The Mets have not been doing well to start off this school year. Their overall grade has to be about a D+.
1978 SMILEY NEW YORK METS
FIRST QUARTER REPORT CARD
Preseason Outlook: Coming off a second place finish in 1977 and a division championship in 1976, the Mets expected to remain contenders. The core of the team remained largely intact. Don Aase was brought in to fill in mid-rotation for the injured Pat Zachry and unreliable Nino Espinosa. The bullpen was slightly reshuffled. Don Stanhouse replaced free agent relief ace Rich Gossage, and Darold Knowles was signed to replace Dave Tomlin as the left-handed short man. Leon Roberts was expected to more than fill the gaps left by the departure of Jay Johnstone and the disappearance of Bruce Boisclair’s hitting ability. Joe Nolan was acquired as an additional backup catcher to spell the aging Johnny Bench.
At the Quarter pole: The Mets are in 4th place with a 17-25 record. They have scored 184 runs (4.38 per/gm) and allowed 207 (4.93 per/gm).
Pitching / Defense: The majority of the decline has been on the defensive side of the ledger as the Mets are giving up almost 1 entire run per game more than in 1977. The team is 9th in the NL in ERA and has also given up 30 unearned runs. The Mets are giving up a .286 Opponents Batting Average – left-handers are hitting .309. Only one starter (Ken Kravec 5-2 2.82) is having a decent season, no other starter has an ERA below 4. The bullpen has engaged in several agonizing meltdowns. The fielding has left much to be desired, ranking 9th in the league in X-pct.
Hitting: There is a gaping hole in the cleanup slot (.213 / .274 / .300), the rest of the team plugs along at above average – 4th in the league in BA, 2nd in the league in OBA and SLG, 9th in SB, and tied for 3rd in the league in runs scored.
Overachievers: Lee Mazzilli, Jorge Orta, Chris Speier, Ken Kravec.
Underachievers: Sixto Lezcano, Buddy Bell, Reggie Smith, Pat Zachry, Don Stanhouse, Steve Carlton.
Individual Comments
Pitchers (Stats: W-L, Saves, ERA)
Don Aase (2-4 0 4.43) RHB hitting .407 off him. Allowed 56 H in 40.2 IP. Allowed 8 UER in addition to 20 ER. Highest run support on staff – 6.20 R/G. Grade D
Dwight Bernard (0-0 0 15.43) Ineffective in limited mop-up action. Grade I
Warren Brusstar (0-2 1 4.60) LHB hitting .419 off him. Has stranded 6/8 of his inherited runners. Grade D+
Steve Carlton (3-5 0 4.54) 83 H and 7 HR allowed in 69.1 IP. Leads team with 3 CG. Lowest run support on staff – 3.12 R/G. Grade D+
Mardie Cornejo (0-0 0 9.95) Ineffective in mop-up role. Grade I
Nino Espinosa (2-1 0 4.66) Pitched shutout in first start. Knocked about in next two. Fell out of rotation, may soon fall back in. Grade C
Darold Knowles (1-0 0 2.75) Left-handed short man has allowed RHB to hit .378 off him. Allowed 7/15 inherited runners to score. Grade C+
Ken Kravec (5-2 0 2.82) Only mar on record 8 UER in addition to 16 ER. Grade A-
Skip Lockwood (1-0 1 2.95) Most reliable short reliever. Stranded 7/8 of inherited runners. Grade A
Bob Myrick (0-0 0 10.80) Traded to Braves for Joe Nolan. Grade W
Don Stanhouse (1-3 7 5.50) Stats wrecked by one gruesome outing – 3 H, 3 BB, 6 ER, in 0.1 IP. Allowed 10 BB in 18 IP. 2 Blown Saves. Grade C-
Craig Swan (2-6 0 4.14) Allowed 10 HR in 71.2 IP. Grade D+
Pat Zachry (0-3 0 6.60) Allowed 10 BB in 15 IP. Grade F
Hitters: (Stats: BA OBP SLG)
Buddy Bell (.200 .273 .265) Hit .100 leading off innings, .300 with RISP. Traded to Rangers for Toby Harrah. Grade W
Johnny Bench (.250 .333 .509) Tied for club lead with 20 RBI. Nailed 13 of 26 attempted base stealers. Grade A-
Bud Harrelson (.158 .238 .158) Perfect in 7 x-plays as backup SS. Grade C-
Keith Hernandez (.263 .329 .375) Hitting .109 /.196/ .130 in May. Underperforming on defense – X % of .444. Grade C-
Ron Hodges (.417 .481 .458) Done well as #3 catcher. Grade B+
Sixto Lezcano (.177 .250 .306) Black hole in the cleanup spot. Perfect defense so far. Grade D-
Elliott Maddox (.367 .441 .433) Good performance as #5 OF. Grade A
Lee Mazzilli (.310 .385 .503) Leads team in both R and RBI from leadoff spot. .427 OPB leading off innings. Grade A
Joe Nolan (.316 .381 .684) Backup catcher, may be due for more playing time. Grade A-
Jorge Orta (.297 .352 .517 ) Leads team in SLG. Only 1 error so far. Grade A
Leon Roberts (.295 .327 .400) Less power than hoped. Will get more playing time in place of Lezcano. Grade C+
Reggie Smith (.263 .323 .509) Has to improve both hits and walks. Hitting .188/ .278/ .375 vs LHP, .091/.231/ .091 with RISP. 6/10 as PH. Grade C-
Chris Speier (.288 .343 .392) Hitting .333 /.382 /.556 with RISP. Grade A
Mike Tyson (.258 .343 .290) Backup 2b hitting well against LHP - .318 / .423 /.364. Grade B
Joel Youngblood (.233 .273 .500) Hitting well against RHP - .318 /.348 /.682. Grade C+
