It's Time for Chris Carter

In my last piece I wrote about why it's time to end the Jose Reyes batting 3rd experiment.

The other move to make is to replace Frank Catalanotto with Chris Carter.  The Mets will need to keep GMJ on the roster until Carlos Beltran returns, but Frank can be replaced now.

On the year, Cat is hitting a not so robust .143 with a pathetic .182 OBP and a so low it's almost unheard of .190 Slg %.

Moreover, he is useless against lefthanded pitching.  Last year he was 1 for 11 against southpaws, and for his career, he hits them at a .239 clip with a .331 Slg %.

Chris Carter, the hero of spring training for three years in a row, continues to toil in the minors.

He is currently hitting a robust .329 in AAA, with a solid .987 OPS.

For those that argue there is no defensive spot for him, I would counter with the same can be said of Catalonotto.

Carter can pinch-hit, play RF, LF, a little first base, and is certainly more of a threat in the batter's box than Cat.  Catalonotto has only started one game this year, at first, but he's pinch-hit 18 times with a grand total of 2 hits.  Oh, and against those lefty's?  He's 0 for 6 this year, and again, he was 1 for 11 against them last year.

Look, I like Cat, he's a good guy, a solid guy, but he has nothing left in the tank.  He was a part time player with a sub-MLB average OPS the last two seasons, and at age 36, he is at the end of the rope.

Why not give Carter, and his superior offensive skills, a shot?

I think his energy and intensity will help the club, and there is no question he'll be more productive than Frank.

It would also prove that the Mets did, in fact, get some value from the Billy Wagner trade, and the fans would love it as Carter has already attained something of a cult hero status.

I can see him winning a few games for the Mets this year with some late inning power.

Like Ike Davis? Thank the Braves

Many of us were up in arms when we let Billy Wagner go for a song, knowing the Mets  would have received first round compensation and another high sandwich pick had he signed elsewhere after the season.

This is exactly what happened with the Red Sox after Wagner declined their offer in 2009.  Wagner is now a Brave.

Think that doesn't matter?  Do you like Ike Davis?

The reason the Mets have Ike Davis in the first place is because the Braves signed Tom Glavine back.  Yup, the pick awarded to the Mets was the 18th in the 2008 draft, which the Mets used to take Ike.

The Mets also received Bradley Holt, the 2009 94th ranked prospect by Baseball America.

Thank you Atlanta Braves.

Chris Carter Goes Deep Again

Chris Carter just took Derek Lowe deep....very deep....it's his third straight homer in his last three at-bats.

He's now hitting over .600 and making an enormous statement.

I really hope Carter makes the club...he's earned his shot with a terrific college career, and 6 very good minor league seasons.

UPDATE: Carter just doubled and now has 4 RBIs today.

Related articles by Zemanta

• 10 Things to Know About Chris Carter (ballhype.com)

Time to Stockpile

With the release of Matt Murton, and the trade of Billy Wagner, it's time for Omar to take an aggressive stance on stockpiling.

Bottom line is the Mets upper level minor league teams are paper thin talent-wise, and a former first rounder like Murton, who has hit at every level, should be picked up--and quickly.

Omar needs to shed any pretense he has of being a nice guy and go all out to find talent that can help the team--the mentality needs to change from "more slick fielding middle infielders or past their prime vets" to "more younger guys who can take a pitch and bang".

Get aggressive Omar

Done in by a Chicken Bone?

Oh evil spirits, why are you doing this?

Oh mighty one, please forgive us our sins, and let the players play the games.

How can we make amends?

Can we ply you with chicken bones? Perhaps rub some antelope grease on our helmets? Bury a dead warthog under Omar Minaya's office?

Just tell us please!

The List

• Jose Reyes
• Carlos Beltran
• Ryan Church
• Carlos Delgado
• John Maine
• Oliver Perez
• Angel Pagan
• Jon Niese
• Luis Castillo
• Gary Sheffield
• J.J. Putz
• Billy Wagner
• Ramon Martinez
• Fernando Nieve
• Fernando Martinez
• Tim Redding
• Brian Schneider
• Alex Cora

It's Official: J.J. Putz to Miss Season

He has frayed ligaments in his forearm (Ulnar) and potential further damage to his repaired and still injured, elbow.

While he won't require surgery, he will need time to heal.

As excited as we all were in the off-season when we acquired Putz, his year, much like the Mets of 2009, has been one for the crapper.

I only hope Putz can come back healthy in 2010 to be the pitcher he once was.

With Billy Wagner gone, it's like the call for the old sage in Star Wars...

"Help me Obi-Wan Kenobi, you're my only hope."

Get healthy JJ...in fact, get healthy ALL of you....we need to kick ass in 2010 to make all of this 2009 bullshit worth it.

Speculation Still Looming: Chris Carter's Name Dropped

One of the players the Boston fanbase and some media are saying is part of the Billy Wagner deal is minor leaguer Chris Carter.

They are citing the dubious, "someone with inside knowledge", but he does seem a likely player "to be named", especially given the Mets first base prospects for 2010, his age (27 in September), and the Red Sox depth at first base throughout their system.

Carter has hit well at every level and made the Red Sox out of Spring Training.

Scouting Report

Assets	Has very good power potential and a keen eye for bases on balls. Is also adept at hitting the gaps for doubles.
Flaws	Needs to improve his footwork and hands at first base in order to become a regular at the major-league level.
Career Potential	A backup first baseman or corner outfielder.

Wags Nets Two, But Who?

Word on the street is that the Mets will get two AA prospects from the Red Sox now that Billy Wagner has agreed to the trade. That alone is enough to keep hope alive as the Sox have a load of talent right now in AA, but again, that both guys will come from AA is just rumor.

Previously I had written that the one player the Mets should pursue from the Red Sox was Anthony Rizzo, but from the sounds of it, Rizzo will not be one of the two as he is in High A ball.

Another name being bandied about is pitcher Felix Doubront, who has very, very good stuff but has not excelled in his development in the way that says, "can't miss." He is in AA and would immediately upgrade our farm system.

So we'll be left to wonder--at least for a little while, on who from this list the Mets get in return.

Pitchers
#	Name	Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	DOB	Status	MLB 40-man
	Travis Beazley	P	R	R	6' 0"	175	06-17-1983	7-day DL	No
13	Bryson Cox	P	R	R	6' 4"	205	08-10-1984	Active	No
28	Andrew Dobies	P	L	L	6' 1"	180	04-20-1983	Active	No
25	Felix Doubront	P	L	L	6' 2"	165	10-23-1987	Active	Yes
18	Kason Gabbard	P	L	L	6' 3"	200	04-08-1982	7-day DL	No
19	Tommy Hottovy	P	L	L	6' 1"	195	07-09-1981	Active	No
35	Kris Johnson	P	L	L	6' 4"	170	10-14-1984	Active	No
34	Ryne Lawson	P	L	R	6' 2"	180	06-21-1985	Active	No
26	Richard Lentz	P	R	R	6' 2"	210	08-06-1984	Active	No
18	Derrick Loop	P	R	L	6' 3"	220	12-11-1983	Active	No
45	Blake Maxwell	P	R	R	6' 5"	255	08-01-1984	Active	No
33	Ryne Miller	P	R	R	6' 4"	230	09-25-1985	Active	No
39	Jarod Plummer	P	R	R	6' 5"	200	01-27-1984	7-day DL	No
36	Chris Province	P	R	R	6' 3"	220	01-20-1985	Active	No
15	Chad Rhoades	P	R	R	5' 10"	175	03-10-1983	Active	No

Catchers
#	Name	Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	DOB	Status	MLB 40-man
30	Juan Apodaca	C	R	R	5' 11"	180	07-15-1986	Active	No
23	Luis Exposito	C	R	R	6' 3"	210	01-20-1987	Active	No

Infielders
#	Name	Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	DOB	Status	MLB 40-man
21	Lars Anderson	1B	L	L	6' 4"	215	09-25-1987	Active	No
40	Jorge Jimenez	3B	L	R	6' 1"	210	09-12-1984	Active	No
2	Ryan Khoury	2B	R	R	5' 10"	180	03-19-1984	Active	No
5	Yamaico Navarro	SS	R	R	5' 11"	170	10-31-1987	Active	No
37	Jon Still	DH	R	R	6' 2"	210	11-16-1984	Active	No
17	Iggy Suarez	2B	R	R	5' 11"	165	05-03-1981	Active	No

Outfielders
#	Name	Pos	Bat	Thw	Ht	Wt	DOB	Status	MLB 40-man
31	Reid Engel	RF	L	R	6' 3"	190	05-07-1987	7-day DL	No
32	Ryan Kalish	LF	L	L	6' 1"	205	03-28-1988	Active	No
43	Daniel Nava	RF	S	L	5' 10"	200	02-22-1983	Active	No
44	Jason Place	LF	R	R	6' 3"	205	05-08-1988	Active	No
12	Matt Sheely	RF	R	R	5' 9"	160	08-30-1986	Active	No

Billy Wagner Makes an Interesting Decision

I'm not sure quite what to make of Billy Wagner's reported decision to invoke his no-trade clause after being picked up on waivers by the Boston Red Sox.

At 38-years old, he expressed his desire to pitch for a winner, like the Red Sox.

He's never been to a World Series, the Sox have won two in the last 5 years and were a game away from going again last year.

He has all sorts of other issues with the move--he doesn't want to be offered arbitration, he doesn't want to be overused, he wants to close next year, and on and on.

So here's the deal:

• The Mets will not make the post-season this year
• The Mets will use him
• The Mets will offer him arbitration
• He will not close for the Mets next year
  

So if getting what he wants on all fronts were the conditions for waiving his no-trade clause, he truly made a mistake.

I know Billy has a lot of pride and enjoys nothing more than sticking his middle finger up to the man, but this type of self-destructive behavior is a bit over the top.

Look, I'm very happy to have a healthy Billy Wagner on the Mets next year for $8M--or at worst, he tests the FA waters and gives us a draft pick.

Anyway, for a guy that professed his desire to "pay back" the Wilpons for the big contract he got, he sure has a funny way of saying thanks.

The ONE Player We Should Demand for Wagner

You may have never heard of him, but you will.

His name is Anthony Rizzo, and he can hit, field, lead and be a major league star. Rizzo is 20 years old and 2 years away from beginning a very long and productive big league career.

He is at exactly the right level for the Red Sox to let him go--High A--he will also be blocked by prospect Lars Anderson, who is more of an elite prospect and "untradeable".

In 2008 he hit .373 in the Sally league.

If Omar does this right, he sheds some payroll in a lost year--a Wilpon mandate--and gets back a prospect that could potentially be a long-term solution at a position of need.

Omar--the Sox are desperate, they want to win now, and they absolutely need Billy Wagner--it's time to earn your paycheck.

Anthony Rizzo 38 | 1B Status: Active Salem Red Sox Class A Advanced Carolina League

Stats AVG: .295 HR: 2 RBI: 18 SB: 1

Bookmark Player Full Name: Anthony Rizzo Born: 08/08/1989 Birthplace: ort Lauderdale, FL Height: 6' 3" Weight: 220 Bats: L Throws: L

2009 Season
Team	League	AVG	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	SO	SB	CS	OBP	SLG	OPS
GVL	SAL	.298	64	245	40	73	21	0	9	42	121	25	60	2	1	.365	.494	.859
SAL	CAR	.295	37	139	14	41	11	0	2	18	58	16	26	1	0	.361	.417	.778
Minors		.297	101	384	54	114	32	0	11	60	179	41	86	3	1	.363	.466	.830

Putz or Wagner in 2010?

OK Mets fans, you have two setup guys here that want to close.

Each costs approx $8M in 2010 (Wags is a hair cheaper).

Who do you keep, and why?

For my money the call is easy: Keep Putz.

He's younger, his stuff "can be" better, and I just have the sneaking suspician that Wags is one bullpen warmpup toss away from being totally done.

That said, Wags looked great last night, and he is a lefty.

David Wright to the Disabled List

With a big sigh, the Mets announced that All-Star, Gold Glove, Silver Slugger David Wright has been placed on the 15 day Disabled List.

The full story from my friend Ted Berg at Metsblog:

Omar Minaya announced after Sunday’s game that David Wright has been put on the 15-day DL with his head injury.

Minaya stressed that Wright wanted to stay with the club, but that after consulting with medical experts, the team decided it was in Wright’s best interest to rest.

Wright joins John Maine, Jon Niese, Fernando Nieve, J.J. Putz, Billy Wagner, Carlos Delgado, Ramon Martinez, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Fernando Martinez on the Mets’ disabled list.

Missing Beltran: Enormous Impact

For all those Mets fans that still think Carlos Beltran isn't the most valuable member of the team, consider the following.

Since Carlos Beltran went on the DL:

The Mets have been shut out 3 times

The Mets have scored less than 3 runs 8 times

The Mets have scored 3 runs or less 10 times

That is a huge impact, and I for one believe it's causal despite the relatively small sample size (he's been on the DL 14 games).

Now here's the thing--I am telling you now to not give up hope.

We have to weather one more week of this and then...

Carlos Beltran comes back

Jose Reyes comes back

Ollie will be back this week, and I believe both John Maine and Carlos Delgado will be back within 3-4 weeks.

Then Putz....

Maybe Billy Wagner....

Pagan comes back soon to solidify the bench...

It is incredibly hard to be an optimist right now--and I'm not asking you for optimism--I am asking to not crucify this team right now...get to the break a few games out, and then let the health parade begin.

The Mets will win the division by 5 games.

Bookmark this and come back in late September.

I'll be here.

20 Games in 20 Days Nears Close

The Mets are 3 games away from finishing a brutal 20 games in 20 days stretch.

During the streak they played:

3 on the road at Baltimore (1-2)
3 at home against Tampa Bay (1-2)
4 at home against St Louis (3-1)
3 at home against the Yankees (0-3)
3 on the road against the Brewers (1-2)
1 on the road at the Pirates (1-0)

Thus far they are 7-10, and it's next stop Philly for the team that refuses to quit.

During the 20 game streak they lost 5 in a row at one point, and many were writing them off for dead.

Now they've won 2 in a row thanks to a great start by Mike Pelfrey and a suddenly hot Ryan Church and sit just one game behind the floundering Phillies.

I've been watching baseball a Loooooong time, and I've never seen a team this beat up and injured have to endure such a grueling marathon of games.

If the Mets can take 2 of 3 from the Phils it will be one of the more impressive achivements we've seen in a while.

After this series the Mets get a day off, then it's home for 6 games against the Dodgers and Reds before the All-Star break.

After the break there is a good chance that Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran come back, and we could see Ollie as soon as next week pending the outcome of his final tuneup start. We're still not sure on John Maine.

Delgado should be back by early August, and JJ Putz and even Billy Wagner are working hard to come back in the next one to two months.

Call me crazy, but the Mets are weathering this storm...one game at a time.

With a full roster by mid-August, there's no question that this team will be the cream of the NL East.

Is This the Start of Something Special?

I think so.

The Mets have suffered so much early season adversity.

There are the well documented injuries to key stars and role players, errors, both mental and physical, and of course, the new ballpark.

But here we are, on June 14th, 3 games out of first place and a scant half game out of the wild card.

And look at the stats for the team--this banged up team:

2009 National League Ranks

AVG	R	OBP	SLG	OPS	SB
.280	284	.362	.414	.775	63
1st	5th	1st	4th	2nd	1st
ERA	BAA	OPS	SV	WHIP	QS
3.96	.253	.714	18	1.37	34
6th	6th	4th	5th	8th	6th

Those are fine numbers--just imagine how much better they'll get when Jose Reyes gets back.

My friend Rob Harding at Hot Foot looks back at a few games the Mets should have won.

And that gets to my point--did we get our bad games out of the way early? Is all that early adversity over?

Speaking of Friday night, my buddy Steve over at Kranepool Society sums up my exact feelings about Luis Castillo and the Friday situation.

I was very upset for about an hour, but really, after seeing how Luis handled himself, I am really pulling for him to have a great stretch here. Adversity shows you the character of a man, and Luis has absolutely handled this like a man.

So let's play a little "what if".

What if Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, JJ Putz, Billy Wagner, and Oliver Perez all come back over the next 8-10 weeks.

If this current Mets roster can hold the fort and keep pace with the Phils, odds are that good fortune will turn their way.

What if from here on out balls will be caught, bases will be ran, and the hits will all drop?

What if the shoe goes on the other foot and the Mets catch the breaks?

Was the Fernando Nieve start the beginning of that string of good luck?

Remember--this team has competed very well against the Phils, Yanks and Red Sox...we're a hair of bad luck (and better execution) from winning two more from the Phils and the Friday night game against the Yanks.

Again, it's June 14th...let's play great ball and keep fighting--the same type of fight they showed yesterday.

They say that hope springs eternal....here's to hoping.

Mets Mates on Ollie: Yes, Yes, Yes

One thing is certain: Oliver Perez has the full backing and support of his 2008 teammates and coaches.

"Bring him back!" is the universal rallying cry.

Billy Wagner: "He's possibly one of those guys who can win the Cy Young award every year," Billy Wagner told The Post yesterday. "It's just, which Ollie is going to show up?

"Oliver has got No. 1 stuff, but he's probably that No. 3 or 4 type pitcher because he can't stay focused for pitching against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He's that No. 1 guy for when you're playing against the Phillies and Braves or in the playoffs and you've got to get that win."

Johan Santana: "Oliver is a guy that has learned a lot from last year and we had a good time with him,” Santana said.

“Hopefully Omar finds a way to keep him. He’s learned a lot of things from last year. He learned that every game is important. I told him from the beginning it doesn’t matter what you do tomorrow. Learn from today and you’ll be fine tomorrow.

“Sometimes he lets his emotions take over. I’m pretty sure he’ll improve this year. Hopefully Omar finds a way to keep him in NewYork. He’s not just a great teammate. He’s going to be a good pitcher, too.”

Rick Peterson: "You want a guy who can dominate in your division, and he's only going to get better," Peterson said. "If I'm a Mets fan or in the front office, I'm very happy if Oliver Perez is returning."

Bottom line is the Mets know they have a chance to win now--and that chance is better with Ollie in tow.

This is Why We Play the Games

For Mets fans it doesn't get a lot better than this.

It's been a tale of two seasons, and the second season--the one that matters--has been an amazing and joyful ride.

Fresh off a spectacular 8 game road streak, the Mets are 3 games up on the Phillies with 22 games remaining.

15 of those games are home and 7 on the road.

The biggest three of those remaining games are this weekend, against the Phillies, at home, with everything at stake.

Firs the pitching matchups:

Tonight -- RHP Brett Myers (8-10, 4.40) vs. RHP Mike Pelfrey (13-8, 3.66), 7:10 p.m., CW11.
Saturday -- LHP Jamie Moyer (12-7, 3.80) vs. RHP Pedro Martinez (5-3, 5.07), 3:55 p.m., Fox.
Sunday -- LHP Cole Hamels (12-8, 3.01) vs. LHP Johan Santana (12-7, 2.71), 8:07 p.m., ESPN.

Three terrific matchups. The Mets have an advantage in game 1, but games 2 and 3 are all even. Once again it looks like the games will come down to tests of will.

Offensively the Mets are hitting their stride, with several key players hot at the right time.

Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Brian Schneider and Daniel Murphy are all stroking the ball well.

If David Wright and Ryan Church join in that mix the Mets have the most potent lineup in the NL, perhaps in all of baseball.

The Mets pitching, especially the starters, have been dominant of late, going 11-1 in their last 19 games. Many of those have been deep games, 7, 8, 9 inning affairs.

The bullpen, who seem to play hero or goat each game, have settled in to a nice rhythm and pitched 15 1/3 consecutive innings of scoreless ball. Thank you Luis Ayala, Joe Smith and Brian Stokes.

This weekend's scenario is somewhat reminiscent of 2007, but there is also a much different feel. The Phils were chasing the Mets, and eventually overtook them--this we know.

The differences are many--last September the Mets were a banged up and tired team. In 2008 there are some key injuries--John Maine and Billy Wagner--but the majority of the team is healthy and fresh, even after the dog days of August.

In 2007 the team looked flat and lacked leadership. In 2008 Carlos Delgado, Johan Santana, Jerry Manuel and others have kept the ship on a straight and true course.

Jerry Manuel, above all, deserves praise for his lineups, his communication, the way he's kept everyone engaged and fresh, and for his ability to judge a situation and manage a ballgame.

Thus far he has passed every test with flying colors, but as we all know, there is one major regular season test remaining--win the NL East--this weekend is part of the final section of his exam.

Good Morning Mets Fans!

It was a tale of two games in one.

In the first game, Brewers starter Ben Sheets quickly mowed down the Mets lineup. The Mets had one real chance to do some damage, and it came early.

In the first inning the red-hot Jose Reyes led off the game with a double.

Jose Reyes continues to lead the NL in hits with 180. He is in the midst of an 11-game hitting streak, going 18 for 50 over that span with 6 games with double-digit hits.

Mistake 1 followed--Daniel Murphy tried to bunt Reyes over--a horrible play. There are no outs in the top of the 1st, Reyes gets to third on anything, Murphy is a lefty going against a righty, etc, etc. Murphy popped out.

Mistake 2 followed--Jose Reyes gets thrown out trying to steal third. Again, Reyes scores on any hit David Wright can come up with there, so stealing third so early in the game doesn't really help the team as much as it can hurt--risk-reward--not worth the risk.

Mistake 3--DW Ks. Not really a mistake, but it shows how a promising inning quickly went south.

It was a pitching duel for 6 innings--Johan Santana allowed a first inning run, and then the two starters traded zeros for a while. The game had a "feel" to it, and for Mets fans it wasn't a good one as the Brewers seemed just a little bit sharper, both pitching and hitting.

Then two quirky things happened--in the 5th inning Ben Sheets left the game with tightness in his "left groin". I didn't realize I had two groins! Woohoo! I got two groins!

Then, in the 6th, Santana allowed his second run of the game on a balk with runners on second and third. I was watching, of course, when the balk occurred, and Brian Schneider was absolutely changing the signs or doing something with his fingers just as Johan went into his set. Santana stepped back, but it was too late--balk called. Strange play and the Mets were down 2-0 after 6 innings.

Overall Santana pitched a heck of a game--2 ER, 10 Ks and only 1 BB against a Brewer team that has the second best home record in the NL.

At this point the "first game" was over--Brewers 2, Mets 0. Fortunately, the first game didn't count.

In the "second game" the Mets took over.

They scored their first run in the 7th, but it was the 8th inning, with a Carlos Delgado blast, that put the Mets on top to stay.

What more can really be said about Carlos Delgado?

• Most home runs and RBIs in baseball since June 27th? Check.
• NL MVP candidate? Check.
• Leader of the team? Check.
• Playing a great first base? Check.
• More vocal and a great cheerleader for his club? Check.
• Still looks like the "Hats for Bats" guy from the movie Major League? Check.

Carlos did it again yesterday--with Eric Gagne on the mound, brutal late afternoon shadows, and his team in need of a hit, Delgado saw a fastball and, with one mighty flick of his wrists, deposited the ball into the rightfield stands and electrified all of Met Nation.

"Carlos has been amazing," New York manager Jerry Manuel said. "If he's swinging it well, he seems to come up at the right time and put a good swing on it. He's been outstanding."

"Probably the worst shadows that I've been involved with since I've been in professional baseball, but it goes the same way for both teams," Delgado said. "It was pretty tough, but whatever. We got it done."

"Good teams do this," Delgado added. "It's important. It shows that you can do it. Ideally, you want to be ahead but if you're not you've got to put together some good at-bats, get some baserunners and come up with a big hit. It says a lot about the character and the will we have with this ballclub."

The Mets added a run on a Carlos Beltran single and a Ryan Church double. The bullpen came on in relief of Santana and shut the door with 5 Ks in 3 scoreless innings.

Nelson Figueroa pitched the 7th for the win, Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano looked terrific in striking out the side in the 8th, and Luis Ayala earned his 4th save as a Met with a flamethrowing 9th.

"They stepped up and attacked the hitters," Jerry Manuel said. "Threw strikes. I felt that going in, a lot of our right handers appear to match up well with this team. They're a very aggressive hitting club. We were able to get it done."

It wasn't all good news for the Mets though. David Wright continues to struggle a bit, Reyes was thrown out at third and picked off of first, and Carlos Beltran bruised his knee on a slide at home in which he collided with a woefully out of place Ed Rapuano, who got caught up watching something other than what he was supposed to be watching.

But let's not nitpick--this was a huge win, all in all a great day--the Phillies lost to the Nats, allowing the Mets to stretch their lead to two games, and Billy Wagner had a successful throwing session.

The next 5 games just may tell the real tale of this season. Just as yesterday's game was the tale of two games in one, the 2008 Mets are playing the tale of two seasons.

Only the second tale matters.

Enjoy your coffee!

Good Morning Mets Fans!

Some games just get the juices flowing, and last night's thrilling come from behind victory over the Braves was certainly one of them.

Ollie Perez started for the Mets and didn't have his best stuff. He gutted it out and only gave up 3 runs in 6 2/3, but he also walked 5 and gave up 7 hits. Still, he battled all the way, and the Braves scored all 3 of their runs in the third inning.

The old Ollie might have imploded early on, but this "Post Peterson" version did everything he could and somehow managed to put up a bunch of zeros for his team before exiting in the 7th with runners on first and third and one out, and the Mets on the wrong side of the score in a 3-2 game.

"I was all over the place," said Perez, "but the guys picked me up."

Newly acquired Luis Ayala had his "welcome to the Mets moment." It was a huge spot--one where the Mets bullpen hasn't always succeeded in recent times.

Taking the ball from his countryman, Ayala immediately knocked down Omar Infante with his first pitch. He mixed in a plus fastball with his signature sinker and got both Infante and Brian McCann to hit short popups. Absolutely changed the entire feel of the game. The Braves went from poised to extend their lead, to frustration and tightness.

The Shea faithful rewarded the newcomer with a thundering, and well-deserved, ovation.

"That probably kind of changed the momentum right there," Mets manager Jerry Manuel said. "To hold them right there probably was the turning point in the game."

The bullpen was efficient the rest of the way. Aaron Heilman pitched the 8th, and Scott Shoeneweis took his turn in the 9th in the "closer by committee" lottery. He had an outstanding inning.

"It was nice to be on the other end of one of those games," Schoeneweis said. "Somebody else's bullpen gave it up and ours didn't. Amazing how that works sometimes."

After Heilman held the Braves in check, the Mets stormed out in the 8th and opened the floodgates. The surging first-place Mets loaded the bases twice and did something they haven't done often with the sacks full this year--they delivered.

Carlos Delgado had the big hit--a smoked opposite field double that banged loudly off the fence and plated two.

Mr. Professional , Damion Easley, added to the fun after Fernando Tatis was intentionally walked. Easley hit a solid line drive single that plated two more. Ramon Castro joined in the fun with an RBI double.

All told the Mets scored 5 and pulled victory from the jaws of defeat---a championship caliber 8th inning effort.

"Good teams win these kinds of games," said Delgado. "They find a way to battle back and win these games. You're not going to win them all, but it's nice when you do."

It was a thrilling, scintillating, pump up the players and fans type of win, and it kept the Mets 1.5 games up on Philly and stretched the lead over the fading Fish to 4.5 games.

Of course it wasn't all good news for the Mets (is it ever?)...the inflammation in closer Billy Wagner's elbow is getting worse, not better, and he is shut down indefinitely. His teammates realize how important he is, but they also believe in themselves and their ability to get the job done.

"This is about picking each other up," Delgado said. "Billy's a big part of our bullpen, but we've got to do what we can do until he comes back."

Enjoy your coffee!

Scoreboard
Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Atlanta (56-70)	0	0	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	3	9	0
N.Y. Mets (69-57) «	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	5	x	7	8	0

Player of the Game

New York

C. Delgado	AB	4
	R	1
	H	1
	HR	0
	RBI	2

New York Mets
Hitters	AB	R	H	RBI	BB	SO	LOB	AVG
Jose Reyes, SS	2	1	0	0	3	0	0	.303
Nick Evans, LF	3	1	2	0	1	0	1	.276
Endy Chavez, PR-RF	1	1	0	0	0	0	3	.270
David Wright, 3B	2	1	0	1	1	2	1	.291
Carlos Beltran, CF	4	1	2	0	0	0	0	.275
Carlos Delgado, 1B	4	1	1	2	0	1	2	.255
Fernando Tatis, RF-LF	3	1	1	1	1	0	0	.294
Damion Easley, 2B	4	0	1	2	0	1	2	.262
Ramon Castro, C	3	0	1	1	1	0	0	.263
Oliver Perez, P	2	0	0	0	0	1	1	.122
Luis Ayala, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
a- Daniel Murphy, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	.419
Aaron Heilman, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
b- Argenis Reyes, PH	1	0	0	0	0	0	2	.272
Scott Schoeneweis, P	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000
Totals	30	7	8	7	7	5
a-grounded out for Ayala in the 7th
b-lined out for Heilman in the 8th
Batting
2B - Carlos Delgado (25, Ohman), Fernando Tatis (11, Reyes), Ramon Castro (6, Tavarez)
SF - David Wright (9)
RBI - David Wright (96), Carlos Delgado 2 (81), Fernando Tatis (37), Damion Easley 2 (37), Ramon Castro (24)
2-OUT RBI - Fernando Tatis (8)
Team LOB - 7
Fielding
DP - Wright-Reyes-Easley

New York Mets
Pitchers	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	HR	ERA
Oliver Perez	6.1	7	3	3	5	3	0	3.93
Luis Ayala	0.2	0	0	0	0	0	0	5.71
Aaron Heilman (W,3-7)	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	5.48
Scott Schoeneweis	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	2.98
IBB - Jones by Oliver Perez
Pitches-Strikes - Oliver Perez 114-66, Luis Ayala 8-4, Aaron Heilman 20-11, Scott Schoeneweis 14-10
Ground Balls-Fly Balls - Oliver Perez 7-8, Aaron Heilman 1-2
Batters Faced - Oliver Perez 30, Luis Ayala 2, Aaron Heilman 5, Scott Schoeneweis 4

Game Information