****Official 2007 NY Mets NL East Champs Thread****

[JordanIB]

As Beningo and Roberts were saying before the game, Willie manages for 162 games (+ October).

It is huge for this collection of bench guys to be able to have a game like this.

[mbillie1]

Man Carlos Gomez, Ruben Gotay... I hope they're keeping these guys. Burgos too, looked great in 2 IP. Spectacular win, I just had a neighbor knock to see if everything was alright because I was screaming in joy lol.

[James282]

[ QUOTE ]
As Beningo and Roberts were saying before the game, Willie manages for 162 games (+ October).

It is huge for this collection of bench guys to be able to have a game like this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jordan, I certainly understand this. But what he and most managers and sportscasters do not understand is that games in May matter just as much as games in September. For instance, when Vargas has the game at 1-1 going into the 6th, there is no reason not to bring a big bat or two in. Wright swinging the bat and standing over at third base for an hour is not going to jeopardize his being able to play in September. It's not like he, reyes and Beltran were back at the hotel sleeping or getting massage therapy. They are there, sitting in the dugot and the amount that 1 win helps is so much greater than 1 or 2 more at bats hurts that it's ridiculous. If they really want to rest guys, start taking starters out when up or down by 5 or more runs and go from there. Not having your best players in in high leverage situations gives away crucial wins in tight playoff races like the Mets are in.

Jaems

[JordanIB]

[ QUOTE ]
Man Carlos Gomez, Ruben Gotay... I hope they're keeping these guys. Burgos too, looked great in 2 IP. Spectacular win, I just had a neighbor knock to see if everything was alright because I was screaming in joy lol.

[/ QUOTE ]

Lucky, I had to hold every sound in while listening at work.

[Needle77]

Gomez has been a pleasant suprise. I don't want to see Milledge hurt(though I think Minaya is getting sick of his antics) it was somewhat of a blessing. If Milledge were healthy there is a very good chance he would be playing right now and not Gomez.

[James282]

[ QUOTE ]
Gomez has been a pleasant suprise. I don't want to see Milledge hurt(though I think Minaya is getting sick of his antics) it was somewhat of a blessing. If Milledge were healthy there is a very good chance he would be playing right now and not Gomez.

[/ QUOTE ]

hmm i still think personally that milledge is a better overall prospect than gomez - but I do think it's close. If this allows the Mets to move either of these guys for a similar value in a higher need position for the Mets it would be fantastic.

[Needle77]

I think the problem with Milledge right now is he can't keep himself out of the news. Why is it that I open the paper the other day and I see Milledge as a headline? He's hurt right now. He needs to keep his nose clean. Outside of the Lo Duca "situation" last year I can't remember one problem in the clubhouse outside of Milledge. Now Gomez hasn't had the spotlight on him as long so it might be a tad unfair.

BTW, I don't see the big deal with the whole rap thing that Milledge did. The problem I have is that it's a clubhouse rule and I'm assuming he knew it and broke it. You don't have to swear to make a point. And I do think he is the better prospect of the two as well.

[JordanIB]

I love the post-game highlights on days like today [img]/images/graemlins/smile.gif[/img]

[JordanIB]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
As Beningo and Roberts were saying before the game, Willie manages for 162 games (+ October).

It is huge for this collection of bench guys to be able to have a game like this.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jordan, I certainly understand this. But what he and most managers and sportscasters do not understand is that games in May matter just as much as games in September. For instance, when Vargas has the game at 1-1 going into the 6th, there is no reason not to bring a big bat or two in. Wright swinging the bat and standing over at third base for an hour is not going to jeopardize his being able to play in September. It's not like he, reyes and Beltran were back at the hotel sleeping or getting massage therapy. They are there, sitting in the dugot and the amount that 1 win helps is so much greater than 1 or 2 more at bats hurts that it's ridiculous. If they really want to rest guys, start taking starters out when up or down by 5 or more runs and go from there. Not having your best players in in high leverage situations gives away crucial wins in tight playoff races like the Mets are in.

Jaems

[/ QUOTE ]

I disagree. The whole idea of today was to get some guys a day off going into a very tough stretch. Therefore, Willie was only going to use his big guns if he absolutely had to. Players will nearly always say that a day off is a day off. Coming out early, or being put in for only 3 innings, isn't a day off. It's a mental thing, I think, more than it is a physical thing.

But that wasn't even really my point. My point is much more that Willie knows his bench guys are going to need to step up in big situations as the season progresses. He is not going to let Gotay, Gomez, Newhan rot on the bench and then ask them to produce in August and September.

Is it a little unconventional to sit EVERYBODY at once? Obviously. But so far the results have shown that Willie -- much more often than not -- knows how to handle his team.

[JordanIB]

What was Delgado's winning hit like?

Howie's call was that he hit one "wide of second"

Was it a line drive? A seeing eye ground ball? Hit solid? Jam shot? Were they playing the shift? Was a defender close to getting it?