They're Not Focused Mannnnnnnn!!!!

Right now the Mets are like a cloudy lense on a 10-year old Canon camera. Out of focus and the picture ain't too pretty.

Case in point. With a 6-2 lead in the fourth inning of Sunday's game against the Brew Crew, my main man (not to be confused with Maine, man lol) Ollie P. heads to the mound and promptly implodes. He's only able to go 4 and 1/3 innings and gives up 6 runs.

Here's my thing... if he had been throwing strikes and the Brewers were just giving him the bidness, I can deal with that. But he wasn't throwing strikes. He was trying to be cute on the field like Madonna in League of Their Own. There's no crying in baseball, Ollie!

The funny thing is the Mets can survive a blowup from Ollie P. every once in a while. I mean it's sorta inevitable with the guy.

What they can't survive, however, is their total lack of cojones in clutch situations. As I noted before, the only player who has shown any ability to hit in the clutch this year is Angel Pagan. And when a guy who wasn't even projected to make the club out of spring training is your best clutch hitter... well... in the immortal words of the Apollo 13 crew - "Houston, we have a problem."

Same game that Ollie blows up, the Mets hit into 5 double plays. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.

No. New York, WE have a problem. Jose, Jose Jose Jose is on the mend and wasn't showing too much life anyway. Beltran, as good as he is, still baffles me with some of the pitches he lets whiz past him. Delgado, while looking better than he did last year, is still showing signs of slowing down. D. Wright has been OK but nothing special.

So in comes the Nats. Lo Duca has been spitting off at the mouth. Milledge is motivated to play against his former team. Looks like a couple of babies are just asking for a good old-fashioned spanking. It's time for the Mets to pump it up and get focused.

Tell 'em Joey:



Holla back.

Send Me An Angel

I swear, being a Mets fans is a 24-hour roller coaster ride. One minute you're up, next minute you're down. One minute the Mets have a 2-run lead in the 8th, the next minute Aaron Heilman is giving up a bomb to Ryan Howard. One minute "Beat Me Up" Scotty Schoeneweis is getting booed back to Anaheim, the next minute he's getting a standing ovation after serving up a tailor-made double play. It's enough to make you motion sick.

In fact, maybe that's why people pray sometimes before they get on a roller coaster. You never know when you may need the help of an angel.

So that's what the Mets have done these first few series. They've relied on help from an angel. Angel Pagan

Let's check the stats - .370 BA, a team-high 9 rbi, a .519 slugging pct., numerous big hits, I mean what else can you say about the guy. He's literally been a godsend for a struggling Mets squad.

So here's the deal - last night after Reyes hits a double, Angel Pagan steps up to the plate and coolly lines one back up the middle. Reyes comes racing home and you'd think with Reyes' speed he'd have no trouble at all scoring, right?

Well we all know Reyes likes to make things dramatic... Phillies CF Jason Werth throws a bee-bee to the plate and catcher Chris Coste blocks the plate perfectly, keeping Reyes' foot from ever reaching the bag. He goes to apply the tag at the same time Reyes tries to sneak his hand onto the plate. Bang-bang play. Reyes is called safe. But I'll let you look at the video and decide for yourself lol.

So while Beltran, Reyes, Wright and Delgado all search for their inner "clutch", little-ole Angel Pagan keeps on delivering in their absence.

But we all know what's going to happen. Pagan could be hitting .500 and Willie would still take his bat out of the lineup in favor of Moises "creeky-legs" Alou. You know, Alou is a "proven vet" and in Willie's mind, there's nothing better than a proven vet. It's why Shawn Green got all of the burn over Lastings Milledge (who's playing not-too-shabby himself at the moment). It's why El Duque will get the 5 spot over Pelfrey even if he is ineffective and on his last leg. It's why the team is the second oldest in the league... better to have "vets" than new, young blood.

But I digress. Keep it up Angel. You've already answered my prayers.

Holla back.

Bye Bye Shea....

Today, of course, is the final Opening Day at Shea Stadium. Ahhh the memories. Well, for me, it's ahhhh 1986 and Bill Buckner. I don't think I ever screamed so much in my life.

So bye, bye Shea - we're gonna miss ya...







Here's a nice little farewell to Shea, courtesy of Mets.com.

...and here's what we can look forward to next season:

It's a Marathon, People!

So the Mets lose 2 games to the Braves over the weekend, with Maine getting hammered on Saturday and Texeira hitting a pop-fly homerun to seal the deal for the Braves on Sunday (where's Endy Chavez and his hops when you need them?). By all accounts, it was pretty bad for the Mets.

But guess what Mets fans? THE SKY IS NOT FALLING!!! SO CALM DOWN!!!!

I seriously don't get the logic of some "fans". We're only 5 games into the season and I've heard everything from "Willie needs to get fired" and "Maine is a joke," to "Reyes parties too much," and "Beltran can't take the bat off his shoulder." (OK I agree with that last one).

Don't believe me? Turn on WFAN today and listen to some of the silliness both Mets and Yankees fans spew on air. Must we forget that there are still 157 games left to be played. Seriously, get some perspective people!

So for the last time, IT'S A MARATHON NOT A SPRINT!!! The Mets will be fine people.

I think....

Holla back.

Best Baseball Video Game I've Ever Played

For you baseball fans with Playstation 3s, I strongly suggest walking down to your nearest Best Buy, Gamestop, Walmart or wherever you buy your video games from - and do yourselves a favor and pick up MLB '08 The Show. Simply put, this game is the most realistic baseball game I have ever played. It's sick.

For starters, the graphics are amazing. The stadium recreations are top notch and the player movements are as real as they come. For example, if you play a game at Shea, there are cranes working on a half-done CitiField in the background. Sick.

It actually really FEELS like you are playing a baseball game, which is why I like it so much. Not since Baseball Stars on NES have I enjoyed playing a video baseball game.

Check out the YouTube video below and you'll see what I'm talking about. I apologize in advance as the vid shows Pedro and the Mets losing to the Braves (which we all know will never happen lol). Notice how Pedro's windup and pitching style is recreated EXACTLY in the game. Sick.

For a collection of reviews for the game, check out MetaCritic. Holla back.

Ollie P. In The Place To Be

Ollie P. in the place to be. Which is number 3 in the rotation. Last night's line? 6 IP, 5 hits, 0 runs, 8 K's, and most importantly - 1 walk. You can pretty much look at the walk column in the box score everytime Perez pitches and find out how that game went. 2 or less walks, great day for Perez. Anything over that and well... let's just say the shower got some early use that night.

So the Mets win 13-0 over the Marlins who are looking more and more like a AAAA ball club. No starting pitching whatsoever and only 1 real threat in their lineup - Hanley Ramirez. So while we should all be encouraged by the showing the Metropolitans have put up so far, you still have to put it in perspective.

Big nights last night from the entire lineup, with both the Golden Boy David Wright and Ryan Chuuuuurch going 3-5 with a homerun. Carlos Beltran had a monster night with 3 doubles and Angel Pagan continues to impress, going 2-4. Great performances all around.

Click here for the postgame wrapup, courtesy of SNY.

So Ollie P. did his thing. Which is a good sign coming off the heels of the hamstring injury from hell. Holla back.

Ripple Effect

Well, one of my worst fears has come true. Pedro is on the DL for at least a month. The question I have been asking myself is what is the ripple effect of Pedro's injury. 

• Rotation Depth - I mentioned before the lack of rotation depth the Mets have and how that may be an issue for the team. While I am ok with Pelfrey as a fifth starter since that starter does not pitch in the postseason, I am not crazy about him as the number four. Also, El Duque is not someone we can rely on to be healthy. And with the trade for Santana, the Mets do not arms that can step in from the higher levels. No we have question 4th and 5th starters.
  
• Possible Impact on the farm system. How will Omar address this issue?  Will he can go out and trade another young player for a fifth starter. That may be a bit costly considering the lack of talent at the higher levels of the farm system. I am not crazy about trading the young arms at AA. 
• Attitude - I have said it before. Martinez brings a certain level of nastiness that this team really needs. It was missing last year and was a big factor in the collapse. The Mets will need this if they expect to be contenders. 

We will not see the full effect of this injury until we know how Pelfrey will respond and how El Duque bounces back. Hopefully the lineup will pick up the slack and score some runs. But this is not how I wanted the season to start.

Pedr-Ohhhh Noooo!!!!!

Most sane Mets fans knew this would eventually happen. But second game of the season?

After tossing a curveball to Marlins catcher Matt Treanor, Pedro Martinez immediately grabbed his left hamstring and began pacing around the mound.

Preliminary reports have it as a strained hamstring and he is listed as day-to-day. I suspect, however, that after the MRI his status will be changed and not for the better. Even Pedro himself said he heard a pop. Not good.

Well Mets fans, nothing is perfect. We knew going into the season that avoiding injuries would be an important factor in the overall success of the club. Unfortunately, the Mets are the 2nd oldest team in the majors and right now, it really shows.

Second game of the season and I already need 2 aspirin and a shot of whiskey. Sheesh. Holla back.

What A Debut!

Mets fans, this is why we got Johan Santana. The guy is straight up nasty!

In case you've been hiding under a rock the last few days, the Mets won their opening game for the 30th time in team history. In fact, the Mets have the best opening day record in the history of baseball, posting a 30-17 record in these games.

Click here to watch the SNY postgame wrapup of the game

Here's another interesting fact - Johan Santana is the first pitcher that the Mets acquired who made their first start in a Mets uniform on opening day and then went on to win that start. Hope I didn't confuse you with that one.

And what a debut it was! 7 innings pitched, 8 strikeouts, 2 runs (on a homerun by Josh Willingham after a horrible non strike call), about 50 silly-looking swings... I mean what more could you ask for?

Who else had a good debut? Well kudos to Ryan Church and Angel Pagan who both made major contributions yesterday. Church provided a clutch RBI hit off left-handed starter Mark Hendrickson, which is a welcomed sign for Mets fans. If Church is going to be the everyday right-fielder he HAS to hit left-handed pitching. So far so good.

Luis Castillo played the table-setter role to a tee yesterday with a hit and a couple of walks. D. Wright was well... D. Wright. 2 doubles, 3 RBIs, yada yada yada. So all in all, it was a promising evening for Mets fans and hopefully a sign of what's to come.

I heart Johan Santana. Holla back.

Mets vs. Braves - Who Has Better Pitching?

Ok so I've been listening to all of the "analysts" do their best Ms. Cleo impersonations over the past few days and something struck me as odd. It seems like everyone over at ESPN has a crush for Larry and the Braves and most are citing their lineup and "deep" pitching staff. Ummmmmm unless I'm on a different planet, I just don't see this pitching depth that they all speak about. Let's examine the Mets pitching staff vs. the Braves pitchers:



Starters:

Mets - Johan Santana, Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey/El Duque

Braves - Tim Hudson, John Smoltz, Tom Glavine, Mike Hampton, Jair Jurrjens/Jeff Bennett

Johan vs. Tim Hudson? Ok we all know that Johan is the best pitcher on the planet. So a check goes to the Mets immediately.

Pedro vs. Smoltz? Smoltz is good when healthy... as is Pedro. And if Pedro pitches like he did in spring training then watch out. They're both aging future hall of famers who know how to pitch and still have the stuff to back it up. I'll call this a wash.

John Maine vs. Tom Glavine? Tommy is a savvy vet but Mets fans got a chance to watch both of these guys pitch all of the time last year and right now, Maine is the better pitcher no question. Check goes to the Mets.

Ollie P. vs. Mike Hampton? You're kidding right? I know Ollie P. can be erratic but even so, he still won 15 games, was 9th in the NL in ERA with a 3.56 mark and struck out a batter an inning. Plus he totally pwns the Braves. Another check to the Mets.

Mike Pelfrey/El Duque vs. Jair Jurrjens/Jeff Bennett? I'm going to give this one to the Braves by default. Jurrjens has shown a lot of promise. And admit it Mets fans, Pelfrey has been a bit of a disappointment and El Duque will probably be injured for half of the season. That alone gives the Braves an edge.

Let's tally the score:

Mets 3, Braves 1. So the only thing the Braves has on the Mets when it comes to starting pitcher is that their 5th guy may be a little better than the Mets' 5th guy. Ooooooooh I'm scared lol.

Ok so the Mets win with starters hands-down. But what about the relieving core? Let's take a look:

Relievers:

Braves: Peter Moylan (R), Manny Acosta (R), Will Ohman (L), Chris Resop (R), Blaine Boyer (R),

Closer: Rafael Soriano (R)

Mets: Aaron Heilman (R), Pedro Feliciano (L), Scott Schoeneweis (L), Jorge Sosa (R), Joe Smith (R)

Closer: Billy Wagner (L)

I know the Mets relief pitching was horrible last year, especially during the infamous collapse. But for a good portion of the season, Pedro Feliciano was one of the better middle relievers in all of baseball. Aaron Heilman is certainly serviceable and if Schoeneweis getrs on the HGH again he may be able to regain his form. And say what you will about Wagner, he's still one of the better closers in baseball. As for the Braves, their closer Soriano is good but he doesn't have a track record yet as a bonafide closer. So Wagner gets the edge there. Point to the Mets.

Now i admit, I don't know much about the Braves middle relievers, but from what I have seen so far, they should be at least on par with the Mets middle relievers. And since the Mets middle staff performed so horribly during the end of last season (I'm still traumatized), I'm inclined to give the Braves the edge. Check to the Braves.

So that makes it Mets 4, Braves 2. The only places where the Braves outperform the Mets are at the 5th starter position and with their middle relievers. Oooooh I'm scared lol.

As you can see, the "analysts" rationale that the Braves have "deeper" pitching is really off-track. But it's ok, we'll see in September who has the better staff when Glavine is on the mound for the Braves with a playoff position on the line and Johan is on the hill for the Mets wrapping it up. We all know how well Glavine performed in the same spot for the Mets last year. Lol. Holla back.