Wow-the Mets are on a roll!  They have now won five straight, the longest winning streak since May and are 3 games over .500.  The Phillies won last night so the Mets stay at 1.5 out of first, and 3.5 out of the wild card. 

Johan Santana finally got the win last night.  The game was stopped for rain in the middle of the fifth inning and Santana did not come back out to start the top of the sixth.  However, in his five innings he allowed just 3 hits, no earned runs, while walking 3 and striking out 5.  It was a great outing by Santana and I think the Mets offense feels better about getting him some runs.  According to the New York Post, after the game, Santana said, “In the past I was doing my job, I was working and trying to help as much as I can…[T]onight it was about the whole team.”  Clearly Santana has been frustrated by the lack of run support that he has gotten during his losing streak.  I can’t say I blame him, the Mets had averaged just two runs in his last six starts.  Santana has pitched well, his era is under three, his hits/walks to innings pitched is good, and everyone says he is s second half pitcher so I think we have a lot to look forward to. 

The Mets offense was quiet early on.  They took a 3-0 lead on Ramon Castro’s three run homer in the bottom of the fourth.  I like the way that Jerry Manual is playing his catchers.  Not to take anything away from Brian Schneider, because I think he is an good catcher and I think Schneider does a good job with Mike Pelfrey behind the plate, but it is also good to get Castro’s bat in the line up.  I know Willie Randolph last year said something to the affect that Castro could be an every day guy but didn’t really seem willing to do the work necessary for the role.  For the most part, when Castro has been in the game he has made a contribution to the offense, last night he was 2-4 with three RBI.  On the season, his average is .274 in 73 at bats, with three homeruns, 14 RBI. 

Carlos Delgado continues to be hot at the plate, last night he was 3-4 with two doubles and a long single.  His average is up to .249 and he has 50 RBI.  In the month of July (I know 9 games) he is hitting .429 with two homeruns 5 RBI.  The Mets could really use his bat, especially with the absence of Ryan Chruch and the inability to rely on the health of Moises Alou, getting Delgado going could be huge.  In Tuesday’s game Argenis Reyes got the first hit of his MLB career, last night he entered the game as a pinch hitter in the bottom of the seventh and stayed in to play second base,  he was 2-2 on the night with an RBI-this guy has good speed on the base path, I would like to see what he can do at second base. 

The bullpen did a great job last night.  Aaron Heilman entered the game in the 6^th inning and pitched two strong innings of relief.  Duaner Sanchez pitched the eighth inning and Joe Smith closed it out working a scoreless ninth.  I was so glad that the Mets scored two in the bottom of the 8^th, I really wasn’t up for watching another Billy Wagner last night. 

The Mets are playing good right now, they are hitting and getting good pitching.  They are also doing something that they have failed to do up to now, and that is beating the teams they are supposed to beat.  They took three of four from the Phillies, they have taken the first two in the series against the Giants, and if they get a good outing from John Maine today and the bats stay hot, they may just get a the sweep here.  We all saw their terrible play against the Mariners (sub .500 team) when they were here as well as watching them get their butts handed to them by the Padres (another sub .500 team). It would be great for the Amazin’s to close this series out with with a win and then have a good series against the Rockies, sending them into the all star break on a high note. 

Even a few weeks ago if you would have told me the Mets were sitting right where they are I would not have believed you.  Two weeks ago, I watched the Mets at to see what they would do to make me made for another night in a row.  I must admit, the Mets are playing better, looking better as a team.  They are getting some confidence back and it is showing on the field.  I don’t know what it is that has changed, but I like it, and for the first time in a long time, I am excited about the Mets again! 

Thrusday’s game is set for 1:10 start, John Maine will be on the mound for the Mets and the Giants will have an unimpressive Barry Zito going for them.  LETS GO METS!

Mets Blog

Can you actually give Billy Wagner credit for a save last night?  I guess when you see official scoring you realize how absurd some of this stuff really is.  The guy almost blew the game, yet got credit for his 20^th save of the season.  What are the Mets going to do about this guy?  No one fears him, as a fan I don’t trust him in a big spot; actually, I don’t trust him at all.  And, it wasn’t just his pitching that was bad last night, on the error by Carlos Beltran on the throw to David Wright in the bottom of the ninth-where was Billy Wagner?  I can tell you he wasn’t backing up third.  First, yes, Beltran should not have made that throw, and since he did, Wright needed to knock it down, but even still Wagner needed to back up the play.  All weekend long, Keith Hernandez has been been talking about fundamentals (fundies as Keith calls them)-I guess Billy forgot both of fielding and pitching “fundies” last night.

So, with really no thanks to Wagner the Mets did pull out a win and are now over .500 for the first time since June 5, and are just 2.5 games out of first place.  There are two things I must say about the game.  1-that was NOT a homerun by Ryan Howard-and how is it that we are seeing so many of these blown calls on homeruns, we’ve seen two in Mets games this year, are the Umps trying to get instant replay?  And 2-The Mets could learn a few things from the Phillies, the Mets pitching let the Phillies chip away at that lead.  The Phillies did something last night that we have not seen the Mets do, and that is they never considered themselves out of the game.  Pedro Martinez looked much better last night, in 5 1/3 innings of work, he allowed two runs, both of which were homeruns, one by Chase Utley and here’s a surprise, one by Pat Burrell.  Pedro also walked three and struck out six.  Also, that ball park is awful, I can’t believe how balls just fly out of there, you almost shouldn’t even count the homeruns that are hit in that park, especially the bullsh*t ones that are nothing more than fly balls.

The Mets bullpen did not help much last night, Tony Armas Jr.,yeah, I know he is a “starter”, anyway, he gave up three earned runs in and inning and a third, and Aaron Heilman who pitched well the night before, didn’t pitch so well last night, he did have four strikeouts though, the biggest one was the Pat Burrell strikeout in the bottom of the seventh.  However, he is also the guy who gave up the two run homer to a guy who is mired in a 2-40 (well now 3-41) slump.  And, we’ve already been through the Billy Wagner outing, so I’ll leave it at that. 

The Mets were facing Adam Eaton who in his career has never had a loss to the Mets, but the Mets took it to him pretty hard early on scoring 8 runs in the first three innings.  The Mets had 17 hits Brian Schneider is the only one Met without a hit.  Even Pedro Martinez had a hit last night. David Wright was 2-5 with four RBI, hitting a homerun and a double.  Jose Reyes 2-4 with two runs scored and a stole base.  The bench guys continued their hot streak last night, Fernando Tatis was 3-4 and Damion Easley was 3-5.   

When the Mets left on this road trip, I said I would have liked for them to go 6-2, and thought realistically they would end up 4-4, but after Friday night’s debacle, I was worried that they wouldn’t even finish there.  However, the Mets complete the road trip 5-3 taking 3-4 from the Phillies.  This road trip and the fact that the Mets are now just 2.5 our with six to go before the all star break is bring a little life and excitement back to watching the Mets. 

The Phillies and the Marlins are the two teams ahead of the Mets so, as of today, the schedules for the Marlins and Philles before the all star break are as follows: Marlins have two more games with the Padres, and then four against the Dodgers and the Phillies play three with St. Luis and three with Arizona.  I guess that means that at least for this week, I am a Mets fan and a fan of any team playing the Phillies and the Marlins!  (Oh no!  That means I am actually rooting for the Cardinals!)

The Mets open a three game series with the San Francisco Giants-so if you see Chris “Mad Dog” Russo out at Shea-make sure to give him a hard time.  Giants will have Tim Lincecum on the mound and the Mets will throw Mike Pelfrey.  Game time is set for 7:10 p.m.    

Mets Blog

One thing is for certain, the Mets never fail to make things interesting, or maybe I should say make things frustrating.  I guess at least last night’s frustration had a happy ending as the Mets won 4-2 in 12 innings.  

Oliver Perez was great yesterday.  He struggled a little in the first inning, but was great there after. He pitched seven shut out innings, allowing just four hits, while walking two and striking out four.  The Mets took a 1-0 lead off a Carlos Beltran’s homerun in the third, and Perez did something that Johan Santana failed to do in Friday’s game-he held the lead and did not give up a run. 

With the exception of Billy Wagner the Mets bullpen did their job.  When the Mets resumed play after the rain delay, I was less than confident that Pedro Feliciano would actually get Ryan Howard out, but he retired Howard on three pitches. Then of course, Aaron Heilman came in with two on and walked Pat Burrell, and I can’t even tell you what I was screaming at the television-but Heartattack Heilman kept it in check as he got Pedro Feliz to hit a weak grounder back to the pitcher to end the Phillies’ threat in the bottom of the eight.   Joe Smith got the win, he came in with two out in the bottom of the 10th and did not allow a run.  The Mets really got what they needed from that group of guys. 

I don’t know what’s up with Billy Wagner, but is it too much to ask him to close out a game, with out drama, just for once?  Seriously, for a guy who tries to be such a hard ass and tough guy, I have never seen such a wuss.  He can’t enter the game in the middle of an inning because of lack of intensity, he can’t come in for two innings, because he doesn’t get the same adrenaline rush-I guess that is why Mariano Rivera is the real “Sandman”.  When Wagner signed with the Mets, I think we all thought, Yes! We finally don’t have to worry about the ninth inning.  After years of watching John Franco, Armando Benitez, and Braden Looper it looked as if the Mets had the ninth wrapped up.  All we know is, when “Enter Sandman” plays at Shea, the only intensity we feel, isn’t excitement, it is almost dread. 

Mets offense was terrible, with runners in scoring position; they left a total of 14 guys on base.  No one was able to get the big hit to drive in some runs early in the game.  Maybe if the Mets offense had done their job we wouldn’t have to have the Wagner discussion today.  David Wright, had two big strikeouts, and stranded three guys on base, Marlon Anderson didn’t even get a hit.  Jose Reyes was 3-6 but none of those hits came with RISP.  Because of great pitching, (with the exception of Wagner, but I guess that goes without saying) it looked like the Mets would only need two runs to win.  Carlos Beltran gave them the lead with his homerun in the top of the third, and added what was thought to be an insurance run in the top of the ninth. 

Ryan Church did not start on Sunday after leaving the game on Saturday with a migraine, so Endy Chavez was in right field and made a great catch in the top of the second.  Fernando Tatis who entered the game as a pinch hitter for in Marlon Anderson in the top of the 8^th, came through big time for the Mets with his game winning hit in the 12th.  It is a big boost when your bench gets it done; you know they are guys you can count on, and when the bench comes through, they feel like they can contribute and make the most of their opportunity to do so.  I like the way that Manual has juggled things, I also think that the way he has played Brian Schneider and Ramon Castro has worked out for the Met, it is good to get Castro’s bat in the line up and I don’t know if it is the rest or watching his playing time diminish but whatever it is, but Schneider got the big hit in Saturday night’s game, and he had another hit yesterday.  Manuals managerial style seems to illicit the competitive nature in these guys. 

Look, all complaining aside, this was a good win for the Mets, they fought hard.  They are in position to take the series from the Phillies and leave town one game over .500, and only 2.5 out, but the Mets have to win tonight to make that happen.  A split here, the Mets are basically just spinning their wheels, they’ll go home having not gained any ground, and again under .500.  Going in, the Mets had to make some headway on this road trip and really had to take control over getting themselves out of this rut to have a chance of finishing over .500 at the all star break and maybe even being in the mix for a pennant race

Pedro Martinez will be on the mound for the Mets and the Phillies with counter with Adam Eaton.  The Mets have a chance to take a step in the right direction tonight, but Pedro had been dreadful and Eaton is 5-0 lifetime against the Mets.  However, if there is one thing we know about this team, it is that anything can happen.  Game time is 7:05 p.m.

Mets Blog

The Mets topped the Cards on Tuesday night 7-4.  A combination of some lineup changes and a spot start by Tony Armas Jr. did the trick for the Mets as they bounced back from the disappointing opening game of this series. 

Armas made his first start in the bigs since September 10^th of last year when he was with the Pirates.  In his six innings of work he allowed four runs on eight hits, while walking just one and striking out three.  He was no where near dominant but did pitch well enough to keep the Mets in the game.  He struggled a bit in the first, giving up a double to Aaron Miles and then a long homerun to Rick Ankiel.  In the second inning, Yadier Molina lead off the inning with a single to center, he would advance to second on a sac bunt by the pitcher, and score on a double by Skip Schumaker.  Armas also struggled some in the sixth inning; Troy Glaus doubled to lead off the inning, and would take third a single to right by Chris Duncan.  Glaus would score on a sac fly by Molina that was caught by Ryan Church in foul territory. 

The Mets finally found some offense last night; Jerry Manual made some changes to the line up, putting Ryan Church in the fifth spot, and dropping Delgado to the sixth hole.  Brian Schneider got a night off as Ramon Castro did the catching.  Damion Easley took Luis Castillo’s spot at second, hitting behind Delgado.  The changes seemed to benefit everyone as Church and Delgado were a combined 5-8.  Church also had an RBI and scored two runs.  David Wright had a great night at the plate too; he was 3-4 with an RBI, a homer and a walk.  Carlos Beltran continues to struggle; he is now in a 3 for 29 slump dating back to the Seattle series. 

Who can figure these guys out?  One thing is for sure though, when you sit down and turn the game on, you never know what you are going to get.  The Mets fell behind early, which usually means they are mentally out of the game and just go through the motions until their nine innings of torture are over.  Last night, that wasn’t the case.  They fought back, and actually chased Todd Wellemeyer out of the game after five, taking advantage of the fact that he wasn’t pitching well.  The Mets still left seven guys on base last night, but they did get two two out RBI hits by both Castro and Wright, and that is something that the Mets have not done with any consistency.  Not that they have done anything with any consistency. 

It is great to have Ryan Church back in the line up.  I think it is a boost that the Mets really need.  He has picked up right where he left off, in the three games since his return, he is 5 for 12.  The Mets have really missed his bat.  I am getting giddy thinking about the return of Moises Alou though.  If the Mets heat up and play well the rest of this series and play well in Philly, they could come home in first place.  Gee-I sound almost optimistic.  I know, I’ll probably have to eat my words tomorrow. 

Pedro Martinez is scheduled to pitch for the Mets.  We are hopping to see a better Pedro tonight as he has determined that the problem in his last two starts (or there about) is that he has been tipping his pitches.  The Cardinals will have Joel Pineiro on the hill; Pineiro is 2-4 with a 4.33 era.  First pitch is scheduled for 8:05 p.m.

Mets Blog

The Mets were awful against the Cardinals on Monday night.  They got terrible pitching, awful defense, no offense.  As this road trip begins there is a lot of talk about what the Mets would do, and the ground they could gain.  Well if this first game against the Cardinals is any indication of what is to come, I’m not sure I can watch much more of it. 

John Maine never got in a groove; he gave up a run before he got an out.  In his four innings of work he gave up five runs-three earned, three walks (one intentional), and one strikeout, that strikeout was to the pitcher who fouled out on a bunt attempt.  Of course, it wasn’t just that Maine didn’t have his good stuff, the Mets made three errors.  The first error came on a groundball that took a bad hop and went through Luis Castillo’s legs, that would have ended the inning; instead, on the next play John Maine threw the ball away on a pickoff move, allowing the runner on third to score and the runner on first to advance to third.  The final error was by David Wright who made a good play on a ball hit to third, he no chance to get the runner at first, his throw sailed way over the head of Carlos Delgado, and the runner to advance to second; that runner would score.

The Cardinals scored in each of the first five innings, the Mets scored once, in the fifth inning.  Andy Phillips, pinch hitting for Maine hit a single to left; he would come around to score on a single by Luis Castillo.  As a team the Mets left 9 guys on base last night.  Ryan Church (1-3) and Carlos Delgado both grounded into double plays.  Delgado, David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Brian Schneider all had 0-for’s last night. 

You knew right away that it was going to be a long night.  In the first inning, when John Maine could not get an out, I knew the Mets were not going to bounce back, because they never do.  Their demeanor says it all.  They fall behind, you might as well call the game there.  They just don’t have the intestinal fortitude to keep going.  They are at their statistical half way point, and they are still under .500.  This is where the team is going to be.  How many times have we heard-or worse yet-said, this win could be just what the Mets need, only to watch them follow it up with a garbage performance like last night.

There is something missing from this team, and I’m not talking about Moises Alou, although I do think that has been a part of it.  The Mets have had a weak line up because they are relying on bench players and it has showed.  Everyone is pressing and no one has been able to step it up and be the guy for the team.  I know there is a lot of pressure to win; you want to stop the booing, the losing, and the embarrassment!  These guys need to suck it up and play, show some fight, show some desire.  Show us something!

What the Mets are really missing is leadership.  Jerry Manual said as much last night when he was talking about Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes.  Much has been said about Reyes and how he was really learning the game and understanding how to conduct himself when Jose Valentin was with the team, and Manual said that the Mets were hoping they would get Castillo to kind of take a more active role with Reyes, but have yet to see it.  They had to know that going in though, there was a lot of talk last year at the end of the season about the negative affect that Castillo had on Reyes, but the Mets signed Castillo anyway.  What is even more telling to me, when the Mets had that players only meeting before Randolph was fired sometime in May, the one guy who tried to rally them, was Marlon Anderson.  I give props to Anderson, but how is it he is the only guy trying to take on leadership role?  It is kind of hard to take that responsibility when you are a bench player.  And while I am on the subject, I sincerely think that Carlos Delgado is a problem.  Listen, I am not a beat writer, I don’t spend time around the clubhouse, but just watching these guys together on the bench, it certainly seems like there is discord in the clubhouse. 

The Mets and the Cardinals play the second of four tonight.  Tony Armas will start for the Mets, he has been recalled from Triple-A New Orleans, to make room for him on the roster, they designated Andy Phillips for assignment.  The Cardinals will have Todd Wellemeyer on the hill.  Game time is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. 

Mets Blog

The New York Mets bounced back from their extra inning loss on Thursday, winning 7-1 and taking the first game of the interleague series against the Texas Rangers.  The Mets were desperate for a win and played well on Friday getting both great starting pitching and some offense.  On a day when reports again surfaced that Willie Randolph’s job is in jeopardy, the Mets went out to save him for one more day.   

Oliver Perez was on the mound for the Mets and with him you never know what you are going to get.  It looked as if it might be a long night when in the top of the first he gave up a homerun to Josh Hamilton.  But, that would not be the case.  Texas mustard just three hits the entire game.  Perez pitched seven solid innings only walking three (come on, if you’ve watched Ollie pitch, you know that is a big feat), he also had 8 strikeouts.  Perez has really benefited from having Pedro Martinez around.  Funny, both of their contracts expire at the end of the season, maybe they end up somewhere as a package deal.  All kidding aside, Perez has had two good outings since the debacle in San Francisco, but that is the problem, you never know which Perez will take the mound.  He did his job yesterday though and in a time when the Mets are really struggling he went out and put up a great performance.  Not only did Perez pitch well, he hit a single in the bottom of the sixth that drove in a pair of runs.    

The bullpen did their job as well.  And how long has it been since we could say that?  Then again, with a 7-1 lead you would hope that this would be a wide enough margin that the bullpen could hold the lead.  Scott Schoeneweis pitched an inning of relief and put up zeros across the board.  Duaner Sanchez came into the game in the ninth, issuing a walk but recording two strikeouts. 

The Mets scored two in the bottom of the first.  Jose Reyes got aboard with a single and moved to second on a ground out by Luis Castillo.  With David Wright hitting, Reyes advanced to third on a balk, Wright hit a bullet, but right to second baseman Ian Kinsler.  Carlos Beltran hit into right field and Reyes would score.  Carlos Delgado drew a two out walk, and he and Beltran would successfully complete a double steal with Marlon Anderson at the plate.  Anderson hit a bouncer to third, but German Duran’s throw sailed on him, and Anderson was safe at first and Beltran would score to make it 2-1  The Mets would add another run in the bottom of the fifth on a sac fly by Wright.

 In the bottom of the sixth the Mets did what they had failed to do during their losing streak, and that was tacking on runs late in the game.  Carlos Delgado singled to lead off the inning; he would score on a single to right by Marlon Anderson, Brian Schneider would single to right and that advanced the runner to third.  Endy Chavez hit a ground rule double (by fan interference) allows Anderson to score and Schneider to take third.  After a pitching change, Oliver Perez hit a bloop single that just cleared the glove of the short stop allowing both Anderson and Schneider to score and the Mets would go on to win it 7-1. 

The Mets played much better on Friday night.  But the whole team seems to be in shambles.  As I mentioned before the stuff with Willie Randolph has to stop.  Either fire him or put it to rest.  Enough already!  To me, he seems less culpable in this last go around then he was early in the season when the Mets were just going through the motions.  But seriously, how can players respect a guy whose job is hanging by a thread?  Why listen to him if he could be gone tomorrow?

Here is a surprise; Moises Alou is on the DL again, with the same calf injury that landed him there the last go-around.  Clearly they are not going to be able to count on him and they have acquired Trot Nixon from the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Who knows when Ryan Church will play again and whether he’ll be able to come back and be the player he has been for the Mets prior to the head injury. 

I don’t know if anyone caught the Phllies-Cardinals score last night.  In case you missed it, they won 20-2; Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Pat Burrell hit back to back to back homers.  The Phillies are a very good team, and they play so differently from how the Mets play, almost like how the Mets played in 2006 and in parts of 2007.  I wish we could get those Mets back.  The Mets are in trouble, the Phillies are the team to beat, and in a head to head match up I think the Phillies would kill us right now. 

The Mets and Rangers continue their series tonight with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m.  The Mets send Pedro Martinez to the mound and the Rangers will counter with Kason Gabbard. 

Mets Blog

The New York Mets won their third straight game on Thursday night beating the Los Angels Dodgers 8-4.  The Mets are now back at .500 and sit 4 games out of first.  Not only did the Mets spoil Joe Torre’s return to New York, but they manhandled Brad Penny once again.  Penny is now 5-13 lifetime against the Mets is 1-10 at Shea Stadium.   

The Mets had 13 hits last night and David Wright continued his dominance against Penny, hitting two two run homers in last night’s game.  In 21 career at bats against Penny, Wright is hitting a whopping .524 with four home runs, five walks and 19 RBI.  Wright’s average is now up to .284 after going 2-4 with 4 RBI in last nights win.  Luis Castillo, Endy Chavez, and Brian Schneider all had RBI as well. 

The Mets got great defense last night, in the first inning Endy Chavez made a great play to throw out Juan Pierre at the plate to keep the Dodger’s off the board.  Later in the game Carlos Delgado made a great play on a line drive to first, and just missed doubling Russell Martin off first. 

The Mets have done a good job in these past three games.  I don’t know if it is the orange jacket, if it is the fact that Willie seems like he is safe for the time being, or if it is the thought of getting Pedro back, but something has clicked and the Mets have been a much better team, might even be the best we’ve seen them play since the Yankee series.

I applaud Willie Randolph for sitting Carlos Delgado those two games against the Marlins, Delgado was 2-4 last night and played good defense.  When asked about the manager’s decision to sit him those two games, Delgado told the press that he understood where Willie was coming from.  According to the New York sports pages, when asked how he’d feel about a platoon at first, Delgado basically said, that he and Willie would have a problem if that were the case.  Wow-really Carlos?  You are hitting .222 and have killed the Mets this year.  I realize that at one point you were a superstar, but you haven’t shown the Mets that in a year and a half.  I guess you don’t get that “Whatever is best for the team” concept, huh?

The Mets looked so much better the past three nights, watching them has been fun again!  They hustled, played hard, and did not give up.  They have gotten some good pitching performances, and their bull pen has been great.  They are also getting two out hits which is something that we haven’t seen them do.  I get that winning three straight is too soon to proclaim that the Mets are back, but it sure is nice to watch them play good ball once again. 

The Mets will send John Maine to the hill tonight and he will be opposed by Clayton Kershaw who made his Major League debut just five days ago against the St. Louis Cardinals.  Game time is 7:10 p.m.  

Mets Blog  

The New York Mets lost 7-3 to the first place Florida Marlins on Tuesday night in the opening game of a three game series.  As the Mets took the field they knew that Willie Randolph would remain the Mets skipper but instead of going out there to back him up, the Mets played as if they wished he’d been fired. 

 I know the mantra, the manager doesn’t play the game, the players do, and until I watched Art Howe as manager, I agreed with that.  Willie was supposed to be the answer to the problems the Mets had under Howe’s tenure.  Willie grew up a New York guy, he was a Mets fan as a kid, and he played for the Mets.  Yeah-he also played for the Yankees and was a Yankee coach, but you felt like Willie had New York blood and he would get it done.  He worked under a hall of fame manager; he had to have learned something right?  While the Mets are not completely out of the race, the way they are playing now seems to indicate that they will be  out of it sooner rather than later if they don’t get it figured out.  In over 180 games the Mets are now under .500 and for that Willie has to share the blame. 

Mike Pelfrey continues to show that he is not ready to pitch in the bigs, how did this guy actually win a spot in the rotation?  Granted, Reyes booted a ball that should have gotten Pelfrey out of the inning, however Pelfrey did little to help himself out.  And so that was the theme of the night.  

Jose Reyes did hit two homeruns, but he also had two terrible plays in the field, one was game altering, just like what happened to the Mets in Colorado.  Last year at this time Reyes was the most exciting player in baseball, this year, not so much.  I was totally against trading him in the winter to get Santana because I thought he could only get better than he was last year.  Well, his bat has heated up and he has reached base in 20+ games but he also now has seven errors on the season.  If there was one thing you could count on from Reyes it was a good glove, but now that even seems to be in doubt.

There was a bright spot in yesterdays awful performances, Aaron Heilman pitched two scoreless innings for the first time since May 10th.  I wonder if the talk about sending Heilman to the minors had anything to do with his new found focus? 

It can’t be overlooked though that the Mets are getting no help from the bottom of the order.   Yesterday Carlos Delgado, Brian Schneider, and Nick Evan’s all had 0-fers. Evan’s is a call up and has only played in three games for the Mets;  but what is the story with Schneider and Delgado?   No one really expects Schneider to hit much, he hasn’t in the past, Mets’ fans understand that he is here because he is a good defensive catcher and he does a good job with his pitching staff.  But, what is Delgado’s problem?  Yes, he hit three homeruns this past week in the three consecutive games, but his average is a meager .215.  Is it safe to say this guy is done?

The Mets jumped out to an early lead, but failed to really capitalize when they had bases loaded and only one out in the bottom of the first, they came away with only two runs.   The Mets had nine hits in the game, and left seven guys on base.  Once the Marlins put four on the board in the top of the third, the Mets looked like they gave up, which is pretty much what they do every time they lose a lead.  This year, the Mets are 1-19 when trailing after 6 innings.  I think that stat tells you a little something about how hard these guys are trying.   The Mets record is 23-26, that means in 49 games, only one time were the Mets able to come from behind to win.  Now tell me they aren’t giving up.

Johan Santana will pitch for the Mets tonight, and I am headed out to Shea to catch the action.  I must admit, even though they are playing terrible baseball I am excited to see Santana pitch.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog

The New York Mets wrapped up their seven game road trip with a 4-1 loss to the Colorado Rockies on Sunday afternoon.  The Mets went 1-6 on this trip that included a four game sweep by the Atlanta Braves.  Things don’t look much better for the Mets as they return home to face the first place Florida Marlins.   

For the Mets it was the same old story, no offense and shoddy defense.  John Maine actually pitched pretty well on Sunday, going six giving up four hits, and four run-three earned, four walks and eight strikeouts.  In the bottom of the fourth, Maine had yet to give up a hit when Jose Reyes committed a game altering error on a ball that was sure to be an inning ending double play.  Of course on the next pitch Rockies right fielder Seth Smith hit a three run homer and the Mets would not rebound.  After scoring a run in the third, no Mets player advanced beyond second base there after. 

The defense didn’t help Maine out much as both Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes committed their sixth errors of the season.  Reyes had a tough day on Sunday.  Not only did he commit a costly error in the field in the fourth inning; an inning earlier Reyes was picked off first base which marked the second time he had been picked off in the series.  It wasn’t just Reyes who had a rough day; David Wright had another 0-fer as did Luis Castillo and Delgado.  Rookie Nick Evans came back to earth as he was 0-2 before being pulled for a pitch hitter.   

This game is just another in a long line of games in which the Mets have played dreadful baseball.  Something has to change.  I don’t know if it is Willie or if it is a division in the club house, or if it is the fact that they just aren’t that good.   The Mets are in trouble. They are unable to put together more than one win at a time; they don’t seem to hit with runners on scoring position, if they can even get anyone on base.      

It seems that Willie will have a better idea of where he stands when he gets to Shea Stadium today.  Randolph is scheduled to meet with Mets ownership, and one can only imagine what will be said in this meeting.  I think there is no question that Willie is in trouble.  Randolph doesn’t actually have the backing of his players, I think the way the have played basically states that.  However, when asked by the New York Post about Randolph’s meeting with ownership, Wright responded, “That’s why there’s a separation of Powers, the players play the front office makes personnel decisions the coaches coach.  The front office can make those decisions.”  Not exactly a ringing endorsement.  However, there are plenty of guys who have backed Randolph, Brian Schneider said, “It’s not him - it’s us, we’re not getting it done right now. Willie’s still doing the same stuff he’s been doing, which is staying positive. He’s always there, and he’s our biggest supporter out there.” 

It is hard to argue that some of what is wrong with the Mets doesn’t fall on Willie’s shoulders.  If the Mets decided to fire him, can you blame them?  Ownership has a lot at stake as they have sunk a ton of money into the payroll and they need to have a good season before they move into Citifield if they hope to have people fill the seats in their new ball park.  And, this has nothing to do with his ranting about SNY and racism, if the Mets were in first place and 2o games over .500 then it would be a non issue; Willie Randolph could say what he wanted-I mean look what Ozzie Guillen gets by with simply because he won a world series.  The Mets are in trouble, and looks as if Willie is too.   

The Mets return home and start a three game series with the Florida Marlins.  Mets starter Mike Pelfrey will take the mound for the Mets and the Marlins will counter with Ricky Nolasco.  First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog  

Just when you think the Mets hit their low point last week after losing three of four against the Washington Nationals, you realize that apparently they still had further to fall.  The Mets hit a new low on Thursday night after the Atlanta Braves completed a four game sweep of the Mets.  Chipper Jones is hitting .412 against the Mets this season and at Turner Field, the Mets are 0-6 so far this season and have been outscored 51-14 in those six games. 

 The Mets are now under .500 and seem as if they are on a downward spiral that you can’t imagine where they might end up.  What was very apparent watching the way the Braves play in these four games was that the Braves hustle, they play hard and they finish.  We have not seen that kind of play from the Mets, in fact it seems that they are too often nonchalant.  Uh funny when I hear that word Luis Castillo flashes across my mind, and Jose Reyes is starting to get there too.    

The Mets played the most uninspired baseball.  Is this the same team that took on the Yankees last weekend?  Watching them last night, it is hard to believe that Willie Randolph will be at the helm of this sinking ship for much longer.  I’m not sure how the Mets can keep him especially after his comments last week.  The team has not responded, and they certainly did nothing to show that they had his back these past four games in Atlanta.  For whatever reason, he seems to have lost this team.  The only consistency this team has been able to sustain is playing poorly.  

Johan Santana gave up a career high 12 hits.  He was not sharp, but he also did not get the help he needed from his defense either.  The Mets defense looked like it might be an issue early on with Marlon Anderson in left field for the ailing Moises Alou.  However, Anderson wasn’t the offender of poor play-that was reserved for the starters-David Wright, Brian Schneider, Luis Castillo, Carlos Beltran.  The Mets can’t complain about not getting breaks in the game last night, you make your own luck, only last night it looked like they wanted to help the luck of the Braves.  Was there a lack of concentration there?   

You know how each year there is a guy on your team who drives you crazy?  A guy you don’t like much but you feel like you have to root from him because he is on your team?  Well, that is how I feel about Luis Castillo. When I watch him the word lazy keeps coming to mind.  Maybe that isn’t fair given the situation with his knees, but it is his body language that gets me.  That play he made-or failed to make last night was so frustrating, at first I thought maybe he didn’t have time to go to first, but when I saw the replays he had plenty of time, he never even thought about going to first, he was thinking of making a sports center highlight. That makes two games in a row that you can look at him for one play that really changes the game.  I just don’t like his style of play, and I think from what has been said here in the NY press, that he is rubbing off on Jose Reyes.  The problem is the Mets are not doing what they are supposed to be doing.  They are not playing hard, they are not playing smart.  

The Carloses hit back to back homers in the second, but those were the only runs the Mets would score.  The Mets had some chances later in the game, but Luis Castillo hit into a double play to end the threat in the eight.  And David Wright was doubled off first when Carlos Beltran hit a bullet to second baseman Kelly Johnson and Wright was too far of first to get back in time.

Ryan Church pinch hit in last nights game and is scheduled to play Friday night against the Rockies.  However, the Mets placed Moises Alou on the DL with a calf strain and recalled catcher Raul Casanova to take his place on the active roster.   

So the Mets now head off to Colorado, under .500 for the first time since early April.  Oliver Perez will pitch for the Mets and Greg Reynolds will pitch for the Rockies.  First pitch is schedules for 9:05 p.m.    

 Mets Blog