I guess I should have started ragging on David Wright a long time ago!  What an exciting homer in the bottom of the ninth.  After having two bad games in a row, David really deserved to be the hero.  It was Wright’s first game ending homer, and it was great that it came at home.  He was 3-5 at the plate yesterday, so maybe this game is just the thing he needs to get him into a nice hot streak. 

The Mets bullpen continues to just stink up the joint.  I don’t even know what to write anymore.  Yesterday was the sixth time this bullpen has blown a game for Johan Santana.  Prior to that, you have to go back 100 games to Santana’s time with Minnesota to find five games that the bullpen had blown.  You can make all the noise you want to about Santana going deeper into games, and maybe there were a few times that he should have, but the bullpen needs to get outs.  When your starter goes out there and puts you in a position to win, the bullpen guys need to do their jobs.  There is no reason that a group of 7 guys can’t get six (or so) outs. 

Duaner Sanchez was basically booed off the mound yesterday but what did he expect?  When you come in and hit the first guy you face to load the bases, the crowd isn’t going to be exactly exited to see you.  Manual pulled him right there and brought in Pedro Feliciano who got Brian Giles to ground into a force out at home.  However, Felicano then gave up a basehit that scored a run.  Felicano would be replaced by Joe Smith who got Kevin Kouzmanoff to hit into a double play.  Scott Schoeneweis blew the save when he gave up the home run to Jody Gerut at that point, Horrible (Aaron) Heilman came into the game and actually got two out.  Thank goodness for David Wright, because I don’t think I could have taken another inning of the bullpen. 

Also, can SOMEBODY please learn how to bunt!  The Mets had three failed bunt attempts in Thursday’s game.  That is horrendous!  And, if there is one facet of Santana’s game you want to bag on, this can be one of them.  He is the worst of the pitching staff in terms of getting down an sac bunt.  He is a good hitting pitcher, but there is NO reason this guy can’t get down a sacrifice.  That is such a fundamental part of the game that it is astounding that these guys go out there game after game failing to execute.

How in the world did the Devil Rays pick up Chad Bradford?  It was reported that the Mets were interested in reacquiring him at the trade deadline, but nothing came of it.  Now I read today that Tampa Bay was able to pick him up off waviers.  I can’t imagine that the Mets bullpen trouble is lost on anyone in the organization, so how is it that a guy the Mets were interested in before the trade deadline will end up with another team for a player to be named later?  I know the Mets are tyring to make do with what they’ve got, but really? 

The Binghamton Boys, as Howie Rosie calls them were a big reason for the Mets win.  Dan Murphy looks like a hitter.  He started in left field, went 2-4 at the plate with one run scored and one RBI.  Nick Evans  was 1-3 at the plate yesterday adding two RBI, on a double and a sac fly.  He made his first star at first and part of that tremendous double play in the eighth inning. 

The Mets are two games out of first as the Marlins took two of three from the Phillies.  The Marlins come to town on Friday night for three games while the Phillies will play the Pirates at home.  The Mets last week lost two of three to the Marlins so I think that they really need to take two of three here. 

The Florida Marlins come into Shea for three games starting Friday.  Friday’s pitching match up: Oliver Perez 7-4 4.12 era and Ricky Nolasco 11-6 3.91 era.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog

The New York Mets dropped their second game to the San Diego Padres 2-1 on Friday night.  The Mets offense was absent, as they went 1-5 with runners in scoring positions, leaving the bases loaded twice.  However, it should be noted that the Padres also made some great defensive plays that kept the Mets bats in check. 

Johan Santana started for the Mets last night, giving up seven hits over six innings, two runs, one earned, with five strike outs and only one walk.  However, it was Santana’s throwing error that lead to a run in the bottom of the sixth.  I know it is going to sound like I am bagging on Santana, but it seems like a few too many times we’ve seen him get the lead in one half of the inning and then come back in and give it up.  Granted, Santana got no help from his team’s offense last night, and I know everyone says he has always been better in the second half.  But, while he has been good, he isn’t a good as I thought he would be.  Sometimes I wonder if the expectations exceed what he is actually capable of accomplishing.  

The Mets lone run of the night came in the top of the sixth inning; it was Johan Santana who scored the run.  Santana reached base on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second on a base hit up the middle by Jose Reyes, Luis Castillo hit a single to right that would move the runners, with the bases loaded David Wright drove a fast ball to deep center field that Scott Hairston made an amazing play on, it was called a sac fly but that would have been a Grand Slam anywhere else.  The Mets would leave the bases loaded as Damion Easley grounded weakly to short to end the inning. 

On a side note, could Luis Castillo hustle, even a little bit?  He was embarrassed in the bottom of the first inning when he casually played a ground ball, the runner was hustling, he was not, and the runner was safe at first.  While it didn’t cost the Mets a run, it is frustrating to see a guy play like that, especially when you are stuck with the guy for at least two years. 

Ryan Church did not play again Friday night, and although he did not comment on why he was he wasn’t even available to pinch hit, someone from the Mets clubhouse mentioned that Church is still suffering from vertigo.  When Keith Hernandez and Gary Cohen were talking about Chruch during the telecast, they mentioned that some thing isn’t right with Church and that you can tell when you talk to him that he isn’t himself.  The Mets are taking the approach that they have done the right thing here, but maybe it is time for Church to go on the DL and get him well, and back on track.  The Mets miss him in the line up, but he has to be healthy.

Losing these two games to the Padres is a bad job by the Mets.  The Padres are the worst team in the National League and on a weekend when the Braves and the Phillies are beating up on each other the Mets could really capitalize with some wins and improve their standing in the NL East.  Mets better get it together, because we know how quickly things take a nose dive for them. 

The Mets and Padres play again Saturday, first pitch is scheduled for 10:05 p.m.  Oliver Perez will pitch for the Mets; he is coming off a horrendous against the Giants, Perez managed to record only one out before he had to leave the game after giving up 6 runs on 5 hits and 2 walks.  Hopefully he’ll pitch a little better tonight because the Mets need to win this game.  The Padres will send Cha Seung Baek to the mound; he is 1-2 with a 5.60 era.    

Mets Blog

Another new New York Mets Blog has hit the Internet!  Metshomeplate will soon be your one stop place for everything involving the New York Mets!  We will be blogging after each and every game, talking about Mets rumors and transactions, and also give you great ideas for Mets tickets and merchandise.

We all want to forget the end to the 2007 season as the Mets had one of the biggest choke jobs in Major League Baseball history.  The 2008 season will be here soon, and we can all put 07 behind us.  Will the Mets have enough fire power and pitching to compete in 08?  I’m going to say yes they will, and they will make it to the playoffs as well.

What do yout think of the Mets chances in 2008?  Leave us a comment and let your opinion be heard!