Todd Pratt will step in to do the catching and this is not half bad. Pratt hits for extra bases and provides solid defense. Mike Kinkade will be the back-up for Pratt, unless the Mets decide to bring up a catcher from the minors now that Piazza's been put on the 15-day DL. One interesting possibility is that the Mets will stick with Pratt and Kinkade and bring Melvin Mora up from the minors. Mora, the standout star of the Mets during spring training, should be given a chance to participate at the big league level while Piazza recuperates.
Last year, losing Piazza would have closed down the season for the Mets. This year, with some other bats in the lineup, they can probably keep their heads above water until he returns. Henderson, Alfonzo, Olerud, and Ventura can score runs without him.
It will be interesting to see how long the Mets stick with the hitless Bonilla before they give someone else a chance in right field. Don't be surprised to see Cedeno, Allensworth, or even Mora playing that position before long.
Luis Lopez got a start at short today for the Mets and had three hits including the game winner. Lopez has shown again and again that he is a terrific defensive player and a more than capable hitter. One wonders how long he'll accept a back-up role -- he could be a starter on another team. In fact, the Mets would probably be a better team with Lopez as the starting shortstop and Ordonez on the bench. Luis is an excellent fielder and leaves Ordonez in the dust when it comes to hitting.
Armando Benitez has been simply awesome, blowing away 8th inning batters, and looking just about unhittable. It appears that Valentine will be using Benitez in the 8th and Franco in the 9th. Only trouble is that John Franco still looks as shaky as ever, dancing between raindrops to get his saves.
Another early star of the pen for the '99 Mets is Dennis Cook, continuing to pitch great in pressure situations. Wendell has also been effective, although used sparingly during the first week of the season. Rickey Henderson continues to amaze, getting on base practically every time he gets to the plate. Look up his first week stats -- his on-base percentage leads the league.
Expect a great year from Edgardo Alfonzo. The Fonz, along with Henderson, has been setting the table in grand fashion for this Mets team. We've always known that Alfonzo had the makings of stardom and he's about to show that to the world in '99.
Matt Franco scored the winning run against the Expos on Saturday, scoring all the way from first on a routine single to right by Pratt. How often do you see that? Third base coach, Cookie Rojas, caught everyone by surprise by sending Franco home, a smart move considering that there were two outs and the light-hitting Ordonez was coming up next.
The Mets begin week two of the season sitting atop their division in first place with a 5-2 record. Ain't it a wonderful world?
(Valley Cottage, April 12, 1999) Mets are still looking good WITHOUT Piazza for the next couple of weeks. Luckily, they are playing some bad teams in the first month and can win without him. Ventura makes one great play after another at third. This infield is amazing. Possibly could win gold gloves all around the infield -- has that ever happened before in baseball?
(editors note : good question - the best infield I remember is the Big Red Machine, with Rose, Morgan, Concepcion, and Perez, from left to right, and not nearly as good defensively at the '99 Mets ... -- JB)
Loss of Reed to injury may be worse than Piazza -- the Mets need Rick Reed if they are going to get to the playoffs.
It's funny hearing Ralph Kiner and Tom Seaver together in the broadcast booth. They both rib each other the whole time. They've said some funny stuff.
