Momma Said There'd Be Days Like This...

I'm watching the game last night, frustrated by the previous loss to the Pirates, frustrated that we can't get any big rally's going, frustrated that we can't hit homeruns, frustrated that we're physically injured and sick with the flu, frustrated, at pretty much everything going on with the team....and then it hit me.

They'll be days like this.

So I began looking for positives, and there are many.

The Mets lost 2 in a row, 3 of 4, and the Phillies have won 5 in a row....and they're 2.5 games out of first...on June 3rd....with all the turmoil.

Jose Reyes comes back Friday...I'd almost forgotten how singularly valuable he is to the club since he's caught up in the middle of so many injuries.

We are about to get Jose Reyes back....the Jose Reyes that has had 779 hits, 65 triples, 258 steals, and 452 runs scored in the 4 seasons prior to 2009.

Let's do a little lineup projection for next week:

1. Reyes, SS
2. Castillo, 2B
3. Beltran, CF
4. Sheffield, LF
5. Wright, 3B
6. Church, RF
7. Murphy, 1B
8. Schneider, C

That alone makes me feel better, but there's more.

Frankie Rodriguez, Bobby Parnell and Pedro Feliciano are pitching light's out.

In fact, our bullpen really is a strength, and will be throughout the season. JJ Putz is struggling, but overall the BP is championship caliber.

The flu sucks...we all know it...and it can decapacitate you for a few days or even a week, but once it's gone, it's gone.

Carlos Beltran should start feeling better today or tomorrow, and he'll be back this weekend. Hopefully the rest of his body will benefit from the time off.

Remember--he doesn't have swine flu, he doesn't have an injury that requires weeks of re-hab, and he has a fantastic approach this year with his hitting.

Beltran will be back SOON...maybe not tonight or tomorrow, but certainly by the weekend.

So we "add" two all-star MVP candidate players in the next 3 days, PLUS we get Alex Cora back to help stabilize the bench.

Playing the subs now will pay dividends later.

Jeremy Reed, Fernando Martinez, Angel Pagan, Fernando Tatis...one of these gentleman wil likely play a heroic role down the stretch.

Think back to the championship teams...they all had a core of stars, but in most cases there was an unlikely hero that emerged down the stretch or in the post-season that catapulted them to victory.

It also may not hurt that Reed and Pagan have played well, and other teams that may have interest in them before the trading deadline have certainly scouted and noticed....those two guys can play, and they are cheap.

John Maine and Mike Pelfrey are studs.

With Johan Santana at the top of the order and Maine and Pelfrey behind him, the Mets have 3 top front line starters.

Maine was 4-1 in May with a 2.75 ERA.

Pelfrey was only 2-1, but he had a 2.93 ERA in May, and went 7+ innings in 4 starts with 3 earned runs or less in all 6 of his starts...he easily could have went 5-1 or even 6-0 for the month.

So this morning, over my coffee, I'm re-thinking my frustration over the last week and especially the last two games and the Saturday debacle.

Momma said there'd be days like this, we know and understand that during the season long marathon that there will be ups and downs.....we also know the best days are ahead for this ballclub.