John Strubel

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Terry Collins and the Art of Doublespeak

May 20, 2012 in Blog, Mets, Sports with 0 Comments

Just as the ink dried on Bob Raissmann’s New York Daily News weekend column, the one that suggested Terry Collins is a one-of-a-kind, honest manager among the few, the proud, the New York Mets manager opened his mouth and out poured the same doublespeak every major league manager is prone too.

Prior to Sunday’s game in Toronto the media queried Collins on whether Ike Davis‘ struggles at the plate could result in a sojourn to Buffalo. “There’s nothing etched in stone,” Collins said. “We will never say something’s not going to happen.” Then, Collins exited, penciled Davis in to the No. 7 spot in the lineup and proceeded to watch his first baseman go 1-for-4, leaving three men on base in a one-run Mets win over the Blue Jays.

Time to mute Kiner

May 17, 2012 in Blog, Mets, Sports with 0 Comments

I love Ralph Kiner. I respect him for his for his contribution to the game of baseball – both as a player and, later, a broadcaster. If you’ve been a New York Mets fan for any length of time you certainly understand Kiner’s importance in team history.

Francisco saves game, Collins saves Francisco

May 15, 2012 in Blog, Mets, Sports with 0 Comments

New York Mets manager Terry Collins could have leaned on any number of reasons to remove Frank Francisco as the closer, the most obvious being the two blown saves last weekend against the Miami Marlins. Instead, Collins did what any manager who is trying to build confidence in his players would do: he gave his closer a vote of confidence.

Mets must show their mettle

May 12, 2012 in Blog, Mets, Sports with 0 Comments

If there is such a thing as a productive loss, the New York Mets may have had one Friday in Miami.

After trailing 3-0, coming back against a division rival on the road, scoring five runs in two innings to take a 5-3 lead, the Mets bullpen couldn’t finish the job. Bobby Parnell and Tim Byrdak pitched the eighth inning, allowing one run. Frank Francisco came in to record the final three outs, but instead, recorded one out, surrendered two runs and the game.

A dose of ’86 wisdom could be Ike’s antidote

May 8, 2012 in Blog, Mets, Sports with 1 Comment

Howard Johnson can empathize with Ike Davis. The former Met player remembers what April and May were like. A notorious slow starter, over his 14-year career, Johnson hit .219 in the month of April with a .317 on-base percentage. He was a career .237 hitter in May.

Slow down. That’s what then Mets manager Davey Johnson told the young Mets third baseman Howard Johnson.

Murphy Making Mets Go

May 6, 2012 in Blog, Mets, Sports with 0 Comments

It would be easy — too easy, in fact — to inflate Daniel Murphy’s value to the New York Mets after his 4-for-4 performance against the Arizona Diamondbacks Saturday. But if we step back and look at Murphy’s 2012 season as a whole, and the impact he’s had on the Mets success, the stock of the third baseman-turned left fielder-turned first baseman-turned second baseman is on the rise.