Camp Day Fun

Too bad that was the last one. The Mets seem inspired to play in front of such vibrant colors representing the various camps in the stands. However, they are still brittle as they are any game this season. Down goes Jon Niese, down goes Gary Sheffield. There's no comment on this right now. It was past ridiculous when Luis Castillo went down the stairs.

David Wright is just not going to charge the mound. At least he could've said something to the pitcher who just missed his head, a retaliation for Pujols getting hit earlier in the game. Maybe it was the presence of so many kids. Doubt it. David is Mr. Nice Guy. He'll make friends with everyone who reaches third base, and against the Mets, that's a lot of players who reach third base.

The DVR will be in full swing this week as the team goes West. It's not worth staying up. Hell, they should be honored I'm recording the rest of the game to watch it the next morning.

David Wright Just Broke His Ankle Getting Out of a Cab

OK, just kidding. But would you be surprised? This season is very similar to the 1992-93 Ranger hockey season, when Brian Leetch did just that. Everything went wrong.

Last night was the lowest of the low. It started with Jose Reyes suffering what was called a major setback as he had to come back to New York and be examined the crack New York Met medical staff. After going back and forth in a pretty entertaining ballgame where they actually knocked around Joel Pineiro (I probably misspelled the name in previous posts, whatever), Luis Castillo out of nowhere slips down the dugout steps and turns his ankle. He's done for the season, I don't care if they're going to call it a cramp later today. After the fall, the rest of the team fell on the field. A 7-4 lead turned into a 12-7 defeat in 10 innings, with the go-ahead run coming in on a Sean Green hit batsman. We might as well trade this guy for Aaron Heilman, the deal would be a wash.

Yadier Molina has not stopped smiling in Flushing since October of 2006. What the hell are the Mets thinking running on this guy?

As for Reyes, this guy needs to determine right now if surgery fixes his problem and if it does, get it done.

We can only hope that next season follows the pattern of the season following the 92-93 Ranger debacle. One in which we will have our own "one more hill to climb, baby" moment if we reach the World Series.

Off to Citi to see what thrills await me on another Camp Day game.

Guaranteed

If my ass was in the Promenade yesterday, that ball hit by Yadier Molina goes over Jeremy Reed's head for a two-run double and a 4-3 Cardinal lead. Ryan Franklin comes in and gets the Mets 1-2-3 in the bottom of the 9th. If that happened it was only fitting that Pujols got clearly picked off at second base (how can the third base umpire not overrule that play- you could be leaving the bathrooms on the third base side of the Promenade and see that he was clearly out). However, the blown save did not happen. 7/10/08, 7/24/08, 8/7/08, and now 6/25/09. Four weekday matinees I missed or sold, 4-0 record. When I go, 0-6. As of now, I am scheduled to go to camp days 7/30 and 8/5. Anyone want tickets?

How about Fernando Martinez's play in centerfield? Unfortunately he went 0-for-3 to drop his average to .167. Bite the bullet with Jeremy Reed in center for the next week or so (besides, let's see what he can do when given a string of consistent at bats) and send the kid down before his confidence goes down the toilet.

K-Rod just refuses to throw strikes if he does not have to. Sure, he made it scary, putting two men on after striking out the first two batters in the 9th, but it's all part of the master plan. Worked great against the Yankees, until- let's forget about that one- wait, we can't. They're next on the schedule. Can someone please drill Robinson Cano at some point this weekend?

Finally An Easy One

It's been a while since the Mets had a laugher in their favor. Laugher was the appropriate term, because the Cardinals looked like a little league team the entire second half of the game.

Fernando Nieve continues to throw zeroes and now there should not be any question about him leaving the team or moving to the bullpen once John Maine or Oliver Perez return. He's bought himself at least a few more starts.

Nick Evans looked very comfortable in Citi Field. After all, he was one of the few players invited to take batting practice in the park when it was still a construction site. It's fitting that he hit a homerun in his first start there.

Brian Schneider just missed yet another three-run homerun. Anywhere else that ball would have probably been out. Speaking of robbed by the park, that shot by Pujols late in the game in garbage time- that's outta here anyplace else.

As for more good news, I have sold my tickets to today's workday game. My record in attending these has been less than stellar. I'd have to double-check, but in the last two seasons I believe the Mets have won any weekday home game I missed to complement the 0-fer in those I attended. No blowout or blown saves today, just a good old fashioned victory, guaranteed.

Look, It's Another Met Grounding Out

Change the backdrop of the game to a splash of orange and blue and last night you have a clone of a game from that fateful final week in September 2007. Being out of the country, I did not know that was Joel Pinero who started that makeup game at Shea. Hell, the only thing I knew about him was the fact that he throws strikes, which is why I picked him up for my fantasy team a few weeks back. The strikeouts were not there, but the sinker was out in full force and the Mets did nothing with it.

The game featured a one-hour rain delay and still ended before most other 7pm starts around the league. Maybe we'll get by tonight without a delay. It has rained in parts of every day this month of June. The Mets have been relatively lucky. This homestand, not so much- we have gotten to know the Citi Field Grounds Crew very well, enough to see them fail to cover the entire field on first attempt last night. That's a tough job.

Elmer Dessens was very efficient in his Met debut, pitching the final two innings as the main guys in the bullpen were able to get a much needed couple of days. That's about the only positive in this one.

Series Opener Killers

The Mets won their fourth- what should have been sixth- straight series opener last night. With news of Carlos Beltran off to the DL, hope seems lost. However, this is the National League East. After the win, the Mets are only a game and half out.

Fernando Tatis was told before the game he would be the man and get more playing time. Too bad his first two at bats were ground ball double plays. He just needs some confidence after being put on the back burner with the arrival of Sheffield and playing only against lefties.

Daniel Murphy has been hitting. Yesterday, he showed some power, another good sign.

Omir Santos and Luis Castillo went 7 for 7 combined. Castillo showed some pop- from the left side, a sight you never see. He even looked like his Florida Marlin self with a sparkling defensive play up the middle.

Chris Duncan looked like some scary dude when he was waiting to hit. Good thing Jerry left Switzer in there to face the righty pinch hitter in the 8th. And how can we forget about the following at bat? Brian Stokes inducing a huge 1-6-3 doubplle play from Albert Pujols, who put on a show in BP, but did nothing in the game. There are still three more games though.

The goal is to stay afloat. Asking the rest of the teams in the division to stay mediocre would help. Stay within striking distance, hope the injured return, and get ready for a crazy September.

Slide! Cardinals 6, Mets 4

Despite all the other blown early leads this season, this obviously takes the "worst game of the season" tag thus far.

Heck it could've been worse earlier. Oliver Perez walked the leadoff man on four pitches. He regrouped after that, but then it all fell apart in the 5th inning in typical fashion. Three chances to get one more out and qualify for the victory and our $36 million man could not get it done.

The Mets had an easy 5-4 lead in the 8th. Carlos Beltran, however, chose not to get dirty. Instead he steps on Yadier Molina's (I'm sick of this guy) foot instead of home plate and gets tagged out.

How much longer do you go with Daniel Murphy in left field? You think the kid has any pressure on him to keep up that .300+ batting average? He turns a line out to left field into a triple. JJ Putz finally gets knocked around and gives up two runs and that's your ballgame.