The Turbulence Will Continue

By Ed "In Westchester" Semlies
Posted Tuesday, July 3, 2007

After a horrid month of June, in terms of schedule and results, the Mets have half a season left to show what they are made of. July started off with the final game of the four-game set with the Phillies which resulted in a loss. Despite starting the month of June with a 3-15 mark, they closed going 9-3, and maintain a four-game lead in the division.

But what’s next? Injuries were a problem in the beginning of June, and we seem to be starting July in the same way. First, Sosa pulls up lame running out a ground ball. Then, Ollie has his start pushed back due to back pain, and he has now joined Sosa on the DL. The good news is that neither should miss more than two starts, given the All Star Break next week. Besides the aforementioned pitchers, Franco is battling knee pain, Valentin is going to have to rest his knee, Endy Chavez is out for the foreseeable future, and Easley has knee issues as well. We still don’t have Alou back, and no one knows if and when we will. We still have The Show pitching with a severed tendon in his leg. Speaking of which, have you seen his splits? At home, he has the following ERA – 9.53 17 IP, 21 hits, 19 runs, 18 earned, 5 HR, 15 walks with a .318 BAA. Away, it is like night and day - ERA – 0.00 (yes ZERO, not a typo) 11.2 IP, 10 hits, 1 run, 0 earned, 0 HR, 5 walks, .233 BAA. So, it looks like The Show must go on the road.

Seriously though, the bench is stretched thin right now. Something needs to be done about it. I have supported Franco for a while now, but it may be time for him to go on the DL. When healthy he is not the swiftest of runners. When your first pinch hitter option is slowed with a knee injury, you need to get him rest. The team cannot continue to live with a short bench and little production from it. Perhaps Lastings Milledge can come back shortly. I know it is not ideal to have what is essentially a rookie on the bench, but he brings more pop than Franco at this point. The point is that with two bench players battling knee issues, and one of them is the back-up to your second baseman who has the same problem, the roster needs to be juggled.

Add to the injuries the recent turmoil with Lo Duca. He blew up last week leading to a media-created firestorm. He has since told the press he is no longer talking to them. The capper may have been the story by Rubin about how the Mets were already looking into a replacement in the coming offseason. Now, it is possible they may let him go, but I’m suspicious of the timing of the story. Odds are Omar has had guys targeted for quite a while. Why did Rubin write this now?

So, now we enter the second half of the season. What’s next? Can they build on the four-game lead? Can they hold off the Braves and Phillies? The next seven games are on the road against Colorado and Houston. Then the All Star Break, followed by four home games against the Reds. Then, back on the road for three in San Diego and four in LA. They close the month with three at home against the Pirates and four against the Nationals, with the opener of a three game road set against the Brewers on July 31. Not the hardest schedule, but not easy. If the injury situation can improve, and Omar can swing some deals for pieces (I am NOT advocating a trade at this point for a starting pitcher. Bench guy, sure. Bullpen help, yeppers. Left Fielder is Alou is done for the year, absofreakinglutely.) It is going to be an interesting 28 days up to the deadline. Remember, In Omar we Trust.
 

Ed is happy with a 4 game lead, but is greedy and wishes it were 10. Come read more of his rants at http://edinwestchester.blogspot.com/ as well as check him out every Tuesday at Flushing University.