The Mets fell just one game shy of a perfect road trip losing 5-2 to the Pirates on Monday afternoon.  New York’s lead was shaved to just one and a half over the Phillies in the National League East.  Clearly, if you start watching the standings this early you can really drive yourself crazy.   

At first glance, one would like to blame the Mets bullpen for the loss yesterday and if you read any of the sports pages in the New York area, most of the writers did.  Too often have we seen the bullpen go out and just throw one away.  There is no question that they are partly responsible for blowing it yesterday.  Brian Stokes pitched an inning and a third allowing two runs on three hits, one of those hits was a homer by Adam LaRoche.  Pedro Feliciano worked a third of an inning, he retired the first hitter he faced then gave up a single to Adam LaRoche.  Duaner Sanchez entered the game, faced four hitters and couldn’t get any of them out.

Also, if John Maine did his job, the bullpen wouldn’t have had to pick up the slack after the fifth inning.  Yeah, he allowed no runs and only two hits, but he still walked four.  He had to leave the game in the fifth because of a high pitch count.  Really, this guy needs to get it figured out. 

The real story of the day is that the Mets are not hitting with guys in scoring position.  The Mets were 0-9 with runners in scoring position.  Damon Easley who has subbed for both David Wright and Jose Reyes in the series was 0-8 and hit into four double plays.  On Monday alone, Carlos Delgado left six runners in scoring position, including bases loaded in the eighth inning.  In the past 13 games, Delgado is 7-48 with runners in scoring position.                                                      

Look, the fact of the matter is that the Mets have to do two things to win-they have to pitch and they have to hit.  We know that early in games they can score, the Mets lead the league in runs scored in the first three innings of games.  However, they are also a league worst in giving up runs in the last three innings of games.  If the Mets can’t score enough runs to overcome their bullpen trouble, then they aren’t going to hold on down the stretch. 

Mets Blog 

Is it really unreasonable to believe that your relievers should do their job and get some outs-without giving up a four run lead.  I have heard time and time again that the Mets bullpen isn’t terrible, it is just that guys have not performed as they are capable of performing.  Well, Monday’s loss marked the ninth time this season that the Mets lost a game in which they were leading in the eighth inning or later.  Imagine where the Mets would be if they’d even won five of those games. 

This bullpen is a disaster and I am getting so sick of discussing them and the way that they continue to go out there and blow leads or fail to keep the Mets in games.  The Mets made no moves at the trade deadline-and I agree they should not trade the future for a rental, but I’d really like to know what their game plan is.  Step number one should be to get rid of Aaron Heilman.  While I realize it was not just Heilman’s fault that the Mets lost today, I am sick of watching this guy and believe that a change of venue would do both Heilman and the Mets fans a world of good.  The sulky underachiever needs to go, he can’t pitch here-he is a total head case and the fans hate him, they start to boo when he warms up.  I am serious when I say that I think he is done here in New York.  I think his ego is too fragile he is the crowd’s favorite whipping boy-when John Maine comes back to the rotation it is Heilman who should go. 

I know that the problem is not just Heilman, no one in that bullpen has been able to step up.  Joe Smith allowed two runs on one hit-failing to record and out in the inning, Pedro Feliciano entered the game and allowed two inherited runners to score, he allowed one run on one hit and one walk.  Duaner Sanchez worked an inning and a third with out giving anything up.  But it is Heilman who has had five save opportunities and has blown three of them.  He allowed three runs on two hits and one walk in just one third of an inning.  Two of Heilman’s runs actually crossed the plate with Scott Schoeneweis on the mound.  Schoeneweis  allowed a two run single before recording the last out of the inning. 

The bullpen disaster wiped out the fact that Pedro Matinez had a really good start.  For the first time in like forever, Pedro did not allow a run in the first inning.  In fact, Pedro hardly allowed anything.  He left the game throwing just under 100 pitches.  In six innings of work he allowed just one run on three hits, he walked four and stuck out three.  It was a much better job by Pedro and it was just what the Mets needed.  Only the bullpen did not get the memo.  I know that when you are part of team you have to forgive and forget because one day you might just be the reason your team loses, but I can’t imagine any Met pitcher wants to hand the ball over to the bullpen.  What is amazing too, is the only guy who gets grief for not going deep into the game is Johan Santana. 

The offense got on Zach Duke early.  At one point the Mets were leading the game 4-0.  And really, when you are leading a game by four runs, you should win the game.  David Wright got the Mets on the board with a three run homer in the bottom of the first.  Against the Pirates Monday, Wright was 2-5 with a homer and three RBI; in his last six games, Wright is 12-27 hitting .444 with three homers and nine RBI.  Robinson Cancel made the start in place of Ramon Castro, Cancel was 2-4 on the day hitting his first career homerun.  It seems too, that Castro is wearing thin on Jerry Manual.  This conversation has been rehashed many times over, Castro is lazy -that is why he is a back up and not an every day catcher, he doesn’t want to work that hard.  Manual was annoyed that Castro did not play, and called him out in his remarks to the press.  He basically said that Castro has the OK of the medical staff to play, but it is up to the player to tolerate the pain and play through it. 

This loss it the kind of thing that makes you shake your head.  It actually makes me insanely angry, and I really feel that the Mets are in trouble.  I am sick of guys not gutting it out.  It almost seems like it did earlier this season.  My beef then was with the offense and the lackadaisical play in the field, now it is with the relief pitiching.  These guys have one job to do, and they have been ineffective nearly the whole season.  And, not it is not just one guy-the whole bullpen stinks.  Billy Wagner is supposed to come off the DL one week from today.  I’m not sure though if we are supposed to be excited by that or not, but I do know he won’t be worse than Heilman has been. 

Mets Blog

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 Mets were swept three straight in Houston over the weekend, leaving all of us as baffled as Robinson Cancellooked when he was thrown out at third in Sunday’s game.  And while it is only three games, the Mets are winless in August and are coming off a 2-4 road trip, and were swept by the Astros for the first time since 1993. 

There is plenty of blame to spread around in this terrible streak that the Mets have put together.  They seem to have gone into a slump at the plate; unable to hit with guys on base.  They didn’t run the bases well for example in Sunday’s game Carlos Beltran was picked off first and for some ungodly reason, Robinson Cancel was tried to steal third in the third inning with David Wright up at bat-that was a good move there. 

The Mets were unable to score in 16 innings against the Astros.  In Saturday’s game, they scored a total of four runs two in the second and two in the third.  From there on out, they did nothing.  On Saturday night, the Mets left eight guys on base, and failed to even show up for the later part of the innings.  In Sunday’s game it was pretty much the same issue, only they didn’t score at all.  The Mets left 11 guys on base, they had the bases loaded in two consecutive innings and failed to even get one run home. 

Ah-but it isn’t just the offense that was terrible, the defense had their share of problems as well.  The Mets were only charged with one error, but they didn’t do what they had to in the field.  Nick Evans and Fernando Tatis both misplayed balls in the outfield-and that is what is going to happen when you have ”converted” infielders playing the outfield.  The Mets don’t seem to have a an outfield prospect that they can bring up to help them out.  With Marlon Anderson on the DL they brought up Daniel Murphy to take his roster spot, and while he did have a great play in Saturday night’s game, he too is primarily and infielder.  Well all know that the Mets made no moves at the trade deadline to get any outfielders, and we’re all waiting for the return of Ryan Church-because if you at least have Ryan Church in the line up, you can play Endy Chavez in the outfield, you might not get the offensive production you would like to have from Tatis, but his defense will save runs. 

The starting pitching wasn’t terrible in the three games, it wasn’t stellar though either.  Pedro Martinez pitched the opening game.  It was his first start in nearly three weeks, he was on a pitch count allowing him only to work through the fifth inning, he gave up three solo homers, walked two and struck out five-he did not figure in the decision, because Aaron Heilman gave up a grand slam to blow the game wide open for the Astros.  Johan Santana pitched only 6.1 innings on Saturday, he allowed just one run on three hits, walked two and struck out two.  He left the game, and the Mets had a lead.  Oliver Perez gave up four runs in six innings in Sunday’s game, he was charged with the loss as all four runs were earned.  Perez though, and even Pelfrey have pitched much better, granted Pelfrey struggled against the Marlins and Perez wasn’t great against the Astros, but they have cut down on walks-which was a tremendous problem for them and are a big reason why the Mets had such a good July.  I’m  not going to get crazy just yet as they have both had about four plus good starts, until they revert back to how they were performing earlier in the season, I won’t panic just yet. 

The bullpen continues to be the achilles of this team.  Billy Wagnercouldn’t hold a two run lead.  The bullpen over all has just been putrid.  Since the all star break, the Mets bullpen has pitched 32.1 innings.  They have allowed 30 earned runs on 45 hits.  Aaron Heilman-10 runs in 10 innings of work,  Pedro Felicano-six runs in four and a third, Joe Smith-six runs in five and a third, Scott Schoeneweis-four runs in five and two thirds and Duaner Sanchez has given up four runs in six and two-thirds innings.  (New York Post August 5, 2008)

So, with John Maine on the DL and Billy Wagner probably soon to follow the Mets are in trouble.  They have called up Eddie Kunz and it seems that John Niese will make a start against the Marlins over the weekend.  Also, there is talk that the Mets will be in the mix for Freddy Garcia who is trying to make his way back to the majors after shoulder surgery.

Not to fear though, I think I have found the reason why the Mets pen is struggling so.  I think it is the fact that they really miss Matt Wise.  Yeah, remember him?  Last I heard the guy had shoulder tendinitis, and now has just fallen off the face of the earth.  Seriously, what happened to him?  Is he in the witness protection program?  Did he witness Tony Soprano getting whacked or something?  One minute  you complain that you have shoulder pain and then the next you are wearing cement shoes.  Remind me to keep any shoulder injury I suffer to myself. 

The Mets open a three game series with the Padres and if they can some how find what they had in July, they might just make some headway as the Phillies and the Marlins will be beating up on each other for three games.  The Marlins come to New York for the weekend while the Phillies open a three game set with the Pirates.  So, how important is it for the Mets to play well in the next six games?  As it stands the Mets are three games out of first and in third place.  Yes, there is still almost two months of baseball left and the Mets have five game left with the Phillies, the question is, will they be battling for the division or will they be playing spoiler? 

Tueday’s Starters: Mike Pelfrey 9-7 with a 3.91 era and Chris Young 4-4 with a 4.12 ear.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog

That was a pathetic performance by the Mets bullpen last night in the 7-3 loss to the Marlins.  The Mets lead is now just a half game over the Phillies and the Marlins are now just one game out. Listen, I know you can’t win them all but after what they did last week against the Phillies and after what we saw last night, we should be worried.  Yes, Maine had to leave the game early, so we had to figure that it wasn’t going to be easy, but the bull pen was dreadful.  Can you imagine how much pressure the performance of the bullpen puts on the starters?  First off if you want a win you have to pitch a complete game, and if you have to leave early, you will be fearful that the other guys can’t do their job.   

Obviously the Mets are in trouble in the bullpen department.  In his last five outings, Joe Smith is pitching to a 13.50 era.  It appears that Pedro Felicano will only face one guy (the lefty), and I’m sick of Scott Schoeneweis too, he has really been a disappointment since joining the Mets, yeah he has had some spots where he was doing a good job, but by and large he has been a disaster.  Who knows what will happen with Duaner Sanchez, I bet he never rides in a cab again.  He certainly hasn’t been his old self and who knows if he ever will be.  But, if the Mets are going to stay in the thick of it, they have to be able to trust their relievers.  Is there anyone in the pen that you can say you trust right now?   

For the most part, the offense was dead last night.  Jose Reyes was 0-5 and popped up at least twice, I hate when he has hit a few homeruns, it messes with his game, because instead of putting the ball in play, he tries to hit it out of the park.  The lone bright spot in the lineup last night was Fernando Tatis, on the day when Jerry Manual anointed him the starting left fielder he went 2-4 with a triple and two RBI.  

The unsettling thing about John Maine leaving the game with shoulder stiffness is that he may not be able to make his next start.  Because the Mets have two off days in the next two weeks they may not have to move guys in and out of the rotation; however, we have to be worried if it turns out that he needs more than just a little rest.  The coaching staff was aware of the stiffness, and when pitching coach Dan Warthen said he saw a hitch in Maine’s delievery they decided to pull him.  Clearly Maine did not want to leave the game and you could see him arguing with Jerry Manual when Manual came to the mound.  After the game, Maine said he understood the decision to pull him; he also talked about his shoulder and described the pain as like nothing he has felt before.  Warthen said he didn’t think that Maine’s problem was serious because the pain isn’t exactly coming from the shoulder, but rather in the back area, under the shoulder, stating that that it is not usually a “red-flag area.”  But, this is also the club who screwed up the Ryan Church thing, so I’m not putting a lot of faith into what we are hearing right now.  On a side note, I actually like Maine a lot, but I’m getting a little tired of him.  I know he is having a rough year, but the sulkiness gets old after a while.  And also, for the second consecutive game, his bunt attempt was awful-you have to be able to do a better job than that.  Why don’t these guys know how to bunt?   

David Wright made a spectacular catch in the fifth inning on a pop up in the seats on the third base line-he totally knocked two guys over-it was great.  So, later in the game, I think it was in the seventh inning when Wright went into the same area to see if he could make a play on a ball, if you saw replay in slow motion there was a big doofy guy in the red shirt, you could read his lips, he said to Wright, ”Hey , dat was a good play before!”  (think really thick NY accent-you know the guy!)  I don’t know why, but it stuck me as seriously funny!   

Ryan Church is supposed to take batting practice with the team on Tuesday.  I was wondering if they had him go on the road trip to see how he does with the flying.  It seems that most of his problems have all come after he has been on an airplane.  The soonest he’ll rejoin the team is August 5^th.  Pedro Martinez will make the start for the Mets on Friday, and it is possible that he could work an inning of relief in Tuesday night’s game.   

Tuesday’s Starters: Oliver Perez 6-6 4.15 era and Scott Olsen 6-5 4.07 era.  Game time 7:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog 

The Mets lost 10-8 in the bottom in 14 innings on Saturday night.  The game was five hours and nine minutes long, there was a total of 37 hits, 18 runs, and over 400 pitches thrown.  With this loss, the Mets lead was cut to one, you can only imagine how many days that that number is going to change. 

You know there will be games like this, and hope that there is no carry over.  The Mets bounced back against the Phillies, so you know that they do have it in them to take the rubber game of this series.  I guess that is what you have to do, just focus on one game, one series at a time.   

On Monday the Mets will start three with the Marlins while the Phillies play the Cardinals.  So, the Mets have a chance to continue to help themselves.  As David Wright said yesterday if they go out and do what they have to do, then the rest will take care of itself.  However, I think today I am still hoping that the Cubs and Braves win.  As a Mets fan did you ever think to yourself that you would want the Braves to win any games-ever?  I just find it hard to believe that Mike Hampton actually made a start for the Braves.  I figured that he and Carl Pavano were hanging out somewhere laughing that they were getting paid crazy money and not having to work for it, while concocting new schemes to keep them away from the team.  You can just hear the conversation, “Ok, Mike here is what you do now, just make a face when you’re playing long toss and everyone will come running over to you to see what is wrong!”  and then Hampton says something like, “Can’t Carl, did that last week.  Maybe I should tell them that my shoulder feels tight, that got Wagner a day off last week.”  I guess Moises Alou should be joining them any day now…    

The Mets are in a bad sport, or specifically Johan Santana is in a bad spot, because the bullpen was depleted in Saturday’s game, everyone is expecting that Santana is going to pitch a complete game Sunday, especially because Wagner will be unavailable.  Personally, I thought all that griping about Santana not going the distance in his outing was crap.  He pitched a great game and the bullpen let him down.  Actually, considering how some of the guys in the pen are throwing right now, Santana might decided that it is in his best interest to keep matters into his own hands if he wants to finally get anther win.  

I can’t help but feel like it is hard to get excited, and don’t get me wrong because I am excited, but I still don’t completely feel like I am ready to trust that the Mets can hold their own in this race.  It doesn’t appear that there are any moves the Mets are going to make before the trade deadline; the guys that would fit well have ended up with other teams.  Ryan Church is due back just after the deadline so maybe the Mets feel that they’ve got what they needed.  But with out a bench to really speak of, this is something that might be a problem for them down the stretch. 

RECAP

The Mets over came deficits on more than one occasion, and they actually had the lead at one time, but because they were 1-16 with runners in scoring position, leaving 16 guys on bases, and letting opportunities fall by as they had runners in scoring position in the 10^th, 11^th, and they left the bases loaded in the 12^th.  Carlos Delgado was 2-5 with two homers and 3 RBI, Jose Reyes was 4 for 8 with two runs scored and 1 RBI, he had two doubles, and homer and a single, David Wright was 2-6 with one run scored, one RBI and two walks, Fernando Tatis hit a homer in the bottom of the eighth to tie the game and extent it to extra innings, he was 3-5 with two RBI.  Carols Beltran has been just 2 for his last 17 but said after Saturday’s game that he was feeling better at the plate, he was 1-4 with three walks in the game, hopefully the fact that he was walking rather than striking out is an indication he is seeing pitches better and might be ready to bounce back and start getting some hits.  Could Carlos Delgado in a better zone right now?  It just seems like he is getting all of the hits right now that he should have been getting earlier in the year.  I hope that they carry over into August.    

Brandon Knight made the start for Pedro who remains with his family in the Domican.  Clearly Knight’s nerves got the best of him as he gave up four runs in the first inning.  However, he settled in to pitch five innings allowing only those four runs on seven hits, walking two and striking out four.  The Mets used every guy in their bullpen.  In fact, when Heilman gave up the two run homer to Pujols, Oliver Perez was warming up in the bullpen.  Carlos Muniz came in for Knight in the sixth inning and was terrible, he pitched only a third of an inning, allowing three runs on three hits (those runs would score with Joe Smith on the mound), Joe Smith worked an inning and a third, he allowed one run on three hits, Pedro Felicano faced just one hitter, getting him to strike out, Duaner Sanchez and Scott Schoeneweis each worked scoreless innings, Billy Wagner worked two scoreless innings, not allowing any runs.  Aaron Heilman pitched in his fourth game in five days and worked three innings, the first time he pitched more than two innings since May of 2006.  He allowed two runs on six hits, stuck out four and walked none.  Unfortunately for the Mets and for Heilman, those two runs came off a homer to Pujols, and those two runs won the game for the Cardinals.  

Sunday’s starters: Johan Santana 8-7 with a 3.05 era and Kyle Lohse 12-2 with a 3.35 era.  Game time: 1:10 p.m. 

Mets Blog

The Mets took the first of three games against the Cardinals on Friday night, 7-2.  They have now won three straight and have a two game lead in the NL East.   

The Cardinals came to town fresh off a four game sweep by the Brewers, so it was important for the Mets to jump on them fast and keep them down.  And the Mets did just that.  They got a great performance out of Mike Pelfrey and the offense did their job too.   

Mike Pelfrey, was great.  He pitched seven innings giving up just one run off seven hits.  He issued no walks and struck out five.  The Mets have now won the last seven games that Pelfrey has started.  Pelfrey, who earlier in the season was 2-6 and had a 5.27 era (as of May 20^th), now has a 3.67 era with an 8-6 record.  It is amazing, the turn around in this guy, it is like a light went on.  He has been great!

David Wright hit a RBI double in the third that scored Endy Chavez (4-5 on the night) to give the Mets an early 1-0 lead.  The Mets added two more on Jose Reyes 12 triple of the year.  Carlos Delgado continues to make the case to be the player of the Month of July, he is not going to want to see July end.  He had only one hit last night, but it was a big two run homer.  Argenis Reyes had a big night, he hit a RBI single and then in the seventh he hit his first big league homerun, a solo shot to right centerfield.  

The bullpen, once again, tried to make things interesting.  Duaner Sanchez allowed three straight Cardinals to reach base.  With the bases loaded, Pedro Felicano came in and got Skip Schumaker to pop up.  With one out, and the bases still loaded, Aaron Heilman got Ryan Ludwick to fly out, but allowed the run on third to score.  Heilman got Albert Pujols to ground out to third to end the game.   

So, the Mets have a two game lead, and Jimmy Rollins isn’t sweating it.  Glad to know that the Phillies went out and lost to the Braves last night, I guess they are looking just to make things interesting, huh?  Funny, I officially hate the Phillies, for so long they had been a nonentity and Mets fans were always so focused on the Braves, well I guess all of that has changed.   

And also, while we are on the subject of the Phillies, maybe their broadcast guys need to shut the hell up.  Tom McCarthy didn’t seem to have much of a problem with Jose Reyes when he was broadcasting Mets games.  And, isn’t it socially irresponsible for Larry Anderson to advocate throwing at someone’s head?  Everyone’s all pissed off at the fact that Reyes hotdogged the homerun, and while that is not my favorite part of the game these days, Reyes is right, he came through in a big spot.  Also, I would like to hear what Larry Anderson, and Charlie Manual have to say when Ryan Howard strikes his homerun pose?  If you are going to bag on Reyes, then you better start saying the same things about your hotdogs too!   

OMG-Are you kidding me?  Why would anyone trade with the Yankees?  And seriously, Russ Ohlendorf?  Wow, so is this the dialogue between the Yankees and Pirates?  Yankees: “We want Nady and Marte.”  Pirates: “Uh, ok.  We would like “Russ Olendorff, a bag of balls, and throw in a hotdog, cuz you guys have those funny looking hotdog rolls!”  This might be the worst trade I’ve seen since I saw a minor league hockey player was traded for the other team’s bus-no telling who got the better deal there.  This trade makes me so angry-I hate the Yankees!  I know the Pirates have been eyeing Phil Coke for quite some time!  WOO-HOO!!  I just don’t understand how other teams make these trades with Yankees, giving them their gems and getting nothing in return.   

In other trade talk, it seems that the Dodgers on the verge of acquiring Casey Blake from the Indians.  So that is one player less likely to end up with the Mets.  Also, are the Mariners living in reality?  Do they really think the Mets would trade Fernando Martinez for Raul Ibanez? 

Brandon Knight will start for Pedro Martinez on Saturday night, and the Cardinals will have Joel Pineiro on the mound.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.

Mets Blog

The Mets were able to bounce back from their terrible ninth inning on Tuesday night, to beat the Phillies 6-3 on Wednesday night. 

The Mets got some help from Brett “I hate the Mets” Meyers, as he walked four in the first inning.  The Mets scored two runs in the first with out even getting a hit.  What was most frustrating though, was the Mets couldn’t seem to put the nail in Meyer’s coffin, as they left the bases loaded in the first inning, the third inning, and again in the seventh (by the seventh, Meyers was out of the game).   

Not to be undone, John Maine wasn’t able to hold the lead.  In the second inning he gave up back to back jacks, one to Shane Victorino, and the other to Geoff Jenkins, Jenkins is in the midst of a 9-71 (well, now 10-72), I guess he was over due, huh?  Maine was better; he made it through seven last night because he was able to keep his pitch count down.  In seven innings of work he allowed three runs on six hits, walked two and struck out five.  On a side note, he did a terrible job in the sixth inning, with guys on first and second he was up there to sacrifice and was awful.  Granted the Phillies has the wheel on-whatever, but these guys need to help himself out.  Seriously, how do these guys not know how to bunt?  He is lucky that it come back to bite him, because Jose Reyes came up and hit a three run homer, to give the Mets a 6-3 lead.   

Also, Angel Hernandez is jerk.  The Mets have had their issues with him in the past.  He is a piece of work.  Last night in the first inning, Carlos Delgado asked for time and he wouldn’t grant it, there was really no reason for it.  His strike zone was awful.  And, I had to laugh because Keith said something that I’ve heard in my very own living room which is, that Angel Hernandez must think that the crowd is there to see him.  What a jerk! 

I’m in a ranting mood!  Will everyone please lay off Johan Santana!  He threw 105 pitches; he pitched exactly like the Mets needed him to.  He pitched eight complete, and was amazing.  There was NO reason to believe that the bullpen would not be able to record three outs with a three run lead.  I have no problem with him not pitching the ninth, what I have a problem is the Duaner Sanchez and Pedro Feliciano stunk, and didn’t do their jobs!   

Speaking of doing their jobs, is anyone else sick of seeing Marlon Anderson?  I know he has had some big pinich hits, but he has nothing these days.  And I just cringe when a ball is hit to him in the outfield. 

Also, Billy Wagner pitched the 9th last night.  He retired the side in order and said that if he feels that he can compete he will be out there. The Mets are in a postion where until there is any distance (one way or the other) between them, the Phillies or the Marlins, they need all their guys. 

And another thing is any Mets pitcher going to hit anyone?  Three guys have been hit so far in this three game series, and nothing.  I mean, really?  Enough!  I would love to see that little Shrimpy Victorino hit right on the 8!   

The Mets have Oliver Perez on the mound today.  The Phillies will counter with Jamie Moyer. 

Mets Blog

Before game time, I heard that the Mets claimed they would have a packed house for the first of three games with the Phillies.  While I’m not sure if it was a “sell out” crowd, it was a play off atmosphere.  The Mets, the fans, the commentators, everyone knew that this was a big game.  The question is, would the Mets play like it was a big game?  The answer is, they played like it was a big game for about eight innings.  The Phillies scored six runs in the top of the ninth to win the game 8-6.  This game marks the fourth time this season that the Mets have blown a four run lead.   

Johan Santana was fantastic.  He pitched eight innings, allowing two runs on eight hits, no walks and four strikeouts.  He struggled in the first inning; allowing three straight two out hits to give the Phillies and early 1-0 lead.  But there after, Santana did what he had to do.  He is the guy I felt bad for last night.  It was the third time the Mets have blown a save for Santana.  It was awful.  Santana put up exactly the performance that the Mets (and us fans) needed from him, he was great.  But, he didn’t pitch the ninth inning.  However, after retiring the heart of the order in the top of the eighth, you had to figure that the Mets bullpen could at least get the last three outs. 

Since the all star break the Mets bullpen has been terrible in 14.1 innings of work they have an 8.18 era and opponenets are hitting .271 against them.  I was going to say that last nights game was probably the worst display of relief pitching I’ve every seen, but then that would be a lie, because this whole season we’ve seen one bad pitching performance after another.  Billy Wagner was unavailable last night due to spasms or whatever; he probably would have stunk too.  Duane Sanchez allowed three straight hits; Joe Smith came into the game, faced one batter, but because Jose Reyes was greedy, he tried to turn two instead of getting the sure out at first, and no one was out.  Pedro Felicano came in and was just putrid, he allowed two straight doubles, one to a guy who was 0-16 as a pinch hitter and was 0-5 (or some number like that) against him; the other to Jimmy Rollins, Feliciano had the opportunity to get a double play when Ryan Howard hit one back to him, but he dropped the ball and could only make the play at first.  Aaron Heilman came in and since he isn’t really the guy you think of when you are looking to stop the bleeding, I figured the Phillies would tack on a few more.  Heilman walked the first guy he faced, but finally got Gregg Dobbs to pop up to end the inning.  It didn’t matter, the Phillies scored six, they batter around, and both Jayson Werth and Gregg Dobbs came to the plate twice in the inning.   

The Mets got two big homeruns last night, one from Carlos Delgado and one from Ramon Castro.  Reyes didn’t do anything at the plate he was 0-4 with a walk.  Beltran had an RBI, but no hits.  Endy Chavez was 3-4 but he was thrown out at the plate twice.  But, their offense wasn’t the problem, if they got the three outs they needed we wouldn’t even be having this conversation.   

It isn’t as simple as saying if the Mets had just capitalized on opportunities, maybe they would have gotten the “W”.  Endy Chavez was thrown out at the plate TWICE, although the Mets scored 6 runs they still left eight guys on base.  But the fact is, they had a three run lead and couldn’t get three outs.  That is all they needed to win, as much as I try to find a way that the Mets could have won the game, the truth is, they did have the game in their hands and they blew it.   

Again what you notice is that this Phillies team is never dead, they don’t stop, they don’t give up, they play to the last out.  That is something you can not say about the Mets.  We’ve finally seen a little fight out of them with their resurgence, but if they get a big lead, they kind of just nonchalant it, if they get down by too many they decided to save it for another day.    

Who knows what tonight will hold for the Mets.  Can they shake this loss off and come out and play well tonight?  Remember the Mets lost the first game of the Fourth of July series against the Phillies and then won the next three.  They can’t let last night linger too long or else they will be in trouble.   

John Maine will start tonight and he will be opposed by Brett Meyers, Meyers who apparently hates the Mets-(and might we say the feeling is mutual) is coming of a stint in the minors where he was finding his fastball.  Maine has struggled and would really like for him to find himself tonight.  Game time is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.   

Mets Blog