Revenge Should Be on Mets Minds

Last night's tragic affair is almost too soon forgotten thanks to the RA Dickey led Mets win over the Cardinals.It's nice to see this team bounce back quickly from a punch in the gut, but it's easier to do that when your starting pitcher throws 8+ scoreless innings for you.

The Mets got their revenge on the Cardinals this afternoon, but that cold dish now needs to be served up to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The DBacks thoroughly embarrassed the Mets the other week by sweeping the three game series. If ever the Mets needed a three game sweep, the DBacks series is just the moment as the Mets will then have to travel to Atlanta and Philly the following week.

The Mets should not even pitch to Mark Reynolds this series. The guy sends balls into LaGuardia air space every time he comes to Citi Field. Hit him in the shin and don't even give him the chance to make you pay.

The thing that concerns me is that the Mets have scored 19 runs their last three games. That means their due for a drought. In any case the Mets need to scrap together three more consecutive wins. A 2-1 series win is almost pointless at this point.

It's now or never because next week's NL East battles will determine the direction for the rest of the Mets season or usher in thoughts of fantasy football draft status.

Things Not Heard at the Mets vs Cards Game Last Night

"Johan Santana looks good."

"Jeff Francoeur gets better at the plate in extra innings."

"At least, the Cardinals didn't score 7 runs in the first inning."

"Pedro Feliciano has amazing command."

"I'm glad to see the Mets walk Jay to pitch to Pujols."

"Jerry Manuel is a master of substitution."

"Can't wait to see if Oliver Perez gets to pitch."

"Castillo has fresh legs tonight."

"We sure could use Jason Bay in this spot."

"How could you not love Yadier Molina?"

"I wish McCarver and Buck were calling this game."

"Smart move. Let's take our chances pitching to Pujols with the winning run on third."

"I'm happy to see the Mets fight back even though they lost."

Mets Won't Make a Move

The Mets are pretty predictable when it comes to the trading deadline. Every year there's a ton of hype early on and the Mets are named as players in the market for top notch talent, but by the time July 31st roles around the Mets usually find themselves outside looking in.

2010 is no different. The Mets have gone from buyers for Cliff Lee and Roy Oswalt to Ted Lilly and Brett Myers to now a number of middle of the road relievers. I guess a 2-9 road trip can change your perspective on things.

The Mets need to find some direction and purpose to the roster moves they make instead of reacting to the current situation. Since the Mets starting pitching has been doing well of late, although the bats have struggled, so Mets management feels that maybe they don't need another starting pitcher. That's a myopic view of things.

I applaud their caution in not wanting to trade Niese or Ike or even Mejia at the first offer that comes along. That's a huge step in the right direction from previous years. However, the Mets need to look at what will help long term. For the last two seasons, the Mets starting pitching has needed another top of the line arm. Halladay, Lee, or Oswalt are the type of talent that can make a huge impact on this team. But because of one or two weeks of solid performance the Mets think they don't need that extra help?

Yes Dickey is a great story and I believe Jon Niese will be a guy that can be a #3 starter over the long term, but you've got a clearly inconsistent Pelfrey, a reliever turned starter in Takahashi, and a total crapshoot in Perez/Maine.

The Mets NEED another arm. Santana has been awesome, but he needs help. Pelfrey started out great, but we can see he's not ready to carry the load yet. I'm not positive theirs a deal to be made that the Mets should take advantage of, but if they do make a move it clearly needs to be done with the long term in mind.

Don't let two weeks of decent pitching fool you. This starting rotation needs some insurance.

Meeting Keith Hernandez

The other week I had the opportunity to meet the player I most tried to emulate as a baseball player, Keith Hernandez. It's not a wild tail of chasing him down or bumping into him unexpectedly, but it was still a pretty cool encounter from my perspective.

I was boarding a flight to San Francisco on the day before the All Star game when I look behind me in line and see Keith Hernandez. I was traveling with some other people and one of my travel partners turned to me and giddily asked, "Is that Keith Hernandez?" I confirmed his suspicion and took my seat in the first row of coach, while Keith rightfully sat in first class.

I wasn't about to cross the dreaded first class curtain to go talk to him during the flight. That'd be a little too creepy. Plus he was sitting by the window so I'd have to talk over the person sitting on the aisle. I was hoping that I'd be able to catch him as we exited the plane and just say hello, but when the flight landed Keith was long gone before it was my row's turn to exit.

I thought I'd lost my chance. So I headed towards the baggage claim and was trying to determine which of the dozen baggage claims would have my bag when I turned around and saw Keith sitting and just checking his BlackBerry. I went up to him fully expecting to be ignored or brushed off for bothering my childhood hero, but I had to do it anyway.

I simply went up to him and said "Mr. Hernandez, just wanted to let you know that you're the reason I played first base growing up. I'm a huge fan and love what you, Gary and Ron do on the broadcast." I extended my hand and Keith did something unexpected. He smiled, shook my hand and responded, "Why thank you for very much for saying so. I appreciate it."

I wished him well on his trip and we exchanged cordial goodbyes. Keith was very accommodating to this fanboy and it's not every day you get to meet one of your favorite baseball players of all time. As I shared this story with others, everyone asked me why I didn't share my blog with him or get a picture to post on Mets Lifer. Maybe I should have, but it was cool just the same.


And I'm happy I didn't make a fool of myself. I should have worn my Mets retired #17 t-shirt though...

Apathy is Setting In

Last night's extra inning loss should have been a painful, disappointing game for me as a Mets fan. Unfortunately it wasn't. It was a fully expected outcome. As I monitored Twitter to see what other Mets fans were saying, the dialogue was no different. A loss was inevitable.

No hits after the 6th inning. Substituting pitchers left and right until we were left with Oliver Perez. The game was almost scripted for Mets disappointment.

During the Giants series, each loss was excruciating as you waited for the Mets bats to break out. But by the time the third loss game in Arizona, apathy had officially set in and now each loss in LA comes with little or no surprise.

The Mets have a chance to split the series against the Dodgers which after this past week is a welcome outcome, but I have zero expectations that this will happen. Dickey will pitch well today, but winning games on the road requires you to score runs.

This feeling should not be. After what was an exciting first half of baseball, this Mets team has quickly turned anticipation into a repeat nightmare of 2009. Yes, there's still time to make up ground, but the Mets give little hope that a turnaround can be made.

Mets fans need some hope.

Last Night's Mets Win in 100 Characters

Santana stellar.
Ike homers.
Bay awakes.
Mets victorious.
Halleluia.
Saturday repeat?

This Feels Like the 2009 Mets

Injuries. Under-performing superstars. A mid-season change in right field. Erratic bullpen. Absence of timely hitting. Unwinnable road trips.

Are we stuck in 2009? Because that's what it's starting to feel like.

After last year's All Star Break concluded with the Mets on an unbelievable 10 game winning streak they started their road to perdition that mercifully ended with a near basement dwelling position in the NL East. This past April, May and June we were led to believe that the 2009 Mets were a mere apparition. But now it appears the ghosts of '09 may be coming back to haunt us.

The lack of life in this team is palpable, and Mets Lifers everywhere have little confidence the Mets will end this West coast swing with even winning 1 more game. The Mets may very well return home over 8 games behind the front running Braves and flirting with the .500 mark.

How far has this team fallen from being 11 games over .500 and within a half game of first place just two weeks ago? The Mets need some hope. Will that hope come in a rearranging of the lineup? Fat chance. Will that hope come in the form of a new starting pitcher? Not sure if that's enough. Will that hope come with Jason Bay's revival? Don't think we can wait that long.

Hope comes in the form of a single letter: W. W's are what the Mets need and they need them desperately. A sweep of the Dodgers is a pipe dream. Winning 3 out of 4 is a pipe dream. For now a 2-2 series split would be a heaven sent blessing. But the Mets cannot get swept in LA.

If they do you might as well sweep this season under the rug.