Vintage

Pedro had all of his good stuff last night. 8 shutout innings with 130 pitches. Getting out of a couple of late jams. Too bad I'm not typing this at this time in 2008, 07, or even 06. It's 2009 and Pedro Martinez is a Phillie. And he was doing this against the Mets. For what it's worth he did it in a game that officially eliminated the Mets from playoff contention.

Daniel Murphy bailed him out in the eight inning and continues to prove why the Mets should look to find another first baseman until Ike Davis is ready if they plan on contending. Youth is no excuse for his aggressiveness in trying to go to third on a pitch that barely bounced away. You're down a run in the 8th. You are already in scoring position. Ground ball specialist Jeremy Reed maybe just maybe finds a hole that can drive you home. As Torts said about the Dubi situation, "It's stupid." Murph can work as hard as he wants in the cage, on the field, and in the video room, but he's not the answer at first base.


It was nice to see John Maine in action in the first game of the doubleheader, albeit for only three innings. How about Josh Thole going 4-for4? Could he be the answer at catcher next season? Keep it up kid- if Omir Santos and his sub .300 on base percentage is our starting catcher next season, we're in trouble.

Both games saw the Mets not go quietly in the 9th against first Brad Lidge, then Ryan Madson in the second. Lidge was a bit shakier and Madson gave up a hit to Brian Schneider in what was an impressive at bat by him considering his situation. Angel Pagan unfortunately made the final out in both, more unlucky the second time, roping one down the line right where Pedro Feliz was standing.

John Who?

Fernando Nieve continues to roll. John Maine, take your time coming back. Fine, I've been a little hard on Maine the past few days, but he spoiled us in 2007 with that good season. Our expectations were for him to at least repeat or better that season. He simply has not been doing that the last year and a half. Right now, he's just another 5th starter. Until he starts popping high fastballs in the 90s again, there no sense to get excited about a possible return anytime soon.

Brian Schneider just might be getting hot at the right time. He needs to take the catcher job and run with it. Leave Omir on the bench for that big pinch hit late in the game. It seems like it's the only time he gets hits on a consistent basis.

Good move in calling up Nick Evans for Fernando Martinez. Evans could have easily made the team out of spring training, but struggled mightily when sent down. He was not even an option earlier in the season. In the last month, he's been tearing up AA, so it was finally time. In addition, unlike with F-Mart, he does not have to play every day.

Sean Green, your new 8th inning man. Although you can't help but wonder if Putz and Wagner can find their pre-surgery selves and return to action for September. Another lefty in the pen would be nice. Can we win a game without stress so we don't have to run Feliciano out there for the 15th straight game?

Bound to Happen

His name is circulating in trade rumors involving the Mets. I don't know, looking at his numbers and his defensive play, is he something we really need right now?

5-for-8, a double, a homerun and 4 rbi, that's all Aubrey Huff has done to the Mets since I wrote that following the first game of this series. The final hit was a game-winning single off Francisco Rodriguez. It was the first Met closer meltdown we have witnessed this season. Have you missed those?

Feliciano will not get the lefties out some days and K-Rod will blow some saves. Unfortunately, as shorthanded as the Mets are right now, we need them to be flawless. Last night was a tough one indeed. It's another series loss. The Orioles were supposed to be the cookies in this rough stretch of games against above .500 teams. A 5-10 record in the month of June. We should be thankful the Phillies have only gone 1-5 since their series victory in Citi Field last week. It's the only reason the Mets are within striking distance of the division lead.

Alex Cora tried his best to pull out a Met victory last night. With key hits and great defensive play you only wonder how much worse it would be had he not returned early from the torn ligament with Reyes out.

Fernando Martinez, please find your game and confidence at AAA. You don't belong right now.

It will be interesting to see Fernando Nieve pitch today. The news yesterday was that John Maine threw 60 pitches in Florida, but it was not really any progress. Maine, Redding, Figueroa, a call-up- seriously, what's the difference? He hasn't been the same since 2007.

The Team to Beat

Usually we come off losses criticizing every single move our team's manager/coach made. Or chalk it up to a blown call.

The Phillies are just too good. Power? Check. Ibanez and Utley hitting homer after homer. Never mind Howard. Speed? Check. Rollins, Victorino, Werth (he who stole home earlier this season). Defense? Check. Every one of gets to anything questionable and Ibanez is throwing out everyone from left. Bullpen? Check. No Lidge, but the other guys, with the matchups they present, are right up there with the Mets pen as it currently stands. Starting pitching? Maybe we found something. However, if they acquire a stud via a trade this season, we're screwed and looking at the frightening possibility of a Philly-Yankee World Series come October (Yes, the Yanks are 0-8 vs the Sox, but after all that they are only two games out and are a Joba move to the pen away from fixing their mess).

Speaking of which, if you switched over to that Yankee game last night and all you heard was "this is the game C.C. was brought here to pitch," you had to feel a little bit better with the eventual result. Just a little bit. It all goes down the toilet if we have a bad weekend.

It does not matter who pitched that 10th inning last night. The result would have been the same.

John Maine is now on the DL. As Billy Wagner says, "F-n shocker." Who is the poor soul that will be taking his place in the cauldron that is the New Yankee Stadium?

David Wright had three hits again and the stats say he is on fire. All three hits came leading off an inning. He had another stolen base and is still stuck on four homers on the season. When the team gets healthy, that sounds like a number two hitter to me. Remember the spring training a couple of seasons ago? Maybe that spot in the lineup is not so farfetched for Wright after all.

Fernando Martinez has one last shot to prove he can stay, with Sheffield likely taking DH duties and fly balls to right that are homers in the Bronx.

Twin Killing

At least it was quick.

The Mets hit into a double play in seemingly every inning. You even had double plays of the comical variety, such as Luis Castillo running back to first without seeing Emil Brown, the batter, passing him on the basepaths, a no-no. And why is Emil Brown batting second anyway? That about sums it up.

John Maine is what he is. An average fourth starter. If he does not have his stuff, as he did last night, we're screwed. Great pitchers battle their way through times they don't have they're best. Last night was batting practice.

Jerry continues to cool off players by sitting them. See Gary Sheffield.

If Fernando Martinez is here to play everyday then why has he sat in two games already since his callup?

Are we going to wait to lose five of six to the Phillies and Yankees this week before some kind of outside help? The problem is the Mets have no chips to make a big acquisition. We're going to have to suffer until some of these guys on the DL come back. Unfortunately by then, it might be too late.

***

How sweet was it to see the Penguins absolutely unravel last night? Evgeny Malkin should be suspended a game. The guy is as dirty and cheap as any fourth line goon out there.

Mets 3, Marlins 2

Thankfully, John Maine lasted six innings before the stomach pains finally got to him. First Beltran yesterday, now Maine. Who's next? Something's going around and you know somebody's going to get it. My money's on Castillo or Wright, one of the final couple of regulars not miss any time due to injury recently.

Maine was on his game today. He was throwing strikes, very unlike what he's shown this season. Hopefully we'll see this type of performance in most of his outings the rest of way, minus the early exit of course.

J.J. Putz tried his best to blow one today, turning a 3-0 lead in the eight into a 1st and 2nd one out situation with the score at 3-1. Bobby Parnell eventually put out the fire, not before giving up a first pitch single to Hanley Ramirez to make it 3-2 with 1st and 3rd one out. Further damage was prevented with a big strikeout of Jorge Cantu and a flyout by Jeremy Hermida. Is Parnell slowly taking over as the eight inning guy? Putz is sliding down the depth chart and will continue to do so until he finds his command.

K-Rod continues to do his thing, striking out the side in the 9th, despite walking one. At least one half of our winter pen-bolstering duo is performing up to standards. K-Rod is still perfect on the year in save opportunities.

Angel Pagan, Spider-Man pictured on the right, left midway through this game after pulling up lame in the outfield. Looking at his reaction, you gotta feel for the guy.

That wraps a nice 5-1 homestand. Continue to take care of business on this upcoming road trip please. Seven games vs. the Pirates and Nats.

Detroit beats Pittsburgh in game 1 last night. Go Wings.

Late Night Stinker

The game was not even worth a morning DVR review upon finding out the score on the news this morning.

With Carlos Delgado out for ten weeks, the offensive is suddenly falling asleep, as if it was not asleep already. Two of the three runs last night was a result of a John Maine bases loaded single.

Why is Ramon Martinez playing second base last night? Three strikeouts and a GIDP, a night after committing two errors. Is Jerry trying to recapture some late-September magic from last season? Oh wait, that didn't turn out so magical...

Outrage over Gary Sheffield not playing left field last night was subsided by the fact that he was a bit under the weather. Now is the time where he has to play every day to see what's left and platoon the former left field platoon of Fernando Tatis and Daniel Murphy at first base instead. Jeremy Reed can go back to being a defensive replacement in the outfield.

I'm starting to see John Maine as just your average 4th/5th starter who will finish with an ERA in the high 4's, nothing like the Maine we saw in 2007, which we were hoping for this season.

Late Night Steal

The Mets took a backseat in the first few innings for game 7 of the Hurricanes-Bruins. If you're a diehard of both sports and have a choice of innings 1-3 of Mets in May or a game 7 playoff overtime, you watch the hockey. The 'Canes kept my final four intact. They will go on to lose to Pittsburgh, while Detroit beats Chicago to set up the Stanley Cup Final rematch. Back to the Mets...

The Mets set a franchise record with seven stolen bases in the game. Jose Reyes was not in the lineup, but not for the reasons I wanted him out for this evening, which makes the record even more amazing. David Wright, with four steals, felt like he needed to pick him up in that department and did he ever. Let's not forget Wright's clutch hit in the 9th inning. Maybe everyone complaining about his clutch hitting can relax now. The guy is now at .331 with an on base of .417. We just need the HRs to come around.

Gary Sheffield actually had a couple of hits for the second game in a row. This could be the start of something. It will be interesting to see if Daniel Murphy gets some time at first base, as he's been the odd man out since Delgado went down and Sheffield's power bat was needed in the lineup.

We saw a chink in the Bobby Parnell armor as he was shifted to the eight inning and struggled a bit.

The start John Maine had reminded me of the fiasco last season, also against Jonathan Sanchez, but Maine settled down quite nicely.