Can A Psychic Figure out What is Going On With the Mets?

I had the opportunity today to score two tickets to the Mets-Diamondbacks game and was all keyed up for a much needed sojourn from the office.

Beautiful day. Seats in the shade. A good friend / professional colleague who I haven't seen in awhile. Good conversation at the ready.

First seven innings is like artwork. Santana, flawless. Chalked up 10 strikes, issued only 3 hits, 3 walks and the Mets were putting a few numbers up on the board.

And then it happened. That dreaded pitch count philosophy. It is akin to saying, "we'll only make this top spin 100 times, despite the fact it may be in a groove and still look good spinning, but we don't want it to spin too much. Santana got the hook from fisherman Willie and then the chaos started. Joe Smith, a sidearmer I admire, put two runs on the board for the Diamondbacks. That was OK. Mets were still up 4-2. But, there was one point when the Mets had 3 men on, no out and could not execute the simple act of getting a human being to traverse the basepath a mere 30 yards to touch the plate for that comfy run.

So, Schoenweiss comes in for a cup of coffee, 1/3 inning and then when the ball is handed to Billy Wagner, it came apart at the seems. He imploded. The crowd was stunned. We were like Hiroshima / Nagasaki observers -- and couldn't do anything about it. Game is tied, and a bit of optimism was emoted when a few reached base. Alas. (say it as if you are reading Shakespeare), it was not to be.

So, what happens to the artwork that Santana painted? Aaron Heilman. The Flushing Queens version of Lazlo Toth (go ahead, click the link and look him up -- it makes the image more cerebral) struck and it was all over.

Heilman, who is 0-3 - before I ever finish that sentence, I want to know what/why/how he is staying here.

More fun coming up for the Mets. Now we have to figure out a way to play the Texas Rangers -- if it is tough playing teams you know, imagine what must transpire to take on Josh Hamilton, David Murphy and Milton Bradley of the Texas Rangers.

My advice? Fasten your seat-belts and have a ChAIRsick bag nearby.

A Priest, A Rabbi a Minister and a Shaman....

Walk into the ballpark. What's the joke? The 9 Men wearing the Mets uniform.

(I'm here all week, don't forget to tip the hostess and wait staff...).

So the Mets were ahead 2-1 in the seventh and the floodgates broke open. Beltran couldn't get to a ball that was hit to his left and that spurred a rally. Santana pitched well, but only 1 K.

4 losses and swept by the Braves, 3 losses to the Nats. Where does the logic start and the insanity end?

Today we hear the Moises Alou is going back on the DL with a strained calf. OK, I like Alou, he's a good hitter and it would have been nice to have him on the Metropolitans when he was younger. Is he going to be our version of Mike Hampton? Someone to keep way past their prime - what will be the value when healed? Is it worth the time? Alou is a proven player, but at this stage of the game, as a pensioner, he should be a DH somewhere.

The obvious question is who/what do you do to replace Alou? Is the outfield ready for Endy Chavez, Beltran and Church? I think someone stronger needs to be out there.

Here are a few I propose that we get via trade. Naturally, Pelfrey, Delgado, Heilmann and Castillo would be on the trading block:

• David Murphy - Rangers http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/fantasy?playerId=28582
• Josh Hamilton - Rangers http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/fantasy?statsId=6679&leagueId=3603
• Eric Byrnes - Diamondbacks http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?playerId=4498

I'd be interested in hearing others who would be an asset...