Mulligan

Can we call a do over? At some point, hearing the Mets say a few games do not matter is going to get old. The collective baseball world is resuming their usual positions, which is bent over in laughter at the Mets.

"Just four games, man, just four games," shortstop José Reyes said. "Nothing to worry about."

and

"I've been around baseball a long, long time," Randolph said. "Streaks, good or bad, don't affect me that much. You have to grind it out every day and keep playing. We've shown some fight."

Just like you want to get your first hit of the season out of the way and the first homer out of the season out of the way, you want to get that first win badly. On top of it all, you want to get that first win before the home opener. Heading home to a series in which the Mets are slated to fact Andy Pettite and Roger Clemens, there is no way the Mets want to head there 0 - 6 or 1 - 5. While calling any games must win situations this early seems absolutely stupid, they kind of are.

No pressure Heilman. It's only what could be your last chance the impress the Mets and a pivotal game for the team early in this season. Heilman may get as many as four starts. If by some miracle of miracles he can succeed, do not think for a second that when Benson comes back, he won't have a shot at the rotation later in the year. With little invested in Ishii and his propensity to walk, Heilman can look at this as a great opportunity.

Finally, although I'm sick of looking at the bright side of things, Victor Zambrano looked great. Sure he went five innings with a Leiter-like pitch count, but for anyone watching his first inning strikeout to Chipper Jones, that is what he is capable of. He threw a nasty pitch to Larry in the first for strike three. It was a fastball that started inside and came back in over the plate. It was not minimal movement either. The thing looked like a screwball and it was his damn fastball. Obviously walking four guys in five innings is horrendous, but us Met fans will accept baby steps at this point.

In one minor insignificant complaint that had no bearing on the outcome of the game, I'm confused why Willie would pull Aybar in favor of Koo in the 7th inning. Aybar was looking good and touching 94 mph on the gun. There were two outs, a guy on second with Adam LaRoche up. Willie pulls out his "Art Howe Guide to Management" and calls for the lefty Koo out of the pen. Promptly, Bobby Cox goes to Julio Franco who absolutely causes people fits. The ageless wonder has hit .288 against our Mets in 118 at-bats with 16 RBIs and as a manger you had to foresee him coming in. Koo is not a lefty specialist and can get righties, but why you take Aybar out who was facing a young lefty in favor for a Koo facing a veteran righty who likes to beat up on the Mets is beyond me.

* * *

Man-Ram says he will play three more years, then he will be done.

The D-Backs still remain intent in signing Stephen Drew.

Diamondbacks officials have been trading calls with agent Scott Boras in an effort to continue negotiations with unsigned first-round draft pick Stephen Drew and the sides could meet face to face next week in Los Angeles to speed up a resolution.

The B-Mets fell to a stacked Akron team 6-5. Bobby Malek went 3 for 4 in the loss.

I've seen heaven and it's at Burger King.



Wake up to a mouthful of breakfast with the Enormous Omelet Sandwich. Two slices of melted American cheese, two fluffy eggs, three crispy strips of bacon, and a sizzling sausage patty, piled high on a toasted bun. The Enormous Omelet Sandwich from BURGER KING®. So big, breakfast will never be the same.

Mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm, bacon and sausage...