Work In Progress

All right, kid. Bases loaded, two out. Tie game in the fifth inning. You're past 100 pitches and running on fumes. Let's see what you're made of. Swing and miss strike one. Swing and a miss strike two. Looking good. Finish him off.

Grand slam. On an 0-2 pitch.

Such is the growing pains we are experiencing with Bobby Parnell. That makes at least 8 runs allowed in two of the last three starts. Yikes. The ERA has skyrocketed to 5.80.

At least we got to see the debut of Lance Broadway. Exciting stuff. Gotta show something for that Ramon Castro trade. Between Brian Schneider's .188 average (boosted with a 2-for-4 performance) and Omir Santos' .300 OBP I miss big Ramon, no matter how much time he missed due to injury.

Boneheaded move by Fernando Tatis for even thinking about scoring on that bases loaded hit by Schneider in the 4th. To make matters worse later in that inning, Jerry has Parnell sac bunting with runners on the corners and one out. Are you that afraid of the double play?

Aaron Heilman needs to lay off the burgers and fries, either that or those socks make him look Heath Bell-like. We don't miss you.

Should Be Working Instead

There's nothing like a midweek day game. Most people are working, but a bunch of them are enjoying a relaxing day at the ballpark. Unless you're a Met fan.

The Mets found a way to blow another one today. It was the first weekday matinee of the season, and my first of the season as well. Last season I went to four. The Mets are now 0-5 since last season in these games. All of them memorable:

4/8/08- Opening day vs Philadelphia. We're looking good with a 2-0 lead after 6 until the bullpen and some shoddy defense takes over, a sign of things to come. Phillies spoil the home opener with a 5-2 win.

4/30/08- A beautiful sunny day, yet the game was delayed 40 minutes. Not a cloud in the sky, but a water main break in the area. Oliver Perez gives up a 7-spot in the second inning and the Mets lose 13-1 to the Pirates.

5/15/08- Mike Pelfrey takes a no-hitter into the 7th inning. The problem was the game was still scoreless at that point. The Nationals get a leadoff hit in the 7th to end the bid, and scratch out a run in the 8th. With Carlos Beltran on third and one out in the 9th, Carlos Delgado lines out to first, Beltran's too far from third and gets doubled up.

6/12/08- 4-2 Mets lead the Diamondbacks in the 9th. Enter Sandman. Wagner gives up 2 in the 9th, Heilman one in the 10th and the Mets lose 5-4.

4/29/09- Johan has a new bullpen now to protect his leads. However, up one run in the 8th, JJ Putz walks the first two batters of the inning, a sac bunt and 2-rbi single later the Marlins take the lead. After the Mets have the first two reach base in the bottom of the 9th, they fail to score one, capped by a bizarre decision to pinch hit Omir Santos, who had to run in from the bullpen, for Ramon Castro, who had two hits on the day. Santos popped out to end the game with the bases loaded.