Mets Tease

At about 8 p.m. last night I wrote this post in a rage of anger/disappointment/sugar high. I was done with the Mets. As Shaquille O'Neal would say "DUN...done."

For the first time in years, I turned the game off before the first inning was over. I played some Marvel vs. Capcom 2 on my XBox. Did some bills. Watched some Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

And then I made a mistake.

I went over to the computer and opened up Yahoo! Sports to check my fantasy baseball team. Then I happened to glance at the real time scores and noticed that the Mets score was now 6-5 in the 8th inning.

What?!?!?!?!?!?!

This offensively disfunctional team came back to score 5 unanswered runs against one of the games better pitchers in Dan Haren? Impossible.

And then it happened. I turned the game one.

Like a crack addict trying to stop cold turkey, the temptation became to great for me to try and do it alone. So there I sat watching Gary Sheffield lead off of second base with only 1 out. I was fooled into thinking something would happen.

Then the 9th inning came and I was still there. Hoping. Praying. And the worst part, believing that something was going to happen.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me.

We all know how this story ends because we've seen it a thousand times before. But every time I find myself wanting to believe that there can be a happy ending.

Not this year.

Mets Get Robbed as Umpire Helps Phillies Win

I can talk about the army of men the Mets left on base. I can talk about the poor fielding that led to 3 runs for the Phillies in the 7th to tie the game. I can talk about David Wright being a good player, but not great. (The great ones come through in clutch moments). I can talk about how much I can't stand watching Luis Castillo hit. I can even talk about how much we miss Reyes and Delgado. I can talk about all of that. But, unfortunately, all I can think about...and I knew the moment it happened given the way the Phillies have beaten us in recent years...is that blown call by the umpire in the 5th inning when Beltran grouned into an inning ending double play.

He ws clearly safe and not only would a run have scored, but the inning would have continued with Sheffield at the plate. Instead, the umpires's gift to the Phillies enabled them to claw back and literally steal the game. For a team who has not made the post season by one game the last two years, that just plain sucks. It's one of those brutal games that rips your heart out, that makes you toss and turn in bed all night, replaying it over and over in your head.

Sure the Mets had their chances, but the fact is they got robbed!

Sheff, Santos Carrying Mets

Proving yet again that it’s all about rooting for the guys in the blue and orange uniforms, I am ecstatic with the play of Gary Sheffield. Here’s a guy who I not only did not want, I wholeheartedly detested for a number of reasons. Well since he has joined this 2009 Mets’ team, Sheffield has been an absolute savior, especially since Delgado went down. Once again, he came up huge, this time in the bottom of the 11th, in a 1-1 game, he led off with a hard single to left, then, surprisingly, he stole second and went to third on a bad throw. This guy is 40 years old!

This of course, set up the heroics for Omir “Call Me Clutch” Santos, who proved his worth (and made us forget Ramon Castro) by contributing to both NY runs with a solo homer on an 0-2 pitch in the 5th, and then hitting the game winner to drive in the old man Sheffield to win it in the 11th. The entire team mobbed Santos, including Sheffield who sprinted over to him at first after touching home.

I don’t know what it is, but this team looks a lot different since Delgado and Reyes went down. They’ve been playing with an edge, they’re clearly more focused, and not to mention, they’ve proven that there is nothing better than having good pitching, which the Mets have exhibited in recent weeks. Pelfrey is a solid #2 guy, once again, pitching another great game. If Maine continues to throw well, this team, with its now formidable bull pen will be tough to beat.

Think about it. Where would this team be without Sheffield, Santos and Livan Hernandez? On March 25th, we would never thought these guys would be contributing in such an important way for this team. All I can say is that I am happy they are. Including Sheff!

Now only if David Wright could exorcise the anxiety demons he clearly has with men on base in the late innings, we’d be unstoppable.

Sheff, Wright and the Replacements

This is quite a mod squad we have playing baseball out in Flushing this week. No Reyes, no Beltran, no Church, no Schneider.

We still got Wright. And we got Sheffield. But then everyone else is pretty much a replacement. Who cares though as long as you keep winning?

There's nothing like a dose of the Washington Nationals to help an ailing team start to feel better. And it's just what the doctor ordered.

Sheffield continued to swing hit hot bat hitting another home run last night and driving in something like 21 RBIs over the course of the last two weeks. That's insane. Sheffield was a guy that I expected to finish the year with 10 home runs and 35 RBI. He's looked great at the plate, although I could do without his one handed catches in the outfield (use two hands!!!!).

Wright still is striking out more than I like, but his average and OBP tell me that I should quit complaining. How on earth is Wright hitting a shade under .350 with an OPS of .964 when he had such an abysmal April?

Hat tip goes to Livan Hernandez who's a guy I consistently said the Mets should avoid. He's turned out to be a vital asset this season and his rubber arm and Bugs Bunny curveball were just what the Mets needed to give their bullpen a much needed day off.

Santana goes tonight so expect a 1-0 game. Let's hope we have the 1.

ESPN: Sheffield Could Play for Mets Next Week

This is a clip from ESPN with both Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel talking about the edition of Gary Sheffield. The interesting thing is if you go over to ESPN.com and read the full article below the video, you'll see that Sheffield credits David Wright with getting him on the Mets.

He talks about how its hard to resist when the "face of a franchise" reaches out to you and wants you on the team. I see Secretary of State in David Wright's future. Click here for the full ESPN article.

Gary Sheffield to Become a Met?

The Mets didn't get Manny Ramirez this offseason, but it looks like another attitude-prone outfielder may be headed their way by the name of Gary Sheffield according to the New York Post.

That's right, Doc Gooden's cousin may be headed to Queens and provide a much needed power bat to the lineup. That is of course if Sheffield can return to his old form which is still up for debate.

I don't think Sheffield would be inserted into the starting lineup, but may fill in as needed while becoming the power bat off the bench that the Mets lack at this point.

If Sheffield can be signed for an affordable amount, I like this move. He's a righty bat with a history of pop, but he's also such a wild card in the locker room. I'm curious to see how long he lasts as a bench player and if that will cause any issues, but if it doesn't he may very well be a contributor and be able to spell Delgado, Church and Murphy on days the need rest.