John Lannan did not bother with scouting reports before shutting out the Mets last night:
"I've just faced them so much," Lannan said. "I usually do a scouting report where I look at video and stuff, and this scouting report I basically did it from memory."
Why would any pitcher bother with a scouting report for these Mets? Just throw strikes and most of the Met batters will get themselves out. The worst that will happen is the occasional single. Avoid bunching those singles together and you'll be fine.
The Mets have played 17 games in July. They have scored two runs or fewer in 10 of those games - five shutouts, three one-run games and two two-run games. Their record in these games is 1-9. The only win came on July 1 when Mike Pelfrey beat Yovani Gallardo, 1-0.
You don't have to be a sabermetrician to that you are not going to win a whole lot when you score two runs or fewer almost 60% of the time.
After the game, Jerry Manuel said that Gary Sheffield's absence had left a hole in the lineup. Sheffield has missed the four games, during which the Mets have scored 12 runs, which actually raised their game average for the month (they have 48 runs in the 17 games).
Losing Sheffield only added another hole to a lineup full of holes. And the hole the Mets are digging for themselves now has them ten games behind Philly.
***
When Lannan beat the Yankees in June, Squawker Lisa wrote: "Imagine: John Lannan shuts down Yankee bats." Squawker reader Uncle Mike had plenty of suggestions for other John Lennon quotes, some of apply to the current state of the Mets:
"I think I'm gonna be sad, I think it's today, yeah" (David Wright)
"Help! I need somebody" (Jerry Manuel)
"He's a real nowhere man/Sitting in his nowhere land/
Making all his nowhere plans for nobody" (Omar Minaya)
Here's a question: If David Wright continues to be a singles hitting strikeout machine at the beginning of next season, isn't it time to trade him while his value remains high? We all know the Wilpons won't do it because he's "The face of the franchise" to them. But with his new approach, isn't he just Juan Pierre? Actually, Juan Pierre doesn't even K as much. Just a thought.
ReplyDeleteMichael in California
Interesting thought, Michael. Especially given that Wright's swing is totally unsuited for Citi Field.
ReplyDeleteThis Yankee fan wonders if they will pull in the fences in Flushing this year.
- Lisa
I disagree with you Lisa. I don't think it is Citifield at all, unless it is just in his head, as he isn't hitting for power on the road either. That being said, I just can't figure out why someone in the organization (HoJo, paging HoJo) hasn't told him to go back to his old swing. Even if Shitifield causes him to lose 20% of his homers, I would much rather see him hit 22 to 25 homers and bring his strikeout rate down, even if it means a lot of balls dying at the warning track. Especially when a ball hit to the warning track would at least possibly allow a runner to advance 90 feet (Though they would undoubtedly pull a hammy while attempting to advance on the fly ball).
ReplyDeleteMichael in California