The Mets beat the Braves last night 7-3.  Going into the eighth inning, it looked as if the Mets would drop yet another game to the Braves, but lucky for the Mets, because for one night, the bullpen that blew the game was wearing red and blue, not orange and blue.   

The Mets scored two in the first inning off Braves’ starter Jo-Jo Reyes on a David Wright sac fly and a double by Fernando Tatis.  However, the offense stopped there and for six straight innings the Mets did not get another hit.  However, in the bottom of the eighth, down 3-2 the Mets got a little help from the Braves bullpen.  Jeff Bennett retired Jose Reyes on a ground out, but then he issued back to back walks to Nick Evans and David Wright and Carlos Beltran got aboard to load the bases on a little blooper that Chipper Jonescould not make a plan on. The Mets, who have just been awful with the bases loaded, now had Carlos Delgado at the plate, Delgado who has cooled off since that amazing run in July had a terrible game at the plate on Monday against the Pirates.  For whatever reason, Bobby Cox elected to bring in the lefty-now I know that is by the book, but Delgado has smoked lefty pitching, Delgado hit a double off the fence in left center that was only a few inches from leaving the yard, two runs scored to put the Mets on top 4-3.  Easley hit a single to center that scored both Carloses, and then Ramon Castro drove home a run with a double to left.  In all, the Mets scored five in the inning and won the game 7-3.  The Mets finally got someone to hit with runners in scoring position.  It’s about time.  It was really unexpected also because after the first inning, the offense looked like it wasn’t going to do anything.  And for one night, the bullpen didn’t blow it.   

Oliver Perez struggled last night, he walked five stuck out three and allowed three runs on seven hits.  Luis Ayala jumped right into the fire, as he entered the game in relief for Perez with two on, Ayala got both batters he faced to pop up, ending the threat there.  Aaron Heilman worked the eighth inning, he allowed one hit and walked one but did not give up any runs.  Scott Schoeneweis worked the ninth inning to close the game out.  And, after it was all said and done, Schoneweis basically said to the press that it was nice that the other team’s bullpen was the story on the night.  

This series against the Braves is one of those must wins.  The Braves are terrible on the road, and again lat night lost a game in which they had a one run lead.  Combine that with the fact that the Phillies are playing the Nationals, and the Nationals have lost 11 straight, the Mets are going to have to do their part to not lose any ground in the standings.  

So, the Mets got bad news on Billy Wagner.  And then Billy Wagner has to turn around and tell us how we can’t understand how hard it is to go out there and do what they do day after day-being picked on in the press-well Billy, boo-hoo.  If you don’t like, don’t play in New York.  I mean, you played in Philly, you had to have some idea of what you were getting yourself into.  If you want fans who don’t care, go play for the Marlins, who even though they are winning can’t get anyone in the stands.  Shut up-before you end up with an inflamed jaw. 

And on a funnier note, there was a conference call set to take place yesterday between the umpires, major league baseball and whoever else.  Turns out, the Umps missed the call again; see, they are boycotting the usage of instant replay.  While I still haven’t figured out what my position is on this matter, I can tell you one thing-if they’d gotten the myriad of calls right over the season, then this would be a non-issue.  But the fact that they go out there night after night and continue to screw up calls has brought baseball to this point.  I have harped on this over and over, if there is anyone out there reading this on a steady basis, you know that I’ve been killing the officiating of these games all season. 

The Mets and Braves play the second of three tonight.  The Mets will send Mike Pelfrey to the mound, he is 11-8 with a 3.91 era.  The Braves will counter with their “ace” Jair Jurrjens who is also 11-8 but with a much lower era of 3.15.  Game time 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 

The New York Mets played a day night double header against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday, losing the first game 6-1 and the second game 6-2.  Just when you start to think that maybe the Mets are heading in the right direction after their great weekend against the Yankees, the Mets let us down again and under perform and all that negative talk starts again. 

Tom Glavine started game one for the Braves, and in the first inning the Mets had him on the ropes, jumping out to a 1-0 lead off Luis Castillo’s first home run of the season.  The Mets loaded the bases but Moises Alou hit a line drive to Chipper Jones, and Carlos Delgado hit a long fly ball that was tracked down by right fielder Jeff Francoeur after that, Glavine retired the next 17 batters he faced.  Too bad Glavine didn’t pitch that well when he was with the Mets.   

The Mets offense was feeble once again, I know I’ve used that word before, but how else can it be described?  Seriously, the Mets got one run off six hits off Galvine in the first game, and in the second game, against Jorge Campillo, who hasn’t started in the majors since 2005, they got only three hits and scored zero runs.  The Mets did finally score two in the top of the eighth on and RBI double by Ramon Castro, and an RBI single by Jose Reyes.    

Mets pitching woes continue, where was the John Maine who pitched against the Dodgers last week?  Yesterday’s John Maine pitched just four innings, (but did face two batters in the fifth) giving up eight hits, four earned runs, three walks and two strikeouts.  To be fair the Braves did a good job in their at bats against Maine, and ran counts full, fouling pitches off.  However, Maine didn’t exactly put anyone away either.  It wasn’t just Maine though; Aaron Heilman pitched one inning giving up a two run homer to Brian McCann.  The second game wasn’t much better.  Claudio Vargas coming off that great start against the Washington Nationals started for the Mets, however, he didn’t quite pitch as well as he did last week going five innings giving up four runs on five hits with two walk and one strike out.  The Braves added two more runs off Matt Wise who gave up a two run homer to Mark Kotsay.   

Of course, this negative talk isn’t helped by the fact that Willie Randolph is whining to the press that he is unfairly portrayed by SNY-the Mets own television station.  He also made remarks that the way he is treated might be related to race.  He has since back tracked on the race thing, but still believes that he is misunderstood.  Here is the gig Willie, all that Mets’ fans understand is wins and losses, and if you are whining when you are losing you are not leading.  There is a reason why your team is not performing, and it is hard to believe that it doesn’t have something with you not doing your job.  Funny, you told Billy Wagner to keep things in the club house, but you neglected to take your own advice.  If you guys don’t do something in the next two games against the Braves and in your next series against the Rockies, you’re going to return home to one unhappy Mets crowd, and none of this is going to get easier.   

So, if things aren’t bad enough, Ryan Church was hospitalized after the game with a concussion, he hit his head on the knee of Yunel Escobar when he tried to break up a game ending double play.  Not great news as Church is the only starter who has shown any constancy for the Mets. 

Tuesday was a sad day for this Mets fan when ex Met Mike Piazza released a statement regarding his official retirement from Major League Baseball.  Piazza was the reason I started watching the Mets.  He brought an excitement to Shea Stadium that no one has yet to recapture.  Here’s hoping we get to see Mike sometime in the future, maybe on baseball telecasts.     

First pitch for Wednesday’s night game is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.  The Mets will send Mike Pelfrey to the mound and he will be opposed by Jair Jurrjens. 

Mets Blog   

The New York Mets closed out a weekend series with the Atlanta Braves winning 6-3.  The Mets caught a break as red hot hitter Chipper Jones sat out for a second straight game.  The real story was the Mets offense. 

On a cold day at Shea Stadium, the Mets bats seemed to warm up.  Jose Reyes had been in a 1-25 funk, his batting average falling to .237 with a .265 OBP.  He snapped that when he lead off the first with a double.  He would finish the day with 1-3 with a walk and two strike outs.  Reyes is the catalyst to the Mets offensive production.  Getting Reyes on base seems to be one key to getting the other hitters going.  All in all the Mets would collect 12 hits, 6 of which were for extra bases.  Raul Cassanova (2), Carlos Delgado (2), and David Wright (1) would all record RBI in the win.  

Saturday Mets hitters chased starter Tim Hudson from the game early.  Sunday the Mets did the same to John Smoltz who left the game in the fourth inning.  Having yet allowed a homer this season, Smoltz gave up two in his four innings.  Catcher Raul Cassanova hit a two run shot in the second and Carlos Delgado hit a solo homer to left field in the third.  When Delgado goes the other way good things are sure to follow, as was the case when he hit his second home run of the game in the seventh.  It was a shot to right center that hit half way up the scoreboard.  Delgado had been hearing boos from the Mets fans and refused to come out for a curtain call after he hit his second homer of the day.  The way Delgado has been struggling you would think he would want to bank a little good will with the Mets fans.

New York native Nelson Figueroa took the mound for the Mets.  He was cruising along until the sixth inning when he ran out of steam.  He left the game having pitched 5 1/3 giving up three runs on three hits with three strike outs and three walks.  Joe Smith would enter the game as his replacement and allowed one of the inherited runners to score.  Scott Schoeneweis pitched a scoreless seventh and Pedro Feliciano tossed a scoreless eight.  Feliciano was the eight inning guy because manager Willie Randolph wanted to give Duaner Sanchez a break after pitching back to back games.  Billy Wagner allowed his first hit of the season to Matt Diaz with one out in the ninth, however he retired the next two batters to end the game and record his sixth save of the season. 

It was reported that Moises Alou was close to joining the team.  However, after twisting his ankle in a rehab start, Alou will now be in New York for an MRI because there is concern that his sprain is actually a fracture. If that is the case, the bat the Mets have waiting on is far from joining the line up. 

On Monday the Mets begin a three game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates.  Mets Ace Johan Santana (3-2) is scheduled to start.  He will be opposed by pitcher Ian Snell (2-1).   

 Mets Blog

The New York Mets returned to Shea Stadium to take on the Atlanta Braves for the first of three games.  After a rain shortened series in Atlanta earlier this month where the Mets lost both games by a combined score of 14-6; the Mets needed to take this opportunity and make a statement to the Braves, while putting some distance between the two in the standings.  It was the Braves who made the statement winning 6-3.   

Starter Mike Pelfrey struggled early and often.  In the first inning he walked three Braves and gave up one hit; he got himself out of a bases loaded jam and limited the damage to just one run.  It wasn’t until the fifth that Pelfrey finally retired a hitter who lead of the inning getting Chipper Jones to ground out.  In the sixth, Pelfrey gave up a two run shot to Kelly Johnson, the Braves would stay on top for good.  Jose Reyes recorded an error for a second straight night when his throw on a routine grounder pulled first baseman Marlon Anderson off the bag.  Pelfrey would leave the game at that point going 51/3, giving up 5 runs on 5 hits, he walked four and struck out one; he was was replaced by Scott Schoeneweis who finished the inning with out giving up another run. 

The Mets scored all three of their runs in the third inning when Braves starter Jair Jurrjens gave up three runs on two hits (the only two hits the Mets would record on the night) and four consecutive walks.  In the midst of all this, Braves manager Bobby Cox was thrown out of the game for the 136th time in his career after coming out of the dugout to argue with umpire Tim McClelland.  In the seventh, the Mets looked like they would rally when Will Ohman gave up back to back walks to Jose Reyes and Luis Castillo  who both failed to produce with RISP.  On the night the Mets stranded 5 runners. 

Marlon Anderson played first base giving Carlos Delgado a much needed night off, Delgado struck out when he pinch hit in the ninth.  Brian Schneider is expected to be in the hospital until Sunday.  

The Mets continue to struggle in all facets of the game playing shoddy defense, getting poor pitching, and not swinging the bat well at all.  There is much talk in New York about the return of Moises Alou to the lineup, however if the Mets are going to remain competitive in the division they are going to need Jose Reyes to get on base and the bats of Delgado, Beltran and Wright as well.  The next two games against the Braves are critical, the pitching match ups favor the Braves and it doesn’t help that the Met’s bats are dead.  Mets fans have a lot to be worried about. 

Mets Blog