213 Miles From Shea

I really do not want to say much about today's game but I do want to give a quick word about video replay. If that play today, the one when the Reyes “single” was trapped, and originally called an out (then reversed) was never reversed, the Mets would easily become the quickest supporters of Video Replay.
Even though the botched Beltran call has been lost in the shuffle of 13-0 rout, the Mets have been the receivers of some horrible calls this year. I firmly believe, beyond biasness, that if today's call was made correct at that moment, the Mets would have scored at least 2 on the play. The fact that the whole situation happened drastically impacts the level of play for both teams in the game. Both teams become angry, agitated, and some respects even careless.
Before I get lost on a rant, I really believe that sort-of like how in the NFL you get two challenges a game, I feel that in Baseball each team should get one or two challenges per game. They shouldn't be able to be used for balls and strikes but on home runs, plays at the plate, and catching balls in the field (possibly plays on third or second base as well).
Although I doubt seeing this happen anytime soon, the grumbling of GM's and owners for video replay will hopefully reopen this conversation on a higher level.

I have been looking for photographs of stadiums online and I ran into an album that I had to share. Have you ever been to Digital Ballparks?
Well if you haven't, go! They have pictures of ballparks from minor league, to major league, to independent leagues from all across the US and then some. Each picture also has a little blurb about the history of the park and is a great way to see America's pastime, it truly is an amazing site.
Anyway, they just updated the Shea Stadium section due to its closing this year, and added new pictures from underground and has interesting stories (like did you know Shea was originally going to be domed?) if you go to look at these amazing pictures you might find out some stuff about the team that you did not know before. The link is on the main page, you can't miss it!

Just have a few quick stats before the beginning of an exciting, early, important series for the 2008 season. The Mets will square off in Atlanta tonight, where they need to establish dominance to set a tone for this season. A 2-1 series win would be idea. Tonight the Mets have the honor of going up against the Braves Ace, as they will also play the second and third best pitchers for the Braves during this week.
The show down tonight will be Maine vs Hudson. Maine in 2007 had 3 games vs the Braves, a 1-1 record over 18.1 IP. During this time, he posted a 3.93 ERA, struck out 9 and walked 17. Overall last year, he was 15-10 over 32 games and 191 IP (over 100 more than any other season he pitched). He posted a 3.91 ERA.
Hudson will becoming in after his impressive start vs the Nationals earlier this season. He pitched 4 games against the Mets last year with a 2-2 record, 27 IP, 3.33 ERA, 5 BB and 8 K's. Overall, Hudson posted a 16-10 record over 34 Games, 224.1 IP and a 3.333 ERA.
Wright, who was a Brave killer in the 2006 season, was not so in 2007. The Mets need him to return to his 2006 status tonight and improve on his numbers in Atlanta from last year (9G, 39 AB, 3R, 8H, 2 2B, 2 HR, 4 RBI, .205 BA). Wright is in a hot streak now and if he continues it, and if Maine continues his Spring dominance, then the Mets can take down the Braves tonight. If not, it will be a long tough series for the Amazins.

The Mets have just wrapped up their first series of the 2008 season and there are some interesting numbers, which mostly mean nothing but are always fun to extrapolate out for the whole season.
As Seasons go, at this time:
2008: 2-1
2007: 3-0
2006: 2-1
2005: 0-3
Its hard to believe that only 4 seasons ago, the Mets started 0-5, where on the sixth game, Pedro threw an absolute Gem against the Braves. Also during that series, Jorge Sosa shut down the Mets on one of those loss nights.

Some season stats so far:
Wright 13 AB, 3 R, 6 H, 3 2B, HR, 6 RBI, 2 BB, .533 OBP, .923 SLG, .462 BA
On pace for 324 RBI's…
Pagan 10 AB, 4 H, 4 R, 2 2B, 4 RBI, 3 BB, .400 BA, .500 OBP

Some team stats:
    As a team., 27 strikeouts, or average about 9 per game. Which would be 1458 for the season if the Mets could keep that up.
    Team ERA of 2.33
    11 Doubles as a team (although it should be 10 doubles and 3 homeruns for a team) (5 doubles from Beltran)
On that note, the umping was particularly bad this series. There were several plays by Reyes and others who looked like clear stolen bases, that they were called out on. There was also that play by Castillo last night where it was a tie to the bag but he was called out. And thats on top of the major call with the homerun to Beltran.
The only really surprising stat so far is that the team only has 2 stolen bases so far, from Beltran and Castillo.

Like the rest of Mets world, I am still recovering from last night. The highs and lows of rooting for the mets are incredible. Anyway, Andrew Miller makes his Marlins debut tonight. He was one of the main pieces of the trade that sent Miguel Cabrera and the Dtrain over to Detroit. Miller has been a highly touted prospect, but so far over his first two major league seasons has struggled (with moments of brightness).
Miller last year started against the Mets where he lasted 5.1 innings with a 6.75 ERA, 5 H, 4 ER, HR, 3 BB and 5 K. Over his career, he is 5-6 over 21 G and 74.3 IP posting a 5.69 ERA.
Oliver's Twist will be the main show tonight. Will we get Mr. Oliver Perez who struck out over 230 batters one season or Dr. Perez who went 3-13 with an ERA above 6? Well we will find out tonight. Last year, Perez had 4 games vs the Marlins where he had a 2-1 record, 4 G, 22.1 IP, a 4.84 EA, 9 BB, and 26 K's.

As nice as sweeps are, they are tough. Lets get the series tonight and then go to Atlanta and take 2 of 3 there. Goal: a 4-2 record for the home opener vs Philly. Lets go Mets.

On another note, Mets AAA New Orleans will open up tomorrow night and same with AA Binghamton. Baseball is getting into its swing.

The Mets will dance again with the Marlins tonight for the second game of the season. It will be a battle of right handed pitchers as Pedro takes the mound for the Mets and will face Vandenhurk in his Sophomore season. Vandenhurk pitched two games against the Mets last season and the combined his stats are 2 G, 9 IP, 12 ER, 12.00 ERA, 12 K, O BB, 10 H, 4 HR.
Some interesting points are that he strikes out a lot of Mets batters, but is very weak to the long ball, which makes sense vs the Mets who hit RHP fairly well. Overall Last year, he went 7-11 with a 6.83 ERA.

Pedro has done well vs the Mets. Last year in one game, he got the win in 5 IP, allowing 3 ER, 4 R, 8 H, 2 BB, and at the same time striking out 11. (This stat needs to be checked, but as a team, the Marlins would strike out 9.7 times a game last year vs the Mets, I saw it on the bottom line yesterday before the Mets game on ESPN). Career vs the fish, he has 21 G, 116.2 IP, and a 2.85 ERA.

The role of the fish fryer though goes to David Wright. Last year, in 73 AB, he had 20 H, 18 R, 18 R, 4 2B, 3 HR, 12 RBI, .411 BA and .506 OBP.
With last night, Wright already has half his doubles from last year and 25% of his RBI's. Order up, lets fry some fish tonight.

Although I heard one announcer during one of the many games yesterday call it the third opening day for MLB, in my mind it really is the real opening day. Its the one day, besides at the end of September, that everyone cares about all the scores, that watching a little bit of every game is completely acceptable.
Anyway, these are some of my highlights from a very nice opening day:
    If you look at the AL East Standings right now, the Rays are number 1 in the league, how about that.
    Right now, the best run scoring team in Baseball isn't the Tigers but the Pirates.
    Speaking of the Pirates, have you seen Nady's line from last night? 7 AB, 4 R, 4 H, 4 RBI, 2B, 2 HR
    That means Nady and Thome are tied for HR in the league at 2.
    Santana is second in the league with K's at 8, Harden had 9.
    Gomez had a good night going 2-3 with 2 R's
    I think the Mets are on pace to break some sort of record regarding doubles.

John Stewart on the Daily Show last night did a bit about the Mets before he started the show. This is not the exact quote but its the best I can do from memory: Right now the Mets are beating the Marlins 6-2, which means if all goes well, the Mets will win in extra innings, for reasons I do not want to talk about, meaning that their record will be 1-0. If I do the math, that means  the Mets will finish the season 162-0. Thats right, the Mets will not lose a game this year, you heard that here.
He did the last part in that sarcastic tone that he normally does, it was pretty funny.

Today the Mets will open up their regular season away against the Florida Marlins. The Marlins are sending one of their new pitchers, Mark Hendrickson, to the mound. Hendrickson, with a career ERA at 5.01 does have one thing that the Mets tend to struggle against, which is that he is a left handed pitcher. Will that curse continue? We will have to see after today's game. Here are some Mark stats:
Vs Mets: 2 G, 3 IP, 3.00 ERA
@ FLA: 3 G, 16.2 IP, 4.86 ERA
Daytime: 60 G, 275.1 IP, 5.26 ERA
Another interesting note is that career, as a starter, his ERA is 5.15 and as a reliever it is 3.55.
In 16 IP this Spring, he posted a 1.69 ERA while walking 2 and striking out 9.

In other words, we cant just look at his career ERA and assume he is a pushover because he is on a streak right now and he is a left handed pitcher, which the Mets have trouble hitting. That being said, it is a telling story about the Marlins right now that they have Hendrickson as their opening day pitcher.

I hope you all caught the Braves/Nats game last night. It is always fun to watch a team show off their new park, and beyond the fanfare, it was actually a good game. Nats were ahead, then the Braves tied it (with no help from Paulie who allowed the ball to get away from him) and with 2 outs in the bottom of the ninth, in a tied ballgame, Zimmerman hit a shot for the walk off.
(I was also thinking, since Chipper hit the first homer in Nationals Park, does he name his next kid after the ball park?)

Before Spring Training Games started, I listed what I thought the final standings ion 2008 would be. That original list can be found here.
For the AL East, I have not changed my predictions:
    Boston
    New York
    Tampa Bay 
    Toronto
    Baltimore
For the AL Central, I used to have Minnesota in third, now I'm thinking more like the White Sox in third:
    Detroit
    Cleveland
    Chicago
    Minnesota
    Kansas City
The AL West also has not changed, but with the recent injuries to the Angels pitching staff, I wouldn't be surprised to see the Mariners take an early lead and then lose it or see the Mariners right behind the Angels all year long.
    Los Anglos
    Seattle
    Oakland
    Texas
No need to change the NL West either
    Arizona
    San Diego
    Colorado
    Los Anglos
    San Francisco
Second and Third place for the NL Central took me a while to decide. I decided to stick with my original prediction of the Brew Crew coming in second and the Astros in third but this is another situation where it will be close all year. Down the stretch, I feel the Reds will do better than the Cards, so I flopped them from the original list.
    Chicago
    Milwaukee
    Houston
    Cincinnati
    St. Louis
    Pittsburgh
The main division, the one that really matters, the NL East:
    METS
    Atlanta
    Philly
    Washington
    Florida
Besides the fact that I am really biased towards the Mets, they have the tools to be on top. The Braves rotation this year makes them scary, and good pitching beats good hitting, thus they are above Philly. Washington will not be in the cellar this year.

Other Predictions:
    The Tigers got a shot at 1000 Runs
    The Mets (pitching staff) will lead the league in strikeouts this year. Their pitching staff has been developing and with the addition of Santana and Maine getting older, the strikeouts will keep on coming this year.

I am a big fan of Season previews even though they generally don't say anything that has already been said or that they do say things that just angers me. Anyway first up is the Washington Post. Projected NL 2008 Standings:
1 Mets
2 Phillies
3 Braves
4 Nationals
5 Florida
Its really hard to break down what they said about the Mets without copying over the entire entry they wrote, so here it is, the Washington's Post (March 26) opinion about the Mets:
    “The Mets play in a rather extreme pitcher's park (last year, Shea Stadium ranked fourth among MLB parks that favored pitchers), yet somehow have managed to be torpedoed by their lack of pitching over the past few seasons.
    But somebody in Queens finally got wise to the problem, as the Amazin's went out and landed the best pitcher on the planet, in Santana If they had this guy seven months ago, there's no way they would have choked away the division title to the Phillies.
    Something still gnaws at us about the Mets, and we don't make this pick with any strong conviction. They are still old and creaky (Alou and Martinez, in particular, are a hamztring and a shoulder away from irrelevance), and they still appear to lack the same choose-your-body-part (guts, heart, etc) attribute that did them in last September.
    But if Santana goes 20-5 witha 2.50 ERA, as seems possible in this league, the Mets will be tough to stop. “
My initial reaction when reading this was that Post was complementing the Mets while insulting them at the same time, but thats to be expected because they are not an impartial voice for baseball (they have to support the Nats) but when it comes down to it, they are right. The Mets are a pitching team now, and it will come down to pitching to win it. Good pitching beats good hitting. I love how everyone says though that the collapse was based around pitching. It is not that simple, if you want to simplify it, then the distinction has to be made that it was centered around bullpen pitching, because down the stretch the starting pitching did a good job.

The second baseball preview for today is from Baseball Digest. Their projections:
1. Phillies
2. Braves
3. Mets
4. Nationals
5. Marlins
Their basic points for the third place selection is a carry over of the collapse and that for most of the year, the Mets were a .500 team riding out a very strong April and mostly strong May. Under the weaknesses section, they say that Starting pitching cannot be considered a weakness but still the back of the rotation is a weakness. I feel that they got the “need to improve” section exactly right. They talked about how the Mets struggled last year playing teams in the division and until they can dominate in the division like they did in 2006, then they cannot win it all in 2008.