Dickey had Detroit off-balance for much of the game. And even when the Tigers threatened, Dickey, as he so often has since joining the Mets last month, escaped unscathed. He didn’t allow more than one base runner in an inning after the first and retired the last 13 batters he faced. He also allowed just one Tiger to get on after Johnny Damon’s single in the third and struck out four while walking two. And Dickey did all this while rarely even cracking the mid-80s on the radar gun with any of his 97 pitches and with a manager who now trusts him much more than when he came up. - link
He was once a relatively highly touted prospect in the minors for the Mets and his usefulness rather has seemed to diminish. However, he hasn't let that the rain on his parade bring down his performance, which may now hold a new meaning to the organization. Evans has developed into a first baseman, after the Mets had experimented with him in the outfield over the last couple of years. This is the problem for Evans' chances at making it with the Mets. His road to the Majors is blocked by top prospect Ike Davis, whose maturity and power have secured him a much-deserved spot in the lineup every day. And there is no room in the Mets outfield or even the bench at this point. -
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Carlos Beltran (arthritic knee, ERD 7/15) - In what is sure to be a continuing series, the Beltran watch is now headed for a rehab assignment, which will start tomorrow at High-A St. Lucie. Beltran was watched by the Mets' top brass, including Omar Minaya, during an extended spring training game on Sunday and they felt the center fielder was ready to start his 20-day rehab clock. I've pushed the idea that Beltran needs to be up in Flushing as soon as he's physically able, but several people inside the game have told me that while there's merit in the concept, Beltran is human and needs a "spring training equivalent." The downside here is that he's going to be taxing the knee during that time. Of course, that's what rehab assignments are for. They'll be very controlled, perhaps not so much as the simulated games he's been in, but Beltran will have very specific steps and tests at each point. He'll have the DH option in most games as well, something he won't have when he makes it back to the Mets. Watching how often he needs to play there is going to be a big tell for his progress. The key will be how his knee responds and the Mets' ability to manage the inflammation and bruising that will inevitably occur inside the knee. The brace he is wearing is helping, but the continued idea that he's a center fielder is not. I'm most curious to see when that will be abandoned. One interesting concept that was tossed out by an MLB athletic trainer was the idea that Beltran could hit well enough to be in the lineup every day, but not play the field consistently. He wondered if there's a level and a cost where Beltran might make sense for an AL team. If Beltran were to show that, the idea of him being a modern-day Harold Baines would have to be intriguing for some teams as well as for the Mets escaping at least some of Beltran's contract. It's very equivalent to what the Twins did with Jim Thome, though he was a free agent. - link
A number of Pacific League pitchers are tied for the league lead in wins with nine each, including the Nippon Ham Fighters Bobby Keppel (9-1, 2.73). The ERA leader is also Nippon Ham Fighters Yu Darvish (6-4, 1.51). With those two pitchers you have to wonder why the Fighters are settled in last place. When you can’t score runs it is difficult to win games - link
I think that Bay has gotten slightly unlucky on his balls in play to the right side this year, but ther’s good reason for such a .156 BABIP. 1 out of every four balls he hits to the right side is a popup, which is basically an automatic out. That percentage is almost double of his 2008 numbers. Bay’s groundball rate is also extremely low, and grounders have a higher BABIP on average than fly balls. Right field at Citi Field is cavernous, and for Bay to hit flys 85% of the time he hits to right field is a death wish. The power droppage to right field, and overall for that matter, is stunning, but not necessarily shocking. The change in Bay’s stance isn’t overwhelming, but it may be a marginal cause for his weak numbers for the season. Only time will tell if Bay can get back into form. - link
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