If You Thought the Series Against the Phillies Was Big. . .

This series against Atlanta has just become huge. I thought the Phillies' series was going to be the turning point of the season. Well, I was wrong. It's now this Atlanta series.

The Mets have had a problem all year of long losing streaks. Just think of the months of June & July and you'll know what I'm talking about. The Mets need to stop the bleeding by winning game 1 tonight. By winning game 1 the Mets will be able to shake off the shadow of the Philadelphia series and focus on the games with Atlanta. Another loss would just continue their depression.

We've got John Maine, the 5th starter, and Tom Glavine pitching for us against Tim Hudson, John Smoltz, and some other guy who doesn't really matter. Not quite an even matchup, but that's what will make a win in Atlanta that much more precious.

Turner Field has forever been the Mount Doom of the Mets. If we really want to see what this team is made of, this series will prove it. Can this team come back from being thoroughly beaten by the Phillies? Can Wagner get his act together and still be a big game pitcher? Can this offense give our pitchers a lead to work with? Can Willie Randolph do anything to get this team back on track?

All of these questions will be answered in this series against the Braves. We'll have to wait and see whether or not we like the answers.

Mets Need to Forget it and Move On

I'm over the fact that we got swept by the Phillies in the most crucial series of this season. I'm over the fact that this team fought to tie the game twice and then take the lead only to have the bullpen blow it yet again.

I'm over the fact that the same guys continue to beat us even though we know they are Met killers. I'm over the fact that we had a chance to have an 8 or 9 game lead at the beginning of this series, and now it's a measly two game lead.

I'm over the fact that our biggest game pitcher, El Duque, couldn't last 5 innings in the biggest game of the year. I'm over the fact that the Mets got picked off an unreasonable 4 times this series. I'm over the ever shrinking strike zone of these umpires.

I'm over the fact that Willie Randolph never puts the squeeze play on even when you have one of the fastest guys in baseball on 3rd base. I'm over the fact that we didn't get any bullpen help before the trading deadline.

But, I'm not over the fact that we keep losing. I'm hoping the players and Willie Randolph aren't either.

On to Atlanta.