Good morning ….

Taking a peak at what’s going on this morning.

-Rain forecast for Philly tomorrow. Game 3 might be postponed. I have no problem with that because there’s Ohio State v. Penn State. Go Bucks. If everything is pushed back, Phillies say Cole Hamels will pitch Monday regardless. No word on what the Rays will do.

-It’s ironic as we brace for a rainout Commissioner Bud Selig is talking about shortening the World Series by two or three days by eliminating the off days. MLB added off-days when it opted to start the Series on Wednesday instead of the weekend. Eliminating off days won’t seem like such a good idea if there’s a coast-to-coast Series.

-Jake Peavy is available from the Padres. Early speculation has the Braves a contender, but GM Frank Wren said the club isn’t going to part with its best prospects.

Posted under New York Mets

Retiring Phillies general manager Pat Gillick told Bill Madden of The New York Daily News at the World Series his team’s hatred for the Mets, coupled with the disdain other teams in the NL East had for the Mets, acted as inspiration. Teams just didn’t like the celebrations and their swagger, perhaps sense of entitlement, they’ve had since 2006.

Said Gillick: “If you want to know the best thing we had going for us this year, it was the fact that all the other teams in our division hated the Mets’ guts. It started with Atlanta and all the hostility they had with the Mets through the years. Then Fredi Gonzalez left Bobby Cox to manage the Marlins and he didn’t forget everything that went on between the Braves and Mets. Look what Florida did for us the past two years (beating the Mets two out of the three in each of the last series of the season to prevent them from making the postseason). Washington doesn’t like them very much either, and all those teams seemed to really get up for the Mets.”

Both Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado took the celebrations outside the dugout, but each said they weren’t hurting anybody. In the end, they may have just been hurting themselves.

Hey, it’s not a shot at Reyes, but when an executive of your bitterest rival says the perception of your team is poor, you’d better listen. If the Mets are listening, they should realize Gillick is doing them a favor.

Posted under New York Mets

Now that you’ve had almost a couple of weeks to think about it, where did it go wrong for the Mets? I’m not asking about the bullpen or their inability to hit with runners in scoring position. I mean, what game in the last two months, what stretch, told you it wouldn’t happen this year?

For me, it was losing two of three to the Braves in home-and-home weekend series. It screamed to me they were in trouble.

How about you?

Posted under New York Mets

Remember when I asked last weekend if the Braves were still relevant? Some of you wrote and said no, that I was worrying about nothing. Others who are sharp on your Mets’ history understood the concept: The Braves will always hold a spot in the Mets’ consciousness.

Back-to-back weekends the Mets lose two of three to a team they should beat. They’ve now lost six of their last ten games. Not the stuff of a pennant contender. This team is showing it is not deserving of the playoffs. Not with that bullpen anyway.

Today was another meltdown. I don’t want F-Rod. I want a solid bridge to whomever they get to close next year. I’m not worried about the playoffs anymore because with that pen even should they get there, winter will come soon enough.

Posted under New York Mets

Not much of a room today. You heard we were down. I made a prediction prior to the Braves series that David Wright would break out of it. Well, he homered today. I think he’ll be fine.

Any, for those who dropped by, thanks and feel free to post whatever is on your mind. We’ll be up and running for the Cubs’ series. Sorry again.-JD

Posted under New York Mets

The Mets won a coin-flip today with Milwaukee should the teams finish tied for the wild-card.

Speaking of coin flips, I don’t know which Oliver Perez will show up tonight. He’s pitched well against the Braves, winning five of his last seven starts over the last two seasons. Recently, he’s been erratic with his control.

Here’s tonight’s lineup:

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Delgado
1B Carlos Beltran
C Ramon Castro
RF Ryan Church
LF Nick Evans
LH Oliver Perez

Comments: They won their last two games with Daniel Murphy in left and batting second. Why change?

Posted under New York Mets

Atlanta has never been nice to the Mets. The Braves are out of it again, but they are in position to make things rough for the boys. They have not mailed it in. Instead, they seem to be hanging around for the sole purpose of making things rough on the Mets.

They took two of three last week at Shea, so there better not be any sense of complacency. After Washington, you’d think there wouldn’t be any.

There have been a lot of games with the Braves that just gnaw at your memories. Which one still burns in your gut the most?

The Kenny Rogers game? You can have your choice of Armando Benitez meltdowns. Consider it therapy before the weekend. Which Braves games just stays with you.

Posted under New York Mets

The Mets today released their preliminary 2009 schedule, and yes, the Washington Nationals are still on it. I know, that’s too bad.

Because of the World Baseball Classic, Opening Day isn’t until April 6, at Cincinnati. The Mets open Citi Field, April 13, against San Diego.

In addition to their home-and-home series with the Yankees, interleague play will include games at Boston and Baltimore, and Tampa Bay coming to Citi Field.

The Phillies come in for the first time, May 6-7, and the Braves make their first appearance, May 11-13.

Click here for next year’s schedule.

Posted under New York Mets

Today was a crusher, and that’s even before the Phillies play their second game tonight against Milwaukee. With a win, they can close even with the Brewers for the wild-card and a game behind the Mets.

The same old issues did in the Mets today. They didn’t hit in the clutch and their bullpen caved. Oliver Perez did not pitch well, but was in position to win. It looks as if Perez regressed in his last few starts and that’s another cause for concern.

If the Mets didn’t take care of business against the Braves at home, it makes you wonder if they can do it next week against them in Atlanta. And, the Washington Nationals always play them tough. For games in DC won’t be a breeze.

Pedro Martinez goes tomorrow, but your guess is as good as mine as to what he’ll give the Mets. His durability is an issue, and you know he can’t be counted on for more than five.

Posted under New York Mets

Sorry for the late post. The boys try to wrap up their series on an up note this afternoon against the Braves. Damn that split yesterday. They let the Santana game get away. The sweep would have been sweet, but they came back strong which was a real positive sign. Losing like that, then coming back with a rookie, could have made for an ugly day.

A couple of notes:

-Damion Easley aggravated his right quad yesterday and underwent a MRI. We should know the results during the game. It doesn’t look like he’ll be available for the first couple of days of the Washington series.

-Look for Brandon Knight to start Wednesday in Washington.

Here is the Met lineup:

SS Jose Reyes
LF Daniel Murphy
3B David Wright
1B Carlos Delgado
CF Carlos Beltran
RF Ryan Church
2B Luis Castillo
C Brian Schneider
LH Oliver Perez

Looking forward to talking with you throughout the game.-JD

Posted under New York Mets