One of Those El Duque Games

El Duque in his first game back with the Mets looked like he should have taken another week off. He had trouble with his control early and it seemed like everyone was able to get a hit off of him. I'm not going to even mention the final score because it's not even worth typing.

El Duque struggled his last time out so I was a little surprised to see him have back to back shaky starts. Some on talk radio and online are already saying this shows that El Duque needs to go to the bullpen if the Mets make the playoffs.

That's ridiculous. If you want to move him to the bullpen in the playoffs because his arm is durable enough to sustain it and he could fix some middle relief problems, that's one thing. But to move him there on account of this start is preposterous. El Duque has way too much playoff experience and fantastic playoff resume to send him to the bullpen for this.

I still feel that El Duque should be the Mets #1 starter in the playoffs. If he pitches in Game 1 there's no question he'd be available for game 4 and even game 6 if he was needed. From his time with the Yankees and White Sox, I am convinced El Duque dials it up a notch come playoff time.

I've been waiting 2 years to see him pitch a playoff game for the Mets. Just don't let him run around in the outfield between now and October.

The El Duque T-Shirt

I think I need the ladies at Do Me Wright to outfit me with a whole new line of t-shirts. Those creative designers and fantastics Mets bloggers have done it again with their new El Duque tee.

Never before has a high leg kick looked so fashionable. Rumor has it the shirts was the highlight of fashion week in NYC.

Check it out as well as some great posts over at Do Me Wright.

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.

The Pain of Being a Mets Lifer at the Jersey Shore

My parents have the unfortunate luck of being at the Jersey shore during this painful series against the Phillies. For those unfamiliar with the Jersey shore (a.k.a. the beach for non-NJ folks) it is a hot bed of Phillies' fans.

Here's the email I was sent this morning from my parents who own a home down the shore next to die-hard Phillie fans:
"I just started cutting out the eye-holes on the bag for my head. If nothing else, I may get a free Broom from [our Phillie fan neighbors]."

We all feel your pain, but at least I don't have to face Phillies' fans while on vacation this week.

Let's hope El Duque is what the doctor ordered so we can save face before heading to Atlanta.

Road, Sweep Road

Finally, a series sweep. I love the Washington Nationals, and Beltran loves their ballpark as he hammered two home runs over the right field fence.

This was finally a game I could relax and watch. No tension. Good run production. And most importantly no bullpen excitement.

El Duque pitched beautifully again. He could be in the running for the Cy Young award if the Mets had won the majority of his 9 no decisions. El Duque is the best pitcher when it comes to ERA after the All Star break as he's just over a 2.0 ERA. The guy is a machine and consistently throws over 100 pitches effectively. I can't tell a difference in his pitching from pitch 1 to pitch 110. He's my game one starter in any postseason series the Mets might have in the future.

Off day on Monday and then back to Shea for a seriously tough home series against the Padres and their phenomenal pitching staff. The Mets have been averaging 7+ runs per game for the past week and they'll need to save some against San Diego.

And right now, I'm exceptionally pleased with the fact that the Mets play the Nationals again in one of the closing series of the season.