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 10 game win streak came to an end last night with a 5-2 loss to the Cincinnati Reds.  The Mets looked more like the team of old rather than the team that has been so good in the prior 10 games.   

We all knew the Mets were going to lose eventually, but I guess we were hoping it would happen on a night when the Phillies lost too.  Instead, the Phillies beat the Marlins 4-2, and the Mets find themselves back in second place.   

John Maine was horrible last night.  He has really not been good all year.  In his last four starts he is 0-2 with a 6.63 era.  He has not won a game since the 20^th of June.  Look, last night he didn’t exactly get anyhelp.  With two on, Jeff Keppinger hit a ball to third that David Wright could not make the play on; it was ruled an infield hit, but it was an error.  The game changed there, if Wright makes that play, Maine gets out of the inning.  Instead, Maine fell apart, he walked Ken Griffey Jr. with the bases loade, gave up a single to Brandon Phillips that scored two; he intentionally walked Adam Dunn but then hit Edwin Encarnacion with a pitch to walk in another run.  Jerry Manual finally took him out of the game at that point.  Scott Schoeneweis entered the game and got Joey Votto to ground out finally ending the inning.   

Bronson Arroyo shut the Mets offense down; he allowed just two runs on four hits.  The Mets did put up a two spot in the fourth inning but couldn’t do anything there after.  It looked like maybe they would have a scoring chance in the top of the 7^th.  Carlos Beltran hit a triple to lead of the inning, Damion Easley struck out swinging, Carlos Delgado was hit by a pitch, and with runners on the corners, Fernando Tatis grounded into a double play to end the inning.  Beltran had a good game last night offensively, but for the most part the bats were dead.  Jose Reyes has an 0-fer going, having yet to record a hit since the all star break, it was so frustrating watching him pop the ball up all last night.  Again too, it was a terrible job to have a runner on third with no outs and not get him home.    

Ok, am I being a little critical?  Maybe so.  I knew they were going to lose a game eventually, but I hate when they play like they played last night.  It is just sloppy and uninspired.  I guess too I worry because you wonder if they will slip back into the mode.  We’ve seen so much of that this season, and in the past 10 games it was gone, I don’t want them to become complacent.  They need to keep playing with the same firing and driving force they had prior to the all star break.   

If you get a chance, make sure you watch the month’s “Costas Now” on HBO.  The show is a town hall setting with MLB players from different eras.  It appears that it was taped the day after the all star game. Really great stuff.  

The Mets will have Oliver Perez on the mound; he will be opposed by Josh Fogg.  Game time is scheduled for 7:45 p.m. 

Mets Blog

If it isn’t Billy Wagner who blows games for the Mets, it is Billy Joel.  Yep you read that right.  If you caught Johan Santana’s four innings of work you know he was awful.  He allowed five runs on six hits, two of those hits were homeruns, he walked three and struck out two.  But, no worries, because it wasn’t his fault!  Nope, the culprit is Billy Joel.  Because Joel was performing the last concerts ever at Shea Stadium, Santana could not get in to do his side work.  So, I guess that means he should be right on track before his next start. 

The Mets scored four runs in the top of the ninth to win 10-8.  This win extends their streak to 10.  The last time the Mets won 10 in a row was 1991, they are now just one shy of the Mets all time team record.  They also accomplished something they had yet to do this season.  They came back from three runs down to win the game.  They are the last team in the bigs to accomplish that this season.  

The pitching was terrible last night.  Not only did Santana stink, but Aaron Heilman was worse.  Heilman entered the game in the bottom of the seventh inning and in just 2/3 of an inning of work, he gave up three runs.  After retiring the first two hitters he faced, he allowed a double to Edwin Encarnacion, he then intentionally walked Joey Votto, and (unintentionally) walked David Ross.  At that juncture, Heilman would leave the game, and Scott Schoeneweis (who also stunk) would enter and gave up a double to Javier Valentin, giving the Reds an 8-6 lead.   

The offense was terrific last night.  It took them a few innings to get going.  The Mets scored first on a Carlos Delgado monster shot to right field that went out of the park, and looks like it was just shy of landing in the river.  In the fifth inning the Mets added two on an RBI single from David Wright.  In the sixth inning, Fernando Tatis hit a two run homer to give the Mets the lead.  The bats were quiet until the ninth inning; Argenis Reyes singled with one out, Wright hit his 18^th homer of the season, a two run blast that just cleared the glove of Ken Griffey Jr., tying the game at 8.  But, the Mets were not done.  Carlos Beltran singled and took third on a single by Damion Easley,  Easley would advance to third and Beltran would score on a single by Carlos Delgado, and Fernando Tatis, came up big again, he hit a RBI double to left that scored Easley.   

David Wright had a big game last night, and had four RBI.  David’s two out RBI single in the top of the 5^th cut the lead 5-4 after the Mets had gone down 5-2 in the bottom of the 4^th, and then of course his 2 run homer in the top of the 9^th tied the game for the Mets.  It was a great job by Wright who had struggled some in that area.  Not only does Wright deserve credit but so does Fernando Tatis, his two run blast gave the Mets the lead in the top of the 6^th, and his RBI double game the Mets an insurance run in the top of the 9^th.  Carlos Delgado continues to swing a hot bat, as he was 3-4 with three RBI.  Jose Reyes who is usually in the thick of it was 0-5 last night that ended his 9 game hit streak.   

So, for the first time since April 20^th when you opened the paper this morning, the Mets were sitting in first place.  Ok-technically they are tied for first, but their name was listed first!  This is an exciting time, especially given how the Mets played last night.  I really didn’t know what to expect from them after the break.  After they went down like that last night, I wasn’t sure they would bounce back, but more and more this team is rebounding and finding ways to win games.  I just have to say though, that it was a terrible job by Santana.  The Mets won the game, so it is what it is, but for him to come back and pitch like that is just a bad job by him.  I don’t want to hear the excuses; I don’t want anything but for him but to win games.  It is infuriating when your team gives your guy a lead and you turn around and give it (and then some) back.  

Ok, so here is something else that will come as a shock to you.  Pedro Martinez will not make his next start.  He had a cortisone shot over the weekend and will not be available to pitch.  Pelfrey will make the start from him on Sunday.  Also, El Duque, left after one inning of work in a rehab start for the B-Mets due to discomfort in his foot.   

The Mets play the second of four against the Reds tonight.  Game time is 7:10 p.m.  The Mets will have John Maine on the mound and he will be opposed by Bronson Arroyo. 

Mets Blog

 If you watched the All Star game, you realized that Billy Wagner hasn’t just let the Mets down this year, but he has now let the whole National League down, as he blew a save opportunity to close out the game for the National League.  This performance got me to thinking, and with a suggestion from a reader, I have decided to write my own midseason report card for the Mets.   

Position Players: 

First Base: Carlos Delgado-Delgado’s performance is really the tale of two halves in its own right, the early part of the season (April-Mid June) and the late part of the first half (late June-break).  Early on, I’d have given Delgado an F, not just because he wasn’t hitting, but because he didn’t hustle on the field, he wasn’t helping the Mets out with his fielding.  But, since late June and right on through the All Star break Delgado has almost looked like a different player.  He has raised his average to .248 with 17 homeruns and 52 RBI.  But it isn’t just his hitting that has been better.  He has started to do the little things, like making an effort to field the ball, and taking the extra base when he can.  It is an all around hustle that this team has not had and it is good to see it out of a veteran guy.  So over all I think Delgado deserves a B-/C+.   

Second Base: Luis Castillo-Oh, where do I begin?  I think this guy stinks.  I do not like his body language or his attitude.  I think this signing was a huge waste of money and time.  And, let me tell you this, It does not bother me a bit that he will not have his starting job waiting for him.  He is a terrible fielder, and maybe that has to do with the fact that he can hardly walk, I think he is a nightmare at the plate, that slap crap hitting annoys me.  Also, I just don’t think that he is a good guy.  There was a lot of chatter about his relationship with Jose Reyes last year claming that he really isn’t a great influence on him-especially when you consider the mentoring relationship that Reyes had with Jose Valentin.  I think this guy is a problem in the club house and an all around lazy guy.  Someone also said that part of the reason Castillo is a Met this year is because he and Santana a great friends from their time together in Minnesota, but if that is true, I would say to Santana-you need new friends.  Overall grade-F 

Third Base: David Wright- David is a hard guy to grade.  We all know that this has not been his best season at the plate, yet he leads the team in almost every offensive category hitting .282 with 17 homeruns, 70 RBI and 11 stolen bases.  David has struggled this year, and he has not been himself at the plate.  He has shown glimpses of coming out of it but has been unable to sustain that for any extended period of time.  His fielding has been pretty good, he does have 12 errors, the majority being throwing errors, but they have also been costly errors, especially early on when the Mets were struggling to win games.  David is such a likeable guy, even when he is not performing up to the standards he set for himself by what he has done in past years.  He says the right thing, does the right thing, answers questions the right way, and an all around good guy.  I would take a team full of David Wrights any day.  That being said, he is a huge part of this team, and if the Mets are really going to make a run at this, he is going to have to continue to do his part, and work on getting runners home from third with less than two out and work on his strikeouts.  Overall grade B+ 

Short Stop: Jose Reyes-Reyes went into a slump last September and didn’t come out of it until the end of May.  But, the good news is he did eventually come out of the slump.  He has gotten his average up to .302 with 43 RBI.  He has fourth most hits in major league baseball with 119, having hit 10 homeruns, 10 triples, and 23 doubles.  He is tied for fifth in the majors with 32 stolen bases.  His offensive production is probably one of the factors why the Mets are sitting where they are now.  However, Reyes has  uncharacteristically struggled with his defense at times.  He has already made 12 errors-as a measuring point, he made only 12 errors all last season.  He does also still make some mental mistakes but I do think that it is all a process, and when he came up with the Mets we knew he was going to be good, and every year he continues to get better.  I think Jose will continue to swing a hot bat and will have a better second half defensively.  Over allgrade-B+/A- 

Left Field: Obviously this is one position you can’t give a grade to.  If you were going to say Endy Chavez, then he scores off the charts solely because of his defense, however, as a whole the position gets an INCOMPLETE because they really are in trouble out there, and what’s to come remains to be seen.   

Center Field: Carlos Beltran-Beltran has quietly had a good season.  He is hitting .268 with 15 homeruns and 66 RBI, he has suddenly become more aggressive on the base paths and has 15 stolen bases.  He started the season out slowly, and I think it had a lot to do with some trepidation coming back after having knee surgery in the off season.  His fielding is probably superior to most of the outfielders in the game.  While I do think a lot of balls fall in front of him because he plays too deep, rarely do they go over his head, and more often then not he tracks down balls in the gap that almost nobody gets to.  Early in the season, I really felt that he and the other Carlos were not doing what they should, and I also thought they were causing a division in the clubhouse.  With the departure of Willie Randolph, I think we’ve seen a new Beltran.  I loved the fact that he go thrown out of the game against Seattle, I know that he is not typically a demonstrative guy, but it was great to see him stand up for himself and Jerry Manual.  Overall grade: B+ 

Right Field: Again, if Ryan Church were playing out there, he would get an A+, his defense has been superb and his offensive production is something, until just recently, the Mets lineup was really missing.  I can’t believe how the Mets front offices screwed this situation up, but I do know they remain optimistic that he may be able to rejoin the team after the all star break.  If the Mets can get Church back, and he is able to pick up where he left off, then they might be in good shape out in right field.  Overall grade: INCOMPLETE 

Catchers: Ramon Castro/Brian Schneider the grade here actually goes to Jerry Manual.  I like the way he has played Castro and Schneider.  I don’t know if it is the rest that Schneider is getting or the reps that Castro is getting but this quasi platoon seems to be working in the Mets favor.  Overall grade B+

Starting Pitching:

Johan Santana he is 8-7 with a 2.84 era, with 114 strikeouts, and has allowed fewer hits than innings pitched.  The only concern is that he does give up the long ball, and has given up 14 so far this season.   However, Santana has shown that he has the guts to pitch out of trouble, and to pitch in big spots.  If Santana actually got some run support, or a good job by the bull pen, Santana could easily be 11-4.  However, things haven’t quite worked out that way for Santana.  Some fans get on him, suggesting that he isn’t any good, and as I’ve said before I believe that is because they have unreasonable expectations about his performance.  For me, has he been as good and I “thought” he was going to be, no-but he has been good.  And if you can believe what people say, that he is a second half pitcher, then we have a lot to look forward to.  Overall Grade B+/A-  

Pedro Martinez-Having Pedro back on the bench is a big plus.  I think he brings something to the clubhouse that no other player on the Mets does.  That being said, he has been unimpressive since his return.  Can Pedro be affective?  Can he stay healthy?  In his last start he pitched only four innings because of a sore groin and a stiff shoulder.  Overall Grade D 

Mike Pelfrey- Pelfrey is 8-6 with a 3.64 era.  Again, if you were just grading him on his last three starts then the guys deserves an A, but early on he was less than stellar, and was a big contributing factor to the Mets early season woes.  However, he never shied away or played the blame game, he kept going out there and working, he has had three good starts and has shown that he can in fact pitch with the big boys.  Overall Grade C 

John Maine-after hearing about how Maine was dominating spring training, I thought for sure he was in for a big season.  Maine is 8-6 with a 3.99 era.  He has failed to go deep into the game because he continuously has terribly high pitch counts.  We’ve seen more players foul pitches off with Maine on the mound, then I think I’ve ever seen before.  He seems to be lacking a real put away pitch and has yet to find that.  I think that all of us, Maine included, are disappointed in his season thus far.  Overall Grade C- 

Oliver Perez-With the addition of new pitching coach Dan Warthen, Oliver has had a chance to reinvent himself.  Oliver has an overall record of 6-5 with a 4.44 era, but in the two games he pitched in July he has allowed just one earned run.  He has pitched much better in his last three or four starts and seems to have tinkered with his windup and delivery.  If Perez keeps this up, he might just get the money he was looking for next year.  Perez seems to be either “Good Ollie” and or the “Bad Ollie”, there really isn’t any in between with this guy.  Clearly, he too, is a big reason why the Mets’ found themselves in such a hole early on.  But, as of late he has been in the middle of the Mets’ resurgence.  In the beginning of the season, I would have given him an F, and in his last four starts he deserves an A-.  Overall Grade: C+/B- 

Bull Pen:

The bullpen has had its fair share of issues so far this season.  Since Manual has taken over, I think we’ve seem a mostly better job out of the bullpen.   

Scott Schoeneweis- 2-1 with a 2.65 era.  In the month of June, this guy was terrible he had a 7.20 era in his 14 appearances and it didn’t seem like he could get anyone out.  However, early in the season, he was practically lights out, and he has rebounded stellarly in July, he has allowed no runs in his five appearances. Individual Grade C  

Pedro Feliciano- 2-2 with a 2.86 era.  Pedro too has struggled; he has given up 34 hits in his 34 2/3 innings of work.  Lefties are hitting just 1.72 against Feliciano, but righties are hitting a whopping 3.79 against him.  After getting off to a great start, he has really had a rough go of it.   Individual Grade C

Duaner Sanchez-I think everyone was happy to have Sanchez back, but he has yet to show that he has returned to his pre-injury self.  He is 3-1 with a 3.57 era.  He has really struggled, he was pitching to a 6.00 era in May, but was somewhat better in June appearing 13 games and pitching to a 3.60 era.  However, in July he has pitched in 7 games, and has only allowed only 1 run. Individual Grade  C 

Joe Smith-has a 2.97 era.  He has had 44 relief appearances so far this season, and has allowed 14 runs on 29 hits in 39 innings of work.  He struggled in the early part of the season, and again in June when pretty much the whole bull pen stunk.  Again, pretty much like everyone else, he has been much better as of late.  Individual Grade B-/C+ 

I saved my two favorite bull pen guys for last! 

Aaron Heilman-Heilman is a head case; I think that every time he goes out to pitch, he keeps thinking to himself, “I’m a starter!”  And, maybe he is inside, but not with the Mets.  Anyway, he has appeared in 48 games this season and has allowed 29 runs in 50 innings of work. He has a 4.50 era and a 0-3 record.  Early on he was getting killed with the long ball, and it seemed like he couldn’t get anyone out.  However, when everyone else struggled in June, he was great.  I just looked at his numbers and realized that although I think he has been better recently-like since the winning streak, he is still pitching to a 3.52 era in July.  From what I understand he has added a third pitch, a slider, that seems to help make his fastball and change up more affective, he has been able to keep the ball down in the zone which has kept the ball in the park.  He is a big part of that bullpen whether he realizes it or not.  The Mets need for him to get his head on straight if they are going to over take the Phillies.  Individual Grade C-

 Billy Wagner-has 22 saves in 28 opportunities, his era is 2.31.  He has allowed 15 runs (only 10 earned) in 39 innings.  What I think about Billy is he is the guy who passes all of his quizzes and then bombs the midterm.  What I mean to say is, that Billy got some saves for the Mets when they were easy to get.  But, put Billy in a big spot, and he is going to blow it.  That has become his reputation, and he has done little to dispel that.  I think Mets fans thought he was going to finally get the job done, after  years of watching Franco, Benitez, and Looper blow games, Wagner was the missing key.  Turns out he took over where the other guys left off.  I don’t trust Wagner in a big spot, can’t imagine anyone else does either.  Individual Grade F 

Bullpen Overall Grade: C 

Bench: I am not going to break it down player by player, but I do think the Mets have gotten more out of Endy Chavez, Fernando Tatis, and Damion Easley than anyone thought they might.  It is great that they’ve stepped in to be productive. 

So, overall I think the Mets get a C, there is no question that they have underperformed.  But I do think they have to get some credit for where they are today.  The Mets have lucked out and got hot at the right time to pull within a ½ game of the Phillies.  I hesitate to get too excited, while the Mets have won 9 in a row, I also know they are capable of playing as terrible as they did in the early first half.  I do have more hope for the Mets going into the second half because they have shown that the can and want to win.

Mets Blog

Pedro Martinez and the Mets bullpen combined to throw a one hit shut out against the Colorado Rockies on Saturday afternoon and won the game 3-0.  Eight in a row!  Wow, this is exactly what the Mets needed, a good streak heading into the all star break.  What a great win on Saturday.  Their win streak of eight is the Mets longest since June of 2006 and it is currently the longest streak in MLB.  Since June 13^th, the Mets have reduced the Phillies lead of 7 games to just half a game going into play today.   

The Amazin’s seem to be coming together as a team and it looks like they have found what was missing.  Do you realize if the Mets can continue their winning ways, and if they get a little luck and a little help from Arizona, the Mets could conceivably be in first place at the all star break?   

The Mets are finally getting the pitching they expected.  Pedro Martinez started the game Saturday.  He left after just four innings of work because of shoulder stiffness and I have also heard that he is nursing a sore groin.  Pedro has been examined and has been cleared to make his next start after the all star break.  He worked four scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while walking three and striking out three.  

The bullpen continues to perform in dominant fashion.  Carlos Muniz came into the game for Pedro in the top of the fifth, he worked two innings, walking one and striking out two, and got credit for the win.  Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis pitched an inning each and both struck out one batter, walked none, and allowed no hits.  And Billy Wagner, with out any drama or undue stress earned his 22^nd save of the season by retiring the side in order.    

The Mets had been scoring a lot of runs, but they have only managed to score five runs in the first two games of this series.  Saturday’s win was good old fashioned baseball.  The Mets manufactured runs, they stole bases, they ran hard on the base paths and they got a homerun.  The Mets stole four bases yesterday and now lead the National League with 91 steals, just nine behind the Tampa Bay Rays who lead the majors with 100. 

In the fourth inning, Carlos Beltran doubled to right, stole third and would score on a single by Fernando Tatis to score the first run of the game.  Jose Reyes hit his 10^th homerun of the season in the bottom of the fifth to make the game 2-0.  In the bottom of the sixth, Carlos Delgado singled to start the inning; he advanced to second on a sac bunt by Endy Chaves and would come around to score on a double by Brian Schneider.   

The Mets look good right now.  If you’d asked me just a few weeks ago, I would not have been able to say that.  But, they are finally getting the pitching they thought they would have.  Both Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez have really taken their games to a new level.  And while Pedro has been cleared to make his next start after the all star break, you will always worry about his health.  This winning streak is nice, and it has put the Mets in a good position, but they are going to have to continue to work and play the kind of baseball they have been playing since the beginning of July.  No one, including myself imagined that the Mets would have started out as poorly as they did this season, and after everything they have been through and after watching them play just awful baseball, I would have never thought that they would be sitting in this spot at the all star break.  

If the Mets can take advantage of their good play and their ability to beat sub par teams, the schedule plays in their favor when play resumes after the all star break.  The Phillies and Marlins will be playing each other at the same time the Mets play an under achieving Cincinnati Red’s team.  It is all starting to really heat up and get exciting.  

The Mets are on Sunday Night Baseball tonight.  (Oh joy, three hours of Jon Miller and Joe “I just keep on talking even if I say nothing of value” Morgan.  Mike Pelfrey will pitch for the Mets and the Rockies will have Mark Redman on the mound.  Game time is scheduled for 8:05 p.m. 

 Mets Blog

The Mets completed a three game sweep of the San Francisco Giants on Thursday afternoon with a 7-3 win.  New York is now 1.5 games out of first and are in sole possession of second place.  The Mets played well in the three games against the Giants and really could be in a good way headed into the all star break if they play well in this series against the Rockies this weekend. 

John Maine started for the Amazin’s but he had a rough day.  Again his pitch count was crazy and he just didn’t seem to have great command of his pitches.  He only made it through four and two-thirds innings before leaving the game after allowing two runs to score to tie the game at three in the top of the 5^th.  Maine threw 109 pitches and gave up three earned runs on two hits while walking 5 and striking out 8.  I know Maine was disappointed, especially after his last outing, but I do have to say that his trouble today was not all his own doing, the home plate umpire Gerry Davis’ strike zone was the size of a postage stamp ( I will discuss the umps in a later paragraph).

The Met’s bullpen continued to be stellar in this series.  Carlos Muniz came into the game in the top of the 5^th and got Aaron Rowand to pop up to end the inning.  Muniz would work an inning and a third and not give up anything.  Scott Schoeneweis got the win, he entered the game in the 7^th inning and retired the side in order.  In the 8^th, Duaner Sanchez allowed a hit and walked one, but did not allow any runs.  We even saw our buddy Billy Wagner in the bottom of the 9^th.  Obviously it wasn’t a save situation, but apparently he needed the work.  With out any drama he retired the side in order to close out the game for the Mets. 

The offense was a little weak early against Barry Zito.  The Mets didn’t take advatage of all thier scoring opportunities early in the game, in fact although they scored 7 runs the Mets as a team left 12 guys on base.  Early on the bottom of the second Fernando Tatis lead off the inning with a double, but did not advance past second base.  In the bottom of the third the Mets put three on the board, and there looked to be a lot more to come because in the bottom of the fourth, Zito walked three batters to load the bases, but he was off the hook after getting Carlos Beltran to ground out into a force play to end the inning.  After the Giants tied the game in the top of the 5^th, I thought the Mets might just melt down, but not so.  They scored four more runs off the Giants’ bullpen to secure the victory. 

Fernando Tatis had another great day at the plate; he was 3-5 with four RBI, hitting two doubles and the go ahead two homer in the bottom of the seventh.  As I said previously, I think it is great to ride his bat now, I would be worried that the longer he plays the outfield the more likely his defense or lack there of will be exposed, but for right now, I think he has been a big asset to this team; he has been on a hot streak and has gotten some big hits for the Mets.  Tatis has really be a big part of the Mets 6 game winning streak.  David Wright was on base 5 times, going 2-3 and scoring a couple of runs.  Argenis Reyes was in the mix; he started at second base and made some outstanding plays in the field as well as notching another hit.  A. Reyes has appeared in 7 games for the Mets and in his 13 at bats he has four hits-and the hits have all come in clusters. 

Ok, so here is my thing on the umps-they have done a terrible job this year.  I think it shows you that something is terribly wrong when both starting pitchers in a game throw a ton of pitches (both Zito and Maine threw over 100 pitches and neither made it past the 5^th).  Not only did both starters throw a ton of pitches, they also had ball to strike ratios that were nearly 50/50.  And while you can say that neither one of the guys had the great stuff, and certainly both of these guys have had their issues this season, if you watched the game you would have seen that much of what happened to Maine and Zito today had a lot to do with the miniscule strike zone.  It isn’t just that the strike zones are largely inconsistent or sometime just way too small, but it bas been some other things as well.  The call in Tuesday night’s game (and I forget which ump was at second base and which Giants’ runner was on), but, the runner was clearly out of the base path, not just a little out of the base path, he was on the grass and the ump was standing right there and did not bother to call it.  And, don’t even get me started on the Ryan Howard homerun.  That was clearly NOT a homer.  How about the blown call on the Delgado homer in the Yankee game?  Didn’t the umps also blow another homerun call in another Yankee game after the messed up the call in the Met’s series?  What are these guys doing out there?  I have watched a lot of baseball and do catch the Mets nearly every night, and I have to say this is about one of the worst years of all around umpiring that we’ve seen.  I guess the umps really do want instant replay and at this rate, maybe the players association should demand it. 

I am so glad the Mets beat the Giants.  Now Christopher “Mad Dog” Russo can just shut up!  Every day this guys is bagging on NY baseball, but let me tell you he had little to say today.  Oh wait-he did cry a little about Tatis’ “dance” after his homerun. Seriously Chris, I think you are just a sore loser!  It isn’t as if he stood and home plate and watched the ball leave the yard like your boy Bonds use to.

The Mets were outstanding in this series.  It has been so much fun to watch them.  It is great to see the bats alive and to just see them having fun.   The pitching had been good.  I hope the all star break really gets them all refreshed and that they can pick up where they are right now.  Of course, they still have three games to play against an underachieving Colorado Rockies team, but last year they had a lot of trouble against the Rockies so I’m not taking anything for granted.  It would be great though for the Mets to take two of three and put them a few more game over .500. 

Also, just one last note I was at work yesterday and unable to watch the game on TV so I was listening to local radio here in New York, on 660 WFAN-the Mets play by play guys are Howie Rose and Wayne Hagen.  I love Howie, he is great and I love the fact that he has been a Mets fan his whole life, but Wayne Hagen STINKS.  I think I am going to start a website, something to the affect like www.waynehagenmakesmyearsbleed.com  He really ruins the whole game, I don’t even to listen to the post game report becuase this guy is terrible. 

As I said the Rockies come to town for a three game set scheduled to start on Friday evening.  Oliver Perez will be on the mound and we’ll all be waiting to see if Ollie can make it three good starts in a row.  The Rockies will counter with Aaron Cook.  Game time is 7:10 p.m.    

Mets Blog

I give up, not on the Mets per se, but I give up on trying to figure out this team.  This is pretty much where they are going to be all season.  Friday’s night cap was pathetic as the Yankees beat the Mets 9-0.  I know it is very difficult for sweep a double header, but how about keeping yourselves in the game? 

The Mets scored 15 runs in the first game and 0 in the second.  It isn’t like the Mets didn’t have their chance, they had Sidney Ponson on the ropes several times, they just did not get a big hit.  The Mets got two on in the first inning and didn’t score, they loaded the bases in the bottom of the second and the bottom of the third and couldn’t get a run home.

Pedro Martinez was terrible again.  The first four innings were ok, but the fifth inning was where most of the damage happened much like what happened to him in Colorado in his last start.  Pedro, allowed six runs on six hits and five walks, while striking out four.   Carlos Delgado suggested to Pedro that maybe he is tipping his pitches, whatever it is; Pedro is not getting it done.  Who cares that he can throw in the 90’s?  If they are hitting it all over the park, then velocity hardly matters.  I think Ron Darling said it last night, it is not about velocity, it is about location.  It wasn’t just that Pedro gave up five runs Scott Schoeneweis was awful, he allowed one inherited runner to score, and in his 2/3 of an inning he gave up three runs on four hits, two walks and a homerun.  Two of Schoeneweis’ runs scored when Joe Smith entered the game. 

As Bill Parcells’ says, you are what your record says you are.  So, the Mets scored more runs in the first game than they did in any other game this season but, instead of building on that, they went in the tank in the second game.  They didn’t hit, they didn’t get good pitching.  It is just frustrating to watch them play like this.  I can’t even imagine what the next two games hold in store for the Mets.

The Mets and Yankees meet again this afternoon, first pitch is scheduled for 3:55 p.m.  Johan Santana will face Andy Pettitte.    

Mets Blog

The New York Mets and the Texas Rangers were rained out on Saturday night and played a good old fashioned double header on Sunday.  The Mets had John Maine on the hill for the first game and Pedro Martinez pitched the second.  The Rangers took the first game of the double header 8-7.  The Mets took the nightcap 4-2, taking two out of three from the Rangers.   

John Maine pitched 6 1/3 innings and while he was credited with five earned runs, two of the runs were on base when he left the game in the top of the seventh, both scored when Pedro Felicano allowed an RBI single to Ramon Vasquez.  Maine did not pitch as poorly as his line would suggest, he did give up 7 hits, while striking out five and not allowing any walks.  The Mets’ bullpen did a terrible job once again.  Pedro Felicano was not the only culprit; Joe Smith entered the game with a runner on and gave up a two out two run homer to Ian Kinsler.  Scott Schoeneweis pitched an inning and gave up a homerun to Milton Bradley.   

The Mets did have two late inning rallies, the first in the bottom of the eight, down 8-3.  With one out, Carlos Beltran walked, Carlos Delgado hit a short fly ball single that allowed the run to score.  Trot Nixon hit a double to right field that would drive in Delgado.  Brian Schneider walked, Damion Easley got aboard on an error and that would load the bases.  Jose Reyes had a chance to do some damage with only one out and bases load, but he popped up to right field and for some inexplicable reason, Sandy Alomar elected to send a very slow Brian Schneider home, and he of course was thrown out at the plate by a mile.  However, the Rangers we not finished trying to give the game away.  In the bottom of the ninth, the Mets tacked on two more runs, but fell just short, and lost the first game 8-7.   

The Mets really had an opportunity to take the first game even with the runs the bullpen gave up.  However, they got lousy situational hitting and a really boneheaded move by their third base coach.  This team is not good enough to overcome those types of mistakes.  Guys have got to get their heads in the game.  With Alomar’s brilliance at third yesterday, you can see that it isn’t just the players who have brain lock during a game.   

The Mets did redeem themselves in the night cap of the doubleheader winning 4-2 behind Pedro Martinez.  Martinez struggled early on giving up two runs before the Mets could get on the board, but he hunkered down and pitched pretty well.  In his six innings of work he gave up two runs, just one earned on six hits, allowing one walk and recording four strikeouts.  Much to the ire of the crowd at Shea Stadium, Pedro left the game for a pitch hitter in the bottom of the sixth.  The crowd could be heard in the background chanting, “We want Pedro!”  It worked out in the Mets’ favor however as pinch hitter Robinson Cancel hit a two run single to give the Mets a 4-2 lead.   

The bullpen was much better in the second game.  Pedro Feliciano pitched a scoreless seventh, Duaner Sanchez pitched the eighth giving up nothing, and Billy Wagner came in for the save in the ninth.  Without any excitement, he retired the side in order while recording two strikeouts.  While you could see Wagner was nervous and did not have his great stuff he did what had to be done and finally got a save.  The bullpen finally gave the Mets what they needed.   

The good thing to come out of this series was that David Wright snapped a skid that was something like 6-40 and was a combined 4-7 with an RBI.  He looked much better at the plate; let’s hope he can carry it over to the series with the Anaheim Angels.  The Carloses both had good days at the plate too.  In the two games Beltran was 4-9 with three RBI, three runs scored and a walk.  Delgado was 3-9 with two RBI and two runs scored. 

 Speaking of the Anaheim Angels, them Mets begin a three game interleauge series with them in Anaheim tonight.  Mike Pelfrey, coming off a brilliant performance in his last outing against the Diamondbacks will be on the mound for the Mets, the Angels will counter with Jered Weaver.  First pitch is scheduled for 9:55 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