Overall Record 22-19

Week 7 record 3-3

After taking two of three from the Reds, the Mets welcomed in the Washington Nationals for a four game set. The heart warming Nelson Figueroa story continued to cool off. The Mets starter could not find his control all night and worked his way in and out of trouble through 5 innings. The Mets scored runs in the first three innings, but each time the Mets would score, Figueroa would allow a run the following inning. The floodgates opened in the 5^th when Jesus Flores doubled down the left field line plating two. Odalis Perez then came up with an RBI single to make the score 6-3. You have to love when the opposing pitcher goes 3-3 with 2 RBI’s. Jorge Sosa continued his quest to be released by giving up four runs in the 6^th inning. At 10-3 this game was all but in the books. In the 8th inning down 10-4 David Wright came up with the bases loaded and 2 outs but grounded out weakly to third base. Can somebody tell him that right field has hits too? They might start shifting him pretty soon. The final: Nationals 10 Mets 4.

One more note from this game. Nelson Figueroa complained about the Nationals antics cheering in the dugout during the inning. I didn’t really get to see what went on, but Figgy just needs to shut his yapper there. Who cares what the players do on the bench? If you have a problem with it, throw one high and tight and send a message. Or better yet, get somebody out. Mike and the Mad Dog were getting tolerable again after an agonizing week of talking about booing players. Now we have to hear Mad Dog yell about the Mets hand shakes again. However, listening to him butcher Nelson Figueroa, Lastings Milledge, and Elijah Dukes’ names this week will be entertaining.

(editor’s note: I wrote this about 3 hours before Sosa and Figueroa were designated for assignment)

Surprisingly Tuesday ended up being one of the more enjoyable games of the year. Why do I say surprisingly? The Mets could not buy a hit with runners in scoring position until Austin Kearns misplayed a Ryan Church fly ball into a double in the 6^th. Willie made mention of the fact that the Mets can’t keep letting teams off the hook. He is clearly frustrated by it as well. However there were so many things to love about this game. First and foremost…John Maine. Felipe Lopez steps up to start the game and is immediately drilled with a fastball. Keep cheering Natty Lights. We don’t have Shawn Estes anymore. Maine certainly wasn’t helped out by Damien Easley in the field, but eventually settled down to retire 11 of the last 12 hitters he faced finishing 6 innings of 2 run ball. He is now 4-1 after a Mets loss. On the offense, how can you not love Carlos Delgado getting a bunt base hit down the third base line against the shift? Well played Carlos…well played indeed. Ryan Church continued to be spectacular. He is a couple of weeks away from me referring to him as the dreamy Ryan Church. I texted my vote for Ryan Church as the next American Idol. Pretty soon the “Ryan Church can make minute rice in 30 seconds” jokes will start. I would go to church every Sunday if it were the Church of Ryan. It is an unhealthy obsession. However, Church turned in his typical 2-4 2B, HR 4 RBI stat line last night. How did we exist as a team before him? Matt Wise came back last night and gave up a run in the 7^th, and Duanar made it REAL interesting before getting through a scoreless 8th. Why are these innings cursed for the Mets? The Mets picked up 2 insurance runs in the 8^th and Wagner made sure we didn’t even need them in the 9^th. The final: Mets 6 Nationals 3.

Why do I keep setting myself up for disappointment? Any time this team looks good one day, it automatically gets me angry the next day. Memo to Aaron Heilman: You’re dead to me. I won’t boo you, I’ll never cheer you; I am just going to completely ignore your existence. This way I won’t get so mad watching the highlights. Why the highlights you ask? Well, I have this policy of turning the game off every time Heilman comes in. It is the only thing keeping me from breaking my television. In fact, I am going to stop using his name. It is a waste of time. He will now only be referred to as ­­­#48 (kudos to Rick for this suggestion…not so much because it is his number, but because it is one less than Benitez). Honestly, if he comes into the game during one of our 7 pack games, I will excuse myself to the concession stand, get a beer and just stare outside until I can hear the inning is over. On a positive note, Claudio Vargas got the job done for the Mets last night. I can’t understand why Willie took him out for ­­­­­­­­­­­­#48 but Vargas did all that he could for a win. I told Rick I had a good feeling about him but he didn’t share the sentiment. Too bad you know who ruined the night. Other notes as I can’t think about this game much more. Bad job by Alou getting tossed. They could have really used his bat in the 8th inning rally. Brian Schneider hit a shot to right in the 5^th inning. Ryan Zimmerman hit a SHOOOOOOOTTTTTTTTT to left field in the 6^th. Wow. Wednesday final: Nationals 5 Mets 3.

I don’t want to talk about Thursday’s game. It is too frustrating. Here are some quick points. What a great pitching performance by Mike Pelfrey. He has been dealing without the mouth piece. However, thus goes another day in Mets history without a no-hitter. The franchise has now had 4 pitchers go 6 without a hit, but not one could finish the job. I have no idea what Jose was thinking in the 8^th. Hats off to Willie Harris who seems to kill the Mets every time we play against him. That was one of the better catches I have seen this season to rob Ryan Church of a hit in the 9^th. I know Beltran was instructed to go on contact, but let’s be serious. He was lost out there in the 9^th inning. There is not a lot of positive energy going into this series with the Yankees. As much as it kills me to say it, Mike and the Mad Dog are right. There is no leadership on this team. I don’t know if it is the players themselves or a product of Willie’s managing, but there is no accountability from these guys. If Johan can’t get the Meta a win on Friday night, the Mets could be looking at a terrible 10 game road trip. Final score: Nationals 1 Mets 0.

On Friday the Mets were rained out, thus leaving with no other options but to gamble and drink while I was at Mohegan Sun Friday night. Shockingly I walked away with $130 more than I started. The Mets didn’t play but I’ll put this in my win column. It roughly makes my record at casinos around 5-10 but I have won two in a row.

With Friday’s game now scheduled…oh wait, they have still not rescheduled that game, the Yankees skipped the red hot Darrell Rasner for Andy Pettitte. The Mets sent ace Johan Santana to the mound. Santana started off shaky yielding a two run home run to Derek Jeter. It wasn’t one of those Yankees Stadium home runs either…it was a SHOT. Pettitte cruised through the first 3 innings but found himself in trouble in the 4^th. The dreamy Ryan Church (I warned you last week) led off with a single and was followed up by singles from David Wright and Carlos Beltran which cut the deficit to 2-1. After Moises Alou walked to load the bases, Delgado popped out to short and Damien Easely struck out looking for the 2^nd straight at bat. Just when it looked like the Mets were going to squander another opportunity this year, Brian Schneider came up with a great at bat and worked a bases loaded walk to tie the game. Then, the unthinkable happened…the Mets caught a break. Luis Castillo swung his mighty bat and hit the ball about 40 feet. The ball couldn’t have been placed better. The infield hit scored Beltran and gave the Mets a 3-2 lead. The score would remain this way until the 7^th inning. Then the Mets received an early Christmas gift in the appearance of Kyle Farnsworth. Reyes led off with a Yankees Stadium home run, and after a Church walk, David Wright WENT THE OTHER WAY for a 2 run homer. The 6-2 lead would hold up even though it was dicey. Santana would go 7 2/3 giving up 4 runs but got the Mets to Wagner without going to the bullpen. Wagner got a big out in the 8^th, and after 2 bloop hits before retiring Cabrera, Duncan, and Ensberg for the win. The final: Mets 7 Yankees 4.

Sunday: The Mets looking for the 2 game sweep sent Oliver Perez to the mound against Yankees ace Chen Ming Wang. Normally you can tell early on which Ollie will show up. This season it is frustrating to watch his Dr. Jeckyl/Mr. Hyde routine. He started off hot pitching three scoreless innings while being wildly effective. In the 4^th, the Met got to Wang. With the bases loaded, Jason Giambi made a diving stop on a Ryan Church grounder. Instead of going for the easy out at first he tries to start a double play but his throw pulled Jeter off the bag leaving everyone safe. Moises Alou hit a check swing single to right field and suddenly the game was 3-0. After a trip to the mound from Joe Girardi, Wang’s next pitch was scorched down the left field line by Carlos Delgado. The ball was originally ruled a home run. Home plate umpire Bob Davidson incorrectly overturned the call and it looked like it would be a huge call. However, Delgado came back to hit a single pushing the lead to 4-0. Just when you feel good, Bad Ollie comes out to pitch the 4^th. Jeter singled and Matsui hit a 2 run bomb to right field and just like that it is 4-2. Ollie settled down to go 7 2/3 giving up only those 2 runs on 3 hits. However, this was predictable. Just look at last year.

May 18, 2007

O. Perez 7 2/3 innings 5 hits, 2 runs (Mets win 3-2)

June 20, 2007

O. Perez 7 1/3 innings 5 hits 0 runs (Mets win 2-0)

The dude owns the Yanks. It’s not conventional but it works. Dreamy Ryan Church crushed a home run in the 6^th, and the Mets busted the game wide open in the 7^th capped off by a Jose Reyes 3 run homer to give the Mets an 11-2 win.

5 Up:

#1 Ryan Church: I have thrown out his stats, but how about his defense??!! Everything hit to right is caught. He made the great play cutting the ball off Saturday, getting it to Castillo, who threw out Damon at the plate on a great play by Brian Schneider. He covers a ton of ground, makes some great diving catches, and replaces Shawn Green!!! That’s like trading in your Ford Pinto for Corvette. The man crush is at it full peak.

#2 John Maine: He wins again after a loss. I almost expect the Mets to win all of his starts. We went from nobody like that lat year to two starters this year. It is such a nice feeling to have.

#3 Mike Pelfrey: A happy I am today (winning heals) I still can’t bring myself to talk about Thursday’s game. However, when you throw a near no-no, you make 5 up.

#4 Billy Wagner: He snapped again but guess what…he keeps getting the job done. Keep telling it like it is Billy…and keep the ERA at 0.00

#5 Kyle Farnsworth: Oh wait…he’s not the Mets batting practice pitcher? My bad.

5 Down:

#1 #48: Rick suggested this to me as I refuse to call him by his name. He is terrible.

#2 Jorge Sosa: He finally pitched himself off this team. He had his moments, but he has just been a disaster this year for the Mets.

#3 Jose Reyes: He turned it around this weekend, but the base running error was rough on Thursday. You have to let Wright and Beltran try to get the job done.

#4 Carlos Beltran: Follow Jose to his detention in base running 101. At least make the effort to get back to the base.

#5 I had this spot reserved for Willie Randolph, but everybody else has bashed him enough that I almost feel bad on Monday. Almost. I just don’t know why he bunts in every close game with Reyes on 1^st. Why can’t he let Reyes try to steal the base? He gets there 4 out of 5 times. I’ll take those odds and let Castillo try to hit a grounder to 2^nd or bunt from there. That’s the only thing I’ll mention as my rants from the Nationals series said enough.

Looking back at Mets history:

May 19, 2003 (off)

May 18, 2003

Current Record 19-25

Overall Record 66-95

Mets 5 Giants 1

Tom Glavine pitches a gem and nearly goes the distance as the Mets win the rubber game of a three game set in San Francisco by a final of 5-1. Glavine threw  1/3 innings giving up only 6 hits and a leadoff home run to Marquis Grissom in the 9^th innings while striking out four. The Mets took the lead for good in the 4^th inning. After a two out walk to Cliff Floyd, Jason Phillips stepped to the plate and cranked his 1^st home run of the year to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. In the 5^th the Mets added another run as Vance Wilson scored on Super Joe McEwing’s double. Ty Wiggington and Roberto Alomar also drove in runs for the Mets. I’d like to note that Raul Gonzalez hit 2^nd and played centerfield for the Mets. He had 217 at bats in 2003 and I have no freaking clue who he is. Please let me know of any memories you have of Raul Gonzalez the Met.

May 19, 2000

Current Record: 22-20

Overall Record: 94-68

Mets 4 Diamondbacks 3

The Mets welcomed the D-Backs into Shea for the first of three and Bobby Jones would pick up his first victory of the season in a 4-3 victory. Arizona would jump out to a 2-0 lead in the 2^nd inning when starting pitcher Todd Stottlemyre came through with a two out two run RBI single scoring Travis Lee and Lenny Harris. The score would remain 2-0 until the bottom of the 4^th. Robin Ventura hit a one out single to right field and Todd Zeile followed it up with a double to right giving the Mets runners (technically runners…more accurately plodders) at 2^nd and 3^rd with 1 out. Mark Johnson was able to push a ground ball to second base scoring Ventura and advancing Zeile. Rey Ordonez stepped up and hit a single to left scoring Zeile and tying the game at 2-2. In the top half of the 5^th inning Todd Stottlemyre led off with a double (are you freaking kidding me Bobby Jones?) and would later score on a Luis Gonzalez sacrifice fly as the D-Backs regained the lead 3-2. In the bottom half of the frame Mike Piazza stepped to the plate with two outs and Derek Bell on first and cranked a two run homer to left field. In the 7^th inning Jay Bell ripped a 2 out double to left. Tony Womack trying to score from first would be gunned down by the relay throw from Rey Ordonez to preserve the lead. Armando Benitez would allow a runner to get to 3^rd in the 9th inning but struck out Bernard Gilkey and Tony Womack to get out of the jam for his 10th save of the year. The Mets would go on to sweep Arizona finishing the 8 game home stand at 5-3.

May 19, 1986 (off)

May 18, 1986

Current Record: 23-9

Overall Record: 108-54

Mets 8 Dodgers 4

Losers of 4 of the last 5, the Mets avoid a series sweep in Los Angeles with and 8-4 victory over the Dodgers. The Mets jumped on southpaw Jerry Reuss early. After a Mookie Wilson ground out, Kevin Mitchell, Keith Hernandez and Gary Carter hit consecutive singles with Carter’s driving home Mitchell for a 1-0 advantage. The big blow in the first would follow as George Foster rocked a 3 run homer to left-center and the Mets were out to an early 4-0 lead. Foster was not finished playing long ball today. His solo home run in the 3^rd inning pushed the score to 5-0. Mets starter Bruce Berenyi would squander most of that lead in the bottom half of the 3^rd. After a Greg Brock lead-off single, he advanced to second on a wild pitch and then to 3^rd on a Franklin Stubbs fly out. Cesar Cedeno pinch hit for Jerry Reuss and singled home Brock as the lead was cut to 5-1. The bases would be loaded after a Mariano Duncan single and a walk to Steve Sax. Ken Landreaux singled to center scoring Cedeno and it was no 5-2. After a Bill Matlock sacrifice fly and Mike Marshall’s double, the Mets were suddenly looking at a 5-4 lead. That would be all for Berenyi as the Mets called on Randy Neiman to get out of the jam. Not only did he induce a ground out from Mike Scioscia, he went on to pitch 3 and 2/3 scoreless innings yielding only 2 hits along the way. The Mets finally provided some more runs in the 7^th thanks to a RBI single from Tim Teuful and a 2 run error courtesy of Mariano Duncan. The 8-4 lead would be the final as Roger McDowell came on to throw 2 2/3 scoreless innings in the win.

May 19, 1969 (off)

May 17, 1969

Current Record: 17-18

Overall Record: 100-62

Mets 11 Reds 3

The Met score 9 runs in the first 4 innings and cruise to their 2^nd straight win in Cincinnati 11-3. Starting pitcher Jim Maloney would face only two batters before being lifted for Jack Fisher. After Wayne Garrett singled in Tommie Agee who led off with a double, Fisher walked Ken Boswell and gave up a 3 run home run to Cleo Jones. 4 batters, 4 runs. J.C Martin added a 2 run homer in the 3^rd and the rout was on Gary Gentry went the distance for the Mets scattering 12 hits but only 3 runs in the victory. 

May 19, 1962

Current Record: 10-19

Overall Record: 40-120

Mets 6 Braves 5

The Mets came in red hot for their early standards winning six of their previous nine games. They would dig themselves an early hole but with 4 runs in the 9^th inning came back to beat the Braves 6-5. In the 1^st inning Milwaukee 1^st baseman Eddie Matthews hit a 2 run double to left field to give the Braves an early 2-0 advantage. Frank Thomas immediately got a run back in the 2^nd with a solo home run. The score would remain 2-1 until the bottom of the 4^th inning. After Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews led off with a single and walk respectively, Del Crandell attempted to sacrifice them over. The Mets went for the out at third but the throw was too late to stop Aaron from advancing and loading the bases. Denis Menke stepped up and ripped a line drive off of Mets starter Jay Hook. The ball would roll away and go for a double scoring Aaron and Matthews. Hook would have to leave the game but was still on the hook for both base runners. Bob Moorehead replaced the injured starter and only allowed one of the two inherited runners to score. In the 6th inning the Mets caught a break when left fielder Howie Bedell dropped a 2 out fly ball of the bat off Sammy Taylor scoring Ed Bouchee. In the 8^th, the Mets got to the Braves bullpen and scored 4 runs thanks in part to RBI’s from Gus Bell, Sammy Taylor, Richie Ashburn and the game winning sacrifice fly from Jim Hickman. Craig Anderson retired all 6 hitters he faced in the 8^th and 9^th for his first save of the season.