Johan! and some offense!

The Mets had their game on yesterday for sure. Everything was clicking! Even the weather cooperated. It was pouring all around NY except over Shea Stadium. The weather gods held off the rain and let the Mets pour it on the Cardinals! Unfortunately, I was under the weather and missed one of the games of the year. Instead of sitting with 50,000 screaming lunatics, I sat quietly (well not so quiet, coughing my lungs out) watching at home.
It was a good weekend overall, winning 2 of 3 from a contender. It could have been a sweep, but it was a tough loss on Saturday nite in 14 innings. Thats what made Sunday's win even better. They came out ready for action instead of sitting back using the lateness of the previous night's game as an excuse. This team really seems to have turned things around. Everyone is putting their "A" game one. Carlos Beltran still is not hitting although I was impressed by the catch yesterday, taking a sure Home Run away from St Louis.
They are headed to Miami this week for a tough series with the Marlins. Even though they seem to win in Miami often and have a great fan base show up for games there, I still worry. You can never take the Marlins for granted, or any team. Look at what the Nationals did to the Mets last season!
So guys, keep it going, this could be a big week to get some breathing room from at least one of the contenders!
Lets Go Mets!

Billy's Back! and Delgado to Cleanup! Things are looking up!

After Tuesday's disaster, I was a bit worried about Billy Wagner's return. Thank goodness it was only one game that he missed. Although, I was surprised that the bullpen couldn't hold the lead in the 9th on Tuesday night. Maybe knowing Billy was not there to back them up, the pressure was greater than usual. Sanchez, Smith, Heilman and Feliciano all couldn't shut the door. At least one should have been able to do it. But, the Mets should have had more runs and then it wouldn't have mattered. Poor 3rd base coaching and again the lack of killer instinct with a lead. It always seems that they can't put a team away after getting to that 5 run plateau.
Finally, Jerry put Carlos Beltran down a spot and Carlos Delgado up to clean up! It worked. Carlos with the big hit today! It's been a long time coming that Beltran be taken out of the 4 spot. Let's see if it helps or will he continue to be a big disappointment to Mets fans!
In these last two wins the Mets showed me something they have not had this year, "Heart". Billy Wagner showed it when he almost got run down covering first on a ground ball in Wednesday Nights game. That is just one of the many exciting plays lately. There seems to be more hustle and more excitement from these guys! Maybe the second stringers players are putting some pressure on the front line players by playing hard and well.
The Cardinals are in for a weekend series. They are always tough on the Mets. Let's see how well they do. We will be without Pedro this weekend due to the death of his father. My condolences to Pedro and his family. The Mets haven't announced who will start for him this weekend. That will be interesting.
Until next time.

2 out of 4 and still in First Place!

First place for now, and here comes the Phillies to Shea for a huge 3 game series. This will really tell how things are going. Although I am not thrilled about a split in Cincinnati, I am glad that we got some help from the Marlins. But now its a three team race with those Braves looming. I don't think they are much of a threat, but they are the Braves!
I am happy about the offense, but how long can this last without our regulars. Are there any trades looming? Carlos Delgado has really turned his year around and as we see, his hitting has really made a huge difference. He is probably safe for now. I still don't see Beltran consistently coming through. So disappointing... and now word on Billy Wagner is that he is going for a second look at his shoulder? Not good, but could explain the problems. Although, Sunday you did not think there was any issue!
So let's see what these next three days go.

9 in a ROW? But still not comfortable!

In my previous post I mentioned that this team had the potential for a run of 10 or more wins, but that at the same time they could do the opposite and lose 10 in a row.
Last nite at the All Star Game part of what worries me happened again. Billy Wagner just does not look like an All Star closer right now.
The offense finally picked up thanks to the likes of Endy, Fernando, Pelfrey and Castro. Who would have thought these guys would be the stars of the team right now. Maybe the firing of Willie Randolph wasn't a bad thing? But time will tell. Need more time to see. At least the firing of Rick Petersen has benefitted the pitching staff. Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez and Aaron Heliman all seem to have put the past behind them and are pitching great!
If things hold up as they are now, we have a great shot at the division. The Phillies seem to be feeling the heat on their heels now.
Next up is a 4 game series in Cincinnati. Let's see if they can keep this steamroller going. Anything less than winning 3 out of 4 against the Reds may put them back to that .500 ball they were playing a few weeks ago and will show that the last week was a bit of anomally.

Beltran's Struggles Really Hurting Mets!

Thursday night's switching Ryan Church to cleanup was genius! The Mets offense rolled. Why wasn't he in the lineup Friday in a huge game vs the Phillies? Carlos Beltran's struggles continue and I am growing tired of it. Something needs to be done. Overrated and overpaid, Beltran is certainly still cashing in on a one huge playoff series. After striking out looking against the Cardinals in Game 7 of the NLCS in 2006, I have had a hard time rooting for him. The big hitter of the team should never be trying to walk in the biggest games.
The man is hitting in the .260 range since coming to the Mets? That's not good enough.
How about when this happens, the players are required to give back some of the millions they have "stolen" from us? Why don't sports teams pay players for current performance? Isn't that they way we are all paid?
Why do all the announcers think he is so smooth and fast when he runs? To me, it appears that he hardly ever hustles. I rarely seem him dive all out for a ball. Where is the hustle down the base lines?
This weekend is huge for the Mets to get back into the race. Faltering will pretty much seal the deal for the year. There is no excuse for pitching around him because Delgado isn't hitting. With Delgado hitting and Ryan Church back, that is not happening now. He has had so many opportunities lately with runners on. So many strikeouts and popouts and groundouts without getting the RBI's is appalling for a "so called All Star".
No more excuses Carlos, get the job done or be gone. I work hard for my money that I spend to watch you blow so many chances. .260 is not good enough for the millions you get paid!