Met's Search for Power...

The Mets need more power. I have been asking ever since Carlos Delgado left…Where is the beef? From 2005 thru 2009, The NYMets averaged 790 runs and 89.25 wins while finishing 6^th, 4^th, 5^th & 7^th in Home runs. Then from 2009 thru 2012 the Mets averaged 674 runs and 75 wins while finishing 16^th, 13^th, 13^th & 11^th in homeruns. You need about 90 Hr’s from your number 3, 4, and 5 hitters. Wright and Davis should get you 50-60. I think Kelly Shoppach offers power in a platoon role behind the plate. I think inexpensive power can be had with the likes of Jonny Gomes and Scott Hairston. For Center Field I like Chris Young from Oakland for the Mets. He is coming off a down year and has some pop. I don't know what he would cost them. What do you think? 
Here are the team hitting stats by position in the lineup.

Split	G	GS	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	CS	BB	SO	BA	OBP	SLG	OPS	TB	GDP	HBP	SH	SF	IBB	ROE	BAbip	tOPS+	sOPS+
Batting 1st	196	18	748	678	94	175	34	2	9	47	14	9	59	144	.258	.323	.354	.677	240	10	6	4	0	1	10	.316	94	90
Batting 2nd	206	18	724	670	86	194	41	5	4	66	11	5	39	120	.290	.331	.384	.715	257	16	6	2	7	1	10	.344	104	101
Batting 3rd	172	18	710	626	87	179	39	3	20	86	14	9	76	122	.286	.363	.454	.817	284	20	3	0	5	14	5	.325	132	102
Batting 4th	215	18	693	614	92	162	41	0	38	109	8	3	69	155	.264	.338	.516	.854	317	15	3	0	7	3	4	.290	141	108
Batting 5th	207	18	681	616	74	152	29	4	15	79	7	2	59	141	.247	.316	.380	.696	234	11	4	0	2	4	4	.297	98	85
Batting 6th	235	18	660	588	67	127	26	2	22	79	9	5	62	153	.216	.294	.379	.674	223	9	5	1	4	3	10	.252	91	82
Batting 7th	220	18	639	572	56	141	32	3	17	70	7	4	53	130	.247	.315	.402	.717	230	6	5	6	2	1	3	.290	104	102
Batting 8th	232	18	629	563	47	127	23	2	6	51	3	0	53	120	.226	.299	.306	.605	172	19	7	4	2	13	5	.276	74	80
Batting 9th	702	18	607	523	47	100	21	0	8	38	6	1	33	165	.191	.243	.277	.520	145	12	3	47	1	3	6	.262	49	89

Niese, Mets Edge Bucs 3-1, take Series to go Four Games Over .500

The New York Mets continue to surprise most preseason pundits by winning another road series and climbing back to four games over the .500 mark. Every time this team seems headed towards an extended losing skid, one of the starting pitchers comes up big and tosses a gem. With Johan bouncing back, R.A. pitching like a front of the rotation starter, and Jon Niese, in the role of the up and coming lefty, The Mets have been able to keep the skids at bay. The theme this year has been quality starts, and Jon Niese tossed his sixth quality start in his ninth game, winning for the first time since April 14th. The win follows R.A. Dickey's strong start and continues to keep the club within wild card striking distance. The team now boasts the NL batting average leader in Wright (.399) and win leader in Dickey (6). While the team ranks near the bottom in almost every slugging category, (except doubles where they lead the league with 83), they have been able to scratch out enough runs to win games in which their starters pitch well. This is mostly due to their ability to draw walks and hit with men in scoring position. They have been especially effective with RISP and two outs. The question will be how long they can continue to win without the long ball. I think they sorely need Jason Bay's right handed power bat. While nowhere near the slugger he was before signing with the team, Jason's three HR's in 50 ab's would be a pace the team would love for him to continue. Who the odd man out is when he returns remains to be seen. Some have been calling for Ike Davis' return to the minor leagues. I for one think that Ike has been putting much better swings on the ball, and feel it is just a matter of time before he breaks out. However, you simply can't keep a guy with a .150 batting average in your starting lineup. Terry Collins and Sandy Alderson need to have some serious discussions over the roster. When Thole, Tejada, and Bay are all ready to return, The Mets will have some interesting roster moves to make. Both Mike Baxter and Ronnie Cedeno have been excelling in their roles, and you have to wonder whose position on the team may be in jeopardy. In the meantime, Let's Go Mets!

The Good..The Bad...The Ugly.....

Well The Mets have won six games and lost only three. I think that most Mets fans have embraced this good start and are slowly getting behind this team.
The Good...
The starting pitching has been fantastic. The staff is 4-2, with not one stinker yet. Johan Santana could easily be 2-0, but his presence provides the emotional boost that only a staff ace could. R.A. Dickey is another leader, and continues to develop into a Phil Niekro type knuckle baller. Jon Niese is doing everything he can to justify his new contract and is now 2-0. He is a lefty with considerable talent and it seems like he is maturing right before our eyes. We have to take a wait and see approach to the back end of the rotation, and keep our fingers crossed that Dillon Gee can continue to develop after an outstanding rookie campaign. He won 13 in 26 starts last year, so why would you expect less than a 15 win season? Just saying! Think this dude knows how to pitch. Mike Pelfrey seems to be getting his stuff together again. He's making people swing and miss which is usually not his m.o. Bullpen has been a plus overall. Francisco has been outstanding and Rauch a great setup man.
The Bad..
The middle of the lineup needs to start producing more consistently. Ike Davis, Jason Bay, and Lucas Duda need to provide extra base hits with some consistency. Team Speed wen on the DL with Torres.
The Ugly....
The Defense at second base, right field, and behind the plate need to make the easy plays. The relief pitching needs to lower their collective WHIP. Walking hitters is a recipe for disaster. Many Acosta, Ramon Ramirez, and Miguel Batista have given up 13 walks in 10 2/3 innings. Not good.

Overall I think The Mets are still on track to come close to my pre season predictions.

Yes, I have been drinking the Koolaid..My 2012 Met's Performance Predictions...

Offense will not be a problem for this team....
Won loss record 85-77
Starting Lineup
Andre Torress .255 8HR 44RBI good 4th OF..
Daniel Murphy .306 18HR  75RBI
Lucas Duda .280 34HR 98RBI
David Wright .292 25HR 105RBI
Ike Davis .293 33HR 105RBI
Jason Bay .272 25HR 86RBI
Josh Thole .285 8HR 65RBI
Ruben Tejada .275 5HR 55RBI
Starting Pitching
Johan Santana 12 wins 8 losses
R.A. Dickey 18 wins 10 losses
Jon Niese 14 wins 9 losses
Mike Pelfrey 16 wins 12 losses
Dillon Gee 14 wins 10 losses
Bullpen
Francisco 25 saves
J Rauch 12 saves
B. Parnell 10 Saves

The big hit eludes them again.

Alarmist.-

a person who tends to raise alarms, esp. without sufficient reason, as by exaggerating dangers or prophesying calamities.The following are the cold hard truths.
I guess you can ring the bell. With eight of their losses coming by one run, and a continued inability to  make solid contact with runners in scoring position,The Mets seem to be giving away winnable games, losing last night to the Nationals by the score of 3-2. On a night that John Maine gave them six innings and only gave up 2 runs, The Mets offense was stagnant.One for twelve with runners in scoring position just wont cut it. Another alarm went off when David Wright stuck out in the first inning. It was his 9th in nine at bats, a new team record  for futility. The good news is that when Wright puts the ball in play his average is a robust .466. While his overall numbers this season look (Ops of .968)ok, his strikeout rate over the last year and a half is alarming. The old Wright had an ability to just put the ball in play when he had  two strikes on him. Of course he is not alone. Reyes is still getting up to speed and Bay has done virtually nothing on the offensive front. My guess is that these guys will all get hot sooner rather than later. But the make up of the team is pretty streaky. The Mets seem to lack that one consistent offensive force. A player who can hit for some power, and a high average, while keeping the strikeouts to a minimum. That player would seem to be Jose Reyes. Overall, the team's offensive numbers are drab.

The New York  Mets as a team, sit 8th in hr's, 13th in rbi's, and 14th in obp in the National League. They rank 12th in total bases, 11th in runs scored, and 12th in slugging. These numbers tell the story so far in 2010. More often than not, it has been The Met's offense that has fallen short in losses. Their team era of 3.58 is good for 4th in the National League. Their clutch hitting tells a different story. In 276 ab's with runners in scoring position, The Mets have hit just 5 home runs, have 92 rbi's and hit for a  .228 batting average.They also have a whopping 76 strikeouts. Until they can get good wood on the ball with runners on base, I think The Mets are destined to be around the .500 mark.

Mets don't have the 'Wright' stuff to sweep Giants

With their brooms cocked and ready to finish off a sweep of The SF Giants, The Mets fell just short, losing 6-5 in disappointing fashion. Facing two-time reigning Cy Young winner Tim Lincecum, the Mets crawled their way back from a 5-0 deficit, taking a 5-4 lead in the 7th inning, on a sac fly by David Wright. But after a lead off double in the 9th by Jason Bay,  Wright promptly was thrown out of the game by home plate umpire for arguing a called third strike, his 4th k of the game. Ike Davis and Jeff Francoeur also struck out, leaving Bay stranded, and some Met's fans disappointed. The Mets almost overcame another poor start by Oliver Perez, who walked seven batters in 3-1/3 innings, giving up 4 runs (3 earned).

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