Manuel’s Musing

“A lot of times when you're not scoring runs, you look dead. You look like you have no energy. I'd like for us to pick it up a little bit, a little more intensity, a little more fire.”

-Jerry Manuel on intensity and fire

Game Recap: Mets 5 – Phillies 0

Back-to-back shutouts from Dickey and Takahashi.  Woah.

The Good

TaKKKKKKa.  Hisanori Takahashi turned in another great start.  He allowed five hits over six innings, walking none.  He struck out six.  Yes, yes, yes!

Mejia > Igarashi > Nieve.  Two combined hits over three innings in relief.  No walks.  Two Ks.  Hooray.

Jose can you see!  Reyes smacked his first homer of the season, went 2-4 with 2 RBI and a run scored.

Baja Fresh.  Rod B. went 1-3 but drove in three runs with a two-run double and a sac-fly.

Pagan went 2-4 with two stolen bases and a run scored.

The Mets struck out three times.  Which means they’ve only struck out three times in the last two games.

The Bad & Ugly

Does Fernando Nieve always have to pitch?

Game Ball

Jose.

On Deck

Mets go for the sweep tomorrow night, 7:10 p.m.

Game Chat: PHI @ NYM [Game 47]

I take it back

Last night, when Nelson Figueroa was primed to enter the game for the Phillies, I tweeted, “Mets fans will applaud Nelson Figueroa. I hope.”

Well, I take it back.

Before the game, Figueroa had some choice words for the Mets organization.

Read Newsday’s and ESPN’s stories here.

Figgy does realize that he’s not pitching very well at all, right?  That he’s a journeyman pitcher that might need to find a new team soon?  Maybe not.

Why the All-Star Game voting is seriously flawed [Images]

Jimmy Rollins leads the All-Star Voting for shortstop by 30,000 votes. 

He’s only played 12 games this season.

This is ridiculous.

Manuel’s Musing

“I think what the organization did this winter was create depth. Now you see that that's coming into play. And it's coming into play with quality starts against very good teams.”

-Jerry Manuel on depth

Game Recap: Mets 8 – Phillies 0

Make it three.

The Good

Dickey power.  R.A. Dickey’s process wasn’t phenomenal, but the end result was just fine.  Six innings, allowing seven hits and three walks, but striking out a career-high seven and getting out of two bases loaded situations.  Again, not the best way to go about a game, but a win is a win is a win.

RAUUUL.  Mr. Valdes turned in three solid innings in relief, allowing two hits and walking two.  He struck out four.  He also went 1-1 with an RBI double.

The offense.  Every starter but Dickey and Ike Davis had a hit.  Six different players drove in runs.  Six different players scored.

Jose Reyes went 3-5, driving in one and scoring three times.  He tripled in his RBI.  He also stole two bases.

Jeff Francoeur had a very nice game, going 2-3 with a double, 2 RBI and a run scored.

The Mets did not strike out.

The Bad & Ugly

The Phillies left 13 runners on base.  Ouch.

Game Ball

Dickey and Jose.

On Deck

Same teams, same park, tomorrow night at 7 p.m.

Jerry wins, Jerry stays

It’s a simple process.

Players these days are evaluated hundreds of different ways.  From the basic batting average and RBIs to xFIP, WAR and BABIP, there are so many ways to show whether a player is helping or hurting his team.

But for managers, it’s a different story.

It’s pretty much all boiled down to wins and losses.  Sure, Manuel could do 15 stupid things in one game, but if the Mets win, how many will still be complaining?

Yes, there are many out there – myself included – that even though the Mets may win, will still gripe about that pinch-hitter in the 7th or bunting in the 8th or the bullpen choice/use throughout the game.  But for the ones that matter – Omar Minaya, Jeff and Fred Wilpon – if he wins, he wins.  If he loses, he loses.

Bullpen management and in-game switches and strategy can be discussed.  Players on the roster are a topic to which they can argue.  But wins and losses are cut and dry.  Either Manuel and the Mets win or it will be someone else at the helm.

With the new statistical culture around baseball these days, I’m sure it’s only a matter of time before they develop VORM (value over replacement manager).  But before VORM comes about and begins to be used and understood by front offices and those with the power, it’s simply split between two columns.  Wins and losses.  That’s all that matters.

Manuel’s Musing

“Probably selfish on my part, but that's how I feel.”

-Jerry Manuel on keeping Jenrry Mejia in the majors

Game Recap: Mets 6 – Yankees 4

Two out of three…is pretty darn good.

The Good

Names starting with J.  Except you, Jeff Francoeur.

Johan Santana turned in a stellar performance, allowing just one run over 7 2/3 innings.  He allowed six hits and walked three, but only started to get wild at the end.  He struck out five.  Probably his best performance this season.  I love you, man.

Jason Bay hit not just one, but two home runs off CC Sabathia, bringing his season total up to three.

Jose Reyes is heating up.  He went 2-5 today, and is 4-10.  I like this trend.

Ike Davis continues to stay toasty, going 2-4 with a run scored.

Alex Cora drove in two, as well.

Pedro Feliciano entered with the bases loaded in the 8th and got Robinson Cano to pop up to end the inning.

The Bad & Ugly

The bullpen.  Yeesh.  Yeah, Pedro did his thing, but Ryota Igarashi didn’t fare too well in his first game back.  A walk and two singles while only recording one out.  Francisco Rodriguez came on and made things more interesting, allowing two inherited runners to score before quietly shutting the door on the game.  Oh yeah, it was an A-Rod strikeout, but it should have never come to that point.

Jeff Francoeur with another 0-fer.  He did walk once, though.

Game Ball

Johan and Jason.

On Deck

Monday is an off day, and I’m going to see Rachel Ray with the girlfriend, her mother and my mother.  Apologies for the light posting schedule tomorrow.  The Mets resume play Tuesday against the Phils.