It’s hard not to feel disappointed with the way the game went last night, but it is amazing that I am not feeling panic mode, because the Mets have shown us that they can bounce back.  The Mets really only need to win one of the three games to maintain a two game lead.  They are 10-6 against the Phillies this season and while I think they have last year hanging over their head the realize last year they beat themselves by not playing well.  However, given that this is the last time the Mets will see the Phillies this season; this series is a good way to show the Phillies that they don’t sweat them.

 

Brett Meyers was fantastic.  Since his screaming matching with Phillies manager Charlie Manual, he has been virtually unhittable.  However, the Mets out hit the Phillies 5-4 and squandered their opportunities.  They left runners in scoring position in the first, second and sixth innings.  The Mets had two on and one out in the bottom of the ninth and couldn’t get a runner home.  It was really frustrating to watch David Wright pop up in the sixth inning, Carlos Beltran didn’t have a good at bat against Brad Lidge in the bottom of the ninth.  Look, there will be games like this, what is important is what the offense does next.  They are scheduled to see Jamie Moyer today and Cole Hammels in the final game of the series.  The Phillies know how important these games are as they adjusted their rotations so that Hammels would pitch against Santana on Sunday.

 

The Mets were able to bounce back against the Phillies in games after a loss.  When they were in Philly just over a week ago, after they blew their 7 run lead, they were able to come back the next night and beat the Phillies.  So, here we are-sitting in New York and it is supposed to rain all day Saturday, meaning that the Mets and the Phillies will probably have to play a double header on Sunday-which could actually play into the Mets favor, given that it is very difficult to sweep both games of a double header. 

 

Mike Pelfrey was great last night.  He made one mistake on an inside fast ball to Greg Dobbs who took it over teh fence in right field to put the Phillies on top 3-0.  Replays show that Ryan Church nearly caught that ball, he went up over the fence but the ball hit just of the tip of his glove.  In his seven inning of work Pelfrey allowed three runs, only two earned, on four hits.  He struck out four and walked two.  The bullpen pitched two innings without any drama. 

 

Good job by Mike Schmidt looking to fire up his old team.  Too bad the old codger has to live vicariously through his old team.  I’m glad that he has a such insight into the minds of the Mets to just put it out there that the Mets know that the Phillies are better than them.  Although, given that the Mets have beat the Phillies 10-6 so far this season, that bit of news might have been lost on the Mets.  And, I guess since the Mets were able to catch the Phillies who looked like they could run away with the division when the Mets were stinking up the joint in the earlier part of the season-they probably didn’t realize then that the Phillies were better than they are.  So, while I do think the collapse of 2007 weighs on the Mets-the focus on the Phillies is that they are their only competition in the division. 

 

Mets and Phillies are scheduled to meet at 3:55 this after noon with Jamie Moyer on the hill for the Phillies and the Mets will counter with Pedro Martinez.