Walk This Way
Mike Piazza is struggling with a .247 average and a .743 OPS. But do you know what is even worse? He’s not walking either.
BB/PA
2000: .106
2001: .117
2002: .105
2003: .128
2004: .129
2005 .085
Not good, which is part of the reason he has only a .311 OBP. Whether this is happening because less teams are pitching around him because they are not afraid of him, Mike is swinging at bad pitches because he’s pressing to get hits or just a case of small samples, I’m not sure, but Mike really does need to get this up to help out his offensive production, which as we all know, is in big decline.
“You Can’t Steal First Base!”
I think we all know who I’m talking to. Yup, that’s right, Jose Reyes and his .290 OBP. But I’m not going to bash on him for that, but instead, talk about what could be doing if he was to get on-base more often.
Coming into the season, a lot of people were talking up Reyes ability to steal 50 or so bases. Unforutnately, right now, he only has 10 (at a somewhat average 71.4%). Here’s what is interesting though… Reyes has attempted to steal a bag 26% of the time there is an available bag to steal (rough estimate using the formula (SB attempts/(1B+BB+HBP+2B))).
So he attempts a steal about 1 out of every 4 times he can (once again, rough estimate… doesn’t account for if there are baserunners on the bags in front of him, etc.). Imagine how many he could steal if he got on-base more often.
Seo Nice
Jae Seo, since his return to Norfolk…
5 GS, 33.2 IP, 25 H, 36 K, 8 BB, 1 HR, 1.36 ERA
Since there is no way at this point he’s getting a rotation spot (and let’s not dream about the impossible today), could we have him take Manny Aybar’s spot? Or Mike DeJean’s? Either would work for me because there is no way this guy doesn’t deserve to be on the big league roster one way or the other right now.
There’s No “I” In Team, But There Is A Me
Speaking of Mike DeJean, take a look at this cool move he tried to pull after Sunday’s game…
DeJean tried to get a scoring call changed after the game yesterday, saying David Wright deserved an error on a play when Juan Pierre was given a hit.
Mike, a word of advice for you.
You have a 5.21 ERA and a WHIP of 2.16. You’ve walked more batters than you have struck out this year. On the other hand, David Wright is one of the best young hitters in the game and much more part of the future of the Mets than you will ever be. It isn’t smart to complain about your fielders behind their backs anyway, but when you suck, plus you pick on the Mets bright star of now and the future… you’ve made a bad choice.
Also in this article is the wonderful quote of “Randolph said he planned no changes in [bullpen] roles.” As Peter Abraham notes, Aaron Heilman has pitched 6 and 2/3 innings of scoreless ball in 5 appearances while only giving up 3 hits. Yeah Willie, stick with DeJean… see who he’ll blame next time for his general crappiness.
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After reading about that little stunt Dejean tried to pull, I want him off the team now more than ever. Why is he still in the ‘pen, let alone pitching in crucial situations? Does anyone know his contract situation (it’s only a one year deal right)? If only Willie would get off his “trusted veteran” hangup and play players based on ability rather than service time….grr, it makes me mad just thinking about it!
I’m more interested in finding out what are the qualifications for an official scorer?
Nothing is an error anymore. It is embarrassing. I’m sure Wright doesn’t care. If it was an error it should be scored that way.
I hope Adam Rubin had some inside info on the “new” line up. I like the idea of
Cameron
Wright
Beltran
Floyd
Piazza
M (Could Diaz play First against Lefties? He played 2nd, so it doesn’t sound silly)
Reyes
Kaz
It would be nice to see Beltran come up with runners on.
Only 40 ABS 375/426/575
In comparison
A-Rod
66 ABS 303/403/515
The stats were RISP
“New lineup”? I haven’t heard about this…
Aybar has a 24/4 K/BB ratio and has allowed 3 homers in 23 innings, not a good rate but not awful, either. I know he has a limited record of success in the past, but those numbers intrigue me. I’d rather give him some more rope than DeJean.
Diaz cannot and should not be a first base. I dont even think he’ll hit enough for that. I would trade him for pitching in a second, no questions asked. Diaz is sooooooo overrated by mets fans.
But the number that scares me with Aybar is 28 hits in those 23 innings. Actually, what scares me more is that 15(!) of those hits are extra-base hits.
He throws the ball over the plate, but he’s very hittable and even worse, he’s able to be hit hard.
I’d, because he does throw strikes, give him more rope than DeJean, but not a lot…
Diaz cannot and should not be a first base. I dont even think he’ll hit enough for that.
What does that take a .220 average?