Hope is high. Expectations are low. There are the optimists and pessimists, as well as the realists and delusional. The truth is that we cannot predict with any degree of confidence, what the 2010 season will bear. If one of our pitchers has a good spring training outing are hopes rise. And they fall precipitously after a bad outing. Perez’s Saturday outing of 4 innings of no hit, 2 walk ball is the perfect example. If only he could pitch like this every time. Three of our biggest question marks for this season are Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez, and John Maine. They are penciled in as our #2, 3, and 4 starters. We can guess all we want about how many wins they will combine for. My prediction of between 20 and 45 wins is not very useful. The low end would likely spell the doom of fourth or fifth place and the upper end would surely have the Mets competing for at least the wild card. - for more click here
So is K-Rod on the decline? Some quick glances at the back of his baseball card give you reason to think he might be. A decline in strikeout rate sometimes is an indicator. In 2004, K-Rod hit a peak of 13.2 K/9 which dropped to below 10 last year (9.7) for the first time in his career. As a matter of fact, last year’s decline was about a 25% drop from just two years earlier. K-Rod’s K/9 has also declined each of the last six years. Some will point to his Fielding Independent Pitching numbers which has always have been a run more than his ERA, even during historic 2008 campaign. The natural drop in strikeouts will do that because the metrics high value on it. Finally, breaking down last season using Pitch F/X there really is no difference in velocity or release point from the prior season. His velocity did drop a tick on average in the second half (half a mile on the fastball), but nothing that stands out. - check out Pitch F/X
On Opening Day at New York's Shea Stadium, Tom Seaver's right knee got dirty, and all the world was young. There was a little more to the day than that, of course, but as Seaver fans are well aware, when he gets a dirt smudge on the right knee of his pants, it means he's sharp. For the first time since June 15, 1977, Seaver, the symbol of the Mets' greatest successes, was in a New York uniform. The largest Opening Day crowd at Shea in 15 years, 51,054, came out to see his return against the Phillies, and the crowd, the weather and Seaver were better than anybody could have hoped. At 10:30 a.m. Seaver left his house in Greenwich, Conn., having said goodby to the women in his life: wife Nancy, daughters Sarah and Anne and mother Betty. "Take your time," said Mom. "Don't rush and don't fall off the mound. Don't swear and don't spit." - for more...
NOT LONG FOR CAMP
1. Luis Atilano
LOCKS
1. Brian Bruney - 2. Matt Capps - 3. Tyler Clippard - 4. Sean Burnett
LIKELY ON
5. Jason Bergmann -
COMPETING - 1. Miguel Batista (also may be a starter) - 2. Jesse English
3. Doug Slaten - 4. Craig Stammen (also may be a starter) - 5. J.D. Martin (also may be a starter)
6. Tyler Walker - 7. Drew Storen - nat link
Davis played 18 seasons in the majors (plus two years in Japan) and was a member of two World Series championship teams in Los Angeles in 1963 and 1965. He produced 2,561 hits (82nd all time) and stole 398 bases (68th). Davis also won three consecutive Gold Gloves from 1971-73 although Dodgers fans may remember him more for the record three errors on two consecutive plays in the fifth inning of Game Two of the 1966 Fall Classic against the Baltimore Orioles (which happened to be the last game that Sandy Koufax pitched). Willie's nickname was "Three Dog," not for the errors or what sometimes appeared to be his lackadaisical play in the field but rather for the number he wore on the back of his uniform. His 31-game hitting streak in 1969 broke Zack Wheat's franchise record of 29 in 1916. The three-time All-Star fell upon hard times during the 1990s. He abused alcohol and drugs and was arrested at his parents' home in Gardena for allegedly threatening to kill them and burn down their house unless they gave him $5,000. The Dodgers subsequently reached out to Davis and hired him to work in their speakers bureau. I last saw and spoke to him at a game three years ago and am thankful for that opportunity. He recalled my Dad, who covered the Dodgers from 1958-1968. Davis looked frail to me, but he seemed to be in good spirits. I will always remember him for his positive contributions to my favorite team while growing up. - Bums Link
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