en-us https://www.intensedebate.com/users/480613 Comments by dmurph http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/20/note-100-men-left-on-base/#IDComment19436303 It's obviously extremely frustrating to watch the Mets strand so many runners. And when you watch the highlights from MLB Tonight and see other teams putting up big innings it makes matters worse. Truth of the matter is that all good offensive teams end up leaving over a thousand runners on base each year. The better teams end up leaving more on base (because they put that many more on base to begin with). Our line up is currently 3rd in both AVG and OBP, while we are only 8th in Runs. This is something that will even out over the course of the season. If we keep the AVG and OBP up its only a matter of time before the runs pour in. Is it frustrating to watch them score 2 runs on 12 hits? Of course. But remember even the Phillies, who scored the most runs last year, stranded the most base runners as well. Keep that in perspective. Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:27:45 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/20/note-100-men-left-on-base/#IDComment19436303 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/14/video-ted-berg-interviews-cliff-floyd/#IDComment18743243 All around great guy, one of my favorite Mets. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:53:30 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/14/video-ted-berg-interviews-cliff-floyd/#IDComment18743243 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/13/post-game-padres-6-mets-5/#IDComment18706577 Does any one have a link of a video of Pelfrey taking that spill? Was at the game and still have no idea what happened. Tonight was definitely a downer. To lose that game on a balk, especially after Wrights bomb, is disappointing to say the least. The new ballpark, while very nice in its offerings, is gonna take a few wins before I can call it home. Quote of the night... "my sister's name is Jody". Seconds before he clobered the ball. Tue, 14 Apr 2009 04:39:58 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/13/post-game-padres-6-mets-5/#IDComment18706577 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/06/read-how-06-07-08-affect-09-lineup/#IDComment18247241 Don't you think its a waste of that OBP to get on base only to have the inning end with the pitcher up next. I see your point about the fewer AB's, but realistically that would only amount to 20 or so less at bats over the course of the season. I think the benefits of hitting in front of Reyes would far outweigh the cost of a few lost ABs. He would see better quality pitches hitting in front of Reyes rather than the pitcher, and he would certainly benefit from that. Mon, 6 Apr 2009 15:45:40 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/06/read-how-06-07-08-affect-09-lineup/#IDComment18247241 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/06/read-how-06-07-08-affect-09-lineup/#IDComment18244257 Is anyone else concerned about having Castillo bat 8th? We saw how that worked out last year and it's a recipe for disaster. Castillo should bat 9th- think about it for a sec. It gives him protection hitting in front of Reyes. He becomes a 2nd leadoff guy- which maximizes him OBP (his one redeeming quality). Castillo won't get anything to hit in the 8 hole and we will get extremely frustrated watching his automatic outs. Mon, 6 Apr 2009 14:17:18 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/06/read-how-06-07-08-affect-09-lineup/#IDComment18244257 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/05/news-nick-evans-sent-to-triple-a/#IDComment18228621 I haven't had any problems at all, I really like the new comment section. Keep it Matt. Mon, 6 Apr 2009 03:21:02 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/05/news-nick-evans-sent-to-triple-a/#IDComment18228621 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/05/news-nick-evans-sent-to-triple-a/#IDComment18228543 They need Reed for his defense. O'Day's different look out of the bullpen is key. And Parnell earned his spot. Sorry Marlon, it's been nice knowing you. Mon, 6 Apr 2009 03:17:34 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/05/news-nick-evans-sent-to-triple-a/#IDComment18228543 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/04/quote-manuel-on-perezs-poor-outing/#IDComment18181502 "the consistent pitcher he was at points last year" That sentence is just hilarious in so many ways. You are either consistent, or you aren't. Doing anything "at points" is by definition the opposite of consistency. Sat, 4 Apr 2009 23:01:11 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/04/quote-manuel-on-perezs-poor-outing/#IDComment18181502 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/random-different-view-on-tv/#IDComment18129688 On my Blackberry it said one posts had something like 32,982 posts... definitely something up there. But overall I'm digging the new site. Sat, 4 Apr 2009 00:57:55 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/random-different-view-on-tv/#IDComment18129688 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/random-different-view-on-tv/#IDComment18128728 Get used to it Matt, that is our new home! Sat, 4 Apr 2009 00:33:14 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/random-different-view-on-tv/#IDComment18128728 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/pregame-mets-vs-red-sox-3/#IDComment18116887 How many more AB's would that really amount to over the course of the season? 20? 30? I think the increase in production you'd see from Luis in the 9th spot would more than make up for the lost AB's. The Cardinals have been doing this for a couple seasons now, to give more RBI opportunities to Pujols while maximizing his AB's in the 3 hole. And that seem to be working out alright for them. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 21:56:11 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/pregame-mets-vs-red-sox-3/#IDComment18116887 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/pregame-mets-vs-red-sox-3/#IDComment18116604 Castillo batting 9th, I love it. Makes so much sense. Jerry really needs to consider batting him there throughout the season. Castillo in the 8 hole is a recipe for disaster, he won't get pitches worth even slapping at. In the 9 hole he'll have protection batting in front of Reyes. Pitchers would actually have to pitch to him to avoid getting to Reyes. He essentially becomes the second lead off man the second time around the order. His OBP wouldn't go to waste. Reyes/Murph and Wright would still get the most AB's. Plus between Castillo, Reyes, and Murph you can expect that one of them (on average) should reach base each time around. Which means David & Co would have a lot more RBI opportunities. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 21:47:56 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/pregame-mets-vs-red-sox-3/#IDComment18116604 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/quotes-manuel-minaya-beltran-on-sheffield/#IDComment18116205 Totally agree. As long as he earns his playing time I am fine with it. Plus you gotta factor in the crazy bastard element. Pitchers on the other team are gonna think twice about beaning a Met if they know Sheff is on the sidelines. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 21:37:31 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/quotes-manuel-minaya-beltran-on-sheffield/#IDComment18116205 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/quotes-manuel-minaya-beltran-on-sheffield/#IDComment18112996 He replaces Marlon- no loss here. Sheff has played 1B and 3B before and even started off his career at SS. He will earn any playing time he gets and if he becomes a distraction he gets released. When he was first released a few days ago, Sean Casey was talking on the MLB network about how great of a teammate Sheff is. He said that he's gotten a bad rap from the media because he sometimes speaks his mind and can be opinionated, but at the end of the day the guy is a pro and a great teammate. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 20:49:47 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/quotes-manuel-minaya-beltran-on-sheffield/#IDComment18112996 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/buzz-tonights-game-and-the-weather/#IDComment18110451 OT: What do you guys think about batting Castillo 9th this year? I've been trying to get Matt to post something on the subject but he's been ignoring my emails... Castillo in the 8 hole is a recipe for disaster, he won't get pitches worth even slapping at. In the 9 hole he'll have protection batting in front of Reyes. Pitchers would actually have to pitch to him to avoid getting to Reyes. He essentially becomes the second lead off man the second time around the order. His OBP wouldn't go to waste. Reyes/Murph and Wright would still get the most AB's. Plus between Castillo, Reyes, and Murph you can expect that one of them (on average) should reach base each time around. Which means David & Co would have a lot more RBI opportunities. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 20:32:55 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/buzz-tonights-game-and-the-weather/#IDComment18110451 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/news-mets-sign-sheffield/#IDComment18108031 Matt- how exactly do you know that he signed with the Mets because he was guaranteed more playing time? Maybe, just maybe,he signed here because he thinks he's got the best chance at a championship in Flushing. His playing time will come at the expense of Marlon Anderson. And perhaps Tatis if he's performing better. As I said before, there is very little downside here. We can always cut him if things don't work out. And he gives us depth, power off the bench, and trade baits if things do work out. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 20:15:50 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/news-mets-sign-sheffield/#IDComment18108031 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/news-mets-sign-sheffield/#IDComment18105224 This is good news. There is very little downside to this. Worst case scenario he bats .100 and causes a media circus and he is immediately cut. Sheff is a pro and wants to win and I'm sure he will be happy to contribute in any way he can. This is a great move for depth. He's the RH power bat off the bench we've been wanting for 2 years now. If he's on a tear and we can't find AB's for him I am sure there will be another team at the deadline who would like to have his services... at the league minimum might I add. He gives us pop off the bench, OF depth, and potential trade bait. At very little cost. What's not to like here?? Am I missing something? Fri, 3 Apr 2009 19:41:38 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/news-mets-sign-sheffield/#IDComment18105224 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/buzz-mets-discussing-sheffield/#IDComment18091874 I don't think you can pencil in his number of ABs. If he's hitting better than Tatis he will get more ABs. Depth is a good problem to have. Injuries happen. Worst case scenario we have a glut of producing OFers and we have trade bait at the deadline. If Sheffield is hitting and we don't have ABs for him you don't think another team out there will want him at the league minimum? There will be takers for sure. Fri, 3 Apr 2009 16:34:18 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/buzz-mets-discussing-sheffield/#IDComment18091874 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/buzz-mets-discussing-sheffield/#IDComment18090479 I don't see why we can only have one RH PH. RH - Castro, Sheff, Tatis LH - Cora, Reed We already have plenty of lefties in the lineup, I don't see why having another RH bat on the bench is a bad thing. Also don't see why its him or Tatis. Should be him or Marlon. And that's an easy choice for me. Plus he'd be cheaper! Fri, 3 Apr 2009 15:56:11 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/buzz-mets-discussing-sheffield/#IDComment18090479 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/buzz-mets-discussing-sheffield/#IDComment18090066 Valid points. I'm thinking he would replace Marlon Anderson. Be the first pinch hitter off the bench hitting primarily for the pitcher. He has also had some infield experience in his day, he could certainly fill in at 1st or even 3rd. Bench - Sheff, Castro, Tatis, Cora, Reed Fri, 3 Apr 2009 15:45:26 +0000 http://www.metsblog.com/2009/04/03/buzz-mets-discussing-sheffield/#IDComment18090066