Sunday, July 10, 2005

The Metstradamus Grades!

No they're not that different from the New York Post grades, but I promised All star grades, so here are all star grades:

Pedro Martinez: should be 13-3 if not for the bullpen. All that was expected of him was to stay healthy, and not be a diva. He's been so much more. Where would the Mets be without him?
Post Grade: A
Metstradamus Grade: A+

Cliff Floyd: Outside of one slump, has been the very definition of "clean-up hitter". And did you see him after the Pirates debacle on Friday night? There are a lot of major leaguers that you look at in the lockerroom after a game and you couldn't tell whether the team won or lost. Not Cliff.
Post Grade: A
Metstradamus Grade: A

Roberto Hernandez: The ageless one. A 1.73 ERA at 40 years old? You have to be kidding me!
Post Grade: A
Metstradamus Grade: A

Mike Cameron: Has completely revamped his hitting style, and after an initial flip-flop about his position, has taken to right field like a fish to water.
Post Grade: B+
Metstradamus Grade: A-


Kris Benson: Should come out of the break as the Mets number two starter. It would be the best way to get a couple of two game win streaks going.
Post Grade: B+
Metstradamus Grade: A-

Chris Woodward: Has executed everything asked of him, and he's learned to be versatile, going from a shortstop, to an ace utility man. Unfortunately, there are too many of Woodward's skill set on the bench so someone will wind up leaving. It will not be Woodward.
Post Grade: A-
Metstradamus Grade: A-


Marlon Anderson: Another player who has fulfilled every role asked of him...pinch hitter, second baseman, number 5 hitter, and plays a smart (mostly) brand of baseball.
Post Grade: A-
Metstradamus Grade: B+

David Wright: Fielding keeps him from being an in the A group, so I have to agree with the Post on this one. But he's not far away.
Post Grade: B+
Metstradamus Grade: B+

Aaron Heilman: Admirable work out of the bullpen and in the rotation. Has struggled just a bit after being put into big situations, but has also had some sparkling outings. Should make his way into the rotation by the end of the year.
Post Grade: B+
Metstradamus Grade: B

Victor Zambrano: He's fixed! He's fixed! An admirable turnaraound in the face of a ton of criticism. Now trade him.
Post Grade: B
Metstradamus Grade: B

Braden Looper: Believe it or not, he is statistically one of the more reliable closers in the N.L. But it's never ever easy. And when he blows it, boy is it spectacular. And usually in front of a national audience. But at least when he blows, he admits it. When Armando Benitez blew, he asked why reporters only talked to him when he blows.
Post Grade: B-
Metstradamus Grade: B-

Carlos Beltran: I'm willing to give him a pass because of the injury. I wish he would spread out his HR's to the rest of the staff though. Needs to steal more, and I think he will. But now that he's healthy, no more passes.
Post Grade: C+
Metstradamus Grade: B-

Royce Ring: His bad ERA is due to the fact that every time he walks the leadoff hitter and is replaced, the reliever following him never picks him up. Better than his stats indicate. And Royce has moxie for a rookie when it comes to pitch selection.
Post Grade: C-
Metstradamus Grade: B-

Jose Reyes: Is finally starting to get the picture regarding working pitch counts. His swing still could be a bit more level on the left hand side. If the Mets are saved in 2005, it will be on the backs of Reyes and Beltran.
Post Grade: C+
Metstradamus Grade: B-

Miguel Cairo: Might be the odd man out when it comes to utility men on the Mets bench. It's not often that an ex-Yankee wins the hearts of Mets fans...but that's only because Kaz Matsui has been so atrocious.
Post Grade: B-
Metstrdamus Grade: B-

Heath Bell: Had it not been for one Derrek Lee HR, his resume would have been quite impressive. Has the makings of a solid middle reliever, and perhaps a closer if he ever learns another pitch, and has confidence in it.
Post Grade: C+
Metstradamus Grade: C+

Mike Piazza: Has become the most glorified singles hitter in the league.
Post Grade: C+
Metstradamus Grade: C

Ramon Castro: RUN!
Post Grade: B-
Metstradamus Grade: C

Tom Glavine: Gets an F up until the Cardinals start, from then on gets about a B. Average it out, and he's still not that good.
Post Grade: C-
Metstradamus Grade: C-

Kaz Ishii: Dr. Jekyll? Mr Hyde? He's going to wind up being "Dr. Designated for Assignment".
Post Grade: D
Metstradamus Grade: D+


Dae Sung Koo: F...is for fastball grooved to Carlos Delgado on a 3-0 count. His best play of the season was as a baserunner...and he STILL managed to bust his shoulder on that play.
Post Grade: C-
Metstradamus Grade: D

Doug Mientkiewicz: Has been a huge disappointment at the plate; too huge to grade him heavily on his fielding...or his clubhouse influence...or his great quotes.
Post Grade: D
Metstradamus Grade: D

Kaz Matsui: Note to Mets management, never, EVER again let a free agent from another league in another country wear a 1986 World Series ring during his introductory press conference.
Post Grade: D-
Metstradamus Grade: D-

Mike DeJean: It just hit me that I didn't give anybody an F.
Post Grade: No grade.
Metstradamus Grade: Is there lower than F? F U, maybe?

Manny Aybar, Danny Graves, Brian Daubach, Jose Offerman, Gerald Williams: All incompletes, but the fact that the last three were callups from Norfolk means the Tides get an F.

Willie Randolph: I think he holds Yankee standards and practices a little too dear...the Mets don't have the type of roster to get cute with lefty/righty/lefty/righty (I do like the fact that he doesn't always go with conventional lefty/righty wisdom when it comes to the pitching staff). And he's a little too beholden to veterans (Mike Piazza batting fourth or fifth). Does this mean that Omar Minaya will go get more veterans to fit Willie's tendencies towards veterans? If that is the case, then beware the trade deadline.
Post Grade: C
Metstradamus Grade: C+

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Right on the money as usual. I thought the Post grades were fair. I sure hope Willie "grows" with this team and understands a little bit more with every passing game that veterans are not always given a pass nor do they automatically deserve such and such just because of their "past" accomplishments. Same goes for Omar. Otherwise, you're right: beware the Trade Deadline.

Anonymous said...

Glavine to the Yankees?

Metstradamus said...

I think Glavine to the Red Sox would be a more likely scenario. The Red Sox farm system is a bit more fruitful than the Yankees (but at this point, aren't they all?)

Darth Marc said...

Wow, a Mets fan giving Willie a C+. He's coaching a .500 team that's currently .500. Sounds fair.