Fact vs Perception --- Fred Wilpon edition

This is a special edition of Fact vs. Perception … a Fred Wilpon Perception versus Facts. The quotes are from the article Madoff's Curveball written by Jeffery Toobin for the New Yorker.

Fred's Perception - On Jose Reyes "He’s had everything wrong with him."

Fact - Wilpon wasn't saying anything during 2005-2008 when he played all but 15 games, or led the league in stolen bases or triples three times. How about all the number 7 t-shirts and jerseys that are being sold, is everything wrong with that as well? 

Fred's Perception - On Carlos Beltran “He’s sixty-five to seventy per cent of what he was.” 

Fact - Four time All Star three time gold glover, two time silver slugger and ranking as high as fourth in MVP voting. That is pretty good for 65%. This year he has ht more home runs than Jason Bay has hit in this and last year combined. 

Fred's Perception - On David Wright “A really good kid. A very good player. Not a superstar.”

Fact - What makes a superstar? Does being a perennial all-star make you a superstar? Does being the face of the franchise make you a superstar? Does being  huge fan favorite with a really great and marketable name make you a superstar? Guess what Fred … yes!

Fred's Perception -  The team is shitty.

Fact - OK, you got it right here.

Other Mets news - 

• Toobin wll have a live chat this afternoon at 3 pm EST.
• Is the "Dock" in the song "Dock by the Bay" a reference to the Disabled list?  Jason Bay is hurting again, If there is a firesale, i hope they Mets can find a buyer for the Bay.
• Really a 10 run loss, nice way to show up. 
• Johann Santana is throwing off a mound ... making his return early enough so he can be showcased and traded, somehow I fear he ends up in Philly or the Bronx.
• God bless you Lenny Dykstra ... your craziness and loyalty to your friends is endless.

A hole on the left side of the infield

I wonder if we Mets fans are appreciating Jose Reyes more and more, because we know he will soon be gone? Perhaps its just his one final  gift for his fans, but he is just unconscious out there. He is a triples machine.

Can someone tell Sandy Alderson, that they built Citifield for Jose Reyes? That enormous outfield, those deep gaps? Its for Reyes to line doubles and triples.

I know I’m not the first to say this but, how about we trade David Wright. He is going to command more money than Reyes will after next season. And he is much more easily replaced. Daniel Murphy could play third.  I like our lineup better with Murphy replacing Wright much much better than Ruben Tejada replacing Reyes in the line up. I’m just saying. Ughhh just add-on whomever they are going to run out there in right field to replace Carlos Beltran.


RANDOM THOUGHTS: 


The LA Dodgers (despite last nights win) have a terrible record at Citifield, ironic since it is a shrine to their franchises history.

Was R.A. Dickey a fluke? Just like Angel Pagan. He sure is pitching that way.

I wish there was a way for Terry Collins to juggle the rotation so Mike Pelfrey only pitches at home.

Two years from now people we Mets fans will really begin to appreciate how good Carlos Beltran really was.

It's Outta Here!! (x2) - Mets 8 - Nationals 4

I was doing some work on my new apartment and listening to the game on the radio and its awesome that you can tell when a Met homers because you can't take the smile off of Howie Rose's voice. Anyone understand what I mean by that? You also can't get me not clap. 

I was pretty sick of the announce team harping on Reyes not driving any runs in this season. That is not really his job, his job is mainly to get on base and score runs. RBIs are a bonus for him. but I was glad he ran his hitting streak to 7-games. And like in every other Mets win, Jose Reyes got a hit and scored at least one run.  But this team would be better with a bunch of guys like Brad Emaus.  Yes Mr. Alderson, Bard's .304 OBP is so vastly superior to Jose Reyes' .303. But your computer doesn't calculate heart and excitement. It doesn't apparently compute Reyes 100 point bating average advantage. Money Ball my butt. PAY HIM!

Speaking of talented players that will not be on team next year, shouldn't the Mets just trade Carlos Beltan now? Is he going to have a better game than two homers, three RBI and raising his batting average fifty points? They are panicking in Boston right now ... someone get Theo on the line.

The Mets could really use a victory in Sunday's game. Get themselves over .500 again. But if you go by the formula, win every seres at home and go .500 on the road you have a team wins 94 games. Its not impossible. Last year's team was thirteen games over .500 at home but sixteen under on the road. had they managed to play .500 on the road, they were a playoff team. That is moneyball right there.

Game 1 Recap - Marlins 6 - Mets 2

 When you build something up in your head it never lives up to your expectations well Happy Opening Day to me. What a cluster F that was. Not to overreact but I know I said maybe Sports Illustrated was correct with their prediction for the Mets - I went a step further and wondered how they would ever win a game.


But there were some positives. 

• Carlos Beltran drove in a run and scored when he doubled in the seventh and didn't pull up lame
• The Mets were not shut out or no-hit
• Mike Pelfrey pitched well when he didn't allow any base runners, not so much when guys were on
• Boyer has a cool beard
• Reyes was really trying to work the count against Johnson
• There are still 161 games left for the Mets to right the ship

Your 2011 Mets - Part 4 - I had no catchy line to describe ... Carlos Beltran

With Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo gone, the Mets fans will have Carlos Beltran to kick around. Unless he gets off to a hot start and is traded. Regardless, the Carlos Beltran era for the New York Mets will come to an end in 2011, as there is no way he will be resigned. 

I think part of the fans problem with Beltran is he doesn't look like he is hustling. He isn't diving all  over the place, "running through walls", getting really dirty. He is a much more nuanced ball player than that. He is more like a fine wine rather than a six pack of PBR.  I always thought he doesn't run to the ball like a wild man, because he knows where its going and he's gotten there already.  

During his career Carlos has proven himself as a five tool player. Probably the only one the Mets have ever had during the prime years of his career.

a five-tool player is one who excels at hitting for average, hitting for power, base-running skills and speed, throwing ability, and fielding abilities.

Yes this year will be sort of an experiment with Carlos in right field. I think the transition will be easy on him, being such a gifted outfielder.  He has such great instincts out there he is going to be such a huge help to Angel Pagan in center. I hope that his last year in Flushing will be a good one and that we can once and for all forget about the called strike three in the 2006 NLCS.

In addition to being such a fine overall player, he is such a valuable cog in the line up. As power hitting switch hitter he protects the righty David Wight before him and the lefty  Ike Davis behind him. He helps extend the line up out. 

     

Projected lineup with Carlos

1. Reyes (s)
2. Pagan (s)
3. Wright (r)
4. Beltran (s)
5. Davis (l)
6. Bay(r)
7. Murphy (l)
8. Thole (l)

Projected line up without Carlos

1. Reyes
2. Pagan
3. Wright
4. Davis
5. Bay 
6. Murphy
7. Thole
8. Duda (Seriously Lucas Duda would be replacing Carlos Beltran! F-Mart sprained an ankle just thinking about replacing Beltran)

I think without Beltran in the line up there is something lacking and you quickly get

unproven players in the line up. With him you have unproven hitters 7,8 and 9, without him your lineup drops off after the five hole. 

So Mets fans boo him while he is still here. But ask your self why. What did Carlos Beltran ever do to you?

Carlos is tied with Todd Hundley as the Mets single season home run leader with 41.