It is clear from watching the Mets and Phillies tonight on ESPN that those teams are on a whole different level right now. Only eight months ago, it was the Washington Nationals who helped to determine which of these two rivals would win the NL East. The Nats tough play against the Mets in September and the fact that the guys embraced the spoiler role really made a difference last fall. Fast forward eight months and here we are — watching Church rack up RBIs for the Mets. The Phillies and the Mets both played tonight to win. The rivalry is building. The games matter to them. No errors. No stupid mistakes. Clean baseball and lots of heart.
I guess you could say we play in a difficult division, but I’m tired of the rampant excuse-making. We don’t have that one guy that sparkles - in the clubhouse, at the plate, on the field and on the basepaths. No Ramirez, Rollins or Reyes, for us. We don’t have Atlanta’s rotation, full of impeccable veterans that have proven their ability over time. We don’t have a slugger like Howard or an RBI machine like Wright. This is starting to sound like the lyrics of Heart — except, this year, we lack that too.
So, what do we have? Would you call it a class quad A team? Perhaps, it’s not just that we’re losing games, dealing with injuries and trying to move around pieces that don’t work. Maybe, we are a step below our competitors on every front. We’re sure playing like it.
I’m a patient person and I can appreciate a plan to re-build from the ground up. I have a hard time appreciating that plan when it’s executed inconsistently and I’m flat out tired of watching minor league ball at the major league level (and at major league ticket prices).
We’re mid-way through April and desperately in need of a major turnaround. I don’t want to get down on one guy or the next because this team was assembled by the powers that be and sold as an offensive improvement over last year.
I’m still frustrated that starting pitching was called out as the only problem and that a starter was confronted sternly by his GM in front of the media and prompty sent to AAA as an example to others.
Perhaps the bullpen will be next to experience the GM’s wrath. The strongest component of last season and an element that remained untouched throughout the off-season continues to struggle to get us out of ballgames. I suppose there’s enough blame for them too, but when you ask relievers to pitch in games where we can’t afford to give up even one run, every single game, you’re going to wear them down quickly.
The larger problem is why we can’t score any runs, can’t get clutch hits and can’t string together a few base hits. And don’t get too excited about turning this around anytime soon. We face Hudson on Monday, Smoltz on Tuesday and Santana on Wednesday. Sure looks like a fun week for Manny Acta.
Game Recap: Lastings got caught stealing and lost a very consequential ball in the sun. Austin hit a solo shot. Rivera and Ayala both gave up home runs to Hanley Ramirez. A wild pitch by Saul Rivera scored two Marlins runs. It was close for most of the game, but it quickly turned ugly.
Back to watching the professionals.
Entries (RSS)
April 21st, 2008 at 8:39 am
I am getting really tired of this too! I understand the rebuilding. I watched it happen in both the Indians and the Browns organization. The difference is, that we’ve been using the “rebuilding” term for too long. Yes, I know that this is not the year that we are expected to win the World Series, but shouldn’t we be making things difficult for the other teams like we did in September? It’s getting harder and harder to stay positive. Great post Kristen!
April 21st, 2008 at 9:31 am
the Nats are 27th in runs scored with 67 runs total, 11 of which came in ONE GAME! they are averaging 3.52 rpg with the 11 run game factored in. take that out, and it’s down to 3.11 rpg.
clearly not acceptable. the rotation could be Jim Palmer, Nolan Ryan, Greg Maddux, Pedro Martinez and Roger Clemens and they’d still have a losing record with this offense.
it’s time for a sacrificial offering. Lenny Harris must be fired. what’s the old saying, “You can’t fire all the players”?
April 21st, 2008 at 9:36 am
It’s really sad, but I think that firing Lenny might provide the spark that these guys need. The lack of offense can’t be all his fault though, these guys are professionals, they should know how to hit the ball. It’s all a mess.
April 21st, 2008 at 11:44 am
Wouldn’t it be fun to just mix it up for a day…actually a week? We could send the 25 men on the major league roster to the minors and grab 25 minor leaguers, including Flores and Maxwell, who have proven they can swing a bat and get a hit. I think it would be a fun little experiment.
April 21st, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Maxwell and Flores should be here if Lastings can continue to make mistakes like that because he’s “learning.” Period.