The Main(no 'e') Problem

Regrettably ignored by me thus far, but still ridiculously true, the Mets defense is bad. Today, the Mets had the embarrassing total of 3 errors: 1 each for Maine, Castillo, and Wright. That is just an atrocius number.

The Mets can't hope to play for too long (i.e. October) if they don't get over this sloppy spell. It's just not going to happen. They have good fielders in center, right (now that Church is back) and behind the plate. Left is not that good, unless it's the great Endy Chavez. The entire infield, however, is remarkably inconsistent. It's not that Reyes or Wright is terrible - they both make a lot of good plays. But, they make a ridiculous amount of misplays that just don't add up to a winning situation.

John Maine had a rare bad outing today, giving up 5 runs (3 earned) in just 4 innings. The offense had another day off, and it led to another blowout.

The Mets, at 40-42 and playing remarkably inconsistent baseball, are still just 3.5 games behind the division-leading Phillies. It's still June, and this thing is far from over.

It's Ol the Same Story

The Mets won two; the Mets lost two - what else is new? Who would have thought that Oliver Perez would pitch better - clearly better - than Johan Santana? Who could have anticipated Sidney Ponson's great start or Pedro Martinez's bad one?

Oliver Perez, Carlos Delgado and David Wright are looking good - good luck to them, but I think you can get even money that the Mets will be 81-81 come the season's end.

Singing in the Maine

John Maine pitched well (2 runs in 6 innings), and the Mets found themselves in relatively uncharted territory - the victor's seat.

It'd be hard to say that the offense began clicking tonight, after all the mighty Miguel Batista and four relievers held the Mets to just five hits, but #5 proved worth his salary tonight with a coupla home runs and 3 RBI (and a walk). Everyone else went 3-for-26, but at this point, you have to take it. It may be all you can get.

The real newsworthy news is happening over the weekend in a four-game Subway Series. If the Mets win 2, that's good. 3 or 4 would be amazin'. While the Yankees boast a superior record to their New York rivals, the Mets are actually not in such a bad position.

Pitching: The Mets starting pitching is clearly superior. Johan is good. Pedro is a maybe. Oliver Perez is going to pitch very well because he pitched so badly last start. Mike Pelfrey's been pretty consistent. The Yankees counter with Rasner, Geis, Pettitte and Joba. If the Yankees get more than two quality starts, you should be surprised. That is not the case with the Mets.

The bullpens are relatively equal.

Hitting: The Yankees seem to have better hitters than the Mets. However, most of the Mets have been underperforming this year, hitting-wise. I wouldn't be surprised if they hit well over the weekend.

Still, Times Aren't That Bad

Considering all of the Mets problems, they are in a pretty good position. At 37-39, they're just two game under .500, and a manageable 4 games behind the Phillies. That's closer to first than the Yankees or Detroit. Tonight's game features John Maine against Seattle hurler Miguel Batista.

If the Mets offense is looking to cash in, tonight is the time. Batista is 3-9, with an unsightly 6.26 ERA. John Maine, on the other hand, is a healthy 7-5, with an above-average 3.78 ERA (20th in the league).

"Next GAME is now."

Here We Go Again

Inconsistent. That, in a word, sums up the 2008 New York Mets (as of June 25). Omar Minaya and Fred Wilpon (and to a lesser extent, Jerry Manuel) are really going to begin to look stupid if this team doesn't start playing well. Delgado is not what he used to be - I can live with that. Beltran and Wright are around .270 - I can live with that. Santana is less than great. Heilman is less than good. Perez is less than average. You hire a left-fielder who's more consistent than anyone in the game - consistently on the Disabled List. I can live with any of this. But the team can't live with all of it. That's ignoring the fielding on the left side of the infield.

For the Mets to turn it around, things have to change. The hitting has to hit, Howard Johnson. David Wright. Carlos Delgado. Carlos Beltran.

Otherwise you're going to keep losing games 2,3,4 to 1 (or 0).

Jo, What's Up

Johan Santana gave up a grand-slam in the second inning. To the pitcher. On an American Leauge team.

Was he A) not paying attention/frustrated with Wright's error, or B) trying to challenge Hernandez and make sure he didn't walk in a run?

Off auto; onto Manuel

Willie's gone, Jerry's in. I have absolutely no idea why. There's no way that anything is Willie's fault. I guess Omar's just dumb!

Nixon' the Holes

Trot Nixon is here. I hope he's raring and ready to go crush the Yankees in the Subway Series in 2 weeks. Here's wishing him well.

David Wright with a weird play yesterday. Check it out.

Losing Streak

The Mets are currently mired in a funk- a slump.

Hats off to Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes for hitting the ball.

Happy Birthday, Jose!

Ty Cobb and Jose Reyes are the only dudes with 250 steals 50 triples by age 25.

Ty Cobb is rated 5th best baseball player by Bill James. That includes pitchers and Negro League players. Of course, a lot of people would say that James is crazy - Cobb's .367 career batting average would have to make him first or second best player. Of course, either way, Reyes is in good company (hitting-wise).

Hmmmm

Befoe yesterday's ridiculous 10-2 loss, the Mets had won 5 out of 6. Wright and Reyes were hitting, as was Tatis. Tomorrow, Pedro's pitching. We'll see what happens.