Mets Were a Mike Hampton Home Run Away from a Rare Road Sweep

Man, I hate Mike Hampton. Turns out that Hampton's home run was the only blemish in the Mets chances for an unheard of road sweep of a series. Oddly enough, the home run cam against Johan Santana who one would think would have been the only chane the Mets had for a win this weekend.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Mets bats wakeup for the rookie Niese and then pull Livan Hernandez out of what could have been a blowout by the Astros.

At this point I'm think the Mets need to reconfigure Citi Field to match the dimensions of Minute Maid Park because we haven't seen this many runs since 2006.

By the way, does anyone else think of Carlos Beltran's basket catch running up the stupid hill in center field every time the Mets play there?

Now the Mets have gotten my attention when I was ready to slowly fade into fan oblivion. Frenchie Francoeur is looking like one of Omar's best trades. Omir Santos is coming alive again. Luis Castillo is on steroids. And Angel Pagan is a triples machine.

Oh and David Wright finally hit a home run.

With a four game series against the Rockies, the Mets could either make up some ground in the Wild Card or just demoralize the fan base once again.

Guess we'll wait and see.

A Test of Character

You want to see what the Mets are made of? So do I, and we'll get our chance this week when the Braves come to town.

I really think this is going to be a defining series for the Mets. The Braves are coming in as a team that's well under .500, has basically given up on this season, and has injuries galore. But they are the Braves and all the Mets have to see is that tomahawk on the jersey and they get all weak in the knees.

The Mets should, I repeat, should beat the Braves handedly this week. In fact they should sweep them. For the first time in what feels like a decade the Mets are not facing Tim Hudson nor John Smoltz in a series against the Braves. Instead it's Jo-Jo Reyes, Jair Jurrjens, and, wait for it, Mike Hampton. Yes, he still pitches once every 32 months. Not the formidable staff we're used to from the Braves.

But these are the New York Mets. Bullpen woes, a lack of timely hitting and a long painful history with the Braves makes this series up for grabs. If the Mets can sweep the series with the Braves, I think it will show that this team is serious about a run for the pennant. If they win 2 out of 3 it will be an acceptable outcome, but losing 2 of 3 will do wonders for the Mets psyche.

When your archenemy is down, you finish them off. Let's see if the Mets have the character to beat this Braves team as they should.

Things to Look Forward to in the Series Against the Braves

1. Booing Tom Glavine uncontrollably
2. Not seeing Mike Hampton pitch again (hee hee)
3. Chipper Jones getting hit in the head
4. David Wright shoving his gold glove down Chipper's throat
5. Booing Tom Glavine uncontrollably
6. Watching Johan Santana vs. John Smoltz
7. Laughing uncontrollably if Mike Pelfrey out pitches Tom Glavine
8. Booing Tom Glavine uncontrollably
9. Away games in HD on SNY HD
10. Mets taking 2 out of 3 in Turner Field

Lets go Mets!