Overall Record 30-32

Week 10 record 2-5

With a week off in which I could not bring myself to write anything about this team, and a second week where Rick filled in because I couldn’t watch much of the games, I feel revitalized, energized, and super sized (it rhymes) to be back for this week’s State of the Mets. Let’s play some baseball!!!

Monday: Well that didn’t take long. What movie title would best describe the feeling of watching an Oliver Perez start? “Grindhouse”, “Dawn of the Dead”, “Invasion of the Body Snatchers”, “Repulsion”, “The Unknown”? Any of these can apply. Jonathan Snachez did his best Oliver Perez impersonation in the first inning. After retiring the first to hitters, David Wright single to right field and Sanchez walked Beltran and Church on 8 pitches. Switching back to the full wind up for Tatis he caught Fernando looking at a 2-2 fastball on the outside corner. Here’s how Ollie’s first inning/night turned out.

Just to kill everyone’s spirit some more, It was Brian Horowitz’s first major league home run. Willie took out Perez…with the pitcher coming up!!! I’m so glad Ollie flied out a day early so he wouldn’t be jet lagged for the start. Back to .500 it is for this group. On a bright note Jose Reyes reached base in his 33^rd straight game. Also Vargas save the Mets butts for this week with his relief appearance. I wonder if the Mets will send Ollie to San Diego today…so they don’t have to look at him for a while.

Guess who’s back? Back Again. Pedro’s back. Tell a Friend.

…and there is my white rapper reference for the week of June 2. Yet another return for Pedro Martinez from injury and I know I watched through the spaces between my fingers as I covered my eyes. It wasn’t a great beginning for Pedro who gave up a RBI double to Met killer Randy Winn. However the Mets gave Pedro plenty of run support in the 9-6 victory. I only watched until the third inning because the Pacific Time Zone sucks, but from watching the highlights here are my observations.

#1 109 pitches? So much for 90-100. Pedro said he felt strong and the highlights of him getting out of the 1^st and 3^rd no out jam in the 6^th was dare I say “vintage Pedro?” The breaking pitches were nasty and the fastball hit the low 90’s at times. I will take him one start at a time, but this one was quality.

#2 Pedro Martinez the hitter. Of course Pedro comes back to go 2-3 with an RBI and run scored. They highlight of him squeaking that bases loaded single over Ray Durham and then giving the bench the Dominican Hasselhoff guns (better known as the Manny) was priceless. You would have thought he had just roped a ball into the gap. Too funny.

#3 Nice game from Easy E. Clutch hits from a bench player is always nice.

#4 What happened to the good Big Show? I swear he did an interview with Beningo and Roberts and now can’t get out again. OK, it’s one game, but still…

#5 Thank God we didn’t sign Barry Zito. It would have been Bobby Bonilla all over again.

#6 And in cased you missed it, yet another player hit his first career home run against the Mets. Congratulations Travis Denker.

#7 8 runs in the 5^th.  I didn’t see that one coming.

I would love to see John Maine step up with a dominant performance Wednesday afternoon so the Mets can take 2 of 3 in San Fran.

Wednesday: The rubber game today featured a decent starting pitching match up of Matt Cain vs. John Maine. As Rick pointed out…it even rhymes. The Mets took control of this game early with three runs in the first inning off Cain including a 2 run double off the bat of Carlos Beltran (and off the glove of Aaron Rowand) and a RBI single from Carlos #2. Maine worked in and out of trouble through 6 innings and allowed and unearned run in the 3^rd thanks to an error from Jose Reyes. The one nice thing about when Jose Reyes makes a terrible error, he has been following it up with home runs. His 2 run blast in the 4^th gave the Mets a 5-1 lead. The Mets would hold on 5-3 with a couple of scary bullpen moments, but overall it was a nice victory to take the series in San Fran. I listened to the game on WFAN driving to JFK to pick up Karen. It is so nice to have Howie Rose and Wayne Hagan (who I am starting to adjust to) rather then Tweedle Dee and Teedle Duh over on CBS 880. Reason #6,589 why I am glad I am not a Yankees fan.

Thursday: The Mets head down the coast to San Diego to play a 4 game series in San Diego at the fantastic PetCo Park. Rick and I had a great game there last year. Here are the notes and ratings: http://viewfromthegreenseats.metsblog.com/blog/_archives/2007/5/8/2934846.html.

Mike Pelfrey overall was effective through  although  it seems like he had to deal with base runners almost every inning. The reason for this is that he put guys on base in almost every inning. However I’ll credit him and the Mets defense (Church strong throw home in the 3^rd and Reyes diving play in the 5^th) for getting out of the jams. I will take 6 innings of one run baseball out of Pelfrey every day of the week and twice on Tuesday. The Mets finally broke through off rookie right hander Josh Banks in the 6^th. After an infield single from Reyes, Castillo bunted him over to second (a move I still hate but it worked…let Jose try to steal second). Reyes was auditioning for next season’s Dancing With The Stars on second. Banks clearly distracted hung a curve ball to David Wright who shot it back through the middle scoring Reyes and tying the game at 1. The Mets relievers definitely followed in Pelfrey’s footsteps. Feliciano put two runners on before turning it over to Joe Smith who got Kevin Kouzmanoff to ground a ball that hit Tad Iguchi for the final out. This is the point I fell asleep. Thank god for pacific time zone. Duanar Sanchez also put two runners on in the 8^th before getting out of the jam. Then we go to  the bottom of the 9^th. Weeeellllllllllllllllllll…Well it’s the Big Shooooowwww!!!! There’s a big bad show tonight! (WWE reference for those of you who have lives and don’t watch wrestling)  It’s good to see Big Show is reverting back to his 07 ways. There is nothing like giving up the winning run without actually giving up a hit AND ending the game on a bases loaded walk off hit by pitch. As terrible as Big Show was (and he was #48 bad last night) I can’t blame him for the loss. That goes to the Mets lineup for not getting one more run on the scoreboard over 9 innings against Banks, Hampson, Bell, and Hoffman to allow Billy Wagner to pitch the 9^th. It is very tough to win a game when you only score 1 run. I think the goal for the Mets should be to take 2 of 3 from the Padres this weekend and come home on a 4-3 West Coast swing. Not ideal, but with Ollie on the mound Saturday I don’t see them sweeping the next 3.

Friday night the Mets brought their ace to the mound. Johan would be facing off against Randy Wolf. This game quickly turned into a pitcher’s duel and would leave us with a feeling of de ja vu. The Mets finally broke Wolf in the 6^th inning, but once again did not fully capitalize on a situation. After Endy Chavez led of with a double, Johan attempted to bunt him over to 3^rd. Since the ball was slightly popped up, Chavez froze on the base path. By the time he got restarted Adrian Gonzalez grabbed the ball and gunned him out at 3^rd. Now, Jose Reyes came up and ripped a single back up the middle advancing Johan to 2^nd. Luis Castillo then hit a single to right center that couldn’t score Johan but loaded the bases for David Wright. DW ripped a ball to deep left center field. It was a shot of course that makes it out of most ball parks. Scott Harriston made a fantastic diving catch which would score Johan, but cost the Mets at least 2 runs. Beltran could not come up with a big 2 out hit and the Mets only scored one run. In the bottom half of the inning, Johan was touched up for 2 runs and just like that the Mets trailed 2-1. In the 7^th, the Mets loaded the bases again but Castillo couldn’t come up with the 2 out hit stranding another 3 runners. Those were the last base runners for the Mets who were retired in order by Heath Bell and Trevor Hoffman in the 8^th and 9^th. Another day, another 2-1 loss at San Diego.

Now I feel like Bill Murray is managing this Mets team. When will they get out of these 2-1 nightmares? I didn’t watch the game as it was my 5 year college reunion (which I also don’t really remember) but here’s what you need to know. The Mets only score one FREAKING run again (this time in 10 innings) and Pedro Feliciano hung a slider to Scott Harriston in the bottom of the 10^th inning for a walk off home run. So far, Josh Banks, Randy Wolf and Cha Seung Baek have shut down this Mets offense. I have very little confidence in hitting the likes of Wilfredo Ladezma.

Do I really have to recap Sunday? Really? I can’t take it anymore. Where was the team that just won 7 out of 10? Where is the team that used to pounce on the worst teams in baseball? You know things are going sour when Billy Wagner is blowing saves. The Padres even scored a run on a bases loaded balk in the first inning. This is the story of this series. The Mets load the bases, Wright hits an absolute bomb and the Mets get one run. The Padres load the bases with 2 outs and score three runs only getting a bloop single to do so. It’s back to the drawing board for the Mets who get swept in a 4 game series for the 2^nd time this season and drop to 2 games under .500 and 7.5 games back of the 1^st place series. Is it too early to say there’s always next year?

5 Up:

#1 Damien Easley: He is now filling in games at first base, second base and left field. He’s like a modern day and less crazy Kevin Mitchell. He even hits for power occasionally. It is slim pickings this week for 5 up so let’s give Easy E a little love.

#2 Pedro Martinez: He wasn’t great in either game but he is back in the rotation and he didn’t get hurt…yet. Actually his fastball was clocking in between 90-92 sometimes which is very encouraging if the Mets want to think about playing quality baseball this year.

#3 Carlos Delgado: Carlos #2 actually hit .417 this week including back to back 3 hit games on Saturday and Sunday. He knocked in 2 in the first inning on Sunday to give the Mets a 3-0 lead. It is not often I speak well of Delgado but he earned some dap this week.

#4 Claudio Vargas: I didn’t think he deserved to be sent to the bullpen but he has been great for the Mets this week. He pitched 4 2/3 innings of relief of Ollie on Monday, and gave the Mets a scoreless inning in relief of Pedro on Sunday. Oh yeah, and his ERA for the week is 0.00. Nice job by Claudio.

#5 John Maine: He did something that was pretty rare for the Mets this week. He got a win. His control wasn’t great, and neither was the defense behind him but he got through 6 only giving up 1 earned run. It capped a 7-3 run for the Mets which turned into a 7-7 record over 14 in case you blinked.

5 Down:

#1 Ollie Perez: Even though he pitched better (not that it could get worse) on Saturday, Monday was one of the worst pitching performances in recent history. However, thanks to the Mets crapfest of a lineup in San Diego, he will be the only pitcher in the 5 down this week.

#2 Ramon Castro: It is not often you get to start nowadays. Wake up; get to the park on time so I don’t have to see Raul Cassanova in the starting line up.

#3 David Wright: .185 batting average for the week is not cutting it. Stop pulling everything, hit it to the gaps and take this team on your back already.

#4 Carlos Beltran: .207 batting average for the week and 6 home runs on the year. Wake the hell up already. It’s June!!!

#5 Abraham Nunez: Phillies fans must be rolling that this scrub has made up to the Mets. Abraham freaking Nunez…is this really what it has come to?

Looking back at Mets history:

June 9, 2003 (off)

June 8, 2003

Current Record 27-34

Overall Record 66-95

Mariners 13 Mets 1 (game1)

After taking the Friday night opener and a rainout Saturday, the Mets hosted a Sunday double header vs. the AL West leading Mariners. June 8^th, would be a day to forget for the Mets. Luckily I am remembering it. The Mariners notched 4 runs in the 1^st, 2^nd, and 4^th innings in the 13-1 romp of our beloved Mets. Freddy Garcia was an ideal game 1 starter for the double header. Garcia went the distance only allowing a lead off home run in the fourth inning to Cliff Floyd. In total Garcia yielded 6 hits while striking out 8. Al Leiter was the exact opposite of Freddy Garcia. The Mariners batted around in the first innings and scored on a 2 RBI double from Brett Boone, an RBI ground out from John Olerud, and a 2 out RBI single from Garcia himself. The damage was stopped by Cliff Floyd who threw out Jeff Cirillo trying to score on the Garcia single. In the second, Leiter gave up consecutive 2 out RBI hits to Mike Cameron and Randy Winn. With Cameron on third and Winn on second, Leiter threw 2 wild pitches scoring both runners. Leiter’s day would end after 2 innings and trailing 8-0. In the 4^th inning the Mariners would get RBI singles from Mike Cameron and catcher Ben Davis scoring 2 runs each. Despite giving up 4 runs in the 4^th, Mets pitcher Jeremy Griffiths gave them length tossing 5 innings in relief. John Franco would give up the 13^th run of the game in the 9^th ending a miserable 1^st game of a miserable double header.

Mariners 7 Mets 0 (game 2)

This truly is a day to forget for the New York Mets. After getting spanked in the opener, the Mets are baffled by Jamie Moyer and company in a 7-0 loss to Seattle. The Mets would only get three hits in this game as Jamie Moyer threw 7 strong innings giving up 2 hits and striking out 4. The Mets hits today were singles from Jay Bell and Super Joe and a double from Cliff Floyd. Mike Bascik Gave up 5 runs (4 earned) over 5 innings lowering his ERA to 14.63 on the season. Seattle scored 2 in the first inning on an RBI double from Carlos Guillen and an RBI single from Mike Cameron. In the second, the Mariners added another run when Ichiro Suzuki singled to right field scoring Willie Bloomquist. The Mariners would add 2 in the 6th and another 2 in the 9^th off Pedro Feliciano as the Mets are outscored 20-1 in the double header. The Mariners moved to 42-19 with the win.

June 9, 2000

Current Record: 34-26

Overall Record: 94-68

Mets 12 Yankees 2

This just may be my favorite recap of the season in this section. The Mets opened the 3 game Subway Series in Yankees Stadium with Al Leiter squaring off against RAW-GAH Clemens. Oh my goodness gracious!!! Scoreless in the top of the third inning, leadoff man Jason Tyner attempted to bunt for a base hit. Jorge Posada made an errant throw to first allowing Tyner to reach safely. After walks to Derek Bell and Edgardo Alfonzo, Mike Piazza stepped to the plate in the Foxwoods Mets turning point in the game. Piazza destroyed a Clemens fastball to dead center field for a grand slam home run giving the Mets a 4-0 lead. It was the final straw in Mike Piazza’s dominance of Clemens which would lead to Roger drilling Piazza with a fastball in the head in a two stadium day/night double header later that season. At the time people actually argued that it wasn’t intentional. If anyone still believes that I have a bridge I would like to sell them. The teams traded runs in the 4^th and 5^th innings. The Mets scored on RBI singles from Derek Bell and Todd Zeile while the Yankees scored on a Scott Brosius RBI single in the 4^th and a Shane Spencer sacrifice fly in the 5^th. In the top of the 6^th, Tyner led off with a single to right field. Clemens actually had Tyner picked off first but threw the ball away allowing Tyner to advance to second base. Derek Bell then doubled to right field scoring Tyner and Edgardo Alfonzo rocked a 2 run homer to center field giving the Mets a 9-2 lead. Clemens was taken out there with his final stat line:

Clemens 5 IP/10 H/9 R/8 ER/3 BB/4 K and a loss.

That stat line would result in -7 fantasy points in the Boozebags IV Fantasy Baseball League. The Mets added 3 runs for good measure in the 7^th off reliever Todd Erdos on a 3 run home run from Derek Bell in the 12-2 rout of the cross town rivals. Al Leiter went  innings allowing 2 runs and Turk Wendell and Rich Rodriguez pitched scoreless innings in the 8^th and 9^th.

June 9, 1986

Current Record: 37-15

Overall Record: 108-54

Mets 4 Pirates 3

The Mets win the final game of a 5 game set with Pittsburgh with 4-3 win over the host Pirates. With the win the Mets take 4 out of  5 games in the series. The Mets struck first in the top of the fourth inning. After Tim Teufel reached on third baseman Jim Morrison’s throwing error, (KEVIN MITCHELL ALERT!!!) Kevin Mitchell stepped up to the plate and rocked a 2 run home run off Pirates starter Larry McWilliams to give the Mets a 2-0 lead. George Foster added an RBI single in the 6^th and Kevin Mitchell knocked in his 3^rd run of the game with a single in the 7^th. Sid Fernandez was cruising through the Pirates order through but apparently all the stretching before the 7^th didn’t sit well with El Sid. After a walk to Tony Pena and a single by Jim Morrison, Fernandez struck out pinch hitter Johnny Ray for the first out. However the next pinch hitter Mike Diaz smacked a 3 run home run to slice the Mets lead to 4-3. After a walk to leadoff hitter and center fielder Barry Bonds, Davey Johnson lifted Fernandez for Roger McDowell who retired the next two hitters. McDowell cruised through the 8^th which included getting pinch hitter Lee Mazzilli to fly out. He allowed a leadoff single in the 9^th to Tony Pena. McDowell then retired Morrison and Ray on fly balls. The Pirates sent up Joe Orsulak to pinch hit with two outs and Davey Johnson countered by going to left hander Jessie Orosco. The Pirates then sat Orsulak down in favor of Junior Ortiz. After all that, Ortiz popped up to Ray Knight to end the game.

June 9, 1969 (off)

June 8, 1969

Current Record: 28-23

Overall Record: 100-62

Mets 3 Padres 2

The Mets come from behind in the late innings to win their 10^th straight game moving them from 13 games back of the division leading Cubs to 7 ½ back. The Padres got to Tom Seaver in the 3^rd and 4^th innings. After ex -Met Chris Cannizzero led off with a double, Seaver struck out the next two hitters. However second baseman John Sipin beat out an infield single and on Seaver’s throwing error Cannizzero was able to score. In the 4^th, third baseman Ed Spezio hit a leadoff home run to give the Padres a 2-0 lead.  Padres starter Al Santorini baffled the Mets through six innings. In the 7^th, Ed Kranepool came through with a 2 out single scoring Cleon Jones to cut the lead to 2-1. In the 8^th, Tommie Agee stepped to the plate with one out and Ed Charles on 2^nd and Buddy Harrelson on first. Agee came though with a double to right field scoring Charles and sending Harrelson to 3^rd. The Padres lifted Santorini for Billy McCool (seriously…that is his name). Wayne Garrett welcomed him with a base hit to right field scoring Harrelson and giving the Mets a 3-2 lead. Ron Taylor came in the 8^th and pitched to hitless innings to secure his 4^th save and more importantly the Mets victory

June 9, 1962

Current Record: 14-37

Overall Record: 40-120

Mets 11 Cubs 6

The Mets score 3 in the 5th, 2 in 6^th and 3 in the 7^th to put the Cubs away in an 11- victory. Shortstop Elio Chacon had 4 hits and scored 3 runs and Sammy Taylor drove home 3 runs in the victory. Mets pitcher Willard Hunter picked up the win entering the game in the 2^nd inning and went on to pitch 6 innings in relief not yielding a run until the 7^th inning. The Mets ended up taking 3 of 5 at Wrigley field in a weekend series that included two double headers.