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

Power!

One day after Carlos Beltran's three home run barrage, The New York Mets flexed their collective biceps with a late game come from behind display of power. This has really been the biggest difference in the successful playoff caliber teams of 2006-2008, and the dismal impotent version of the past two years. For the first time in over a year, The Mets were able to overcome a four run deficit, when trailing after the 7th inning. The Mets suddenly have some middle of the order beef with a resurgent Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Ike Davis and if Jason Bay could ever break out, I say watch out NL East!.

The Forgotten Met....F-Mart's Time is Now..

Still only 22, Fernando Martinez has seen his stock slide to the point that fans seemed indifferent at the news that their once "hot prospect" had been called up to the big club. With the injury to Ike Davis, the Mets could have called up first baseman Nick Evans, but instead have chosen to call up of Fernando Martinez, who could be primed to steal AB's from back up outfielders Willy Harris and Scott Hairston. Fmart, as he is known, was ranked the 30th best prospect in all of baseball as recently as 2009. With good health I expect him to shine and possibly work his way into the outfield rotation.

Johan Santana "The Man" As He Blanks The Redlegs 3-0!

Johan Santana took matters into his own hands tonight. With whispers of his demise by all NY Rags, Johan Santana quieted the potent offense of the Cincinnati Reds on a 113 pitch, three hit, compete game shutout. Johan, who takes pride in all facets of his game, hit the RF foul pole for his first Major League homerun. With runners on second and third in the 6th inning Jason Bay made Dusty Baker pay for leaving in lefty starter Matt Maloney. His two run single gave the Mets a three run lead. The team sparkled in the field as David Wright, playing like a GG third baseman, and Ike Davis making nice plays in the field.

Mets No One Trick Pony, Go On Binge To Devour Twinkies!

Johan Santana struggles? So what. The Mets are no longer a team with only one quality starting pitcher. With the maturation of Mike Pelfrey, and now Jonathon Niese, the Mets continue to win series after series and are sending notice to all the pundits that they are a team that will be in it for the long haul. Bring on the dog days of summer. With the Mets offense flexing some muscle, the Mets beat the Twinkies 6-0, behind the arm of Jonathon Niese. Jeff Francoeur, who's streakiness bedevils all batting coaches, got the Mets on the board in the 4th with a two run shot to left field. David Wright and Issac Davis hit back to back HR's in the fifth. Rod Barajas capped the scoring with an rbi single, the Mets fourth straight hit of the inning. The Mets who won series from both the Tigers and Twins on their 4 and 2 homestand improved to 28-12 at Citifield. Not to shabby. Think that doesn't get into a team's head? I beg to differ. Here is hoping they land Cliff Lee which would allow them to put Hisanori Takahashi into the bullpen where his versatility would be an asset.  With Carlos Beltran improving daily during his minor league rehabilitation, The Mets look to be in great shape to make a run this summer.

Mets Tame Tigers! Outslug Detroit in the rain 14-6

The first three Mets jumped on Justin Verlander, then the skies opened up and the Mets poured it on the Tiger's bullpen. Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan, and David Wright went a combined 9 for 15, scoring nine runs and driving in seven. The Mets thrashed the Tigers 14-6 to rebound from back to back losses against The New York Yankees. Facing the fearsome, righty-heavy lineup that is the Tigers, and their powerful ace must have seemed like a daunting task for lefty Jonathan Niese, but the Mets got to Verlander early, scoring two runs in the first inning. They led off the third with three straight baserunners, highlighted by Jason Bay's rbi double over the head of centerfielder Austin Jackson. Thats when the rain started coming down heavy prompting the umpire to stop play.When the skies cleared and play resumed, The Mets had second and third with nobody out and Detroit had rookie Jay Sborz, making his MLB debut. Things turned ugly for Detroit as Sborz hit the first two batter he faced and the Mets put up an 8 spot in the bottom of the third. With a 10-0 lead, Niese who was lights out before the rains, struggled and allowed the Tigers to creep back into the game. He couldn't finish five, so it was up to the Mets bullpen to finish the game. Fernando Nieve, Bobby Parnell, and Ryota Igarashi pitched the final 4.1 innings of shutout relief, as the Mets improved to ten games over .500 at 40-30.
Note-Word is that Carlos Beltran will start his minor league rehab on Thursday, and could be back within three weeks. I, for one, can't wait to stick him in the middle of our lineup. I think anyone calling for him to stay away from the team are purely insane.

Takahashi Tames Yankees, Mets extend streak to Eight!

Mike Francesa said on his radio show today (WFAN, NYC 660AM) that he thought Mets starter Hisanori Takahashi is a five inning pitcher. He also said that he thought The Yankees would "bang him around". Well Mike..you can suck my Dickey! Takahashi extended his shutout streak against the Yankees to 12 innings in winning his sixth game against just two losses. The Mets, winners of eight straight games, including their seventh straight on the road, continue to exceed expectations. Written off for dead back in mid May, the Mets keep on getting baseball's most important commodity. Great starting pitching. Nursing a 1-0 lead, the crafty lefty Takahashi looked more like a vintage Tom Glavine than a  journeyman, by wiggling out of a bases loaded jam in the 6th retiring Jorge Posada to end the Yankee's most serious threat. Ike Davis drove in the Mets first run with a single in the first inning. Angel Pagan added some insurance with a two run opposite field single in the eight, before Jose Reyes capped off the scoring with a rbi single in the ninth. The Mets bullpen continued to do the job with Pedro Feliciano pitching two strong innings before Frankie K gave everyone Agita by loading the bases in the ninth inning before escaping the jam for his 16th save.

Santana, Mets outlast Indians 7-6

Johan Santana overcame a rocky start and pitched 7 sturdy innings for his 5th victory of the year. The Mets beat the Indians 7-6, as Ike Davis' two run 5th inning homer proved to be the game winner. Jose Reyes got things going in the first inning, scoring from third on a David Wright infield single.The Misadventures of the Indians infield manifested itself in a 5 run fifth, capped by Reyes' mad dash home from 2nd base on an infield single by David Wright..

The Hebrew Hammer nails Pods in the 11th, Mets win 2-1

Isaac Benjamin " The Hebrew Hammer" Davis crushed a 1-1 off speed pitch deep into the night to give the Mets their ninth straight win at  Citi Field. Davis hit his 7th homerun into the upper deck in right field to back the stellar pitching of Mike Pelfrey and the New York Met's bullpen. Jose Reyes hit his second homerun of the season in the bottom of the 7th to knot the game at 1-1. Reyes had been in a mini slump but seemed to break out tonight with a 2-4 game. Pelfrey was outstanding again, pitching 9 innings of one run baseball. Elmer Dessens got the final out in the 11th to earn his first win as a Met.

Mets feast at home. Gorge Marlins 6 to 1.

The New York Mets continued to feast on their opponents at home, turning back the Marlins 6 to 1. Jonathan Niese, in his first start since coming off the DL, pitched a strong 7 innings, giving up only one run while striking out six batters. Ike Davis went 4 for 4 and David Wright drove in three runs, hitting his second homerun of the season at Citi Field and his tenth overall. Rookie Ruben Tejada drove in a run with a double and Jeff Francouer continued to contribute with his 30th run batted in.

Mets Survive Maine's early exit, outlast the Washington Nationals 10-7.

Watch John Maine walk off the mound after only one batter. John Maine walked off the mound after only five pitches tonight. The Mets in a precautionary move, decided to pull Maine after noticing diminished velocity in the bullpen before the game. David Wright led the rejuvenated offense with a three run bases clearing double in the top of the first inning. He also added a sacrifice fly and didn't strike out for the first time since a  May 2nd game against the Phillies. Rod Barajas hit a two run home run, his team leading tenth of the year. Jeff Francoeur seems to be heating up, adding a two run single. Jason Bay and Ike Davis each had had three hits, scoring five times. The hero tonight out of the pen was journeyman Raul Valdes, who gave up one run in five innings before tiring and giving up two runs  in the 6th. The Mets are now 20-22, and face the Yankees and Phillies over the next six games. This could be a pivotal stretch of games for manager Jerry Manuel.

Mets show some nuts in big win over SF!

You want heroes tonight? We have them. Mike Pelfrey, who had to cancel his bullpen session before this start pitches into the 8th with a 4-3 lead. The Mets got defensive gems by Ike Davis and Luis Castillo, and a two HR game from both Davis and clutch backstop Rod Barajas, his third multi-HR game game of the year. Even Jason Bay got off the snide with a run scoring double in the 1st inning. Overall, although the team committed three errors, they made plays when they had to, and once again, showed some fight. Even more impressive for Barajas, who did it in front of his still seething, high priced counterpart, the SF backstop Bengie Molina. Frankie K, after blowing the save in the 9th, gets the win for The Metsies.