Should Ryan Howard Be a Phillie for Life?

Ryan Howard launched his seventh career grand slam last Monday night in St. Louis. The bomb propelled the Phillies to a 6-1 win over the Cardinals and kept them neck and neck with the Marlins in the tight NL East.

But the slam also put Howard in unique company—something this 29-year-old superstar should be accustomed to by now.

Howard tied Hall-of-Famer Mike Schmidt for most grand slams as a member of the Phillies (seven). 

Think about that for a second.

Schmidt launched 548 career home runs over nearly 17 years. Only seven of those were grand slams. Michael Jack also knocked in 1,595 RBI.

Howard now has 182 career home runs in just over four seasons. The 2005 Rookie of the Year was already the fastest to 100 home runs in MLB history. His 518 RBI are nearly one third Schmidt’s total amount already. He’s on a pace that, should he play the same 17 years Schmidt did, that he could hit an astounding 728 home runs.

A lot can happen between now and then, just ask Ken Grifffey, Jr.

There are more parallels between Howard and Schmidt:

• Both are World Series Champions (1980 for Schmidt, 2008 for Howard).
• Both have been National League MVP’s (1980, 1983, 1986 for Schmidt, 2006 for Howard).
• Both have Silver Slugger awards (Schmidt had six, Howard has one).
• And both have racked up the strikeouts. Schmidt is seventh all-time, with 1,883 strikeouts (oddly enough, the Phillies were founded in 1883).  Howard has 717. 

While that last one is probably a distinction Howard would rather not share, here is one that he should share:

Schmidt played every game of his career as a Phillie.

The Phillies’ brass, including Pat Gillick and new GM Reuben Amaro, have done a nice job locking up players like Chase Utley and World Series MVP Cole Hamels to long-term deals, effectively “locking up” the young core of the team.

Howard needs to be included in that core.

The Phillies have come a long way from their frugal past, which was best illustrated by the infamous “small market” comment by Bill Giles. But their handling of Howard has been curious.

They learned their lesson the hard way when Howard beat the Phillies for a record $10 million arbitration award before the 2008 season. This offseason, the club bought out the rest of Howard’s arbitration years. 

Let’s just say Ryan can afford a few more $5 foot-longs. $54 million over three years goes a long way.

But what happens after 2011?

The good news for the Phillies is that they have time to wait.

And watch.

And see if Howard continues to deliver.

But if the past four seasons are any indication of what is to come, Howard will be owed a lot of money.

And he will be worth every penny.

Phils Vs. Mets: What Have We Learned?

Some things are just fact: Jayson Werth can do anything he wants to me with that arm, Shane Victorino is the MVP of my dreams, and Raul Ibanez continues to be as hot as a Charlie Manuel bobblehead on a desert dashboard. 

 

And some things are good news: Carlos Ruiz is back.  Every now and then Chooch comes through with a big play that helps me answer the question people pose when I say, “I love him.” 

 

“Why?”

 

Answer: “Did you see Saturday’s game?”

 

He’s as under-appreciated as the elastic on a 42 triple D.  Not that he should be compared to a woman’s undergarment, but I’m a chick—I write what I know.  My point is, you don’t know what you got ‘til it’s gone.

 

That brings us to the bad news.  The reader poll in the Inquirer today asked if Chan Ho Park should be kept in the rotation.  No contemplation was needed when I clicked NO. 

 

I don’t have anything against Chan; he may be quite lovely in person, and I know no one on the Phil’s pitching staff has been banner.  It’s as if there’s a virus going around, like the swine-pitching flu—it just makes them stink. 

 

So much so that after the second inning of Phils/Mets Episode I, my son said, “Where’d we get Park anyway?”  My husband said, “It doesn’t matter, they won’t want him back.”

 

With pitchers who throw innings like Park, it’s no wonder we’ve got the best fielding percentage in the MLB—we get a lot of practice. Man, did I just say that? 

 

I know that’s not nice, but here’s something about professional sports that irks me:  players who don’t play up to their paychecks. Now I’d like to believe it’s not intentional but that’s a lot of freaking money. 

 

Take Adam Eaton for example. In 2006 the Phils signed him to a three-year $24 million contract that was chocked full of candy like a Halloween basket. Then Adam stunk so badly in year two that they released him from his obligation this year with a $9 million parting gift.

 

So what happens if they don’t perform? 

 

You fired?

 

Nope.  I got a contract.  Right there in black and white it says, “Go screw yourselves.”

 

I think if there was a performance clause, we’d find out if the proverbial slump really exists.  Maybe it’s a motivation thing.  I mean it is 180 games.  I haven’t even heard a teacher happy with working that number of days a year.  I guess I’d get a little overwhelmed too, but if I only got to shop if I performed, my husband would be a much happier man.

 

What’s the problem?  Have we raised wimps?  What happened to the good ol’ days of baseball?  The Daily News recently wrote a blurb about two pitchers who long ago both threw complete games—of 21 innings each! 

 

It’s one thing to be in a slump. REM said it best—everybody hurts sometime, but to fail to take steps to rectify it is about as attractive as a cat that stops covering his dumps in a litter box. 

 

Let’s look at it this way.  Say you can’t get it on—batting, pitching, or fielding (what’d you think I was gonna say?), and you’re sitting on the bench re-evaluating your life.  “Should I keep stressing myself out or should I maybe take that cool 16 million I have saved and hit the beach?” 

 

I’d consider the sand. Nobody goes to work all day, every day once they win the lottery—even if they say they will.  But some of them continue to contribute and the best of them learn how to give back.

 

Like Jamie Moyer.

 

If there was ever a guy who seems more gracious for his stint in the MLB, it’s Jamie.

 

Sure watching him run the bases is like watching the bobblehead race on Phanavision, his pitching is as therapeutic as watching fish, and he hasn’t surpassed many MLB milestones outside of longevity.  

 

Wait.  Did I say longevity?  Endurance is a big turn on for me and I’m certain for baseball babes everywhere.  Sure the Phils can’t win ‘em all with bad pitching and ‘come from behind’ wins but Jamie’s pleased a lot of win-hungry fans with an unremarkable fastball and a ‘nothing to write home’ about ERA. 

 

I guess what I’m trying to say is if the Phil’s fight their way to a winning percentage that’s comparable to the one of that other under-appreciated player, we’ll be okay. 

 

Go Jamie. 

 

Go Phils.

 

Get your act together, Chan Ho.

 

The Philadelphia Phillies Broadcasters

The Phillies have many broadcasters, be it TV or radio. The famous Harry Kalas is the first name to come to mind, but there are many other key voices that make watching and listening to the Phillies a huge success. There’s the dynamic radio duo of Scott Franzke and Larry Andersen and there’s the TV trio of Tom McCarthy, Chris Wheeler, and Gary Matthews. And there was Harry Kalas. One of the greatest voices in all of baseball.

Phillies Starters Struggling. Is It Time For A Change?

 

On Friday night against the New York Mets, Chan Ho Park continued his struggles in the 2009 season.  As I watched Park give up yet another home-run, something that has become a trademark of this staff, it got me thinking.  When was the last time a starting pitcher was acquired by the Phillies and actually got better while with the team or even maintained their level of play?

In 2005, Jon Lieber signed a free agent contract with the Phillies.  He spent three seasons with the Phillies compiling a record of 29-30 with an ERA north of 4.50.

There was the signing of Adam Eaton.  For Phillie fans I don’t think I need to elaborate much on this one.  At $24 million it was easily the worst signing of Pat Gillick’s time as the GM.  In fact, the Phillies paid Adam Eaton nearly eight million dollars this year to just go away.

What about the trade for Freddy Garcia?  In 2006, the Phillies gave up prospects Gavin Floyd and Gio Gonzalez for Garcia.  While fans were excited about the Phillies finally acquiring a proven ace, he never did live up to expectations.  Garcia made only 11 starts before being placed on the DL in June of 2007.  He picked up only one win in those 11 starts, a win commonly known as “the ten million dollar win” in reference to his ten million dollar salary.

In 2008, Joe Blanton came to the Phillies midseason.  He was 4-0 in 13 starts with a 4.20 ERA with the Phillies.  Now in 2009, after a full offseason in the Phillies program, he has started 0-2 with an 8.41 ERA and will be making his fifth start today.

During the offseason, the Phillies signed free agent Chan Ho Park.  Park has amassed an 8.57 ERA through his first four starts with the Phillies.

What is the one constant amongst these starters?  Pitching coach Rich Dubee.  Dubee is in his 5th season as the pitching coach of the Phillies.  The only starter who has come to Philly and had any degree of success during his time here has been Jamie Moyer.  I wouldn’t really credit Dubee with any of Jamie’s success.  Moyer has been in the game so long, what is any pitching coach in the league going to tell him that he doesn’t already know?

I am not about to lay all the blame at the feet of Rich Dubee.  However, maybe it is time to make a change in an attempt to alter the fortune of the starting pitching in Philadelphia.

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The New York Mets: The Team That Can’t Execute

I am writing this post-game post in a rage that I really can’t describe in words. I slammed the remote down as Sean Green walked Shane Victorino to force in the winning run for the Phillies, but believe it or not, I am not going to place the blame for the loss on Green. The people who are most to blame for this terrible downfall are the coaching staff, and of course, the guy who has the baseball IQ of a thimble, Jose Reyes.

In case you missed it, Reyes came up in the top of the 10th after Cora, who had a nice day off the bench, singled to start things off. Reyes was asked to put down a bunt against the lefty Jack Taschner, but Reyes couldn’t do it in two attempts. The guy looked clueless, and that reflects on the coaching. Reyes was putting out the bat at the last second, as if he was trying to get a base hit. A five-year old can understand that Cora is the only guy you worry about when you are trying to sacrifice the runner up a base.

Somebody should sit Mr. Reyes down in a room and tell him what the word “sacrifice” means, because Jose just doesn’t understand the concept. After he would eventually strike out, Church singled to center as a pinch hitter. Cora went to third on the play, but if Reyes did his job, he would’ve scored easily, and K-Rod would’ve faced the bottom of the Phillies lineup.

I have come to expect games like this, and that’s when you know you are a true blue Mets’ fan. It seems like they are never on top in the close ones, and that really makes the difference when it comes down to the end of the season. One thing in which I agree with Omar Minaya on is the fact that this team is missing its Keith Hernandez. Nobody stands up. Nobody leads by example. The guy who is supposed to be the cog that makes the engine run doesn’t even know what he is doing, and that is never a good thing.

Another blown opportunity. With the Fish losing today, the Phillies are now just a game back, while the Mets are 4 1/2 games back. I know it is still early, but somebody has to put the following sign up in the Mets’ locker room. “THE GAMES COUNT AS MUCH IN MAY AS THEY DO IN SEPTEMBER!”

What To Do With Oliver Perez

Oliver Perez has certainly been a bit of a project since he became a Met. There have been some days in which he looks ike an ace, and there have been others that make people think that he shouldn’t be in the major leagues. So far this season, there has been more of the latter.

He has only lasted five or more innings once, and that was when he earned his only victory of the season against Dan Diego on April 15. He has already walked 15 batters in just 19.1 innings, and he is going to need to get his act together if he wants to stay in this rotation.

Today should be an interesting start to watch. Perez always seems to step it up for the big games, and then he decided to pitch down to terrible opponents. When you can’t get out of the fifth inning against the Nationals, then you know something is wrong. Today, the dimensions will not be working in his favor in the tiny place that is Citizens Bank Park. Yesterday, we saw Daniel Murphy and Chase Utley each hit home runs that would have surely been caught in Citi Field. Heck, Mike Pelfrey just missed one…which was rather frustrating, because I nearly peed my pants when I saw him hit it.

This lineup is very left handed, and that should work in Perez’s favor, but nothing seems to go as it should for Ollie.

You would have to think that Jimmy Rollins, Utley, Shane Victorino, Ryan Howard and Raul Ibanez would all be in there today, and these are guys who fare much better against right handed pitching. Ollie needs to not try and be so cute, and he needs to go right after them. If one of them clobbers a homer, then so be it, because walks are more frustrating than giving up homers.

Make the opposing team earn it, and learn from Chan Ho Park’s mistakes.

We all probably expect Ollie to come in today and get rocked, but this seems like one of those games that he gets amped up for. The Mets are going to need the good Ollie, and they are going to need to be patient if they want any chance to beat Philadelphia today.

Philadelphia Phils vs. New York Mets: Ahhh, That’s Not Nice

Last night I had to babysit my nephews so I didn’t get to see all of the 7-4 loss first hand (I know, great aunts make for bad fans) but I wanted to share something anyway. 

 

As we’re hanging out at my sister’s house, her boys start fighting which is a pretty common occurrence.  They have testosterone and mutual hatred for each other so sometimes they come to blows. 

So as they’re brawling, I get nervous and decide to intervene, then I try to negotiate and beg, and finally attempt to bribe them to stop until I’m so frustrated that I turn to my husband and yell for his help.  Here’s what he says.

 

“Fight nice, boys.”

 

That’s it.  That’s how he takes care of it. 

 

Now we all know about the Mets/Phils rivalry.  It’s widely broadcast not to mention manicured.   And why not?  As humans we tend to get more motivated to watch an opposition we hate then to admire a team we love. 

And the media knows that too, that’s why they play off it.  It’s helpful in two ways: it gets people to the ballpark and it sells hotdogs.  Everybody wins (except the cows).

 

So I won’t lecture about how mean everyone is being even though I know you think my favorite Hawaiian was mocking Jose Reyes last year.  Yeah, he pointed, you can’t deny it; they got it on tape (something I wish I had around when my child blames the dog). 

But people suffer from lack of judgment now and then, just like when my stepson threw-up in his room and sucked it up with my vacuum.  I set him straight, just like Shane’s roomies did.  But the clapping at third I think was shear enthusiasm, and you know Shane has that. 

And I know everyone in New York’s upset because Jimmy’s always right and Cole was baited into examining a part of the past New Yorker’s just want to forget, but as Charlie Manuel might say, “We can’t change the past.” 

 

So before someone throws out the ball in game two of this series I have one piece of advice.

 

Fight nice, boys.

Live Blogging: Mets vs. Phillies (Game 1)

Tonight I will be doing some live blogging about the game, giving my thoughts as I see them. If you want to read it, enjoy, but if not, then tough. It’s raining here in upstate New York, but it seems to be alright in Philadelphia. This will be a big game to establish some momentum. Lets go Mets!

 

Update 7:19 p.m.

The Mets have been patient against the erratic Chan Ho Park. Daniel Murphy hit a home run on a ball that would’ve been a shallow fly out in Citifield. Alex Cora walked just before him and scored on the homer to make it a 2-0 game. Beltran and Wright followed suit by walking as well, and Church went to 3-0 after nine straight balls thrown by Park. Park threw to straight strikes to come back in the count, before Ryan Church grounded into an inning-ending double play. The Mets lead 2-0 heading to the bottom of the first. Way to be patient guys. Is Church going to be the newest Met to join the slump parade?

Update 7: 32 p.m.

Rollins smoked a ball to lead off the game, but Reyes made a nice pick to throw out Reyes than snatched a Victorino scorcher and threw him out to make it two out, and Mike Pelfrey had two ground ball outs, which is the key to success for him in this bandbox of a ballpark. After falling behind 2-0 on Chase Utley, Pelfrey threw a solid fastball in his kitchen, and he got Utley to swing and foul off two straight, but Pelfrey nailed Utley in the leg. Not for nothing, but Utley did not make much of an effort to get out of the way of the pitch, but it counted none the less. After falling behind 2-0 again to Ryan Howard, Pelfrey layed in a cookie, but Howard fouled it back, and then Howard fouled off the next pitch as well. Pelfrey would work carefully, and the count would run full before Howard finally singled to put runners on the corners. One of my most hated Phillies, Jayson Werth stepped in.Luckily for Pelfrey, Werth grounded into a force play to end the inning. Nice job BIG PELF!

Update 7:41 p.m.

Tatis led off the top of the second with an opposite field single off Chan Ho Park, in which it was his first at-bat since the two-Grand Slam inning against Park a few years back. On a rare play for Manuel, he put the hit and run on and Omir Santos hit an opposite field double to make it second and third with nobody out, and Pelfrey hit a ball that I thought was gone. Ibanez made the catch on the track, and the Mets had a 3-0 lead. Nice job by Santos to advance to third base on the play. That would pay off, as Reyes flew out to deep center to give the Mets a 4-0 lead. Cora would notch a two-out single, but Murphy grounded out to end it. Come on Pelf. Time to preserve the lead. 4-0 heading to the bottom of the second.

Update 7:47 p.m.

Pelfrey got the first two outs, before allowing an 0-2 single to Chris Coste, which cleared the pitcher’s spot for the Phillies, but Park popped out to end the inning. Good inning by Pelfrey. 4-0 after two full innings.

Update 8:01 p.m.

Beltran led off the third with his second walk, and it was already the fourth for Park, which is way too much. Wright followed with a double to left center field, in which he was still way off balance, but we’ll take it. Church continued his struggles with a strikeout with two ducks on the pond, and that frustrates me, considering how the Phillies were conceding the run, but then the Phillies decided to walk Tatis to face Santos with the bases loaded and one out. Santos hit a shallow fly ball to right, but Beltran tested Werth and arrived just before the tag from Coste. Nice job sliding in by Beltran. Pelfrey grounded out to the mound to end the threat. Time to continue the nice pitching. 5-0 Mets after two and a half innings.

Update 8:19 p.m.

Pelfrey faced some adversity in the third inning, as he allowed a one-out single to Shane Victorino. Pelfrey made a throwing error while trying to pick off Victorino, who moved on to second, and then Mike walked Chase Utley to set up a dangerous situation with Ryan Howard coming up, but Pelfrey got Howard to fly out to Murphy, who caught the ball with two hands. Jayson Werth would then step in with two outs and drew a walk, and the Mets were in trouble with Raul Ibanez coming in with the bases loaded. Pelfrey fell behind 2-0 to Ibanez, and then he threw a dandy to make the count 2-1, but Raul Ibanez would drive in two runs with a broken bat single to cut the lead to 5-2. Pedro Feliz then stepped in with runners on the corners, and singled to right center with Ibanez in motion. The Phillies cut the lead to 5-3. If Ibanez didn’t run, the inning would’ve been over. Coste then grounded out to end the inning, and the score is now 5-3 after three full innings.

Update 8:25 p.m.

The made went quietly in the top half of the fourth. Pelfrey needs a good inning badly here. Pitcher’s spot leads off.

Update 8:38 p.m.

After Pelfrey got Park, Rollins drew a four pitch walk, which drives me crazy. After paying a lot of attention to him, Pelfrey finally picked off Rollins, and give an assist to Tatis for making a nice scoop on the throw. Victorino grounded out to end the inning. 5-3 after four innings. Something tells me this game is far from over.

Update 8:55 p.m.

The Mets got off to a quick start in the fifth, as Beltran smacked a double and Wright knocked him in with a single to give the Mets a 6-3 lead. Church was robbed of a hit by a sliding Raul Ibanez, and then Wright was caught stealing for the second out. Tatis doubled to right field with two outs, and Omir Santos was walked to bring up Pelfrey with two outs and two on. Chad Durbin was brought in to face Pelfrey, which I found interesting. Pelfrey went the other way on a slider, and he drove in his second run of the day with an RBI single to make the score 7-3. Reyes grounded out to end it. 7-3 at the half way point. Time for Pelfrey to throw strikes now. The meat of the order is coming up.

Update 9:03 p.m.

Pelfrey started the bottom half of the fifth by falling behind Utley, but he came back to get the star second basemen to pop out to left field. He then walked Howard, but he got two ground balls to get himself out of the inning. Nice job by BIG PELF! 7-3…and heading to the sixth!

Update 9:13 p.m.

After two quick outs, Beltran drew a walk. Wright worked the count to 2-2, and then he fouled off a tough breaking ball. He looked so off balance during this at-bat, but he continued to battle. Wright eventually grounded out, and the score was 7-3 as the game headed to the bottom of the sixth.

Update 9:26 p.m.

Pedro Feliz got the Phillies started with a single up the middle, and then Chris Coste grounded into a force out. Greg Dobbs then stepped up to hit for Chad Durbin and singled to center to make it first and second. Jerry Manuel came out to bring in Feliciano, who is guaranteed to be in all three games most likely. Jimmy Rollins would be the first guy to face him. On a weird play, Reyes bobbled a grounder, and then tried to get the force on third. He threw the ball away, but Coste held. dobbs strayed away from second, and he pretty much forced Coste to get thrown out at the plate. Feliciano then got Victorino to pop out to center to end the inning. Nice job boys. 7-3, as we head to the seventh.

Update 9:38 p.m.

J.A. Happ came out of the bullpen to face Ryan Church, and after working the count full, Church reached on a Chase Utley error. Tatis then flied out,and Santos did the same. And then, in a rare appearance, Pedro Feliciano came to the plate for the first time since 2006. Happ must have been afraid of Feliciano, because he walked him on four pitches. Reyes then popped up to Feliz to end it. Feliciano will take on the big boys in the bottom half of the seventh. Utley and Howard are first priority. VOTE FOR PEDRO!

Update 9:45 p.m.

Utley led off the seventh with a typical Citizen’s Bank Park homer, but then Feliciano got Howard to ground out to second base. He then struck out Jayson Werth, and the pesky Raul Ibanez came to the plate. Feliciano maked him look foolish though, and he struck him out pretty easily. The score was 7-4 as the game heads to the eighth.

Update 9:51 p.m.

With Happ still out there for the eighth, he would strike out Cora on three pitches. Murphy would fly out to left, and then Beltran flew out to deep right field to end the inning. Putz is coming on now, and the Mets need him to have a quick inning to set K-Rod up for the ninth. Good luck JJ! Mets fans have a short memory.

Update 10:00 p.m.

JJ Putz came on for the eighth inning and got Pedro Feliz to pop out to center to start the inning. Chris Coste would follow him by battling Putz until he scorched a liner to Reyes. Miguel Cairo came up to pinch hit for Happ and grounded out to second. Well done PUTZ! Mets come to bat in the ninth…7-3 lead.

Update 10:06 p.m.

David Wright led off and lined out to deep right field. It was a promising sign for David, who clearly was on the ball. Church then followed David with a pop out to Victorino, and then Jimmy Rollins made a nice play on a Tatis grounder to end the inning for Philly. Rollins, Victorino and Utley are due up against K-Rod. This is what we paid you the big bucks for Francisco!

Update 10:21 p.m.

Rollins led off against the Mets’ closer, and after initially having the count in his favor, Rollins would pop out to Cora for a big first out. The Flyin’ Hawaiian Shane Victorino then stood in the box and K-Rod made him look foolish with a change up that had Victorino flailing. With the Phillies down to their last out, Chase Utley stood in and got the count in his favor at 2-0. but K-Rod battled back to bring the count full, but a close pitch was called ball four to bring up Ryan Howard. K-Rod got ahead in the count at 1-2, K-Rod missed with two straight to make the count full, and then Howard swung at ball four to end it. Great work by K-Rod, who is now five for five in save opportunities. Tomorrow, Oliver Perez will face the Phillies, and that could mean trouble. We shall see.

Mets-Phillies Preview: First of Many Great Series in 2009

This weekend, the New York Mets-Philadelphia Phillies rivalry will be renewed, as the two teams will be playing a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Despite the slight similarity in name, the Mets’ new home, Citi Field, is very different from Citizens. Citizens Bank is a bashing box, while Citi…well, not so much. 

There have been more than 10 triples in Citi Field’s first 12 games. The Mets have a 6-6 record in their new home so far this season, which isn’t bad, but they can definitely do a lot better.

These NL East foes will also be meeting next week in a two-game series at Citi.

Many people are looking at this series as a tone-setter for each team’s season. I don’t think it is, because both of these teams are so good, that they can pretty much bounce back from anything. 

But I still predict that this is going to be a great series, easily one of the best in the early part of the 2009 season. I almost wish it was a four-game series, so that the clubs could split it.

The Mets have a 9-12 record at this point, while the Phillies are 11-9.  Philadelphia has overall been performing better, but things can change quickly. Both teams have a lot to play for here, especially the Mets.

This New York team can not get swept; that would put them in a huge hole that would be very tough to climb out of. The Mets need to at least take one; two would be great, and a sweep would be Amazin’.

On the other hand, the Phillies can afford a sweep, but it’s unlikely any Phil would allow that to happen. As long as this team takes just one game, they will still be over .500, and if the Phillies win the series, then they will be in good shape.

I am predicting that the Mets will win the series 2-1, but I know that each inning is going to be exciting.

Why the Mets Need To Win This Series Against the Phillies

Starting tonight, the Mets are going into Philadelphia to take on their arch rivals, the Philadelphia Phillies, in a three-game series at Citizens Bank Park.

Currently, the Mets are 9-12, four-and-a-half games out of first place. The defending World Champion Phillies are 11-9, two games behind the division-leading Marlins.

Already in New York, the Mets fans have been on top of players like David Wright, who is already getting booed for his bad start. He is hitting .280, with one home run and eight RBI’s through April.

Here are the reasons why the Mets need to win this series:

 

Reason 1: Being in Fourth Place

The Mets and their fans are furious with how this season has started. They expected to finish in first place and to run away with this division.

Instead, they are 9-12, and have been playing terrible baseball. Also, their new “strength” from last offseason—the bullpen—has recently have blown several games.

They need to gain games in the standings, and by getting a series win here, they will do just that.

 

Reason 2: Offense

The Mets have had only 13 home runs so far and have stolen just 13 bases.

The home runs were expected to go down with the team’s transition from Shea Stadium to Citi Field. But the stolen bases are inexcusable.

The Mets are usually among the league leaders in stolen bases, but leadoff man Jose Reyes, who is considered by many to be the fastest man in baseball, only has four bags to his name.

Luis Castillo and Daniel Murphy, who have been sharing the second spot in the order, have one combined stolen base.

Because of these liabilities, the Mets offense has been terrible and has to improve.

 

Reason 3: Starting Rotation

The Mets biggest question mark going into this season was their starting rotation.

They resigned Oliver Perez, one of the most inconsistent pitchers in baseball, during the offseason and John Maine and Mike Pelfrey have not pitched well since spring training.

Thus far, only staff ace Johan Santana has looked consistent, while Pelfrey has had shoulder tendinitis and Perez might lose his spot in the rotation. Maine and Livan Hernadez both have been okay.

The Mets are going to need a strong rotation this year if they want to win the NL East.

 

Reason 4: Fan Pride

Mets fans clearly know their players and how important they are for the team. But they have been on a roller coaster for the last several seasons, wathcing their team lose the division for the last two years in a row after leading it in September.

The Mets were only one hit away from going to the 2006 World Series, and with the recent September collapses, the fans have had to live through one giant nightmare after another.

Nothing would energize this fan base more than a thrashing of the Phillies in Philadelphia.

 

If the Mets recognize the reasons listed above when they play against the Phillies, they should be inspired and win this series. They need to have this series to energize the team, and if they don’t, things could get really bad.

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