A Habit of Not Capitalizing

This has nothing to do with grammar and everything to do with anti-climax. The Mets were on a torrid hitting streak and used that to win 5 straight. They were 4 games over .500 and meaningful baseball appeared to be back.

But in typical Mets fashion they have found the nearest ditch for them to jump in and dig their way out. The Mets dropped two straight to the struggling and unimpressive Washington Nationals. I understand the Mets couldn't possibly keep up the offensive explosion of last week, but they seem to be in a pattern of following up great successes with plummeting failures.

Sunday's contest was a perfect example. One bad inning from Jon Niese gave the Nationals a 2-0 lead, but Scott Hairston, by himself, got the Mets to a 2-2 tie with 2 solo home runs including one in the top of the 9th.

So what do the Mets do the following half inning after a climactic comeback and a chance to win a series against a division rival? They do their best Tom Glavine impression and choke. Bringing Parnell into a tie game on the road in the bottom of the 9th was a stupid move. The guy is a few outings away from having Oliver Perez's mental strength and couldn't throw a strike. The Nationals were just inept to wave at a few of them.

Then you have Josh "King of the Pass Ball" Thole who couldn't catch the straightest fastball ever thrown because it was up in the zone which lead to runners on 2nd and 3rd  right after Daniel Murphy made a Hernandez-esque move to break up an attempted sacrifice bunt.

The pass ball ended up being the deciding play as the next pitch was chopped over Parnell's head into no-man's land allowing the runner to score. Game over.

The Mets are still above .500 but by only 2 games. I don't understand why this ballclub has such an inability to beat team's in their own division. It's becoming an epidemic and guess who's coming to town this week: Marlins & Braves.

Mets are on the Road to Mordor

What's the best way to punch the final nail in the coffin of the 2010 Mets? How about a 10 game road trip that starts with a 4 game stint at Turner Field?

Unlike Frodo's journey, the Mets trip to Mordor will end with them being tossed into the fire and being incinerated on contact. There's been this false air of hope surrounding the Mets for most of August. Can they go on a run? Is the Wild Card attainable? Will the pitching and the bats come together in perfect harmony?

This week we will have our answer and I'm telling you now it's no.

The fact that over the past two weeks the Mets have lost 3 games to the Astros and showed an inability to deal with rivals in the NL East losing multiple games to the Phils and Fish just shows you this team is going nowhere. Let's take off our Polyanna glasses and see this team for what it is. And a trip to Atlanta will do just that.

The Braves have a team that is missing its franchise player. They have a young pitching staff save for a top notch veteran in Hudson. And I bet if you tried you couldn't name any players not including McCann, Prado and Heyward. They are a team that should be in third place but because of good management, the right role players and a reliable bullpen they have turned into an NL contender.

They are the exact opposite of the New York Mets and have been for the better part of two decades. As much as it pains me to say this, the Mets organization should learn from the Atlanta Braves. They built a perennial contender on pitching and home grown talent who faltered for a year or two only to come back into contention after a brief hiatus.

It's time to learn from our nemeses. Start taking notes during Monday night's affair.

Mets Season on the Brink

I know how melodramatic this sounds, but there's absolute truth in it. This week will decide the direction of the Mets not just for this year, but well into the off season. The players status with the team is on the line. Manager Jerry Manuel and GM Omar Minaya are on the line. And the Mets management direction for the coming years is on the line in this pivotal six game series with the Braves and Phillies.

Why so much drama? Well it's because the Mets are either heading in the wrong direction for the second straight year or putting up a fight to stay relevant into September.

The Mets have the unfortunate task of being put in this position on the road and starting off in the one destination that has plagued them for the last decade...Atlanta. The Mets may very well end the week 10+ games out of first and well out of wild card contention. If that happens, the rest of the season is just a formality. Jerry Manuel will be gone. Omar can back his bags. And players like Beltran, Castillo, Francoeur, and Perez should keep their phones handy as the Mets will more than likely look to break things up before the 2011 season begins.

On the other hand, if the Mets are able to put up a fight and gain some ground in the standings there's a stay of execution for the aforementioned Mets personnel and revival of hope in what remains of 2010.

But what if the Mets somehow escape this week with losing or gaining any ground in the standings? Honestly, I think that's close to impossible. The Mets will either implode as they have against the Diamondbacks or give us an improbably streak of wins like they did earlier this year.

The Mets are missing the infusion of youth that helped them put together 8 game win streaks earlier this season. Their lineup is mostly made up of what was expected, but along with it is the familiar feeling that most Mets had to start the season...low expectations.

A sweep of Atlanta would be like a Southern baptist tent revival for Mets fans with "ya gotta believe" as the chorus in our songbooks. A sweep by Atlanta will bring out the pitchforks and torches which are already quite handily accessible.

I want to believe. This team still has me watching every game, but Mets fans can only be strung along for so long. And I truly believe this week will break the Mets path in one of two directions. We have 6 games to see where it pans out.

Revenge Should Be on Mets Minds

Last night's tragic affair is almost too soon forgotten thanks to the RA Dickey led Mets win over the Cardinals.It's nice to see this team bounce back quickly from a punch in the gut, but it's easier to do that when your starting pitcher throws 8+ scoreless innings for you.

The Mets got their revenge on the Cardinals this afternoon, but that cold dish now needs to be served up to the Arizona Diamondbacks. The DBacks thoroughly embarrassed the Mets the other week by sweeping the three game series. If ever the Mets needed a three game sweep, the DBacks series is just the moment as the Mets will then have to travel to Atlanta and Philly the following week.

The Mets should not even pitch to Mark Reynolds this series. The guy sends balls into LaGuardia air space every time he comes to Citi Field. Hit him in the shin and don't even give him the chance to make you pay.

The thing that concerns me is that the Mets have scored 19 runs their last three games. That means their due for a drought. In any case the Mets need to scrap together three more consecutive wins. A 2-1 series win is almost pointless at this point.

It's now or never because next week's NL East battles will determine the direction for the rest of the Mets season or usher in thoughts of fantasy football draft status.

Why Do the Nats and Marlins Give the Mets So Much Trouble?

The Marlins and Nationals have a knack for giving the Mets fits. Over the last three seasons, no two teams have caused the Mets more pain than this bottom dwelling duo. They're not great teams. Their pitching is marginal. Their lineup is far from fearsome. But last night again the Nats proved they can be a serious thorn in the Mets side.

Why?

Is it it because they're a rival in the NL East? Is it because the Mets take them for granted? Is it because they have such a hardcore fan base? Ok, that last one was ridiculous.

In my humble opinion, it's none of those things. It's a mental issue. The Mets have proven they can easily handle bad teams like what they did against the O's and Indians and Cubs earlier this year. For some reason the Mets have a mental block when it comes to playing the Nats and Marlins...on the road. At Citi Field the results have been different, but playing these rivals on the road makes the Mets a different team.

The Mets have to overcome this in 2010 to make a run in the NL East. The Nats and Fish were the main hurdles that uttered the Mets demise the last two weeks of the season in both '07 and '08. It's not an issue of talent because the Mets roster is superior to both of these squads, but the Mets need to fortify their minds and prove to themselves they can handle these teams on the road.

Mets Should Seek Vengeance

The Mets were embarrassed by the Padres in San Diego last week. And here they come into Citi Field after doing the Mets a favor and beating the Phillies in their matchbox stadium.

I want vengeance on the Padres and I hope the Mets players feel the same way. The team is riding a Citi Field high after sweeping the Marlins and they have Pelfrey and Santana going in the first two games. I want aggressive offense, no nonsense pitching and, if I can be greedy, I want another series sweep.

I don't think I'm asking for too much. This Padres team is the definition of an overachiever. There's no reason the Mets can beat this team in 3 straight or at the very least two out of three. The NL East is in a serious state of flux right now and if the Mets can play with some stability and consistency this may be the time to make their mark.

To prepare yourself for the upcoming series and to get your mind in a state of serenity, I recommend you head over to Bugs and Cranks to enjoy Brad Bortone's hiaku on the Mets current state of affairs. Any literature that can incorporate Doug Sisk, hand licking, and Bobby V is a work of mastery.

What Are the Mets Doing in First Place?

Yes, it's April. The season is very young. But I'm shocked to see the Mets in first place today.

That's right. After a doubleheader sweep of the Dodgers, the Mets are a half game up on the Phillies and leading the division after going 8-1 over their last 9 games. Wow. What happened? I'll tell you what happened, the stars aligned.

The Mets have received some unbelievable pitching from their starters and the bullpen over the last 9 games. I do believe that Mike Pelfrey has turned the corner. I do believe we have a solid bullpen. What I don't believe is that Perez/Niese/Starter to be named later will sustain this level of performance throughout the season. They'll have their ups and downs and we saw that last night in Oliver Perez.

I also think the bullpen is going to be overworked if they continue to pitch in this many appearances so at some point we're going to need a few starters to make it past the 5th inning.

The bats look alive though. Bay is starting to find his groove. Wright got his 1,000th career hit and drove in a couple RBIs. Reyes looks very comfortable. And we don't even have Beltran back yet.

I'm completely surprised at this turnaround, but it goes to show you that good pitching can make all the difference. Now they just need to maintain this performance level for 5 more months.

Phillies 2008 NL East Champions Already?

This is bulletin board materials folks. Oh man, this would have me psyched to play tonight.

Apparently you can order this ludicrous shirt online here.

Phillies Under Investigation by MLB

According to league sources, the Philadelphia Phillies are under investigation for employing a Wizard against the New York Mets. The suspicion started just over two weeks ago after the Phillies completed their second of three season sweeps of the Mets.

Apparently, an unidentified elderly man with a long white beard, wearing a purple robe and pointy hat was spotted sitting in the Phillies dugout for the last eight games against the Mets.

The suspicion began in the second game of the infamous 4 game series two weeks ago when Aaron Rowand’s full-swing “bunt” hugged the foul line, and traveled a total distance of 20 feet, allowing the tying run to score. With the naked eye, it looked as if an invisible force was blowing the ball to stay fair. The Phillies won in extra innings on a Ryan Howard home run.

The next night, an even stranger occurrence happened when Marlon Anderson was called out to end the game for interfering with the shortstop while attempting to break up a double play. The tying run would have scored on the play, instead, the Mets lost. On replay, it looked as if an invisible force shoved Anderson in to Rollins.

In the final game of that series, all kinds of wild and crazy plays happened. But what league sources are focusing most on from that game is their belief that the Wizard cast one of his many spells on Willie Randolph when he brought in Billy Wagner in the 8^th, thus attempting a 6 out save, something he had not done all season. Wagner blew the game, Mets swept.

Finally, without the Wizard sitting in the opposing dugout against the Mets for the next 12 games, they were free from any kind of spells or magic and went on a nice winning streak, stretching their lead in the NL East to 7 games.

Then came the Phillies for three games at Shea. And this, according to league sources, is where the Wizard really kicked it up notch.

In the first game, he evidently got Randolph again when he unleashed a mind-bending spell that somehow convinced the bewildered manager in to thinking that NOT bunting in the 8^th inning with the fastest runners in the game on first and third with one out and arguably the league’s best bunter at the plate, was a wise decision to make. And after getting Paul LoDuca thrown out of the game, the Wizard promptly whipped up something for Mike Defelice, who dropped a foul pop, eventually setting up the game’s winning run.

In the second game, the Wizard zapped Gold Glover winner, Carlos Beltran not once, but twice forcing him to misjudge fly balls that led to three runs including the game clinching “triple” by Jimmy Rollins. Also in that same game, Jose Reyes got caught stealing third with two outs and David Wright up, a clear sign of the work of an evil Wizard.

In the final game, the Wizard unleashed an arsenal of mystical powers on the Mets, forcing them in to an unprecedented six errors, all of which were routine. Jose Reyes bobbled what appeared to be an inning ending ground ball, allowing not one run, but remarkably two runs to score because Jose, still under the spell, threw the ball away from Castillo when he tried to recover from the bobble; it was a catcher who scored from second. Clear proof the Wizard got him. Next up was Moises Alou, who dropped, what they call in baseball, a “can of corn” fly ball, allowing Rollins (the Wizard loves Jimmy) to go all the way to third, eventually scoring. Then, it was Castillo, a solid defensive second basemen, who caught the wrath of the Wizard when he muffed a tailor-made double play ball. 5 runs scored after that play, and the game was all but over. The Wizard had done his job.

Some reporters apparently asked if the Wizard was responsible for Randolph’s decision to bring in Mota with games still in reach. It was a question they admittedly could not prove because, according to a league official, ‘Randolph’s been dumb enough to do that all season.’ When asked whether the Wizard could have possibly cast his potent magic on the umpires as well, the league official – for fear of igniting another controversy in the sports world – said ‘no comment’, but was promptly caught on videotape muttering to himself as he walked away; ‘You saw that called third strike on Marlon Anderson, what do you think?’

Payback

In come the Philadelphia Phillies; the team that levied a crushing body blow to us just two weeks ago, leaving all Mets Lifers across the universe dazed and confused. Many of us were perched high atop our ledges, waiving the white flag. I was one of them. But what a difference 12 games make. Rather than being two games back of the Mets for the NL East as they were after that infamous sweep, the Phillies find themselves two behind the Wild Card spot. So tonight, it’s payback time!

It’s time to crush the hopes of Mr. Rollins and his self-proclaimed ‘Team to beat’. I want the Mets to send the Phillies packing, much like we did to the Atlanta Braves. And make no mistake; the Mets want to do exactly that. They’re fired up for this series…and so am I.

Most Frustrating Season?

I’m trying to recall a more frustrating season than the one we’re currently experiencing. Born just two years after the Miracle Mets season of ’69, I was just a wee little lad in the mid-to-late 70’s and therefore, was immune to the losing that permeated Shea Stadium. As a kid you’re more interested in the cotton candy than you are the outcome of the game. Innocence was bliss.

In the mid 80’s, while the Mets were evolving into a dominating team, I was maturing as a fan. I started to understand the game more; why getting ahead in the count was important, why you should bunt a runner over, and why you should never make the final out of an inning at 3rd base. It was also during this time that I realized losing didn’t sit well with me. It bothered the heck out of me when the Mets lost. Fortunately, the Mets didn’t loose often back then, although there were some very bitter defeats thanks to Terry Pendleton & Mike Scosia. (If only there had been a Wild Card then).

In the early 90’s, the Mets turned into one of the most pathetic franchises in all of sports; Brett Saberhagen and the bleach incident, Bobby Bonilla and the ear plugs, Vince Coleman and the firecrackers. And who could forget the loveable but flawed Mackey Sasser, who was plagued by a rare disease called the “Can’t throw the ball back to the pitcher” syndrome. It was downright embarrassing to be a Mets fan. Then, the long-awaited hope that was to be Generation K, quickly evaporated when all three kids went down with arm injuries. It wasn’t until the arrival of one, Mike Piazza, that we finally regained credibility; He single-handedly resurrected this organization from the abyss and led us to our first post season in 13 years. I am forever grateful to #31 for making it fun again to be a Mets fan.

And it was fun. Sure there were heartbreaking defeats along the way, there was disappointment, but for some reason, there has never been a season more frustrating than this one. Some have asked “Is losing all those years better than this season?” or “Would you rather be in last place than be in first?” Of course the answer is ‘no.’

When we were terrible, it was disappointing for sure, but you sort of accepted the fact they weren’t going to the playoffs, so your heartbreak was limited. It was so commonplace for them to stink, that my wedding in ‘04 included this vow from my wife: ‘I promise to always root for the Mets, in good times and the bad.’ The point is, there weren’t any expectations so when they did manage to be competitive, like ’98 and ’05, you were just thrilled they were in it. You were happy to watch them play meaningful games in September as Fred Wilpon would say at spring training every year.

So what makes this the most frustrating season in all my years as a Mets fan? They’re supposed to be good! Expectations are high. The NL is weak and we’re not taking advantage of it, instead we’re underachieving. Guys aren’t hitting the way they’re capable. Plus, can anyone remember a season with more heartbreaking losses? How many more of these crushing defeats can we endure?

The frustration is compounded by the fact that we had our best chance since ’86 to win the Series last year and we still came up short. With all of that offense and that lights-out bull pen, we still couldn’t bring home the trophy. Game 7 is still a bitter pill to swallow and so I want it that much more this season. That’s why it’s been the most frustrating season. So if we’re fortunate enough to win the NL East again, it will be the biggest sigh of relief since Orosco’s strikeout of Marty Barrett nearly 21 years ago.

5 Games Up

The Mets have had a 5 game lead on the 2nd place NL East team on numerous occasions this season, but have never increased that lead beyond 5 games. In fact the last time the Mets had a 5 game lead on the Braves it dwindled down to a 1.5 game lead in the matter of a week.

But have the Mets turned the corner? They're averaging over 7 runs per game for the last week. They are hitting with runners in scoring position, and have hit a home run in each of the last 4 games.

So can the Mets build on their 5 game lead? Well today is an off day, but tomorrow we'll see. The Mets have a better record on the road than they do at home, which is inexcusable. Against a tough NL opponent like the Padres, we'll get a look at what the Mets are really made of. Will they separate themselves from the pack or fall back into the rut that has plagued them this season.

The amazing thing is this offensive burst has come with an injured and depleted lineup. It's come with DiFelice in the starting lineup and Delgado on the bench. More injuries? Doesn't matter.

I'm looking forward to this 6 game home stand because I think we'll see if this is just the Mets beating up on bad teams or if we've got what it takes to make a run this postseason.

Hardly Amazing

The Amazing Mets have been anything but this season. In fact, the only thing that has been amazing is that they’re still in first place, although that mirage will soon be exposed and the Mets will be the chasers rather than the leaders. And I guess I’m starting to welcome that notion because it appears that nothing else will motivate this team to win ball games. This season has been so remarkably boring that I, as a beaten down die-hard fan, would welcome that kind of adversity just to see how this team will respond.

Will they actually be able to pick themselves off the mat and rise to the occasion? Will Carlos Delagado find his once-fearsome stroke? Will Carlos Beltran finally be the elite player we all assumed he would be? Will the young stars, Reyes and Wright, carry this team into the Promised Land or will they fold under the enormous pressure of what would be a monumental collapse?

This team has been so uninspiring all year long that it just might take a shocking role reversal into second or third place in order to wake them up. How else can you explain two straight inexcusable losses to the lowly Florida Marlins at a time when you can make up ground on your nearest pursuers? Rather than grabbing some breathing room, they’re flat out sucking wind.

So be prepared Met Lifers. Be prepared to relinquish first place. And when it happens, embrace it. And then finally, we will get to see if this 2007 Mets team has the courage and heart, the drive, the determination, and the will to rise up and take what should be theirs; the NL East crown.

NL East is Hurting

The NL East is in need of a medic and that might be why the trade rumors around the league are mostly about NL East teams. The Mets have Lo Duca banged up, Beltran ready to go on the DL, and Alou could be gone on any given day. The Phillies lost Chase Utley & Ryan Madson and now Shane Victorino and Michael Bourn are out.

While the Braves aren't necessarily injured, they went from being in second place and a game and half out to being in third place in the matter of a week.

And so the trade rumor mill turns.

The Braves are rumored to be getting Octavio Dotel to add to Mark Teixeira. The Phillies added Tad Iguchi. The Mets got Luis Castillo and are looking for another arm in the bullpen.

So it should be a busy day. I hear Victor Zambrano is available.

Philadelphia Paper Says Mets' Demise Is Exaggerated

In the Philadelphia Daily News this morning, Paul Hagen wrote an article titled, "Mets' Demise Greatly Exaggerated." The article goes on to talk about how those waiting for the Mets to crumble will find themselves sitting at home during the playoffs. Hagen goes on to compare stats from last year's dominant Mets team to this year and noting that there's not much difference, but rather the other NL East teams just got better.

I was truly at a loss for words after reading this article. The main reason being that it came from a PHILADELPHIA paper. I fear for this guy's life if he goes to Citizens Bank Park in the coming week.

But he laid out the facts and as a Mets Lifer, I was surprised at how similar the performance of this year's team compares to last year. At this point last year the Mets had only won 3 more games than they have this year. Of course the Mets had an 11.5 game lead, but that was because every other NL East team was under .500.

I never thought I'd feel better after reading an article from a Phillies' beat reporter, but I do.

The Greatest Need for the Mets Is

What is the Mets' greatest need? Starting pitching? Never hurts. Bullpen help? Another solid arm would be nice. Another bat? Possibly. Bench help? Maybe Julio Franco is available.

The answer is none of those and all of them. The real need for the Mets is a winning streak.

Now I'm not talking about those 3 or 4 game winning streaks. I'm talking about a 6 or 7 game winning streak, or something like winning 15 out of your last 18. That's what the Mets need, and now is the perfect time to do it.

Last year it was during a West coast swing that the Mets rattled off a 10 game winning streak in route to a dominating regular season. With the Pirates and Nationals visiting Shea, these are the series that can steamroll into a greater winning streak.

The Braves, Phillies and Marlins are all within striking distance, but none of them have had a winning streak like what I'm talking about. The first team that rattles of a long win streak will be the one poised to take the lead down the stretch.

Winning is contagious, and it does wonders for clubhouse morale. Let's start tonight.

The Mets Archenemies for the Second Half

Tonight we prepare for battle. Sure the All Star game was mildly entertaining and we all know that we needed a couple days off. But now it's time to gird our armor and charge into the second half of the season.

As any great general will tell you, you're only as good as your best intelligence. So it's time to look at what we're up against. Who are the great archenemies of the Mets in the second half?

1. Arthritis - Don't tell me you didn't see this coming. Alou, El Duque, Glavine. The training staff needs to head to Costco to get some Aspercreme and Ben-Gay to prepare us for the home stretch.

2. Left Field - That cursed of all positions. Someone needs to challenge the hex that is left field. Can we at least get a left fielder who can get 100 at bats before they get injured. My hope is Milledge fills in nicely, but Alou returns for a September run (maybe more of a trot).

3. Scott Schoenweiss - I just saw the movie Breach and it reminded me of our boy Scott. Someone working inside our organization to bring us down. Your cover has been blown (get it, blown).

4. Runners In Scoring Position and 2 outs - It's like the Mets get nervous in these situations. Some confidence, men. Please.

5. Larry Jones - As much as we hate him, he hates us more. And nobody kills us like Larry, except for. . .

6. Pat Burrell - Burrell is having an awful year, but I can just see him hitting a 3-run home run in September that kills our momentum. My advice: hit him in the head every time he gets up.

7. Julio Franco - I don't think he's physically capable of pulling the ball anymore. He must have some dirt on Omar Minaya, otherwise he should be gone.

8. Turner Field - It's a house made of Kryptonite. We must overcome the hold that Turner Field has on the Mets if we're going to separate ourselves from the pack in the second half.

9. Beltran's clutch - It's almost an oxymoron, but the Mets need to realize that Beltran is not Mr. Clutch. Therefore we need to compensate for that by scoring runs early & often so Beltran can hit a home run when we're already up by 7.

10. Adam Wainwright - I have a bad feeling the Braves or Phillies will make a move before the trading deadline to get Adam Wainwright. Then they will pitch him for 4 straight days throwing only curve balls.

Let's start the second half off right. Lets go Mets.

On the Bright Side

Everytime I pick up a paper, read a blog or watch SNY, everyone is always saying how fortunate the Mets are still holding a 2 game lead in the NL East. Guess what? They are! Better to stink and be in first place than to stink and be the Phillies!

Read Murray Chase's article in the NY Times on why a weak National League has greatly benefitted this struggling Mets team.

Some amazing stats to ponder:
They reached the start of the midseason break yesterday after staggering to a 15-22 record in the previous 40 days. Yet they were in the same position in the N.L. East standings — first place — as they were when their problems began.

Their lead actually shrank, from five games to two, but in a normal league, they would have been long gone from first place. Yet while the Mets were playing at a .405 pace (that computes to a 66-96 season record), their chief competition, the Atlanta Braves and the Philadelphia Phillies, could not compile winning records.

Mets First Half Report Card = B-

Don't you just hate a B-. It's like the professor thought you deserved a C, but because of your past history in class he/she gave you the lowest possible grade that's still somewhat acceptable.

That to me sums up the Mets first half of the season as we head into the All Star break. Remember April? Besides the 20 rainouts, Alou & Green we're both in the top 10 in batting in the NL. How far we've come in 2 months.

Of course injuries have played a major part of the season. Chavez, Alou, Green, Perez, Sosa, El Duque, Valentin, Gomez, & Beltran all saw time on the DL.

There were some great stretches like sweeping the World champion Cardinals to open the season at Busch Stadium. And then there were down times like the entire month of June.

The pessimist in me doesn't like the way things are going. We're not beating teams were supposed to be (a.k.a. Colorado Rockies), and we're not coming back to win games. If our starting pitching doesn't keep the opponent under 3 runs, we're in trouble.

The optimist in me looks at all the injuries, the losing streaks, the inability to beat the Braves, the eternal slump of Delgado and says "Hey, we're still in first place!"

Amazing. Two things need to happen in order for the Mets to hold onto their perch atop the NL East. First they need to start hitting with runners in scoring position, especially with 2 outs. Over the last month the Mets are batting below the Mendoza line with runners in scoring position and 2 outs. Champions come through in the clutch.

The second thing is the bullpen needs to improve. I don't care if it's through a trade or if the existing crew just man's up, but the bullpen needs to be strong. I'm not asking them to be perfect, but they need to be as good as they were last year. You heard me, Blowenweiss.

Enjoy the All Star Game and be thankful David Wright is not in the home run derby. Let's sweep the Reds later this week. Let's Go Mets.

A Win Tonight is Essential for the New York Mets

It may not feel like it, but tonight's win is extremely important for the New York Mets. First of all it's always good to win at home before heading out on the road, but this road trip is different than most. It's 11 straight games without a break in 3 different areas of the country. It's probably the toughest road trip of the season so getting an extra win at home is essential.

Secondly, the Mets are notoriously awful with doubleheaders. I can't remember the last time we swept a doubleheader. The fact that it comes against an NL East rival team like the Phillies who are hanging on to their hold of second place in the standings.

Finally, the Mets feed off of momentum. When we were losing games, we kept losing games. When we're winning games it becomes contagious. The Mets lost a heartbreaker on Tuesday night, but we were able to bounce back with a win. The Mets lineup and our starting pitchers need that momentum as they hit the road for what will feel like an eternity.

We need El Duque to buckle down, work that changeup and give us 7 to 8 innings of solid pitching. Plus the bats need to wake up in time for a trip to Citizens Bank park.

This game will give us some insight on what's to come on the Mets road trip.