Thursday, May 2, 2013

Forget That Good Start By The Mets....Arsenal Need To Finish Strong

Harvey is a Stud
We're a month in to the new baseball season and it's already looking a lot like last season for the Mets. They had a great first week and got the fans wondering if perhaps they were better than what was expected. Well, it's three weeks later and the Mets are playing exactly as we all thought they would...like crap.

Wednesday's Mets victory in Miami marked the end of the teams' six game losing streak. During that streak the Mets managed to take the lead in a 15 inning game, only to lose in the bottom of the 15th. The very next day the Mets went to the bottom of the ninth with a 1-0 lead and left the field 2-1 losers.

The bullpen has been horrible. We've become used to terrible bullpens with the Mets, but this year's crop may be the worst yet. No lead is safe and there are no trustworthy arms in the pen.

As for the starters, Jon Niese has been decent and Dillon Gee hot and cold. The one bright spot on the entire pitching staff for the Mets has been rookie Matt Harvey. He's off to a 4-0 start (he would have been 5-0 until Bobby Parnell blew a save opportunity this week) and has an ERA under 2.00. He throws heat and exhibits total confidence on the mound. If it wasn't for Harvey, I'm not sure the Mets would ever win games.

John Buck has been clutch
Offensively, it's been a crap shoot. It's either feast or famine. The surprise of the season so far has been catcher John Buck. The catcher has been a lifesaver for this team. He finished April with 9 home runs and 25 RBI's. To put that in perspective, 2012 catchers Josh Thole and Mike Nickeas combined for a total of  2 home runs and 34 RBI's for the entire season.

Ike Davis is once again having problems at the plate and outside of Buck, David Wright, Daniel Murphy and maybe even Jordany Valdespin no one in the lineup is clutch.

At 11-15, it's still early days for the 2013 season so there is plenty of time for the Mets to turn things around. The question is will they?.......Don't answer that.

For a similar, but even harsher view of the 2013 Mets, Bill Price's piece from the New York Daily News is worth a read:


Mets vs. Marlins, Game 26: Is Mets' future really that bright?

Ike has been ice cold again
_________________________________________________________________________

Wenger deserves to be smiling at the end of the season.
I have no interest in getting in to the Arsenal only try to achieve a top 4 finish argument right now. The facts are, with 3 games remaining on Arsenal's schedule it is imperative that they do finish in the top 4 this season.

Despite the fact that the Gunners have admittedly had a difficult season, they currently sit in 4th place. This clearly shows that Arsenal's under achieving season, is way better than most of the EPL's clubs' typical seasons.

Arsenal's draw with Manchester United last weekend was a decent result, but three points were a must to remain in control of their own destiny. Unfortunately, two moments of madness by Bacary Sagna pretty much gave ManUre & Judas the tying goal.

So here's where we're at:

No movement3Chelsea343365
No movement4Arsenal353064
No movement5Tottenham341762
Remaining fixtures:

Arsenal:                     May 4th at QPR
                                   May 14th vs. Wigan
                                   May 19th at Newcastle

Chelsea:                     May 5th at Man. United
                                    May 8th vs. Tottenham
                                    May 11th at Aston Villa
                                    May 19th vs. Everton

Spuds:                         May 4th vs. Southampton
                                    May 8th at Chelsea
                                    May 12th at Stoke
                                    May 19th vs. Sunderland

Obviously we can't assume anything here, but

  • Arsenal MUST and should win their three remaining fixtures.
  • Chelsea or Spuds or both will lose points when they play each other May 8th.
It's raining on Spuds' season
  • I'm hoping that Arsenal win all 3 fixtures to finish with 73 points.
  • If Chelsea lose to Man. United and draw with Spuds the best they can do is 72 points.
  • If Spuds draw with Chelsea and win their other 3 games they'll finish with 72 points.
  • Spuds would miss out on goal differential and St. Totteringham's Day will officially be celebrated.

Rafa looks to the heavens for help.
Time will tell, but here's hoping for a May 19th St. Totteringham's Day holiday (or maybe even sooner).





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