Mets Take A Walk Down Memory Lane

Ah yes. The season is starting to change. The leaves are almost ready to change colors. Night comes a little earlier than it used to and the Mets find a way to destroy a fantastic comeback.

You'd think it was September of 2008 (or 2007), but no. Unfortunately it's only the first week of August in 2009, but the Mets wanted you to remember what the last two Septembers felt like.

After taking a 7-4 lead, the Mets' bullpen imploded like it was in the middle of a pennant race ultimately losing the game 12-7. KRod got a rare chance at a save, but instead wanted to do his best Nelson Figueroa impression and gave up back to back doubles to start the inning and ended up tying the game at 7.

The Mets flirted with clutchness in the bottom of the 9th, but in September-like fashion couldn't seal the deal so in the 10th the Mets lovingly loaded the bases with Cardinals and brought in Blowenweiss wanna-be, Sean Green who on the first pitch (yes, the first pitch) plunks Mark DeRosa.

The pain of that pitch is two-fold. First it walks in the go ahead run. Second, it brings up all-universe star Albert Pujols with the bases still loaded. Of course you can guess what happens next. Bye-bye bally. On a 3-2 count, Pujols just crushed a grand slam.

Keith Hernandez even joked that it wasn't even September and this was happening. Not funny Keith. Sad, but not funny.

You think we'd be used to this by now, but it's like taking Robitussin. You've tasted the horribleness before, you expect it, but you never get used to it.

Predictions for the 2009 Mid-Summer Classic

The All Star Game is here (yawn). Let's hope it's not as long or as boring as last night's home run derby. Here are my predictions for this year's all star bash:

• David Wright will strike out at least once
• Albert Pujols gets the largest ovation
• Chase Utley swears on camera...again
• The phrase "steroids era" is used at least once in the broadcast
• Tim McCarver will make me want to break my TV
• Tim McCarver mention catching Bob Gibson
• Johan Santana will not pitch
• Ryan Howard hits a home run
• Mariano Rivera is hailed as the greatest relief pitcher to walk the face of the earth
• Joe Buck will remark how the Cardinals' fans are the greatest baseball fans on the planet
• Roy Halladay trade talk will start in the first inning
• The pre game show will go too long
• The National League will lose

Welcome to Suicide Week

It's June 22 and 18 of the first 21 days in the NYC metro area have included rain, so it's not stretch to think the dark cloud that hangs over the Mets may very well continue through the end of the month.

That's why this week is suicide week because at the end of this week if you're a Mets fan you may contemplate suicide.

There are a number of factors that bring me to this conclusion including:

• Carlos Beltran will have an MRI today. Expect a press conference at 4 pm announcing he'll have season ending surgery.
• Ken Takahashi is currently poised to take over the 8th inning role in the bullpen.
• David Wright is thinking about going 2 for 50 for the rest of the month.
• Brian Schneider is arguably the Mets best power hitter
• Albert Pujols and his magic stick are coming to town.
• The Yankees are coming after the Cardinals.
• The Mets get to face the best pitcher in baseball right now, Chris Carpenter.
• There's no way the Phillies can keep losing like this.
• Rain is in the forecast practically every day this week.
• Daniel Murphy is looking more like Ty Wigginton than we originally thought.
• Bobby Parnell is giving me nightmares of Scott Schoeneweiss

Add this all up and you have one of the worst times to be playing two very good teams this week in the Cards & Yanks. There's a reason Seattle has the highest suicide rate of any major city in the U.S. It's a combination of all that rain and all those really bad sports teams.

We're getting a taste of Seattle in New York. Please sun, come out and and play.

Odds Are Against Delgado for MVP

This is an unbelievable sentence that I'm about to write, especially if I think back to my feelings in April:
Carlos Delgado is the Mets MVP this year.

It's a fact and it's hard to argue. The Mets turnaround this season coincides with two events. First the firing of Willie Randolph and promotion of Jerry Manuel to manager, and secondly the resurgance of Carlos Delgado.

While Delgado might be the Mets MVP (just sneeks past Johan Santana), the odds of him being the NL MVP are unlikely.

Here's why, history is against him. The last time an NL MVP had a batting average below .300 was back in 1989 when former Met, Kevin Mitchell, won the prize. Voters excused Mitchell's average because he pounded 47 home runs and 125 RBI while slugging .635.

The .300 mark seems to be a cutoff in NL MVP voting over the past 18 years. However, including Mitchell the NL MVP's from 1986-1989 all batted under .300.

Delgado's stat line is not MVP-like. Delgado is currently batting .261 with a .504 slugging percentage. He has 33 home runs and 100 RBI with 19 games left in the season. While Delgado is behind Ryan Braun, Albert Pujols and Lance Berkman in average and slugging, he is outperforming them in the home run and RBI category.

If Delgado were to win NL MVP this year, two things have to absolutely happen. The first is the Mets have to win the division. No wild card. No being left out of the postseason. If the Mets don't win, Delgado's chances are gone.

The second thing is the MVP voters have to look at what player had the biggest impact on their team's performance. Some might argue that it should then go to CC Sabathia, but because Delgado effects the team every day, as opposed to every 5th day, I think he gets the edge.

The other thing that Delgado has in his corner is the fact that there isn't a clear cut MVP from a playoff team. The Cubs don't have a statistical standout. The Brewers have Braun, but he gets shadowed by Sabathia. The Astros stink so Berkman isn't playing for a contender. And the MVP was Chase Utley's for the taking until he fell off the face of the earth.

This would be quite a story if Delgado were to win the MVP title. But more importantly I hope he continues his hitting ways so the Mets can make a playoff run. I have a feeling Delgado would prefer that over an MVP trophy.

Mike Pelfrey Is Albert Pujols' Daddy

That's right Albert Pujols. Mike Pelfrey owns you.

Pujols struck out twice against Pelfrey last night (and once against Joe Smith) in route to an 0 for 5 evening.
Pelfrey was throwing heat right past the best hitter in the NL and made him look foolish a couple of times. The best was a first pitch slider that buckled Pujols' knees and then landed on the corner for a strike. Pelfrey just looks more and more confident out there and it's really enjoyable to watch.

Carlos Delgado continues his hot streak at the plate with his 20th homer of the season. It's like the cleanup spot is his very own fountain of youth.

And then to top the night off Argenis Reyes hits his first major league home run. I'm starting to really like this kid. I think he's one of those guys that will have one good season and then when you try and bring him back the next year it's like he forgot how to play. Let's ride him while he can play.

U.S. Olympian, Brandon Knight, takes his one shot at the big leagues this season tonight. I'm looking forward to a gold medal performance. Ok, I apologize for that, but it was just too easy.

LaRussa Forgot That This One Counts

Hey Tony LaRussa! Wake up from behind your sunglasses (only Jack Nicholson is allowed to wear shades at night). How about a little managing?

I mean I know it's just the All Star Game, but talk about mismanaging your personnel, LaRussa marched out a pitcher every inning without thinking that it might go extra innings. If the NL tied it in the 9th (like they should have) we would have been stuck with Valverde pitching the rest of the night?

But my big issues is with LaRussa not pinch hitting Albert Pujols in the 9th. First of all who doesn't want to see Pujols up with the bases loaded. Hmmmmmm. How about every AL pitcher? I know Aaron Rowand is having a great season, but come on he's no Albert Pujols. Besides, it would have been a great spectacle for the fans. K-Rod vs. Pujols. That's a fantastic showdown.

But no. LaRussa wanted to do a favor for his old friend Jim Leyland. Hey we beat you in the World Series last year, so how about I give you the All Star game?