Good morning all. Hope this weekend is smiling on you.

It was fun last night. I didn’t expect that much talk on a Saturday night. It makes me feel good that people are responding to the blog. I can’t explain the Cubs. No curse. They just got waxed there was no bad luck. The series was decided with Game 2.

Off to get some breakfast. A veggie omelet. I like to put Tabasco and strawberry preserves on mine. I call it `sweet heat.’ Try it, you’ll like it.

Will spend much of the day sending out resumes and clips. This job hunting is a bear. Will have the playoffs and football on, and, of course, I’ll be monitoring on-line so feel free to drop a comment or two.

My NFL picks:

Chicago over Detroit
Green Bay over Atlanta
San Diego over Miami
NY Giants over Seattle
Philly over Washington
Carolina over KC
Baltimore over Tennessee
Indy over Houston
Denver over Tampa Bay
Dallas over Cincinnati
Arizona over Buffalo
NE over SF
NO over Minnesota

In the playoffs, I like the White Sox, Brewers and Red Sox.

Enjoy the morning. I’ll look for you this afternoon.

Posted under New York Mets

Greetings all. Hope you had a good day. Watching the Brewers take an early 2-0 lead on the Phillies. Later the Dodgers can put away the Cubs. If you’d like to talk about the playoffs, or about Jerry Manuel getting a contract, or anything else, this is the place.

Posted under New York Mets

I didn’t buy the Red Sox having a curse, and I don’t buy it with the Cubs, either. The Cubs are down 2-0 to the Dodgers not because of bad luck, but because they’ve been pounded. It’s amusing to watch the forlorn expressions on the faces of Cubs’ fans. It’s almost as if they relish in the misery.

What would they do if they ever won? Probably win again, just like the Red Sox did.

I’m watching the Rays-Sox. Tampa Bay losing in the second and Scott Kazmir is struggling. The Rays are the best story of the playoffs, but you can bet the networks hope it will be Boston and the Cubs. Two storied franchises playing in antique stadiums. They are salivating over the potential ratings already.

I’m watching, so if you want to chat, feel free.

Posted under New York Mets

With the Mets losing tonight, manager Jerry Manuel said Johan Santana would start Saturday against Florida on three days rest.

“I’m very concerned,” Manuel said. “We’ve put ourselves in a tough spot and we have nobody to blame for that but ourselves.”

Manuel said Santana told him he wanted to pitch on short rest on Thursday. Santana threw 125 pitches in his last start this week against the Cubs.

Should Sunday mean anything, Oliver Perez will pitch on three days rest in the season finale.

Posted under New York Mets

Let’s fast forward for a moment and assume the Mets are in the playoffs. The assumption would have them opening against the Cubs. From what we saw this week, it should be a great series.

However, right now Jerry Manuel has the luxury of using the expanded roster. That won’t be the case next week. He’ll need to pick a pitching staff. I think it will be 12 deep.

Here’s mine:

1. Johan Santana
2. Mike Pelfrey
3. Oliver Perez
4. Pedro Martinez
5. Aaron Heilman
6. Scott Schoeneweis
7. Pedro Feliciano
8. Joe Smith
9. Brian Stokes
10. Luis Ayala
11. Duaner Sanchez
12. Richard Rincon

Posted under New York Mets

Well, what do you know, Ramon Martinez is playing second base. After last night, play the guy who has a chance of making something happening. Luis Castillo is just frustrating to watch.

Here it is, the lineup the Mets hope will save their season.

METS

SS Jose Reyes
LF Daniel Murphy
3B David Wright
1B Carlos Delgado
CF Carlos Beltran
RF Ryan Church
2B Ramon Martinez
C Brian Schneider
RHP Pedro Martinez

Posted under New York Mets

What the Mets got last night from Johan Santana they’ll need tonight from Oliver Perez.

Perez hasn’t faced the Cubs since April 2005, and is 0-3 with a 5.74 ERA in his last five starts against Chicago.

Perez’s career has been one of hot-and-cold, and currently he’s been cool after a strong stretch. Perez (10-7, 4.10 ERA) has one win in his last seven starts. Over his last three starts, Perez has given up 12 earned runs on 18 hits and eight walks spanning 16 1/3 innings.

That said, do you want Perez back next year? I don’t know if he’ll be worth the money he’ll get, but is he worth the angst?

Posted under New York Mets

So far, it really doesn’t matter who the Mets put at second base. Neither Argenis Reyes nor Luis Castillo have produced. You know, I felt a sense of comfort with Damion Easley at second base. I’m not saying he’s the answer, but he’s better than either one of them. When the Mets are constructing their bench over the winter, I hope they don’t overlook Easley.

Here’s tonight’s lineup:

METS

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

Posted under New York Mets

Johan Santana goes tonight for the Mets, who are 11-3 in his last 14 starts. Santana has won seven straight decisions, so there’s more than a little bit of hope for the Mets.

Tonight’s closer: Anybody’s guess.

Carlos Beltran, who ran into the wall last night, will play. There’s never been any doubt of Beltran’s toughness in my mind. The guy played with a broken bone in his face after his collision with Mike Cameron in 2005.

Here’s tonight’s lineup:

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

Posted under New York Mets

After a disappointing road trip the Mets open their final homestand, and the final week of the season tonight at Shea against the Cubs.

“We’ve got to close the deal out at home. We’ve got to give Shea Stadium a nice send off,” manager Jerry Manuel said. “We have the opportunity. It’s right in front of us.”

Of course, the Mets had the same chance last year, but went 1-6 the final week.

Here’s something you never heard before. It’s from David Wright.

“We’re going to see what we’re made of,” he said, in what could be prophetic either way, this time next week.

Posted under New York Mets