And Then The Lead Was One

This Met team is not the same one that blew a seven game lead last year. This team, although possessing a smaller margin when it comes to leading the NL East, actually instills greater confidence in me than the one I watched last year. So why then, after seeing yesterday’s game is my feeling, “Here we go again”?

The fact is there is no way the Mets should have lost two out of three to the Atlanta Braves. The Braves are not the team that destroy the Mets in years gone by. This team is in fourth place and out of contention. This team is 20 games under 500 on the road. This team, at least until this past weekend, had not won a one run ballgame all season on the road. The weekend series took place at Shea Stadium, where the Mets are 17 games over 500 and Met-killer Chipper Jones was out of the lineup. So, I ask again, how does this team win only one of three games.

Fortunately Jonathan Neise pitched a great game in the middle. He got a much deserved win and looked very good. The truth is, however, Johan Santana and Oliver Perez also deserved wins. The bullpen blew the leads in both games. Technically in the Santana game, the tying run was charged to Santana but obviously Jerry Manuel kept Santana in the game and pushed him because he has little to no confidence in the bullpen. And, the bullpen lived up to his expectations.

This bullpen has got to start coming through, first so the Mets can win the division and second so they have any chance of doing something in post season.

Of course the Phills did their part, sweeping a three game series from the Milwaukee Brewers. That was also disgusting and depressing. The Brewers went in to the series with a chance to do some damage but the Phillies swept and left in a tie for the wildcard with the BrewCrew. Milwaukee was no help and the Mets at the very least are making fans (read ME) nervous.

They better go into Washington and just dominate the Nationals. Pedro is on the mound right now and honestly, that does not make me very confident. I was talking with a friend and we were saying that if the Mets get to postseason, we are not sure that Pedro should even be given a slot on the postseason roster. Probably due to money issues and not wanting to embarrass him, the Mets will keep Martinez on the roster but, if you look at what he has done, this year, the last two years and even in his tenure in a Met uniform, you can make a strong argument to keep him out.