Mets - June 24, 2002

Latest Team Info:

Record: 38-36, 7.5 GB behind the Atlanta Braves

With the Mets going from 1st to 4th in the crowded and mediocre National League East, the question that must be begged is what will catch up to the Mets first: their lack of timely hitting or will the rest of the league catch up to their pitching?

Going into Monday's action, the Mets ostensibly have the exact amount of total bases (922-922) as their opponents. The team, with the exception of Edgardo Alfonzo and Mike Piazza, is not hitting in the clutch and it is costing the team in the standings.

Mo Vaughn and Jeromy Burnitz have hit a collective 13 home runs and 51 RBI in 133 games. They continue to be available in most fantasy baseball leagues with the exception of NL-only leagues who have to suffer with their non-production. If there is a bright spot within this well-aged lining it is that Mo hit a GWHR against the Yankees on June 16.

Timo Perez has been a bit of a suprise in the last month, going .370 with an OPS of .971. However, he has been sharing dury with Jay Payton and his beloved .264 avg./.569 OPS for the last month. It maybe time to pull the plug on the Payton routine and get Timo some time in the outfield.

Alfonzo seems to breaking into his mid-season rythmn with his power production. He hit a couple of home runs last week in back-to-back wins over Minnesota and Kansas City (June 20 and June 21) and could be headed to distance his OBP (.416) and his OPS (.419).

2B Roberto Alomar continues to improve on his average in the past month (.254 to .264). However, he is failing to produce the power and speed that makes him a special middle infielder. He has not stolen a base since June 5 and has not had a RBI since June 10. To say that he is due to breakout is an understatment. Alomar has a slugging percentage of .358, a career low.

As expected, the Mets continue to perform nicely on the mound. Al Leiter, despite a couple of shaky starts, is a top 10 NL pitcher with a couple of wins last month. The big news is that Leiter is going to be a free-agent and the question remains is that if the Mets are battling with 5-6 other teams for a wild card, will the Mets offer Leiter up? I highly doubt that this will occur since the Mets had their chance last year to do so and did not but you never know. Their #2, Pedro Astacio also has 1 win in his last 6 starts after a phenominal start. #3 Shawn Estes also has 1 win in his last 4 starts with a 1.76 WHIP. The only member of the rotation that has outperformed his peers is Steve Trachsel. Trachsel has picked up 2 wins in his last 5 starts and has collected a 1.12 WHIP.

The pen continues to get the job done when warranted. 3 of their last 6 wins have come from the pen (Mark Guthrie and Scott Strickland) and neither Strickland or Armando Benitez have blown a save since June 14 against the Yankees.

Perhaps the Mets will attempt to make a second effort at the Braves, Expos and the Marlins now that the conclusion of inter-league play is coming to an end. The Mets are 9-6 vs. the AL with up-coming sets against the Braves (June 24-June 27), the Yankees (June 28-June 30). The real test will come in July. They have two sets each with the Marlins, Phillies, Expos and the Reds, who should all be considered legitimate threats to the Mets hopes for securing at least a wild-card.

Who is Hot:

Jeromy Burnitz: 6 hits in 6 games with a .412 AVG. Only 2 K's.
Timo Perez: 5 hits in 6 games for a .375 AVG. 4 RBI during this last week as well.
Mike Piazza: 3 hits including a HR, 3 RBI in 6 games with a .294 AVG.
Edgardo Alfonzo: 2 HR's and 5 RBI last week. .286 AVG and a .994 OPS.

Who is Not:

Roger Cedeno: 0 stolen bases last week. .250 AVG. Thank God the Red Sox got Damon and not this guy.
Roberto Alomar: .219 last week with 0 RBI in 6 games.
Mo Vaughn: .100 AVG last week with 1 RBI in 6 games. John Valentin played 1B in the last couple of weeks to tell you how bad Vaughn is this year.

The Mets need to get their act in gear or they like the Phillies are going to ask themselves by October why they are continuing to spend as much as they are with their everyday lineup as pathetic as it could be.