Feeling Minnesota?

      When I think of Minnesota, I think of "purple people eaters", tiny musicians in purple blouses singing "purple rain", the Great Lakes, ice fishing, the tv show "Coach", and a great Minnesota band called Soul Asylum. Soul Asylum was an early 90's band that had a huge hit with a song called "Runaway Train".
      When it comes to the 2013 New York Mets, I'm hoping this season isn't heading "the wrong way on a one-way track", as the Mets head into the Twin Cities losing two in a row to the Phillies and dropping their first series of the season. Their record stands at 5-4 and sit in 3rd place in the NL East behind the Braves and the Nats respectively, who just seem to keep winning games. After 9 games, there have been some encouraging positives for the Amazings and also some glaring negatives. Here's a look at the good, the bad, and the ugly:
      The good.. That's an easy one! John Buck has been unconscious at the plate. He has been absolutely on fire to start the season, providing power to a lineup that hasn't gotten much from Ike Davis and David Wright thus far. Matt Harvey in his first two starts has looked like the real deal. He has somehow combined the youthful excitement and live arm of a raw talent with the temperament and baseball savvy of a seasoned veteran. In addition, I think Lucas Duda should gat a small mention. I stated earlier in the season that Duda would be a key for this lineup, and it was a good sign to see him hit those two bombs against Philly Wednesday night.
      The bad... The back end of the rotation is becoming a real problem! I was so hopeful the first time through the rotation that some how guys like Gee, Hefner and Laffey could be competent enough to give the Mets some quality starts. But if the last couple of games are any indication of how the rest of the season plays out.. the Mets are in some serious trouble! I heard someone say the other day that Dillon Gee is probably the most important player on the Mets roster and I would tend to agree with that statement. Gee has to be that consistent bridge from Niese and Harvey to the back end for the Mets to have a fighter's chance. Another concern of mine is Ike Davis. It's a little disconcerting to me that Ike has gotten off to such a slow start once again. I thought with the great second half last year and the solid spring training, this was going to be the year Ike would finally turn the corner and be that all-star caliber player I know he has the potential to be. As of right now though, he looks completely lost at the plate.
      The ugly... I am one of the biggest Daniel Murphy supporters and always have been, but every so often he does something that makes you say.."What the hell was he thinking?" That bone-head mistake on the bases the other night was inexcusable. (Not to mention Valdespin's light jog to home plate when tagging up). I understand the Mets want to be aggressive on the bases but they also have to be smart. They can't afford to run themselves out of an inning and take runs off the board. In addition, Ruben Tejada has been shaky at best at shortstop. His costly errors earlier in the season and his general lack of fluidity out there, has been making me hold my breathe every time the ball his hit in his direction. Bottom line is this, the margin of error for this team is minuscule( especially defensively and on the bases) for the Mets to have a chance to win a decent amount of games this year.
      Whew.. I digress.. My apologies for the rant! I needed to get that off my chest! I'm moving on to Minnesota and this upcoming series with the Twins and I'm sure the Mets are too. The first of three is tonight as Jon Niese takes the mound against RHP Vance Worley. First pitch at 8:10 pm. Let's go Mets!