Mets pitching has been good as of late.

#Mets starting pitching has a 1.91 ERA over the last 9 games. That's lights out good. Now, imagine if they had an offense to go with that?
— Michael Baron (@michaelgbaron) April 24, 2014

This is great. And the bullpen has been good as well. But, even for the best rotations and pens in the league this is not sustainable. The offense needs to be better. Lucas Duda is getting it together after an 0 for 6 start and that needs to continue and bottom line he needs to get his cuts in against lefties. David Wright had a twelve game hitting streak and then decided to disappear for most of the Cardinals series which concludes today. At this point, Granderson isnt' really worth talking about. He is getting today off which is just what the doctor ordered and it appears Bobby Abreu will get the start in RF. Yikes.

I watched most of the game last night and while I didn't count they stranded quite a few runners. Runners in scoring position with less than two outs isn't going to cut it. Terry seems to be tinkering with the lineup but what he has put out there this Cardinal series isn't getting it done. Daniel Murphy is NOT a clean up hitter I am sorry. Two hole suits him best with Wright batting third and move Duda up.  As a fan it is nice to see the pitching do well but I also want some runs. Give someone a beat down and give this fan base something to get excited about.

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Mets Pitchers To Bat 8th?

Terry Collins is on a roll with the media this Spring.  First there was the Eric Young Jr. over Juan Lagares nonsense.  Then there is the whole Jenrry Mejia to the bullpen debacle.  And now this... According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Terry Collins is considering batting the pitchers 8th in the lineup this year.

Wait...what?  Collins justified his line of thought here:

“I think both [Wright and Curtis Granderson} are RBI guys.  My thought is: How 

do we get them more RBI chances and also give David, in particular, chances 

to drive in runs."

I suppose you shifting your second-worst hitter into the 9th spot in the lineup could more frequenly bring Wright and/or Granderson to the plate with runners on base.  However, its also just as likely (if not more so) in that set up that a rally started by the heart of the lineup will be prematurely ended because the pitcher comes to the plate sooner than normal.  Luckily, Collins isn't married to the idea quite yet.

"It is a possibility I might try. I don’t know that I will, but I might."

Terry Collins is the same guy who deemed Collin Cowgill and every day player, only to relegate him to the bench three days later.  What he says in spring holds little weight.  I just don't know why he falls victim to word vomit like this so frequently.  If Collin's has to really consider this, its a testament to how poor the lineup really is.  Subject a move might seem like creativity, but its simply desperation.  In any event, I highly doubt it happens.

Niese Heading Back to NYC for an MRI

Just effing great. Terry Collins told reporters that Jon is heading back to New York for an MRI on his left shoulder in what is described by Collins as soreness in his triceps since early in camp while Niese is calling it a dead arm.

So what is it? Pain in triceps, sore shoulder, or a dead arm? All three have completely different meanings. More outstanding communication between management and the player. Can this week go ahead and be over with already? Between the drama with Ike and his injury, Tejada being commented on as being out of shape, Vegas saying we are doomed, and now this? Terry calls it precautionary I call it an all around craptastic start to another long season of Mets baseball.

I know it is very early in spring training and these aches, pains, tightness, and precautionary trips to the MRI clinic are probably very common among other teams but I don't follow them and 2014 was supposed to be the year that things begin to turn around. And already we are dealing with distractions and injury. If this lingers along with Jon I would guess that this puts Zach Wheeler closer to his dream of being opening day starter. Probably not a plan anyone was gunning for except him.

Photo Courtesy: www.deadspin.com

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Mets Want EYJ to Bunt More?

Attention all major league pitchers: Terry Collins would like Eric Young Jr. to bunt more. Nothing like letting the cat out of the bag, huh? He bunted all of six times last year and Collins feels that with more bunts he can get that OBP up to .350

"Ideally, gosh, you'd wish he'd have a .350 on-base," Collins said about Young. "I don't know if he's going to, but you hope he does. All I know is what an impact this guy made on our team when we got him. He got some big hits, made some great plays defensively in the outfield. And when he got on, exciting things happened and we scored runs. So we're certainly going to focus a lot on trying to get Eric to bunt a little bit more, maybe be a little more selective at the plate.”

So this quote has me concerned. For Juan Lagares that is. Sounds like Terry could be banking on EYJ at the top of the order already and with what Chris Young and Grandy are getting paid they figure to be in the lineup everyday. Young was a nice surprise last season and a decent ball player but not sure he is an everyday player. With a lot of reps last season he exposed some flaws. But I can see where Terry is coming from. More bunts get him on base more, which allows him to steal bases and get into scoring position which is what the Mets are going to need to win games. Either way, the season hasn't even begun and TC is already alerting teams to his strategies. As if these effing Mets need to given anyone an advantage.

Photo Courtesy of: doublegsports.com

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Mets Will Have An Open Competition For The First Base Role

A late night offering from the New York Post's Kevin Kernan suggests that Ike Davis and Lucas Duda will battle it out this spring to see who will leave spring training with the starting first base gig.

In reference to first base, Kernan quote team skipper Terry Collins as saying:

"We have jobs available... Its wide open."

That may be true, but different things the Mets have said would seem to indicate otherwise.  First and foremost, Ike Davis is set to earn $3.5 million dollars this season.  The Mets, the way they've been fiscally in recent years don't appear inclined to have the much money riding the pine.  Furthermore, Collins told Kernan that Ike Davis will get no fewer than 90 at bats this spring.  That's up nearly one third over the normal spring training work load.

What will they do with Duda when Davis is taking the majority of game reps at first base?  Well, if you believe recent reports, Duda could find his way to the outfield in a role that has seen him struggle mightily in past seasons.  There is no talk of a similar fall back plan for Davis.  Is the team willing to pay him $600K to just go away?

Lastly, there is the underlying fact that Lucas Duda still has an option remaining.  The Mets can have him start the year in Las Vegas without having to pass him through waivers.  If Davis ultimately fails, Duda can then be promoted to seize the everyday first baseman's role.  This is definitely an option, probably the most levelheaded one, for the Mets if they don't want to tie up a bench position and/or feel Duda should be playing everyday, on whatever level of the organization he ends up.

Collin's may say this is an open competition, but the facts of the situation dictate otherwise.  If Ike Davis is still on the team come opening day, barring an epically poor spring training I believe he will be the Mets first baseman when they break camp and head north.  Despite spending the winter looking to trade his services, Ike Davis remains the best option the Mets have.  The Mets know how bad he can be, but have also seen just how good he can be.  Which is the real Ike Davis? That's the question Collins hopes to answer early in 2014.

Terry Collins Crazy Talk

The Terry Collins media tour this week addressed all the team's remaining questions, and in normal Terry fashion, his answers had a few head scratchers as well. 

The first came by way of an Adam Rubin report that Eric Young Jr. was the front runner to be the team's lead off man this summer.  This is classic Collins and his "by the book" style of management, as history dictates that the fastest man on the team is also the leadoff hitter.  This would likely come at the expense of Juan Lagares who's offensive skill set often comes into question.  Lagares hit just .242 last season .281 OBP, compared to Young's numbers of .251 and .318 respectively.  And while Young is definitely a terror on the basepaths, Collins would be sacrificing his outfield defense for a player in Young, that was exposed last season by too much playing time.  I love Eric Young and what he brings to the team.  He provide Collins so many options off the bench with the abilities he does have, but that's where he should spend the majority of his time, on the pine.

The second dumbest thing to leave Collins' mouth this week was during an interview with SNY, in which he referenced the continuation of the idea that Lucas Duda will see time in the Mets' outfield.  As it stands right now, Duda would be the teams fifth outfielder at best.  Sure, he might prove to be a platoon candidate with someone like Chris Young, who struggles against right handed pitching, but would you really place Duda and his shotty defense out there as opposed to Eric Young Jr.?  Certainly Duda provides a power threat that Young Jr. cannot, but at what expense?  I can appreciate the fact that the Mets might want to find a place for Duda, who was led to believe he would be the starting first baseman this season, but if the team retains Ike Davis as it appears they will, then Duda should start the year in Las Vegas..not costing the Mets runs in Queens because they feel bad for him.

I like Collins.  I genuinely think he was the right guy for the job the past few seasons, and while the "by the book" approach he takes to everything infuriates me throughout the season, I recognize that it was very hard for the organization to hold him directly accountable for the team's lack of results.  Its for that reason it didn't surprise me when his contract was extended.  Yet, the situations he describes above are destined for failure.  He's never had the horses before (and still may not now), so to keep repeating the same mistakes will become frustrating very quickly.

Duda and the Mets Outfield

I was watching Terry Collins interview from yesterday on SNY.tv and when the subject came up about Duda the first topic was on 1B. Terry Collins was asked about battling for the position. Terry said confidence was a big thing for Lucas and he wanted him to have that going out of spring training. Terry was very positive that there is a place on this team for the Dudes and that he has the skills to play at the major league level.

And then came the question that had me almost vomit in my mouth. "Is there the thought that outfield isn't out of the question for Lucas?" O.M.G and the only thing equally worse was Terry's reply. "It can't be, when we go into spring training we have to look at every possible scenario and match up" and then Collins went on to say there could be some platoon opportunities.

I can see why Alderson retained this guy. He has molded him into the same speaking habits that Sandy has. Leave nothing out of the question, anything is possible, we have to look at everything. Even Mr Met and Jay Horwitz could be a factor in this upcoming season. Yes, in theory anything is possible and you can't leave anything out of the question. But for the sake of Mets fans let's just leave one thing out. Lucas Duda in LF.

Photo Courtesy of: risingapple.com

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Source Reveals Surprise Reason for Justin Turner's Non-Tender

If you had had your fill of baseball news and rumors by dinner time last night, you missed what I happen to considered the biggest news of the day.  Its comes by way of ESPN NY's Adam Rubin who reported the following about Justin Turner via a source within the Mets organization:

Turner's propensity for not running hard irked the front office, which had finally seen enough.

I want to make sure I have this right... The Mets, an organization who let a clubhouse cancer like Jordany Valdespin linger around for what felt like forever, cut a utility infielder and all-around feel good guy for lack of hustle?!? I simply don't buy it.

Turner is not without his critics amongst Mets fans, but I suspect much of that is due to over exposure and an addiction to pieing people.  With the skills of a quality bench player, he has served as Terry Collins' go to guy over the past few years.  Does it make any sense that Collins, a manager that has criticized a player's work ethic (See: Ruben Tejada) in the past, would repetitively turn to Turner over the course of multiple seasons if he had issues with hustling?

What's equally alarming is that the organization has taken to bashing its former players.  You'll recall they criticized RA Dickey soon after his departure last winter.  Its bad business and don't think for a moment that other players won't take notice.  The Mets have enough against them when it comes to recruitment of players, particularly a lack of money and general organization direction, they should know better than to have something like make headlines.

Nobody Wants Wally Backman

You won't be shocked to learn that not a single organization has called on the Mets for permission to speak with Las Vegas 51s manager, Wally Backman.  Amazing, isn't it?  A manager known more for his YouTube exploits and arrest record than his coaching abilities doesn't have teams beating down the door to get to him.

This of course hasn't prevented an almost cult following of those who appreciate profanity filled tirades and 1986 nostalgia.  A group that was adamant that he replace embattled skipper, Terry Collins, this winter.  A group that was somehow surprised that Backman wasn't even considered for the gig before the front office extended Collins' contract last month.

As a result, it appears he will remain with the organization..the only one that will give him a chance. He may eventually make his way onto the major league coaching staff, but that time is not now.  As reported by ESPN's Adam Rubin, the Mets expect he will return to Las Vegas and continue to wait his turn in 2014.

-------------------------------------------------------

Now to be honest, I've never watched a Las Vegas 51s game.  So I couldn't tell you what type of manager he is, but then again neither can most of you.  What I take away from this is the fact that Backman obviously doesn't have the value some Mets fans think he does.  I just hope that when he does warrant promotion to the big league staff (and he will), he doesn't immediately become the elephant in the room.  Until then..back to Vegas he goes.

Reds Fire Baker, Mets Keep Collins

Following the Reds loss in the Wild Card game Tuesday night, the Cincinatti Reds have decided to part ways with manager Dusty Baker, relieving him of his duties. This came after team GM Walt Jocketty had intimated that Baker would be retained, citing the remaining year on his contract. For contrast, Met manager Terry Collins received a two year extension after eking out a third place finish in the weak NL East and finishing with 74 wins

For the sake of continuing the comparison, Dusty Baker, in his last three years with the Reds, won 266 games, compared to Collns' 224, with the Mets not registering one season over .500 in his tenure.

I'm not making the argument here that extending Collins was the wrong thing to do. I don't think he's a bad manager, and having someone as intimately familiar with the team's farm system is important to a club like the Mets that will be looking to integrate so many young players in the next couple of years. The real issue brought up here is the complete difference in expectations between other teams and the Mets.

Had Terry Collins led New York to a loss in the Wild Card game this year, we would have thrown the man a parade. But he didn't, couldn't really, because the Mets fielded a Triple A ball team with the occasional pro thrown in. Dusty Baker ran a lineup out that led off with Shin Soo-Choo and had Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips, and thirty home run right fielder Jay Bruce. Collins had David Wright, except for when he didn't, Daniel Murphy, a lot of fourth outfielders, and whomever Las Vegas didn't need for the minor league playoffs.

As Rob noted the other day, the Mets are going to temper the expectations of the fan base. This is reasonable when they expect so little out of the team themselves. But it can't go on forever, and at some point 74 wins is going to have to be not enough. Mets fans would love to be in a position where we could call for our manager's head because he didn't take the team far enough into the playoffs; as of now, we are resigned to acknowledge that Collins got more out of the team than their talent would have indicated.

Alderson Tepidly Supports Collins, Indicts Himself

Sandy Alderson spoke out about his view of manager Terry Collins' job performance yesterday, with Collins nearing the end of the last year of his contract. He spoke about the skipper in a positive light, highlighting the difficulties anybody would have in managing this ball club: 

He's done an excellent job across the board with the talent that he's had, with the injuries he's had to endure, with the other changes in personnel...

 Wins and losses I don't think ever determine a manager's fate, frankly. Even winning is not necessarily a guarantee of tenure. So it's always a little bit subjective. In this case, perhaps more so. But you have to temper your evaluation with the circumstances and the context, which includes the players, the injuries, the trades. - Alderson 9/23

Well, that's terrific Sandy. You feel like he's done a terrific job with the talent he's had. All we have to do is find the guy responsible for constructing this roster, which ranks 27th in team batting average, 25th in your beloved on base percentage, and next to last in front of only the Marlins in slugging percentage, and talk about that guy. Because that guy fielded a baseball team that only hit 128 home runs this year, while striking out 1337 times to date. 1337 strikeouts! Only the Twins and Astros have struck out more than that, in case anybody was wondering what kind of company this team keeps. So let's just find the guy in charge of building the team, of surveying the talent and then trying to put a competitive group of nine guys on the field, and talk to him about job security.

I know it's the Wilpons job to spend the money, and I'm not saying it's time to move on from Sandy. I just don't understand how a team's general manager gives a pass to their manager based on the lack of talent on the field, and not one person asks him why he didn't do more to change it. Put him on the spot, make him answer the questions. If it's not his fault and he's working with a ridiculously low spending cap, get the info out of him. He's probably dying to tell us this isn't his fault. So somebody ask him.

"Why is there such a lack of talent on this club that you think a 222-258 record is good enough over three years?"

"At what point will we begin fielding a team that we expect to play over .500 baseball?"

"Is there anything specifically that has prevented you from acquiring any front line free agents or making upgrades at the Major League level?"

Where Will Wilmer Wind Up?

TC said AAA if non-starter. MT @Canzo18: You've said Flores isn't considered SS so what do you think his role is next year with wright back?
— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) September 19, 2013

According the ESPN's Adam Rubin, Terry Collins has said that if Wilmer Flores cannot crack the Mets starting lineup next season, he will return to AAA where he can play on a daily basis.  On the surface that makes sense, but I think there is a much better chance Flores ends up with another organization than him landing in the Mets minor league system next summer.

Collin's makes reference to Flores playing every day, but he has been unable to do that late this season (due in part to injury) with a much less formidable lineup in place than the organization hopes to have next winter.  The company line on Flores is that his bat will have to carry him.  Will that bat has managed only a .211 average and just a .250 on-base percentage this season.  Those aren't the type of numbers he needs to make up for his shoddy defense.

The Mets simply don't have a place for Flores right now and won't unless he learns to play first place.  Despite the fact that some fans are still enamored with his bat, Wilmer is much more likely to be a complimentary piece in a trade for an impact player this winter.  He has upside, to a team who needs a young third baseman with the ability to mash.  The Mets don't.  If he does happen to find his way to AAA next season, it will only be to keep him fresh to fill in should someone fall victim or injury, or continue to showcase his talents for an eventual trade down the line.

Flores isn't long for Queens, no matter how well he hits in my opinion.

d'Arnaud To Miss Time For Shoulder

Photo by Michael Baron

Travis d'Arnaud left last night's game after taking a Hunter Pence foul ball off of his right shoulder. Terry Collins expects him to miss at least a few games, apparently disregarding my father's universal injury advice of, "Don't rub it," and, "Walk it off."

Obviously, this is bad news for a player who began the year on the DL with a broken bone in his foot. Additionally, d'Arnaud missed the end of last season with a torn PCL in his knee he suffered sliding into second base.

A couple of thoughts on the topic. First, d'Arnaud is really annoying to type. Lowercase letter, apostrophe, then an uppercase letter. Get a real name man, for crying out loud. I have to remember to just Ctrl+C and Ctrl+V his name next time, this is absurd.

Second, I guess we have no choice but to hope that this guy's injury problems are closer to the multiple isolated incident type, and not the recurring nicked up player type. He has made a habit of spending periods laid up; I understand it is, to some extent, unavoidable with catchers, but a fragile player can be tough to tie your franchise to. d'Arnaud, despite his struggles at the plate so far, seems to be universally recognized in baseball as a talented and promising young player, but that only matters if he can stay on the field.

Here Comes The Captain

THIS JUST IN: Mets manager Terry Collins says 3B David Wright may return Tuesday for series against Giants.
— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) September 14, 2013

ESPN reported this afternoon that Mets' third baseman, David Wright, could return to the lineup as early as this upcoming Tuesday for the start of the series with the San Francisco Giants.  Wright you'll recall, has been sidelined since August 2nd with a strained hamstring.

There were rumors a few weeks back that Wright may be shut down for the seasons.  Rumors that Wright quickly squashed.  His return will be well received by fans who have little left to watch for.

Personally, I'd prefer that Wright have been shut down for the season.  While I appreciate that he wants to play, I also don't want to see him reaggravate the injury prior to the offseason.  There is a subsection of the fan base who are searching for a reason to chastise the organization for Wright's new contract.  Having him fall victim to an injury yet again will provide such justification.

It remains to be seen to what extend Wright will play, but if history repeats itself, I'm sure he will be a daily fixture in the lineup.

Is This What Rock Bottom Looks Like?

Did you watch the Mets game last night? Me neither...  Were you in attendance?  If you were there is a legitimate chance you hit a home run, considering the Mets' pitching staff has surrendered eight in the past forty-eight hours!

Last face it.. Citi Field is a pitchers ballpark. No, that can't be right..  Wait, what?

The Effing Mets appear destined for yet another fourth place finish. That shouldn't be a surprise to many, but it's a result that has been met with quite a bit of contempt. Is it Terry's Fault? Sandy's fault? Perhaps it's the result of the injury bug? Or maybe it's the result of the Wilpon's bank account..or lack thereof?

Call it what you want. That fact is, this team sucks right now and with no real "stopper" in the rotation, things aren't likely to change. The 2013 season has slowed to a snail's pace, with the offseason feeling more like a reprieve than the confirmation of yet another failure. 

When will it end? I don't know..do you?  The real question is..does the front office?

Parnell To Go Under The Knife

In the latest episode of "this is why we can't have nice things", Terry Collins confirmed after the game that Mets closer, Bobby Parnell, will have season ending surgery to repair a herniated disk in his neck. Parnell, who hasn't appeared in a game since July 30th, converted 22 of 26 save opportunities this season prior to his injury. The Mets "hope" he'll be ready for spring training.

The injury issue is twofold. First and foremost, the Mets have lost there closer for nearly half the season. However the bigger issue is the timing and severity of the injury. While the Mets have indicated an unwillingness to do so, Parnell represented one of their best Major League caliber trade chips. His name figured to come up this winter in trade discussions. Having season ending surgery and no real date of return will certainly squash that. 

Should Wally Walk?

Photo by Michael Baron

On Friday, the New York Post reported that Wally Backman could leave the Mets' organization if he is not offered the big league managerial position this offseason.  Such a game of chicken will almost certainly draw a line in the sand for many of the team's followers, should it come to fruition. 

The 53 year old skipper has a love him or hate him relationship with the team's fanbase.  Known by the elder faction of Mets fans for his tenure during the 1980s, the notion of having him at the helm brings with it a lot of nostalgia.  For the younger group, his brush with the law aside, Backman has become a bit of a YouTube sensation in recent years with his theatrical, and often profanity laced ejections.

Whether you think his history or his method of management would be good for the team, I think its fair to say that Backman has put in his time with the organization.  Hired to manager the Mets AA affiliate after interviewing for the big league gig in 2011, Wally was promoted to manage the AAA team in 2012.  Since that time, he has had a hand in the development of many key contributors of the current big league roster.  Basically what I'm saying is, he's put in his time here.

If the Mets do choose to extend the contract of Terry Collins at year's end, Backman's progression to the major league manager will be stalled yet again, potentially several additional seasons.  At some point a man has to go elsewhere.

Personally, I don't think Collins' contract should be extended (but that's another post for another time), but I also not sure Wally Backman is the answer either.  All opinions aside, Backman has had success managing at the AAA level and is due a shot at the next level.  If the Mets won't give him that opportunity, I think its only fair he go find it elsewhere.

Like what you've read?  You can follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.

Comedy: Terry Collins And The Dark Shadowy Figure

The Record's Mike Kerwick had the comedic take on this season's surprises and injury news with this gem that you can read HERE.

Collins Is No Longer The Right Man For The Job

There's an old adage, there is always a right man for the job. Three years ago when the Mets were poised to begin a long rebuild, Terry Collins was that man. By nature he appears patient and supportive. Exactly the type of guy you might want at the helm if you were going to fill the roster with inexperience youngsters trying to find their place in Major League Baseball.

So, how has he done?  By the numbers he is 213-248 as Mets skipper to date. Not quite a ringing endorsement for a new contract, but I think blaming Collins for that number is the lazy route. Simply stated, Collins hasn't had a roster capable of .500 baseball, let alone a legitimate playoff run. That's not to say his teams weren't capable of better. 

Collins "by the book" style of management is out dated and often times infuriating. It causes him to regularly mismanage the bullpen and take the bats out if his players hands far to frequently in lieu of the bunt. What difference has it made? Its tough to put a number on it because sometimes players simply fail, but for arguments sake lets call it at least five games to date this year. 

This is precisely the reason Collins cannot be brought back next season. There is always going to be some mismanagement during the season, but the front office must find someone who can cut that number in half. Two or three more wins would mean very little in 2013, but it could mean everything next season and beyond if the Mets find themselves in contention. If you don't think so, I implore you to remember the 2007 and 2008 campaigns where the Mets found themselves on the outside looking in by the slimmest of margins. 

If the Mets have the offseason many expect, the manger's role will shift from treading water to the pursuit of the postseason. And while some will argue that that's always the goal, Collins has never had the players to get there. In the not so distant future the Mets may have those players and while Collins hasn't been a terrible manager, he'll no longer be the best man for the job. 

Like what you've read? You can follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83. You can also find this post and many more over that Metsmerized Online.