About Stolen Bases, Reyes, Leadership
A couple of years ago I read Dayn Perry’s Winners: How Good Baseball Teams Become Great Ones (And It’s Not the Way You Think) (Kindle version here). It’s an excellent book that breaks down different areas of statistical performance and tries to correlate which ones winning teams excel at.
One of the things Perry discusses is stolen bases. I haven’t re-read this section in a while but if memory serves his conclusion was that base stealing was not as important as one would think. But that was not the case in last night’s Mets game as the Mets stole a team record 7 bases and 5 of those times the runs scored. True that only 2 of those runs scored as a direct result of having moved up on the basepaths because of the stolen base but that turned a 1 run game into a 3 run game.
The interesting thing about these stolen bases was that they were all done without Jose Reyes. (David Wright led the charge with 4.) Reyes was held out of the game with a right calf injury. This is an injury that was allegedly suffered before Wednesday’s game and may explain why Reyes did not slide into third base when trying to advance on a ground ball hit to the left side of the infield. However it only strengthens the argument that Reyes should not have been running at all in that situation.
In my opinion Reyes was due for a day off anyway. Whether it’s because of an injury or a 1 game benching doesn’t matter much. The next thing he needs is a talking to by a teammate and or coach about using his head on the field. The miscue mentioned above was one of at least three committed by Reyes during the Atlanta series and the Mets were lucky to get one win out of those three games. I’m not blaming that all on Reyes but every play (and player) counts.
Through the Atlanta series people started talking about how Wright and Reyes need to not only play smart on the field but be team leaders off the field. While I agree with that I think it’s an unrealistic expectation. At this point in their careers they should be mature enough to be more Derek Jeter-like in the way they lead the team. But in their time in the majors they have never had someone along those lines in their clubhouse for any real period of time so how would they know how to be that kind of leader? Yes, they need to be like that. No, you can’t expect them to be like that. The Mets need another player to fill that role and show these guys how it’s done. They need a player that can do for them what Don Baylor did for the 1986 Red Sox.
Before the Sawx got Baylor they categorized themselves as 25 guys taking 25 different cabs home after a game. Baylor was given credit for pulling the team together as a group. This made them a much better team. Many say that they would not have won the AL pennant that year if not for Baylor’s leadership. This is the kind of player the Mets need to (a) bring the team together and (b) teach Reyes and Wright about team leadership.
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CitiField Streaker Could Get Year In Jail
The CitiField streaker is finding that streaking is not as harmless as he expected. I guess he and his lawyer, who he claims to have consulted before his not so random act of stupidity, didn’t realize what the penalties were for such an act.
The first penalty is a lifetime ban from CitiField. That’s tight, one moment of stupidity and you’re out for life.
The streaker, who I will not mention by name, is due in court on June 11 for a hearing on the formal charges of third-degree criminal trespass and interference with a professional sporting event. He could up to a year in jail and civil penalties of up to $5,000.
He reportedly told police that he didn’t realize he would get into so much trouble and that he bet a week’s salary with his boss that he would do it. He said he had consulted his lawyer who said it was just a misdemeanor. I guess the lawyer missed the 2003 law changes that made interfering with a sporting event a crime. Time to get a new lawyer.
The moral of the story is if you ever get an itch to run on the field during a game with a rally monkey covering your monkey don’t scratch it!
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This Weekends Starters Vs. San Francisco
Thursday – John Maine (3-2, 4.54) vs. Jonathan Sanchez (1-3, 4.78), 10:15 p.m., SNY.
Friday – Livan Hernandez (3-1, 5.08) vs. Tim Lincecum (3-1, 3.25), 10:15 p.m., SNY.
Saturday – Johan Santana (4-2, 0.78) vs. Randy Johnson (3-3, 5.89), 4:10 p.m., FOX.
Sunday – Mike Pelfrey (4-0, 4.89) vs. Matt Cain (3-1, 2.61), 8 p.m., ESPN.
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Mets Score Behind Sub Par Niese
I don’t normally post during games but the Mets have scored 6 runs in 4 innings behind Jonathon Niese including a grand slam home run by Fernando Tatis. This show of run support prompted Johan Santana to say angrily “We’ve scored 6 runs for who?”
Noah K. Murray/The Star-Ledger
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Lineup Vs. Atlanta 5/13/2009
| # | Name | Position | ||||
| 7 | Jose Reyes | SS | ||||
| 1 | Luis Castillo | 2B | ||||
| 15 | Carlos Beltran | CF | ||||
| 10 | Gary Sheffield | RF | ||||
| 5 | David Wright | 3B | ||||
| 17 | Fernando Tatis | 1B | ||||
| 11 | Ramon Castro | C | ||||
| 19 | Ryan Church | RF | ||||
| 49 | Jonathon Niese | P | ||||
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Evans Is St. Lucie Bound
Yesterday I wrote about the rumors that Nick Evans would be demoted after a horrific start at AAA Buffalo. Late yesterday the shoe dropped as Evans was sent to the Mets minor league complex in St. Lucie for a few days of extended spring training before heading to AA Binghamton.
Good luck, Nick. Hope to see you back at the major league level real soon.
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First CitiField Streaker
During last night’s game fans got to see the first streaker take the field at CitiField. Andrew Vazzano of The ‘Ropolitans posted his own video of the event.
Here’s another video of the streaker shot by a friend of the streaker:
I don’t support this kind of behavior as it disturbs the flow of the game (not to mention it’s against the law). But it is funny.
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Beltran Walks, Mets Win
One of my Twitter friends offered me 2 free tickets to last night’s game at CitiField. It was very nice of her but I had to turn them down due to a commitment. But after watching the game I wish I was able to be there.
After falling behind 3-0 the Mets scored 2 in the bottom of the 8th and 1 in the bottom of the 9th to bring the game into extra innings. After the Mets loaded the bases in the 10th inning Carlos Beltran drew a walk that plated the winning run.
This is not a great win in terms of how they won it but it’s one of those games that I classify as a character builder. The type of game that defines what the team is going through right now as they struggle to win games. The team has won 9 of their last 11 games and have risen to the top of the NL East, 1 game ahead of the Phillies. And a game like this that ends with a walk off walk is the kind of break a team gets when it’s going well. Obviously having a guy like Beltran, possibly the worlds best hitter right now, at the plate in that situation helps. But good teams get good breaks like this so hopefully it’s a sign of good things to come.
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Tonight’s Lineup Vs. Atlanta 5/12/2009
| # | Name | Position | ||||
| 7 | Jose Reyes | SS | ||||
| 3 | Alex Cora | 2B | ||||
| 28 | Daniel Murphy | LF | ||||
| 15 | Carlos Beltran | CF | ||||
| 5 | David Wright | 3B | ||||
| 17 | Fernando Tatis | 1B | ||||
| 18 | Jeremy Reed | RF | ||||
| 9 | Omir Santos | C | ||||
| 34 | Mike Pelfrey | P | ||||
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A Sad Step Backward For Nick Evans?
On April 1 it looked like it would be a big season for Nick Evans. He had earned a spot on the Mets opening day roster after batting .263 with 3HRs and 12 RBIs in spring training and was headed to New York for the Mets last 2 exhibition games against the Red Sox at CitiField. Then disaster rocked his world as the Mets signed Gary Sheffield. Evans was now headed to the AAA Buffalo Bisons to make room for Sheffield on the 25 man major league squad.
The sudden demotion sent Evans reeling. He was hitting just .093 for the Bisons with 27 strikeouts on 75 at bats. His bat went so far south the team started to use him only against left handers.
Now New York Post Mets beat writer Bart Hubbuch is reporting in his blog that the Mets are now considering demoting Evans further.
I’m not sure what’s wrong with Evans. Is it approach? Stance? Mechanics? My bet would be that a large part of the problem is psychological but I don’t have any expertise in this area so that’s not a clinical diagnosis. Regardless of what it is I hope he gets over it soon. The Mets are going to need someone to take a roster spot before too long (Carlos Delgado to the DL?. the eventual release of Sheffield?) and it would be nice if Evans could take it.
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