Amazin' Avenue: An SB Nation Community

Navigation: Jump to content areas:



Sports blogs for fans, by fans.
Around SBN: The USA TODAY/Bloody Elbow Top 50 MMA Fights Ever, I


Don't Need No Help: Mets 4, Pirates 0

Johan Santana pitches his best game of the season, the Mets' best-pitched game of the season, and the fourth-highest game score in the National League this year. Yes, it was against the Pirates, but it was still tremendous. Seven strikeouts, no walks, three hits. He improves to 11-7, but with a bit more run support and a lot more bullpen support, he'd be at 15 or 16 and would be a legitimate Cy Young candidate.

It's nice to know that David Wright can get a day off and the Mets can embarrass themselves by batting Damion Easley third and still come away with an easy win. Dan Murphy has eight walks and six strikeouts in 41 at-bats. He's not going to hit .415 the rest of the way, but he has a good enough idea at the plate to be considerably useful. The same can't be said for Nick Evans, who will probably earn a temporary demotion if Luis Castillo comes back before the end of the month.

Speaking of Castillo, it says a lot (bad) about Easley and Argenis Reyes when I find myself looking forward to Castillo's return. Easley is down to .265/.314/.354 and Reyes is at .280/.316/.320. Reyes's average is surprisingly solid, but he has zero plate discipline and no power to speak of. Castillo doesn't have any power either, but he does a solid job of getting on base, which is far more than we can say about Reyes or Easley.

The Phillies squeaked out a win in San Diego, so the Mets' lead remains at two games, though the Marlins' loss to the Cubs drops them 4.5 games behind. The Mets wrap up their series with the Pirates at 12:35 on Monday.

Big winners: Johan Santana, +39.6% WPA, Brian Schneider, +26.4% WPA
Big losers: Damion Easley, -8.3% WPA, Fernando Tatis, -7.5% WPA
Teh aw3s0mest play: Schneid-dog two-run homer, +17.5% WPA
Teh sux0rest play: Easley double-play in 3rd, -5.9% WPA
Total pitcher WPA: +39.6%
Total batter WPA: +%10.4

0 recs | Comment 8 comments

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

Display:

Who is this guy?

From the NYTimes: “Damion Easley, who shares second base with Argenis Reyes, played third Sunday in place of Wright and will play shortstop Monday.”

Damn, people. Easley is becoming Joe McEwing this weekend. I hope he gets moved to catcher at some point today – maybe when the Mets are up 15-2.

by IanB in MD on Aug 18, 2008 9:18 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Best of the worst

Reyes and Easley are both below .700, too. Castillo is the only one with a respectable OBP.

by Eric Simon on Aug 18, 2008 11:40 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Sad but true

I can’t wait to see how low that OPS dips in year 4 of Castillo’s awful contract. Assuming he can still walk then.

by ams258 on Aug 18, 2008 11:42 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

I don't want Castillo to come back, ever.

It’s total hearsay, I know, but has anyone else noticed how much better on Jose Reyes plays when Castillo is not around?

I’m not talking “not at second base.” I’m talking “not anywhere near the team.”

We've got ourselves a ball club, the Mets of New York town!

by kingcritical on Aug 18, 2008 11:45 AM EDT reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Maybe that's why Castillo is on permanent rehab?

'Catsmeat!' he cried. 'I see it all. It was that chump, Catsmeat.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Aug 18, 2008 11:48 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

let's hope so...

I’ve heard rumors about coke and hookers.

Not that I have a problem in general with ballplayers or anyone else doing coke and hookers, but if it’s going to fuck up one of the best young players on your favorite team, then yeah, I’ve got a big problem.

The Mets have been down that road already. They don’t need to trod that ground again.

We've got ourselves a ball club, the Mets of New York town!

by kingcritical on Aug 18, 2008 11:51 AM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Coke and hookers

Castillo? Really? I haven’t heard those rumors about him going all LoDuca on us.

by BobbyV_Incognito on Aug 18, 2008 6:50 PM EDT to parent up reply reply actions actions   0 recs

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Start posting about the Mets »

Join SB Nation and dive into communities focused on all your favorite teams.

FanPosts

Community blog posts and discussion.

Recommended FanPosts

Aaavatar_small
When Fernando Met Wilmer
Hobodan_small
Looking for Local Recommendations
Me_at_att_park_small
A Lighthearted Interview with Brooklyn Cyclone Joey August

Recent FanPosts

Images-1_small
David Wright: Behind the Blow
Aaavatar_small
Mets Community Prospect List: #9
Small
How would you grade the Mets?
Aaavatar_small
Mets Community Prospect List: #8
Aaavatar_small
Mets Community Prospect List: #7
Aaavatar_small
Mets Community Prospect List: #6 RUNOFF!
Aaavatar_small
Mets Community Prospect List: #6
Images-1_small
Promotion Time?
Aaavatar_small
Mets Community Prospect List: #5
Sheff_doc_small
Community Prospect Comps #1

Post_icon New FanPost All FanPosts Carrot-mini

FanShots

Quick hits of video, photos, quotes, chats, links and lists that you find around the web.

Recommended FanShots

I was inspired by Eric's comment that Olerud had the best 3-year run as a Met outside Carlos Beltran to look at a few different Mets, and when I noticed that two of my all-time favorite players (Alfonzo and Strawberry) were kinda screwed by having (relatively)bad seasons in between some really good seasons, I decided to see which Mets had the best 3 seasons, period (non-consecutively). Beltran still comes out on top, but my all-time favorite player Alfonzo comes in 2nd place, and him and Straw are the only two to have three 6.0+ WAR seasons. Also interesting that Hundley comes out ahead of Gary Carter, Cleon Jones almost finishes ahead of Mike Piazza, and Joe McEwing doesn't make the list.

Recent FanShots

Johan Santana: Master of Tomfoolery
Zach Lutz Heating Up?
Thole, Mejia Updates from Oliveras
Matt and Ted's Excellent Adventure
Project Prospect Updated Top 50
Fangraphs Profiles Jenrry Mejia
Edes: Mets Might Be On A Road To Nowhere
Josh Thole Drop of Sunshine
Carson Dominates Third Straight Start
David Wright vs John Franco?

Post_icon New FanShot All FanShots Carrot-mini

Sponsors


THE BIG GUY

Aa_avatar_small Eric Simon

THE INCREDIBLES

Sheff_doc_small Sam Page

Best_infield_ever_small JamesK

THE NEWS GURU

Wrightfront_small Joe Budd

Official Partner of Yahoo! Sports