The Bunt Heard Round the World

Carlos Delgado finally laid down a bunt last night. You'd think we just discovered how to split an atom.

Delgado got himself an easy base hit by laying down a bunt down the third base line as the Nationals applied the "Delgado shift" and basically played 4 infielders on the right side of the infield. It makes perfect sense for Delgado to do this, but it makes you wonder why it took so long.

Sure the argument is going to be made that the Mets don't pay this guy to lay down bunts. We pay him to hit home runs and extra base hits.

Hmm, last I checked he wasn't doing much of those things either, so shouldn't we at least get the guy on base any way we can?

Delgado should do this once or twice a week for the rest of the season until team start easing up on the over compensated shift. Delgado has proven the saying "you can teach on old dog new tricks" since he has shown an inability to hit the ball to the opposite field or adjust his swing to exploit the shift.

Actually, he's not a bad bunter either. All I'm saying is if he's not hitting home runs, let's at least get some runners on base. Make Delgado worth something if he can't hit like he used to.

Cinderella Got Dumped: Figueroa DFA's

Well Cinderella's ball ended a little closer to Carrie than to the fairytale ending we expected.

Nelson Figueroa, the Mets feel good story of the year, had his dream cut short as he was designated for assignment along with Jorge Sosa (woohoo!).

Wait, who did the Mets call up? Vargas? You mean from Seinfeld? And what's that? He's starting on Wednesday? Didn't we try something like this against the Nationals at the end of September? How'd that work out?

So the Mets reinstated Matt Wise, called up Claudio Vargas and Fernando Tatis. Hopefully Wise can do more than Sosa. As for Vargas and Tatis, I don't expect anything. Tatis was called up as the Mets placed Angel Pagan on the 15-day DL, so Tatis is on borrowed time anyway.

A win will make us forget the debacle of last night, but another loss will send Mets Lifers into a tailspin. These are the Washington Nationals for crying out loud! Possibly the worst hitting team in the majors.

Anyway, Nelson Figueroa, it was fun for a while, and I guess your family is going to have a tough time getting those box seats again any time soon.

Disgusting

This is the sign language word for vomit. That's what I felt like doing watching the Mets last night. Just pitiful. Not even worthy of any more comments

Am I Dreaming or Was That Offense at Shea?

Slap me and call me Sasser. I think the Mets just scored over 20 runs in a 3 game series. And that was with one game where they only scored 1 run.

The Mets should have swept the Reds as Pelfrey gave them possibly his best performance of the season on Saturday, but at the very least the Mets back woke up this weeken.

Beltran & Delgado are both hitting the ball well. Beltran finally looks comfortable from the left side of the plate which we weren't seeing a whole lot of. David Wright however is still in a funk, but I think Delgado has found his home in the 7 spot of the order.

Come to think of it, batting Delgado seventh might be Willie Randolph's greatest managerial move ever. Go ahead, I dare you to think of another one. It's sad, right?

Those pesky Nationals come into Shea for 4. A sweep is mandatory although Monday's game will probably be a rain out. Let's get on a roll before we face the Yanks this coming weekend.

Fact: The Mets Are Mediocre

My counterpart has often posted how he feels the Mets are mediocre. There's now actual hard data that proves it.

According to Dan Graziano in an article in the Star Ledger, the Mets are 71-71 since June 1, 2007.

Wow. You don't get more mediocre than a .500 record. It's pitiful really. And if memory serves correctly on June 1 of last year the Mets had a double digit lead over the second place Phillies. Maybe it was an 8 game lead, but still that's how bad this team has played the last two seasons.

Graziano's article is a good one and talks about how Mets brass is going to reassess Willie Randolph, the team, etc. at the end of the month.

Hmmm, I hear a tune. . . a change will do you good. . .

Which Team Will Show Up this Week?

Will it be the 12-0 can't stop scoring runs squad from Wednesday? Or will we be seeing the can't hit with runners in scoring position, bullpen blowing squad from Monday & Tuesday?

That's the question from these 2008 Mets. Your season has come, but no one seems to be satisfied with it.

This team lacks consistency. Now no one can expect every player to hit the ball consistently well across 162 games, but you can expect that as a team you should see a high level of play through these next 4 months. That's what is lacking.

Is it no sense of urgency? Is it complacency? Are they too sensitive to the booing? Is it they just don't have the talent?

I think the latter question is not the case, but the previous ones are all still up in the air. I think it's pretty clear that the Mets need some kind of jumpstart to get this team going. In '86 it seemed like a fight would break out and the team would then be cruising for the next few weeks. I actually would like to see a fight break out. I guess we miss Lo Duca in that aspect.

I want some kind of life to be shown from this team this home stand. I've seen it in Reyes & Wright, but no one else. Give me some sign of urgency. Some tease that you love playing this game and can't stand the thought of losing.

Is that too much to ask?

Escape from L.A.

So the Mets' bats finally woke up. 12-0. Wow. About time.

The story of the day is really John Maine's pitching performance. Stellar. When he doesn't walk batters, he tends to keep his pitch count down and is able to set 'em up and know 'em down.

I guess having a 12 run lead does wonders for a pitcher's psyche.

So I asked for a 3-3 split of the Mets' West Coast trip and that's exactly what I got. The thing that nags me is there was the potential for a better outcome. But that's what we've come to expect as Mets Lifers. A tease of potential dashed with touch of disappointment.

Now this bring me to the upcoming 7 game home stand against the Reds & Nationals. Nothing less than a 5-2 record is acceptable. The Reds are bad and the Nats are worse.

Willie Randolph wants to whine about the Mets fans booing his poor team, then do something about it. Shut us up by sweeping the last place teams. New York fans aren't fools. We can tell when you deserve to be booed and deserve to be lauded.

Nothing brings people around like an old fashioned winning streak. Let's see what you got.