Meet the Mets

A'S 4, SOX 0
The Sox turned back the hands of time to the magical days of last week, when the offense couldn't score to save its life, leading to a frustrating loss.

That's now the 3rd time this year the Sox have lost the final game of a series they've won the first 2 games of. Which brings me to one of my baseball pet peeves, the statement of "We're just trying to win every series".

Well, you'd obviously rather win a series than lose one, I agree. But, somewhere along the line you have to start sweeping series instead of just taking 2 out of 3. The Sox have yet to record a 3 game sweep this year, and as a result are only 3 games over .500. Detroit is now 11 games over .500 and the Indians are 10 games over.

So, by "just winning every series", the White Sox would have to win 8 series in a row while the Tigers and Indians both play .500 ball for the next 24 games for the Sox to move into a tie for first. It's damn near impossible to sustain such a high level of play that you take two out of 3 over 8 consecutive series. A much easier route would be to rip off a sweep of the Devil Rays this weekend, then win a couple series in a row, and then you're right there.

Winning every series is a good aim if you are leading a division. If you're chasing like the Sox are, you need to do more, and that's why last night's loss pisses me off.

So anyway, that's it for the Sox today. Now we continue our survey of all 30 MLB teams in 30 days. Today, we visit the NY Mets.



NEW YORK METS 29-16 1ST PLACE NL EAST +2.5


SCHEDULE
The Mets have taken kind of an odd path to their impressive record. They are only 14-10 at home, and only 12-10 against their own division. However, they are 15-6 on the road and 17-6 against teams outside of the NL East. One source of concern is that the Mets have dropped both of their series against the Braves this year, and could be 0 for 3 pending today's rubber match against the Bravos.

LINEUP



GOOD GUYS
I pretty much draw the line in the sand for a good major league hitter as somebody who has an OPS of .800 or better. As a team the Mets are just under that, at .793, which is really impressive. While they don't have anybody who is putting up insane numbers so far this year, they have a lot of guys who are having very solid starts. Chief among them is Carlos Beltran, who has an .898 OPS and is on pace for 30 homers and 120 RBI.

They also have probably the most unique offensive weapon in the game right now in shortstop Jose Reyes. Reyes has an amazing 7 triples already this year amongst his 22 extra base hits, and leads MLB in stolen bases by a mile with 26 (Juan Pierre is in second with 17). Offensively, Reyes is truly a throwback to the 70s and 80s when speed ruled the game.

The Mets are also getting good contributions from veteran Shawn Green, who is batting 60 points over his 06 average at .317, and Pee Pee Hands Alou, who is hitting .318 with an .819 OPS. 3B David Wright isn't putting up the kind of numbers he has the last 2 seasons, but an .843 OPS still helps the team.

BAD GUYS
1B Carlos Delgado has been in a season long funk. He has only 3 home runs and is hitting .216 with a .610 OPS. Other than that though, the Mets don't really have any other regulars who have been struggling.

ROTATION



#1 Tom Glavine
He's a Hall of Famer, and at 41 he's still got the goods to be the anchor of a contender's staff. His ERA of 3.23 and WHIP of 1.28 are proof of that.

#2 John Maine
Was quite unexpectedly one of the best pitchers in MLB in April, with the Mets winning in his first seven starts. His May has been not so good though.

#3 Oliver Perez
Great stuff if he can get it over the plate. So far, he has, with a 53/18 K/BB ratio, and an ace-like 1.06 WHIP.

#4 Jorge Sosa
Has been a swingman virtually his whole career, shuttling between the rotation and the bullpen of the D-Rays and Braves. He's been really good in 4 starts for the Mets, but his lack of command and high number of walks is going to catch up with him like it always does.

#5 Orlando Hernandez/Jason Vargas/Mike Pelfrey
El Duque is taking his mandatory annual 2 month DL sojuourn, so in the meantime the Mets are holding auditions to try and fill the fifth starter spot. Pelfrey was the 9th overall pick in the 05 draft out of Wichita State, and had an ERA under 3 at 3 minor league levels last year, but an ERA over 6 at the major league level this year. He's back in the minors now. He's been replaced by Jason Vargas, a lefthander who was a second round pick for the Marlins in 04 and who pitched pretty well for them in 05 before a disastrous year last year. Vargas has made one start and wasn't impressive, so it looks like the door will keep revolving in this spot until El Duque returns.

CLOSER
Billy Wagner
Rock solid here, Wagner is one of the best in the game every single year. This year he has 11 saves and a 0.90 WHIP.

BULLPEN
Being that the Mets' rotation is a little shaky, it's important that they have a good bullpen, and so far they have. Righthander Joe Smith was a 3rd round draftee last year, and this year is showing closer type stuff after struggling in Double A ball last year, sporting a 1.02 WHIP and 23/7 KWR. Pedro Feliciano has a .167 BAA and is the lefthanded setup man, while Aaron Heilman and Ambiorix Burgos have also been solid from the righthanded side.

BENCH
Damion Easley inexplicably has 7 home runs and a .903 OPS right now. He seems to be coming into his own at 37 years old. Endy Chavez has also been a productive sub, he's batting .354 and has 7 extra base hits in 65 at bats.

DOWN ON THE FARM
Expect former Padre Brian Lawrence to get a whirl as the 5th starter sometime soon. The Mets signed him and he's now getting some starts at AAA New Orleans. OF Carlos Gomez has 17 stolen bases for NOLA. 24 year old righty Phillip Humber is probably the best pitching prospect in the org right now outside of Pelfrey. He's got a nifty 15/40 KWR in AAA, but a not-so-nifty 4.59 ERA.

30 DAY OUTLOOK
3 at FLA (11-12 at home)
3 vs. SF (10-12)
3 vs. ARI (12-12)
3 vs. PHI (10-13)
3 at DET (14-8)
3 at LAD (15-9)
3 at NYY (12-10)
3 vs. MIN (12-11)
3 vs. OAK (12-11)

Combined Opp Record Next 30 Days: 108-98
Predicted Record Next 30 Days: 13-11
Predicted Record Next Checkup: 42-27

TOMORROW: The Detroit Tigers