you have any suggestions, I’d like to hear them.

And please, don’t say Josh Thole.

Next Poll: Who will you root for in the playoffs?

Manuel’s Musing

“What you try to do after you're down eight, is try to figure out if you have enough pitching to get through the series.”

-Jerry Manuel on being down by eight

Two problems

Here are two things that troubled me with the Mets box score from last night’s 11-3 loss to the Braves.

First, of course, is the pitching lines, specifically the first two…Pat Misch and Lance Broadway didn’t have good nights, did they?

Secondly, not so much from the box score, but still a troubling sight…When Daniel Murphy, who we all complain about not having enough power, is leading your team in home runs (with only 11, no less), something is seriously wrong.

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