2009 vs 2010 Mets

Let's compare some basic stats between the 2009 and 2010 Mets.

Fielding %:
2009:  19th
2010: 7th

ERA:
2009: 20th
2010: 6th

WHIP:
2009: 25th
2010: 20th

Starter ERA:
2009: 25th
2010: 6th

Saves:
2009:  20th
2010: 9th

Homeruns:
2009: 30th
2010: 19th

Stolen Bases:
2009: 6th
2010: 2nd

Takahashi has Amazing Control Numbers

I was looking at Takahashi's advanced pitching statistics this morning, and the numbers are just off the charts.

His control, the speeds, and the K and BB numbers are enough to make any manager smile.

Couple this with his poise and belief in himself, and you can see why the Mets have done so well with him on the mound.

Summary - Pitch Result

Type	Count	Selection	Strike	Swing	Whiff	Foul	In Play
FF	278	44.1%	72.7%	47.8%	7.6%	23.7%	16.5%
CH	118	18.7%	64.4%	47.5%	12.7%	16.9%	17.8%
FT	59	9.4%	59.3%	54.2%	22.0%	15.3%	16.9%
SI	57	9.0%	70.2%	64.9%	24.6%	21.1%	19.3%
CU	55	8.7%	50.9%	34.5%	10.9%	16.4%	7.3%
SL	52	8.3%	57.7%	42.3%	11.5%	21.2%	9.6%
FC	10	1.6%	50.0%	50.0%	30.0%	10.0%	10.0%
FA	1	0.2%	100.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%	0.0%

His primary pitch is actually the fastball, which he works off of to great effect.  He is getting 72.7% strikes on the four-seamer.

How good is that?  Santana gets 71.1%.  A guy like Ollie Perez sits in the low 60s.

The amazing display of control we've seen from Tak has resulted in an extremely high K rate.  The hitters know that he will work the zone, or just off it, and you can see the confusion on their face with each pitch.  Hitters aren't up there waiting for a walk, they're up there and defensive, often falling behind in the count early.

He is only walk 6.33% of hitters.  How good?  Tim Lincecum walks 12.59% of hitters he faces.

His overall at bat result numbers:

Summary - At-bat Result

Strikeout	27.22%
Flyout	14.56%
Groundout	13.92%
Single	12.66%
Double	6.96%
Walk	6.33%
Pop Out	4.43%
Lineout	3.80%
Intent Walk	3.16%
Sac Bunt	2.53%
Forceout	1.27%
Grounded Into DP	1.27%
Home Run	0.63%
Strikeout - DP	0.63%
Sac Fly	0.63%

Finally there is the location itself.  He throws strikes, he is on the corners, and he keeps his pitches down.  I don't have the time to post a bunch of comparison pics, but here are Taks and Lincecums.  What you see from Tak below is as good as it gets.  I challenge you to find a tighter overall dispersion than Tak is putting up this year.

Here is Lincecum's:

 The Mets have really found themselves a gem.

Jerry Manuel vs Livan Hernandez

I got a great chuckle yesterday when Jerry Manuel seemed confused about a lack of intensity against Livan Hernandez.

Jerry, please take a good, long look in the mirror--it's not emotion, it's math.

You DID NOT put the team in a position to win yesterday, and you certainly could have.

Here is the starting lineup and their career batting average against Livan:

Reyes-.277
Cora-.244
Wright-.333
Bay-.250
Jacobs-.267
Francoeur-.400
Mathews-.077
Barajas-.000

Why not bat Fernando Tatis and his .450 average and 1.450 OPS against Livan (9 for 20)?

How about Henry Blanco and his .381 average and .959 OPS against Livan (8 for 21)?

Jeff Francoeur has a career 1.367 OPS against Livan, yet you once again hit him behind Mike Jacobs.

Wouldn't a 3-4-5-6 of Wright, Bay, Francoeur and Tatis made a bit more sense yesterday?  Can Jerry at least acknowledge the math?  

I honestly want to know who on the Mets staff is responsible for feeding Jerry information on matchups and what the statistics say.

So here's my lineup to begin yesterday's game:

Reyes-.277
Pagan-No history
Wright-.333
Bay-.250
Francoeur-.400
Tatis-.450
Blanco-.381
Cora-.244

The margins are razor thin this year, so it's up to the manager to have every kernel of data at his disposal and put the team in the best chance to succeed at all times.

With Jerry it's all about feel, and he swung and missed yesterday.

How's that for intensity?

Jose Reyes: Mets All-Time Triples Leader

Congratulations to Jose, who broke the record and helped the Mets to a big win against the Reds!

We're sure this is just another record for Jose who, at age 25, has an incredible future ahead of him.

Way to go Jose!

Mets' all-time leaders in career triples
Player	Triples as a Met
Jose Reyes	63
Mookie Wilson	62
Buddy Harrelson	45
Cleon Jones	33
Steve Henderson	31
Darryl Strawberry	30
Lance Johnson	27
Doug Flynn	26
Ed Kranepool	25
Lee Mazzilli	22

Carlos Beltran is Heating Up

Take a look at his recent numbers and how he projects for the year:

2008 Season Stats
SPLITS	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	SO	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Season	58	213	41	57	17	3	6	37	37	37	7	1	.268	.373	.460	.833
Career	1378	5326	960	1490	295	61	242	912	628	984	257	35	.280	.355	.494	.850
Last 7	7	24	5	8	2	0	2	8	6	2	0	0	.333	.452	.667	1.118
Proj	162	595	115	159	47	8	17	103	103	103	20	3	.268	.373	.460	.833

And then look at his career numbers:

Yr	Team	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	GS	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	SH	SF	HBP		AVG	OBP	SLG
1998	Royals	14	58	12	16	5	3	0	0	7	3	0	12	0	1	1		.276	.317	.466
1999	Royals	156	663	112	194	27	7	22	0	108	46	2	123	0	10	4		.293	.337	.454
2000	Royals	98	372	49	92	15	4	7	0	44	35	2	69	2	4	0		.247	.309	.366
2001	Royals	155	617	106	189	32	12	24	2	101	52	2	120	1	5	5		.306	.362	.514
2002	Royals	162	637	114	174	44	7	29	2	105	71	1	135	3	7	4		.273	.346	.501
2003	Royals	141	521	102	160	14	10	26	0	100	72	4	81	0	7	2		.307	.389	.522
2004	Royals	69	266	51	74	19	2	15	0	51	37	7	44	1	3	2		.278	.367	.534
2004	Astros	90	333	70	86	17	7	23	0	53	55	3	57	2	4	5		.258	.368	.559
2005	Mets	151	582	83	155	34	2	16	0	78	56	5	96	4	6	2		.266	.330	.414
2006	Mets	140	510	127	140	38	1	41	3	116	95	6	99	1	7	4		.275	.388	.594
2007	Mets	144	554	93	153	33	3	33	0	112	69	10	111	1	10	2		.276	.353	.525
Career		G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	GS	RBI	BB	IBB	SO	SH	SF	HBP		AVG	OBP	SLG
10 Years		1,320	5,113	919	1,433	278	58	236	7	875	591	42	947	15	64	31		.280	.354	.496

In the immortal words of a great 60s songwriter, "Something tells me we're into something good"...he is going to have a monster season when it's all said and done.

I expect 120+ RBIs.