Somewhat unbelievably, John Buck, Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada are all in the lineup again tonight.
In the last 24 days, the Mets have played 22 games. Here’s how Buck, Davis and Tejada have done in this stretch:
JB – 19 G, 75 PA, .65 ABs, 482 OPS, .154/.267/.215, 23 Ks
ID – 21 G, 73 PA, 68 ABs, .339 OPS, .132/.192/.147, 28 Ks
RT – 22 G, 87 PA, 84 ABs, .362 OPS, .155/.184/.179, 10 Ks
Collectively, these three have a .147 AVG (32-217) in this span. Incredibly, the terrible trio has combined to play in all but four of a possible 66 games, although three times Davis came off the bench.
Essentially, the Mets are fielding a lineup with four pitchers in it. In 2013, NL starters have posted a .135 AVG and a .347 OPS. It’s no wonder runs have been tough to come by recently.
Buck and Tejada desperately need days off while Davis needs a trip to the minors. We are going to keep running these numbers after every game until Terry Collins does what needs to be done with his lineup. It’s one thing to show faith in your players but it’s quite another to tie one hand behind your back while trying to compete. Five of the seven teams the Mets have played in this stretch are over .500 while the White Sox stand just one game below.
Great pitching has allowed the Mets to win three games in a row, even with an offense that produced just eight runs. But even with this winning streak, New York is just 8-14 in their last 22 as over one-third of the lineup sleepwalks through games on a nightly basis.
Bring up Q, send down Ike, move Duda to 1st. Buck has to be in the lineup – Recker’s not exactly an improvement.
Wonder how many people are going to buy that Ike can immediately turn it around?
Davis has looked lost at the plate and in the field for weeks. He should have been sent down ages ago. Hopefully starting at first for Las Vegas will solve his recto-cranial conversion.
Tejada is a total surprise, especially for a guy who lives and dies on the fundies and hard work. If they didn’t make a move ASAP, I could be ok with giving him another week to straighten it out. Otherwise, call up Quintanilla or pick up another fringey FA shortstop.
Buck has never been a high average hitter; he hits for power and calls a good game. I recently read that his BABIP numbers are very low and he’s beginning to come around again. I have no problem with Buck in the lineup every day.
Sobering perspective Brian.
It is completely embarrassing that on any given day there are 5 players in the lineup with a sub .300 OBP (Buck, Byrd, Tejada, Davis, and Ankiel/Lagares). Just terrible.
I’m surprised that Buck has gotten so few games off.Recker needs to play more often.
TC shows very little imagination or creativity.
Sandy has left the team with an inadequate bench.
Is Turner really a backup 1B? Who is Tejada’s back up? And who is Recker? Is he on the team?
TC is pretty rigid, he either plays you or he don’t (right Colin Cowgill).
Well, one domino has seemingly fallen. Omar Q was pulled last night and I expect the Mets to place Tejada on the DL. Then rehab and stay down on the minors for a few weeks while he works himself out. It is so perplexing at how many brain farts Tejada has had.
Looking in the rear view mirror, this morning Bill Madden of the Daily News says he reported overweight to ST. If true, then why wasn’t Q kept around to start the season (instead of 6 OF) to indicate to Tejada that this was unacceptable and his replacement is only a bench spot away. Poor team construction. The Mets are very lenient and seem like a Country Club. I don’t advocate yelling and screaming but these are men earning a paycheck and should be accountable for preperation and performance.
Let’s get 5 tonight and change the culture around here from “I tried my hardest” to a Matt Harvey philosophy of ” I expect to win “.
^this.
We’ve gone from being a “player friendly” environment to being blind to what producing means. I don’t care if we have a great “culture” or if Josh Turner is everyone’s friend or we all like Ike.
I don’t normally go to this spot, but don’t you have to wonder about having a lame-duck coach and a lowering of standards around the team?
Ive been saying that for some time now. What passes for MLB play in Flushing is simply unacceptable. Nice guys, working hard etc. is NOT enough. The lowering of standards begins with the lousy owners, who pass the culture all the way down. Harvey and Wright really seem to get that, but few others. Ike got a hit, hell he got TWO hits and 2 RBIs!! Vote Ike for the ASG!!! In fact his stats are crap. He needs to hot 2 HR every game to make me think the ship isnt sinking.
Q is on the way. Tejada—did he fake an injury to (1) keep from being demoted and (2) land on DL and old a place on the big club?
[…] Davis and Tejada (and Duda not in OF) July 3, 2013By Brian JouraOn May 29th, the concept of the Terrible Trio was introduced. In the previous 22 games, John Buck, Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada combined to go 32-217 (.147) and […]
[…] the offseason, they can still help the offense by not assembling a new version of this year’s “Terrible Trio” which sunk the offense in May and […]