Mid-Season Review

Since today is exactly the halfway point of the season, I figured I'd give some kind of mid-season review of the Metsies. So here it is.... their record is 40-41, about .500. They've played like a .500 ballclub. They get hot and win a few, and then get swept by the Padres. They can beat the Yankees, but can't touch Seattle. From the caliber of play we've seen so far, it's about what you'd expect.



OFFENSE....

The Bad - There's been too much patchwork crap going on in LF and RF. Tatis, Nixon, Easley, Anderson, and Chavez are decent to good bench players, but not starters. Omar's reliance on Alou this year has really cost this team. Delgado has 14 homeruns now, but his OB% is still .308 and his slugging percentage is less than Ramon Castro's. He also ranks 214th in VORP (Value Over Replacement Player), just above Kelly Shoppach and just below the Meathook.

The Good - Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran. Big surprize there. Ryan Church was excellent early. Beltran still frustrates me, but he's putting up the numbers. Luis Castillo takes a terrible amount of heat from New Yorkers, but he's a good player. He takes a lot of pitches, draws walks, doesn't strikeout, steals bases, and he's solid in the field.

PITCHING....

The Bad - Heilman blew a few games early on and was just awful. Replacing Pedro wasn't really accomplished very well, and he looks like crap now anyway. Maine, Perez, and Pelfrey haven't progressed quite like everyone hoped. Oliver has had nine bad starts out of 17. Maine still hasn't found a strikeout pitch. Pelfrey allows half the batters to reach base.

The Good - Santana. Wagner. Everyone else is just average to bad. Pelfrey has pitched fairly well since 5/31, going 3-0 with a 3.35 ERA. Heilman has only allowed one run since 5/31. Duaner Sanchez has done well setting up for Wagner. New pitching coach, Dan Warthen, altered Oliver Perez' windup yesterday, and it worked. We'll see if that continues though, I won't hold my breath.

COACHING

The Bad - Willie was braindead. Rick Peterson was creeping everyone out.

The Good - Jerry Manuel is a gangsta and wears Joe Maddon glasses. Dan Warthen is old.







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