Thanks All

It was a dissappointing end to a very exciting Mets season.

On Sunday the bats never got going, and other than a dramatic game tying homerun from Carlos Beltran, the Mets couldn't get very much going, losing a 4-2 heartbreaker on a day they had to win to force a one game playoff with the Brewers.

So take a break, catch your breath, and start looking to next year.

The Mets "superstar core", which consists of Johan Santana, David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Carlos Beltran will all be here for 2009.

Toss in Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church, John Maine, and Mike Pelfrey, and it's easy to see that the Mets will again contend in '09.

There are issues to be addressed, primarily in the bullpen and in the starting pitching staff, but we're confident that next year's team will be even better than this years.

Thanks to all the readers here for your continued support. There is much more to come!

Good Morning Mets Fans!

You're wet, you're cold, and you stood up through the latter part of the game, which featured two Mets comebacks and some timely hitting from some unlikely heroes.

The Mets bounced back from a demoralizing loss to win a game that the Cubs had all but gift wrapped for them before the opening pitch.

For the Cubs it was a lineup of "who's who?" and, on paper it least, it seemed as if the Mets would win handily. But games aren't won and lost on paper--they are won and lost from the pitcher's mound, the batter's box, the dugout and the field.

Pedro Martinez, in what could be his last game as a Met, pitched poorly. He allowed yet another first inning homerun and the pressure on the team began.

If this was a rehab game people would have praised Pedro for finding the strike zone with regularity after his rough start and throwing a lot of pitches that bended beautifully. He had 9 Ks total, but also walked 4--he started poorly and finished poorly with a good "middle".

"I appreciate their support, in case this is my last game, my last start," Martinez said. "I wish I could continue and come back with the Mets. But this isn't the time to think about those things. ... I couldn't go by without saying thanks."

Pedro was partially undone by the bullpen. Because of their inability to consistently get the job done, Pedro came out for the 7th, with the game tied at 3-3, and promplty allowed a walk and a single. He was replaced by--here's your holy sh*t moment--Ricardo Rincon--who promptly gave up a 3-run homerun to the Cubs Micah Hoffpauir. The shock left the wet crowd stunned in disbelief--here we go again.

The bullpen settled down after that and it was left to the Mets offense to slug their way to victory--this time they accomplished their mission.

Ryan Church had a big night and had the slide of his life to get a run home.

Robinson Cancel capped a two-out rally with a clutch hit--easily the biggest of his big league career. And Ramon Martinez, now the second baseman of the moment, had another clutch hit.

Yes Mets fans--the key players on this night were Ricardo Rincon, Robinson Cancel and Ramon Martinez. Welcome to hell.

In the bottom of the 9th the regular guys did their thing--Jose Reyes led off with a single, Daniel Murphy decided to put on the worst bunting display in history for the first out, David Wright struck out, and Carlos Beltran hit a rope into rightfield to drive home Reyes with the winning run. Jubiliation, euphoria, a freakin win.

It was a great win, and one of the ugliest, yet most exciting, wins of the year.

So now the Mets get the Feisty Fish for the finale. It will be wet, fish like water, they will play hard...a test of wills.

Mike Pelfrey is on the hill tonight--weather permitting--and one thing is for sure--the Mets will play hard--whether that's enough remains to be seen.

The Mets are still tied with the Brewers for the Wild Card lead and are now just 1 game back of the Phillies...anything, and I do mean anything, can happen over these next 3 days.

One thing is certain--whoever sweeps is in--the rest of it is a crapshoot.

Enjoy your coffee!

Scoreboard
Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Chi. Cubs (96-62)	2	0	1	0	0	0	3	0	0	6	11	1
N.Y. Mets (88-71) «	1	0	0	2	0	0	1	2	1	7	10	1

Player of the Game

New York

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

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.

Mike Pelfrey Dominates

Complete game for Big Pelf, his second complete game in a row.

Mike Pelfrey dominated from start to finish. He is 3-0 with a 1.44 ERA in his last 3 starts and has only given up 10 walks in his last 11 outings.

Pelf is now 10-2 since June 1st...incredible.

Ladies and gentleman, the Mets have another ace!

Scoreboard
Final	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Houston (66-65)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	1	6	0
N.Y. Mets (73-59) «	3	0	0	0	0	1	3	2	x	9	9	0

Players of the Game

New York M. Pelfrey IP 9.0 H 6 ER 1 BB 0 K 6

New York C. Delgado AB 4 R 2 H 2 HR 2 RBI 6