Mets Cook Fish For NL FEast

The Mets had another comeback effort to deflate the Las Vegas Marlins, tonight. The Marlins completely collapsed in the 11th inning, and the Mets officially eliminated their NL East chances by winning 7-4. Wagner earned save #38, and the Mets won yet another series. They've lost just 11 out of the 47 series they've played so far.

The WiPhebeaters continue to creep up in the wild card standings, sweeping Atlanta in today's doubleheader. Philadelphia is now just 1.5 out in the Wild Card race. Still, if Atlanta can salvage the series tomorrow (James(9-3, 3.57 ERA) faces Moyer(8-13, 4.32 ERA) at 7:35), the Mets will have the opportunity to clinch Friday night with Pedro Martinez on the mound in Pittsburgh.

Lets Go Braves!

Side note: My friends and I got a kick out of reading the comments in a Metsblog post today. A couple readers made reference to a particular beer vendor we used to always see at Shea. We never knew he was such a celebrity!

Mets One Step Closer To NL East Crown

The Florida Dolphins made a good show of it tonight, with a 4-0 lead headed into the ninth, but Carlos Delgado's homer spoiled the show as the Marlins bullpen just fell apart. The Mets won, 6-4 on the bats of Floyd, Wright, LoDuca and Delgado, and the pitching perfromance of Bradford, Mota, Heilman and Wagner. Oliver Perez showed flashes of dominance too, striking out 11, though he left the game down 4-0.

Anyway, the Mets Magic Number is down to three, so if the Mets can beat the Dolphins tomorrow, and Atlanta can take care of the now second-place Phillies, the Mets can drink some bubbly. Let's all just hope that the clinching doesn't happen on the Thursday off-day, otherwise SNY won't be able to expand their oh-so-extensive roster of Mets Classics.

Here's the weird thing for the mathematicians to figure out: The Phillies are in second, with one fewer loss than the Marlins. So it's Phillies losses that we need to track when counting down the Magic number. But if Atlanta wins the first game of the doubleheader tomorrow, the Marlins would become the second place team, with one more win than Philly. So wouldn't the Mets control their own clinching destiny tomorrow night by facing the Marlins? Or, would we still need to track game two of the doubleheader in Atlanta, since the Marlins and Phillies would still be tied in the all-important loss column? Ponderous.

I'm Going To The Playoffs!

Woo Hoo!

Back in February, when I was shut out of Opening Day tickets, I was forced to buy sets of six -packs in order to go to Opening Day, even though I live in North Carolina and couldn't attend any of the other games besides the home opener. Fast forward seven months, and I consider myself very fortunate to have missed out on the single-game opportunity, because buying the six-pack made me eligible to buy tickets to a postseason game. Now, my buddies and I will "Show Up At Shea" on October 5th for Game 2 of the NLDS!

Lets Go Mets!

Lets also just hope the Las Vegas Marlins don't sneak in to the playoffs. Even though the Mets can't face them in the first round, I would like to see these fish be put to sleep for 2006. They'll be enough trouble in '07 and beyond!

Mets Magic Number is 7

As huge of a Mets fan as I am, my dad is just as huge of a Yankees fan. I've got a Mets tatoo on my shoulder, he's got a Yankees one on his. In fact, when I was born, he wanted to name me "Seven" in honor of Mickey Mantle. A couple years he mentioned that to me and said he should have followed through, because then for sure I would have been a Yankees fan. I said "Why? Todd Pratt was a great Met!"

The Mets just keep rolling along. The Braves fans in my office had some hope of harassing me when they took the opener, but they were awfully quiet yesterday after the doubleheader sweep. Yesterday my friends and I were talking about facing Mike Piazza and the Padres in the first round of the playoffs, but the way the Mets shut down the Dodgers last night we could be very well be seeing L.A. in the first round...

Greatest Inventions Of All Time

Here are the four greatest inventions of all time, in order:

1. Fire
2. The Internet
3. The Wheel
4. The Sandwich

I think that the Internet deserves more hype as an invention. It has truly changed society more than any invention in hundreds of years. I have nothing against the wheel, it was a really good idea, but the Internet ranks a bit higher in terms of its ability to bring the world closer together and change... well, everything. Think about how we shop, how we communicate, how we locate information, how we spread lies and misinformation, how we advertise, how we learn... most importantly, how I am still able to follow these Mets despite being 588 miles from Shea and having a work/school schedule that keeps me away from the television during game time.

Again, no slight on the wheel, but only the Internet allows me to write such gems of comments such as these:

I'm real glad that Matsui looks so happy in Colorado. I'm especially happy that he can be happy without the Mets carrying his dead weight through the playoffs.

I love the misery in the Bronx related to Carl Pavano. Just when you thought Junkee Stadium was a lovefest, this schmuck creams a garbage truck in his Porche and decides not to tell the team he's been pitching with busted ribs for three appearances. Brilliant.

David Wells is available? No thanks. Ever since he dissed Bobby Valentine, this ex-Junkee is off my Christmas card list. And I send out really good Christmas cards.

The Mets called up Anderson Hernandez today, over Edgardo Alfonzo. That's just not right.

Mets Magic Number is 16. Today's Magic Number is brought to you by Doc Gooden.

The Mets have the best winning percentage in baseball. Go screw yourself.

Lets Go Mets.

Transplanting Myself To the Point Of Exhaustion

We had our company's national sales meeting down in Jacksonville this week. Between all the presentations and meetings, I was dependent on Metsblog and Hot Foot to keep me up do date on Metsdoings. I returned back Wednesday afternoon, and promptly headed to the UNCG campus, where I have started taking graduate school classes. I'm taking classes two nights a week, for three hours at a time. If all that weren't enough, I have a last-minute trip to Chicago next week as well. This is interfering greatly with my ability to follow the Mets! Due to my ridiculously hectic schedule, I've not seen, among other things, either of Dave Williams starts, Shawn Green in a Mets uniform, or even Guillermo Mota pitch.

Now, I am not giving up on blogging on this site, but I have to be honest with my readers (both of you) and admit that my perspective on the Mets is based more and more on what I read on other blogsites (thank you Mets Guy In Michigan, Metstradamus, Toasty Joe, The Metropolitans, et al), and ESPN.com than what I see with my own eyes.

Now if you'll excuse me, I have to take a nap. By the way, the Mets swept the Cardinals out of Shea Stadium yesterday, while sending down Lastings Milledge and Ricky Ledee, trading for Formerly Transplanted ex-met Kelly Stinnet, and placing Ramon Castro on the 60 day disabled list. Omar might be as tired as I am!

Greetings From Florida

While my company was having it's national sales meeting down here in Jacksonville, the Mets were staging a performance for the season's highlight reel with a comeback win against a probable postseaon opponent. Down 7-1 against the St. Louis Cardinals, the Mets came back to win 8-7, thanks to a grand salami by Carlos Delgado and a walk-off homer by Carlos Beltran off transplanted ex-met Jason Isringhausen. Newly acquired former Piazza nemesis Guillermo Mota pitched a scoreless inning in the win.

The Mets also solidified their outfield for October tonight, by trading for Shawn Green. Sent to Arizona is no-namer Evan McClane. I guess it's not Milledge Time, after all...

Even better news for the day was the fate of Tom Glavine, who not only is not lost for the year, but may pitch as early as next week.

Mets Magic Number is now 25.

Early Morning Scare! Tom Glavine May Be Out For Season

I'm up early this morning, off to the airport for yet another business trip, but I stopped by the trusty computer to type a few words about last night's Magical reunion and win over the Rockies. What the online version of the Daily News gave me instead was this.



















And then I read the article:

Tom may have a blood clot - Lefty's season is in jeopardy

Tom Glavine's health and his season are in jeopardy, a potentially crushing blow to the pitcher as well as to the Mets' World Series ambitions, the Daily News has learned. Sources said the southpaw has experienced coldness in a finger on his pitching hand, and that the cause of the alarming condition isn't yet known.

The 287-game winner is scheduled for a CT scan tomorrow, while an angiogram is planned for Wednesday.

Doctors are unsure whether the problem is related to a blood clot or possibly a "knot" in an artery near his left shoulder. Depending on the diagnosis, Glavine could miss little time or the rest of the season. The "knot" could require invasive surgery, while a clot might be able to be dissolved and limit the time lost.

Nice way to start a trip, huh?

Transplanted Ex-Met Update - Preston Wilson Signs With Cardinals

According to the AP, recently released Preston Wilson has been picked up by the St. Louis Cardinals. His agent had spoken to the Mets about rejoining the team he came up with, but it looks like the Cards wanted him more. Oh well. It would have been nice to have Mookie's nephew/stepson on the 2006 mets, 20 years after Mookie drove in teh game winning RBI in the 1986 World Series, but it's not meant to be.

The Wilson-less Mets start a nine game home stand tonight with a three game set against the Colorado Rockies.

Back From The Beach

I picked a good time to go on vacation. Although the Mets managed to take two of three from the Washington Expos over the weekend, they also lost Pedro to the DL and promptly lost three straight to the Philadelphia Wiphebeaters. Thankfully they won this afternoon 7-2, avoiding the four game sweep and just in time for me to resume my regular blogging activities. Blogging will begin to be a bit of achallenge, as I started graduate school two nights a week, this week, but I'll be counting on my TiVo to keep me in tune with the Mets.

The Mets Magic Number is 30.

Lets Go Mets!

How Sweep It Is!

Excuse the corny headline - but you gotta love the Met sweeping the Padres right out of Shea Stadium. The naysayers can doubt all they want, these Mets are for real and look to be steamrolling right ahead into October. Give Willie a ton of credit for keeping these guys on their toes and avoiding complacency. I got to experience this afternoon game with a combination of MLB.com's Gameday and Gameday Audio at my desk at work. Gotta love seeing Wright get hot, and El Duque settle in as the Mets beat the Padres 7-3. Now the Kings Of Queens head down to D.C. for a weekend stint with the Expos. My cousin Neil will be in attendance for at least one of the games. I'll be at the beach with the in-laws.

Mets Magic Number is 36!

Mike Piazza Night at Shea

Friday night was a lovefest for the Mets' former face of the franchise, but last night was the real Mike Piazza night as Mikey hit two long homeruns of Pedro Martinez and a third shot of Aaron Heilman that came with a few feet of a three-run homer. The first homerun was so thrilling that Piazza even gave a curtain call, which has to be a first for a visiting player at Shea. Ultimately, Pedro (9-4) and the Mets came away with the victory, their fourth straight, 4-3 over the San Diego Piadres.

When he hit that long fly-out off Heilman, Piazza and I had the same thought:

"I remember back to the last out of the World Series. I hit the ball good but not good enough. It was definitely bittersweet."

Speaking of bittersweet, Cliffy The Big Red Dog was put on the 15 day DL yesterday, and veteran actor Michael Tucker , perhaps best known for his role as Stuart Markowitz on L.A. Law, was called up to take his place.

Tough Night To Be A Transplanted Mets Fan

It was hard not to get chills while watching Piazza step up to the plate last night at Shea Stadium. But while my buddies Tubby and Scott were at Shea Stadium, giving Mike a three minute standing ovation, causing Mike to doff his helmet several times before finally standing in against Stevie Trachsel, I was watching the game on TV, in North Carolina where the average person doesn't even know who Mike Piazza is, but a Dale Junior cameo in Talladega Nights sends cheers through a movie theatre.

Anyway, it was a great night for Piazza and an even better night for Steve Trachsel, who managed to improve his record to 11-5 with the Mets beating the Padres 3-2. Piazza went 1-4 while the new faces of the franchise shined for the Mets - David Wright drove in two runs, Carlos Beltran hit three doubles, and Jose Reyes stole two bases off Piazza.

Meanwhile, franchise-player-to-be Lastings Milledge drew the ire of the crowd by grounding into a double play with the bases loaded and no outs. I believe the fan's frustration stemmed from Milledge's unwillingness to be patient in that spot, but I think the impatience on Milledge's part is to be expected at his young age and there should be more patience on the fans part.

After the game, the Mets designated future-trivia question Eli Marrero for assignment and filled his spot with ex-Yankee Ricky Ledee whom they claimed off waivers from L.A. on Monday.

With the Phillies falling to the Braves, the Mets Magic number is now 38. By the way, my Dad was in town this weekend and made me realize that all this time I should have been pulling for the Braves to win the wild card because Atlanta is just a four hour drive and I could have gone to a playoff game there... Oh well, screw 'em anyway.

Trivia Question of the Day: Who did the Mets trade Kaz Metsui to the Rockies for?

Series Preview: What's Up With The Padres?

We're just moments away from game time, as Mike Piazza and the Padres square off against the Mets at Shea Stadium. Stevie Trachsel faces Woody Williams (4-3) tonight, Pedro faces 26 yr. old righty Clay Hensley (7-8, 4.33) tomorrow, and El Duque matches up against 27 yr old righty Chris Young (9-5, 3.78) in the finale Thursday afternoon.

Transplanted Ex-Met Mike Piazza is having a decent season for San Diego, batting .297 with 16 homers and 49 RBI's with an .879 OPS. Mike's homer total leads all NL catchers, and his RBI total ranks 3rd.

Transplanted Ex-Met Mike Cameron is hitting .262 with 15 HR's and 48 RBI's. This week Padres GM Kevin Towers was quoted as saying the club will "probably" pick up Cam'Ron's 2007 option.

The Padres lead the NL West by 1.5 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles. They have won two straight, but went 4-6 over their last 10 games.

By the way, the Mets Magic Number is 40.

Lets Go Mets!

The Streak Stoppers

On Friday the Mets pitchers ended Chase Utley's hitting streak at 35, though the team lost 5-3.

On Saturday Tom Glavine and David Wright ended the Philadelphia Wifebeaters winning streak at 4, winning 4-3.

Yesterday Jose Reyes and John Maine the Phillies streak of winning series at 3, as John Maine kept his own streak of 23 scoreless innings with an 8-1 win.

The Mets also announced they had come to terms on a contract extension with David Wright, locking the Golden Boy up for six years with an option for a seventh. Nice. Between him, Beltran and Pedro, it's nice to have our choice of Franchise players.

Speaking of which, tomorrow night marks the return of Mr. Michael Piazza to Flushing. Show Up at Shea and give him a warm welcome, won't ya?