What will be the NYM excuse next year? UPDATE: JJ Putz added too!

Barndog

the Mets have all but locked up K-Rod as their closer. How will they blow it in 2009?

update: HUGE trade per espn.com...Mets just added JJ Putz as a freakin setup guy for K-Rod! Formiddable pitching in the 8th and 9th if those two stay healthy. Congrats Mets fans

lawnmowerman

I dunno. Being a Red Sox fan, after 80+ years, you should be pretty well versed on the book of excuses. Just pick one for us......zing

Barndog

<< <i>I dunno. Being a Red Sox fan, after 80+ years, you should be pretty well versed on the book of excuses. Just pick one for us......zing >>



We just chalked it up to sucking (and that Grady Little thing in '03)

lawnmowerman

<< <i>

<< <i>I dunno. Being a Red Sox fan, after 80+ years, you should be pretty well versed on the book of excuses. Just pick one for us......zing >>



We just chalked it up to sucking (and that Grady Little thing in '03) >>




True. Of course lately for you guys it's been a totally different story.

I don't know and don't understand what the heck is wrong with the Mets. Prabably goes back to not taking the time to develope their young players and counting on free agency.

In fact, in the mid 80's, it was the complete opposite. The true talent on the team came from within the organization which translated into a WS win.

bman90278

<< <i> the Mets have all but locked up K-Rod as their closer. How will they blow it in 2009? >>



I dunno if the Mets will need an excuse. Living in Los Angeles I watched a fair amount of Angels games and I'm not convinced K-Rod is the same as he was a year or two ago. Yes he set the record this past season, but he seemed to struggle in each save appearance. The Angels made it clear in the papers out here that K-Rod did seem to throw many pitches and seemed to struggle last year. I think he will save many games for the Mets, but I don't think he'll be even close to what he did with the Angels as he seemed to lose alot of velocity and effectiveness of his pitches.

FanOf390

"In fact, in the mid 80's, it was the complete opposite. The true talent on the team came from within the organization which translated into a WS win. "


Ah, right you are -- Strawberry and Gooden being the most notable of the farm-grown talent.

I'm sure that Barndog remembers that well -- did somebody say 1986 World series?

Barndog

<< <i>"In fact, in the mid 80's, it was the complete opposite. The true talent on the team came from within the organization which translated into a WS win. "


Ah, right you are -- Strawberry and Gooden being the most notable of the farm-grown talent.

I'm sure that Barndog remembers that well -- did somebody say 1986 World series? >>



argh! Yep, remember it well. Pitching and a certain gaping hole at first.

TheVon

<< <i>I dunno if the Mets will need an excuse. Living in Los Angeles I watched a fair amount of Angels games and I'm not convinced K-Rod is the same as he was a year or two ago. Yes he set the record this past season, but he seemed to struggle in each save appearance. The Angels made it clear in the papers out here that K-Rod did seem to throw many pitches and seemed to struggle last year. I think he will save many games for the Mets, but I don't think he'll be even close to what he did with the Angels as he seemed to lose alot of velocity and effectiveness of his pitches. >>



I agree. The only really impressive thing about his season was the save total. But that seems to have more to do with the Angels being in close games than anything remarkable that K-Rod did. Besides that, didn't he still blow 7 games? I think there were probably at least a half dozen closers that had better seasons than K-Rod did in 2008. Brad Lidge and Mariano Rivera come to mind. But he will still be an improvement over the bulemic bullpen by committee that the Mets finished the season with.

perkdog

<< <i>

<< <i>"In fact, in the mid 80's, it was the complete opposite. The true talent on the team came from within the organization which translated into a WS win. "


Ah, right you are -- Strawberry and Gooden being the most notable of the farm-grown talent.

I'm sure that Barndog remembers that well -- did somebody say 1986 World series? >>



argh! Yep, remember it well. Pitching and a certain gaping hole at first. >>




I do too, but please be advised that innocent bystanders ( like myself ) to this thread can get deeply offended by comments such as these.

TheVon

Maybe the Mets need to go back to doing crack and destroying charter planes so they can reclaim their glory days?

lawnmowerman

<< <i>Maybe the Mets need to go back to doing crack and destroying charter planes so they can reclaim their glory days? >>




+1

For me, as a fan, that would be a fair trade off

Treetop

October 2009 headline..........Mets lose 1st place on last day of season, as "K-Rod" sets magor league record for most blown saves in a season.......

Barndog

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i>"In fact, in the mid 80's, it was the complete opposite. The true talent on the team came from within the organization which translated into a WS win. "


Ah, right you are -- Strawberry and Gooden being the most notable of the farm-grown talent.

I'm sure that Barndog remembers that well -- did somebody say 1986 World series? >>



argh! Yep, remember it well. Pitching and a certain gaping hole at first. >>




I do too, but please be advised that innocent bystanders ( like myself ) to this thread can get deeply offended by comments such as these. >>



BS. You are a Sox fan, so you have thick skin.

stevek

Mercenaries don't win championships. Case closed.

I'm sure Grote15 and WinPitcher will come up with the usual excuses for why their Mets didn't get it done again in 2009.

lawnmowerman

<< <i>Mercenaries don't win championships. Case closed. >>



The 1997 Marlins would beg to differ

Barndog

Minaya has been busy!

TheVon

Yes he has. I'm a little surprised Putz would take a job as a setup guy, but the two of them could be a great pair.

lawnmowerman

Putz?? If he screws up, the fans are gonna love calling him by his last name. I can see it now.

yankeeno7

<< <i>Yes he has. I'm a little surprised Putz would take a job as a setup guy, but the two of them could be a great pair. >>



Seeing that it was a trade, Putz doesnt get much choice. If KRod struggles, maybe the Putz will be promoted to closer and KRod becomes the set up guy?

I think Putz was a great move by the Mets. Maybe the one they needed....but they did give up Joe Smith. I think if they could have saved from trading him, Mets middle relief would have been outstanding.

I'll enjoy watching the Mets hold the Phillies to under a 3.00 ERA for the entire 2009 season.

Dave99B

The Mets may have got 'had'. JJ Putz is a good guy, but he really got lit up last year.

Dave

Barndog

<< <i>The Mets may have got 'had'. JJ Putz is a good guy, but he really got lit up last year.

Dave >>



how can he possibly be worse than the rest of the Mets 2008 bullpen?

lawnmowerman

<< <i>The Mets may have got 'had'. JJ Putz is a good guy, but......

Dave >>



Why would you say that???


Sicerely,

:smiling as the devil:



Bobby Bonilla, Jeff Kent, Carlos Baerga, Roberto Alomar, Mo Vaughn........................

Barndog

"For the past two years they've been choke artists."

-Cole Hamels

lawnmowerman

<< <i>"For the past two years they've been choke artists."

-Cole Hamels >>



Sadly, I cannot disagree.

grote15

The Mets may have got 'had'. JJ Putz is a good guy, but he really got lit up last year.

So did Heilman...good luck with that!!

If Putz is healthy, and that is a concern, this will turn out to be an excellent trade.

IchiroDeported

K-rod is terribly overrated and his delivery will inevitably lead to time on the DL. 62 one inning saves. YAWN. Gimme Eckersly or Rollie Fingers any day of the week. Better yet, give me Hoyt Wilhelm

Dave99B

Lawnmowerman -

Putz 2007: 40 saves (2 blown) 1.38 ERA

Putz 2008: 15 saves (8 blown) 3.89 ERA

Putz 2009: ?? saves (> blown) ?.?? ERA

Dave