Curses

Seriously what did it? Was it really demolishing Shea Stadium? How could it be? It was the site of failure in recent seasons. Firing Willie Randolph after a win? Mishandling the health of a human being with his concussion by sticking him on a plane to Colorado? Something, something has cursed this franchise. Somebody please find me a team with more bad luck this season than this bunch in the history of team sports.

Why the agony after another expected loss against the Phillies, where Ryan Howard proved no park can hold him? Soon after the game it was revealed that Jeff Francoeur tore a ligament in his thumb. Several minutes later, Johan, the final major piece (we thought David's injury was the capper, but why stop at the hitters) of this team that was injury free now has to miss his next scheduled start to have his elbow examined. Seriously, this is a joke, right? Because you can't joke around like this.

The topping today was MLB's live look-in feature, a very nice addition I must say, which cut-in to the action for the bottom of the 9th. It's nice to see some of the afternoon action when you're stuck at the office. Problem is they were airing the Philly feed. The sound was muted, as I still had Howie and Wayne on Gameday Audio, but the video was enough to make me sick. Philly fans have taken over Citi Field and they were whooping it up for the final outs and CSN, whatever their network is, was showing you red in the stands between every pitch.

Ranger tickets will be ready for pickup next week for subscribers. We are counting down the days to training camp. This baseball season has to end.

Triple Play

Just when you thought you have seen it all with the 2009 Mets. For all the pain this season was, if you were watching that meaningless ninth inning and saw Eric Bruntlett boot one ball after another, you knew the Mets were coming back in this game. No fightin' Phillies here- it was role reversal. You got excited for that split second the ball rocketed off Jeff Francoeur's bat- then it landed right in Bruntlett's glove. Playing up the middle to cover second because the runners were on the move, the unassisted triple play he turned lasted a couple of seconds. Stunned.

You would think at this point nothing can hurt anymore. You actually laugh at the performance Oliver Perez put in and actually don't mind a decent outing from Pedro Martinez in his return. But that one stung. I don't know what the Mets or Mets fans did to deserve this, but it was something pretty bad.

Hit Parade

I could not believe what I was watching in that fourth inning last night. The Mets pounded out 10 hits- 7 singles and 3 doubles- en route to scoring 8 runs in turning a 4-0 deficit into an 8-4 lead. Ollie Perez once again was the beneficiary, giving up 4 runs in 5 innings, albeit those four runs were produced from two swings of the bat. He only walked one batter! You still can't depend on him.

Still want Derek Lowe? I know a lot of people still do, but I think the Mets made the right move at the time. He's going to be Livan in the fourth year of that contract, the one that eventually made him choose Atlanta over New York.

Jeff Francoeur is just one percentage point away from that .300 on-base percentage.

Do you still think Jerry was simply tough on Ryan Church earlier in the season?

Forget Billy Wagner, can we get something in return for Elmer Dessens?

Welcome Back Johan

Now that was the type of outing from the Johan Santana we all know and love. He threw strikes, made it look easy right throughout, then hung in there when things were getting dicey and he was well over 100 pitches.

Jeff Francoeur contributed in his first at-bat with a 2-rbi single, not the prettiest of hits, but a hit nonetheless. The Mets are 1-0 with him in the lineup, what's not to like?

Maybe, just maybe a reserve player can step up to be a solid player who deserves to be an everyday player. Angel Pagan, can you possibly be the one?

After ragging on Omir Santos a couple of posts in a row, he comes out and gets three hits. Who should I trash today? That Pelfrey kid has been horrible, how many innings will he last today?

Churchy for Frenchie

Last night's game was another typical Bronson Arroyo start in Flushing. He shut down the Mets for a complete game and the Mets were once again shut out, the third time in a week.

The story of last night was not the game itself, but a trade between divsion rivals. We get Jeff Francoeur for Ryan Church. Does anything else need to be said about the fact that Church was just not a popular guy in the clubhouse? You can listen to Omar spin it all you want. The only defense you get is a better arm- and Church's throw's from right were not too shabby, either. Hitting wise you get a free swinger who's on-base has been hovering around .300 for his career. I guess the Mets don't believe in on-base percentage. See Omir Santos.

That being said, Church might have reached his ceiling, while Francoeur might have some potential. Maybe a change of scenery will do good for him. Maybe we'll be dazzled by all the guys he throws out from the Mo-Zone and cheer for every wide turn by baserunners who's brakes come to screeching halt when he retrieves a base hit. All we do know is Church was not liked here, whether it was by Jerry or teammates, and was the one who had to go.