The LTJ Editorial - “Hot bats, Harvey dominates, and the outfield strikes back!”

“The LTJ Editorial”
Author: Luis Tirado Jr.
Date: 4-5-13
E-Mail: NYLuis7@gmail.com
Twitter/Instagram: @Slayerdemise

“Hot bats, Harvey dominates, and the outfield strikes back!”

Can you believe it? The NY Mets have scored 19 runs, 19 RBI’s, and 4 HR’s after a three game series with the San Diego Padres which they took 2-1! They have 21 Hits so far and have collectively produced some solid hitting to keep those runs running over home plate. It’s great to see Batting Coach Dave Hudgens continuing to develop the talents of the team as they are hitting with much more patience. He takes their strengths and puts them in a position to succeed. He’s been known to do that in his 35+ years of experience and if this keeps up, we’re going to hear even more cracks of those bats as these series keep coming.

This past Wednesday, being a NY native, let me tell you something about the weather that night. It was that kind of brisk cold that slapped you across the face with a relentless wind that made you regret not wearing a hoodie. It’s that crazy cold weather when it’s supposed to be warmer but regardless, we still have to bundle up and wear jackets everywhere we go. Matt Harvey threw fastballs with such aggression, it’s as if heat generated from his hands to send the wind gusts away from his direction. He threw for 10 SO’s, allowed just one hit and two walks in what was a very impressive season debut. It was such a great start, even David Price tweeted about Harvey’s performance!

Collin Cowgill, Marlon Byrd, and Lucas Duda have so far put a statement in the form of HR’s, Grand Slams, and RBI’s to silence critics. On what most conceived to be an anemic outfield in regards to hitting, they are going in the very opposite direction. Cowgill hit a Grand Slam, Byrd hits almost everything thrown his way, and Duda is going back to knocking homeruns out of Citi Field. Perhaps all the negative press the outfield was getting since Michael Bourn took his talents to Atlanta inspired the outfield to produce more. Regardless, I love it and hope this continues to be what we see game in, game out.

Personally, I don’t see why NY Yankees fans always……. ALWAYS have to talk trash about the Mets because we have a better record than they do. Are you serious? We’re not even a week into this season. We only play each other six times a year, there is no rivalry at all. I love NY (pun intended) and I root for all our professional teams. Knicks, Rangers, Islanders, Jets, Giants, Mets, Redbulls, if any team is from New York, I will root for them. My allegiance in the wild world of professional baseball has always been for the Mets. I’d never talk trash about the Yankees only to the ignorant few who yell out “Mets suck!” and when I ask them name me your pitching rotation, all they can say is Jeter. Real baseball fans know the Yankees will be on the decline as they spend the next few years rebuilding. It’s not that they suck, they’re in a transition where most teams hit every so often because they need to bring in more youthful talent. The Mets will start to produce much better winning seasons, it’s going to happen. Trust me.

Sadly, we won’t be seeing #57 at any point this year as he’s out for the season with the same shoulder problems he’s had in the past on his throwing arm. Shawn Marcum is also sidelined with an inflammation on his neck which is prohibiting him for pitching. Due to this, his starting spot will be given to Aaron Laffey. Hopefully within a week or so Marcum will be ready to start a game so we can see what he brings to the table. I’m definitely concerned but just not yet, let’s see what happens a week from now with his status.

John Buck has been a pleasant surprise so far in his Mets debut. He’s hit two homers, is doing his thing behind the plate, and now brings a nice dimension in the hitting rotation. I didn’t think he would perform so well since everyone was writing him off that he was only a placeholder until d’Arnaud gets called up when he started to slump. He’s showing no such sign of this and is making sure d’Arnaud keeps getting experience in Triple-A which is always a good thing.

Next series up for the Mets is against the Miami Marlins, the first series against another team in the NL East. Hefner, Niese, and Laffey will be dueling with Sanabia, Nolasco, and Fernandez this weekend. It’ll also be the first weekend games at Citi Field so make sure to go out to the ballpark and support our Mets!