Beaming at the Keyboard --- and the Dugout

This is the first game in ages (I think if we can carbon date it, it would go back to when we used to have Italian popes) that I am actually HAPPY after a Mets game.

Santana was Santana. Angel Pagan put wings on, flew up and saved two runs in the first inning. That set the tone of the game.

And "The New Boy" Jeff Francoeur knocked in two runs in his first at-bat. Plus the team played well defensively and held the Reds to ZERO runs. Usually its the other way around.

This is going to be a short post...I am a bit tired...so....Let's hope the Mets will now play in a Bizzarro World from their recent games....Hearing that the 73 team was in last place in August still gives encouragement. Baseball seems to be like the stock market..resilient for awhile, then weaker than a schoolyard punching bag....Jeff Eff has 65 career outfield assists since he broke into the league in '05....the Mets TEAM record for outfield assists (and this is career, mind you) is 64....Hopefully that Cannon-Like Arm will remind us of Larry Walker.

I'm going to root extra loud tomorrow. A friend offered me a ticket to the game, but I can't go.

Arranging the Furniture (And Surprising Hellen Keller)

The headline may seem harsh, but it basically describes the Mets trade of Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur. Early gut reaction tells me its a good one. Ryan was an average player when he came over from the Nationals and improved a bit under the Shea/CitiField facilties.

Jeff Eff is five years younger, supposedly has a cannon for an arm, and showed signs of hitting for average and power early on. AND, the best part, according to SNY's own Kevin B, he WANTS to play in New York.

What Omar did wasn't radical - and, I believe we still DO need a radical move. Looking at the starting lineup, only Wright (and you can quasi count Brian Schneider) as original, regulars, from Opening Day. All replacements. Substitute "instructors" sitting in for "full professors" if I may be bold to draw an inane analogy.

Roy Halladay is on the block. Why not get involved with the talks? He's got a good arm...goes the distance (and I have to say, just like Bronson Arroyo did to the Mets tonight - but the focus here is on baseball not on the Mets losses - at least not overtly)...

So, to bring us back to the title, we are in the same place, but a few things are different. Will we stumble around and trip over them because we aren't use to them? I hope so. Let's get the bats swinging again and the legs running beyond first base.

Less Than Zero (AGAIN)

Mets don't come away with a win (Again).

This stat makes you shiver in your boots..prior to tonights's game, the Mets had not hit a home run in 48 innings (they didn't hit one tonight either. I'll be valiant and save your calculator batteries - that's 57 innings. 8 Days without a dinger. How long can that last?

Now, F-Mart does the DL thang.

Instead of baseball cards, all Mets (and it seems they are all hurt) should be featured on Milk Cartons...among the missing.

Do I Detect a W for the Mets?

Yes. They beat the Dodgers. I have been praying to obscure Saints with one name (usually Roman) whose names end in -"us" and it has worked. Though it could be a placebo and even Saints are known for miracles...that is, a win for Oliver Perez.

Ollie was typical Ollie. Let me interject something here. To describe how I feel about Ollie on the Mets is best lifted from a line from M*A*S*H* when Hawkeye is writing home describing Charles Emerson Winchester (The Thuuurrrd) - "He's like a substitute teacher that stayed the whole year." For some reason, Mets management likes him. He seems to be like Teflon and has had more chances that the late Steve Howe.

Ollie was very liberal with the BBs and this is a killer. Seven isn't a lucky number here.

What I found somewhat odd was I turned the opening of the game on while driving, and he tosses 4 straight balls. BOOM. Then later on, as I turn the TV on, what is the first thing I hear? "BALL FOUR." (and I don't mean the great Jim Bouton's book).

I was nice to see Manny go O-fer, until he grooved K-Rod to the right field stands and made HR hitting look easy. Metsies, he came to YOUR house and upset your coffee table...Now you gotta do the same.

Lets pick the Dodgers apart - again.

Less Than Zero

Elvis Costello once wrote a song called "Less Than Zero"

Some how, I think this should be the Mets' new theme song. It appears thats the number of runs, hits, average and average with RISP.

I want to get cloning legalized so we can bring back the DLed.

I wonder how many old timer Mets fans feel since Dodgers skipper Joe Torre cut his teeth with the Mets way back when.

Just two more games in the series...and, hey, Omar, while you are at it, see if you can get Juan Pierre...

Welcome Home Dodgers

Just another "jab" at the Mets...Not the first to write this, but I won't be the last.

This week we Welcome the Dodgers to NY. They may like CitiField as it is patterned after their team heritage and pays zero homage to the Mets.

Come to think of it, the way they have been playing, it's more like Last Rites.

When the new stadium opened, people were griping that it was 10,000 seats LESS than Shea...now I think there will be many more empty seats.

I remain a die hard fan and plan to plant my (self) at a few more games this year.

Where Have All The Hitters Gone (Long Time Coming)

In today's Bergen Record, they had a special story reminiscing about 1969. It reminds me of a song "Where Have All The Flowers Gone? Long Time Coming...."

And that brings me to the Mets.

Where has all the HITTING gone? This series it seemed to be spectres running around in uniforms and red hats donning a Mets logo.

Put your seat belt on...3 runs in the ENTIRE series...NO extra base hits. Santana AGAIN pitches great, yet gets zero run and additional offensive support.

Good thing there is a day off tomorrow.