Fine Change of Pace

Remember when your grammar school teacher gave out gold stars to the students who did all of their homework or did exceptionally well on a test. Then at the end of the year, or the term, the kid with the most stars was given a prize, like a He-Man lunch box -- something that didn’t have any real monetary value, but that seemed like a big deal when you were six or seven.

Well, maybe Jerry Manuel should implement a similar system to motivate the Mets' bullpen to pitch better.

If that were that case, he’d be giving two gold stars to Aaron Heilman, who threw two gorgeous innings in Miami tonight. Yes, Carlos Delgado’s ridiculous July continued, but Heilman, who entered the game in the seventh, delivered two scoreless innings -- with a lead to boot -- which has proven to be so elusive for the Mets’ bullpen since the All-Star break.

Interesting, isn’t it, with all the talk about whether or not the Mets have a good enough bullpen to close out games down the stretch, that the game should come down to precisely that?

Heilman’s outing, which helped to secure a 4-1 Mets win, doesn’t annul Omar from his duty to pursue a possible upgrade in the Mets’ bridge to their closer, Billy Wagner. But it does change the all-too-often discouraging bullpen story, at least for a day.

Nice job by Wagner, too, who was been nearly flawless since blowing the All-Star Game. Wags is on an 11-inning scoreless streak since July 10. Over the course of those 11-innings he has surrendered only one hit and one walk.

The Mets continue to bounce back after losses. They have now won four games in a row immediately following a loss, which is a very good thing.

Race Tightened

Just when you thought it was safe to party like it's the summer of '06 all over again, the Mets' bullpen, asked to get more outs than fallen starter John Maine, blows one, reminding you of the very forgettable summer of '07.

Hey Omar, the bullpen sure does look like it could use reinforcements. What's your move?

Meanwhile, the pesky Fish, with their pesky brand of baseball and pesky players, keep winning.

8-4

I’m sure Jerry Manuel would prefer if Jose Reyes didn’t swing for the fences, but where’s the fun in that?

Big hit, Jose! Very big hit.

Flabbergasted

Johan proves to us that he’s worth the millions. The Secret Weapon stays hot, hitting a huge two-out bomb. Ramon Castro, who drives in a run every time he's up, hits a homer. And the Mets’ bullpen, minus Wags, with first-place three outs away, blows it.

Disgusting.

I hate the Phillies.

Cool Your Jets

So here we are just a few hours away from the biggest series the Mets have played since a few forgettable ones that occurred last September. Meaningful baseball has come to Shea, in July.

The date is important because it means baseball hasn’t reached the crucial dog days. Which means, even though tonight the Mets will play their 100th game, it’s still early.

I don’t see why this series is being played up as such a crucial, do-or-die moment. Barring an injury to a major player, this series doesn’t make or break either the Phillies or the Mets. I’m sure this will be an unpopular position to take, but I’m taking anyway.

Do I want the Mets to kick the crap out of the Phillies, pay them back for how they dismantled the Mets down the stretch last year? Of course I do. But I realize that after this series both teams will have 60 games remaining, both teams will face plenty more crucial series and games, and that win or lose this series, both teams’ fates will be determined by how they finish the season, not charge out of the gates.

In spite of all that foresight, I still say tonight would be an ideal night for Johan to prove to us that he’s worth all those millions.

Learning to Fly

Four days in Cincinnati taught us a number of things.

First, we learned that the Reds ain’t so bad—especially at home. It looks like they have a solid nucleus of young players and pitchers to build around. With this in mind, you’d have to admit that, despite the two losses, the series was far from a step backward for the Mets.

We learned that Endy Chavez isn’t an everyday player, even though it pains me to say so. He’s a terrific defensive outfielder, obviously, but too often this series, and throughout his career, he proved unable to drive in a run in a critical situation. To consider themselves series contenders for the World Series, the Mets will need to upgrade their outfield. Omar knows this, so it’ll be interesting to see what moves he makes. I’m not sure what he’ll do, but Fernando Martinez shouldn’t be dealt, unless an All-Star, who is signed beyond 2009, is gotten in return.

We also learned the Mets pre-All-Star break winning streak wasn’t a fluke. Not throwing in the towel Thursday night, and again today after falling behind, those were very good signs.

Oh, one other thing. Anybody notice that guy wearing the number 21 jersey for the Mets? You know, the guy playing first base who, it seemed to me at least, the Reds didn't get out the entire series. That was Carlos Delgado, back from the dead. He might be the Mets’ secret weapon down the stretch.

Ohio Thud

Okay, so this one was ugly. I mean it hurt. Beltran and David Wright staring at strike three with the Mets trailing by a run and the bases loaded in the sixth—that was a killer.

But, with the Phillies losing 9-5 to the Fish, which keeps the Mets just a game out of first, things aren't all that bad.

Everything is going to be alright, because these are the new 2008 Mets. I don’t care if the Mets are facing the right-hander some are calling the greatest rookie pitcher to hit the bigs since Dwight Gooden.

We got Big Pelf on the mound, and, last time I checked, he was looking real good, especially of late.

The Mets and Me

I love baseball, and I have lived in the glorious New York City borough of the Bronx my entire life. Both of these particulars of my existence, I’m told, make my love for the New York Mets baseball team slightly outrageous.

The truth is the Mets have had a hold on me since October 15, 1986, the day they beat the Houston Astros in a heart-stopping affair for the ages: Game Six of the National League Championship Series. I can recall realizing as an extremely young fan that this taut, see-saw affair was special. The game – with all of its late-inning twists and turns – signified to me that the experience of watching baseball, of never knowing when it’s safe to celebrate a victory or torment yourself because of a loss, was truly unlike anything else in sports.

I was only six years old, but even as a child I knew that Kevin Bass, Glenn Davis, Mike Scott, Nolan Ryan, and Bob Knepper were the enemy. Similarly, Mookie, Daryl, Keith, Lenny, Gary, Doc, Sid, and the other players in the Mets jerseys, they were my heroes.

If the 86 NLCS was the appetizer then I don’t have to tell you how delicious the main course was. I became a lifetime Mets junkie when, later in that same month, the fellas wearing blue and orange overcame a two-run deficit in Game Six of the World Series, rallying with two outs and nobody on base to tie the score and eventually "win it!" on Mookie Wilson's trickling roller up the first base line. I was barely old enough to fathom the Infield Fly Rule, but even at such a young age, watching from my living room in feety pajamas, I knew what all baseball fans, even Sox fans, knew: that the Red Sox had no chance in Game Seven—that the Mets would find a way to win the World Series no matter the circumstances.

We’ve been waiting for a championship ever since, I don’t have to remind you of this.

In this space I hope to share with you my opinions about the current state of the New York Mets. Frustration will come – of this I am supremely aware. But we have an obligation as Mets fans, as trite as it may sound, to Believe. When that championship does arrive, be it this year, or someday in the future, it will be as life affirming and magnificent as the last one.

Now, on to the games, let's go out there and beat Josh Fogg tonight!