Sorry About Your Life

I made the trek down to Philadelphia to see the Mets get ripped apart for the second straight game by the Phillies. The Philly fans, who root for a sub .500 team and have to jump at any chance they can get to enjoy their team beating a team of the Mets ilk, took every chance to let me know how much my favorite team sucked. That's all well and fine. The Mets got shellacked two games in a row and there wasn't much I can do. There are times you have to just grin and bear it, although I do prefer that my antagonists have all their teeth.

One trash talking girl was particularly creative. She disregarded the fact there was a baseball game going on and told my friend "sorry about your life". Now, his life sucks, but not because of baseball. I just found it hysterical she would just go for the jugular and try and tear down his entire being while we were hanging out on the concourse after giving up on the game. Good times for all. I do give the Philly fans credit because they showed up in droves to a weekday game and were into it.

One thing that I did notice is that the Mets have become the Braves...well, this year at least. As I was at the game taking some abuse from Philly fans, I was reminding them that their team was under .500, double digit games behind the Mets, still looking for their first World Series win, not going to make the playoffs (9.86% chance), and still just an all around big pile of suck. Then one kid said, "yeah, you will make the playoffs but you'll never win the World Series". That is what Met fans have been saying about the Braves for years and that is somehow supposed to make up for the fact your team isn't very good and will not be going to the playoffs while the team you hate does. What is even more bizarre is the fact that I kind of sounded like a Yankee fan. It is strange how things come full circle, but I like being here.

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Brian Bannister's last AAA start was very bad. This one? More like we all expected. Bannister should be dominating AAA at this point and he went eight innings and allowed three hits, no runs, and no walks while striking out seven.

Fernando Martinez went 0 for 5, Mike Carp went 1 for 4 with his twelfth homerun, a walk, and two RBIs, and Jesus Flores went 2 for 4 with a run scored and a double in St. Lucie's loss to Clearwater.

The Mets and the Diamondbacks are still talking about Shawn Green.

The Mets and D-Backs have talked about a deal involving Green, and with the no-trade clause looking like less of an obstacle, it could come down to money as Aug. 31 approaches. Green will earn $9.5 million next season, with a $2 million option for 2008, and the Mets would want the D-Backs to pick up at least half of that money.

This would definitely be a savvy move by Omar and one that is looking increasingly important day by day.

Pedro might be headed for the DL.

Despite the Mets' optimism, the bottom line is that Martinez has been bothered by tightness in his calf for at least his last three starts, including Monday's, when his leg was definitely a problem. Martinez did not return after hitting two batters with the bases loaded and giving up six runs in the first inning of a 13-0 loss to the Phillies.

I'm going to state the obvious, but Pedro needs to be healthy. If he needs to go on the DL, so be it. Get him healthy and done with these lingering injuries as much as can be. It is concerning enough that he has his 99.99999999% torn labrum, a hip issue, a toe issue, and now a calf issue. He will never be 100% healthy for the rest of his career probably, but he needs to be as healthy as he can. Enough saving face about Pedro and his health, get him more rest.

Talk about a different view of things that small market teams have.

Wolff, in his second year of ownership, is hoping for his first postseason and commended the coaching staff and players for pushing forward despite the flood of injuries.

"If we win the division, great," Wolff said. "If we don't, we'll still have a great year."

The Duque needed to step up and it's safe to say he didn't.

"If it was a good pitch, they hit it good," Hernandez said. "If it was a bad pitch, they hit it good."

However, he didn't get much help in the field either.

Lastings Milledge misplayed three balls in right field that led to three runs, and Chris Woodward misjudged a line drive in left. None of those plays, Randolph said, were the result of not hustling.

Had they been, there would have been no laughter.

"It happens once in a while," Randolph said. "We've been crisp all year."

Jose Reyes was the lone bright spot and very bright one at that. From yesterday's post:

If Reyes steals one more base and lifts his average to .300 (he was at .295 entering Monday's game), he would finish with better than 50 stolen bases, 20 doubles, 15 triples, 10 homers and a .300 average -- making him only the third player in history to do that, joining Honus Wagner (1908) and Willie McGee (1985).

Reyes now has a .299/.354/.496 line and is on pace for 137 runs scored, 32 doubles, 21 triples, 20 homers, 68 stolen bases, and 82 RBIs. How many players have hit over .300, scored 130 times knocked 30 doubles, 20 triples, and 20 homers, stole 60 bases and hit over 80 RBIs? I have no idea, but I think it is safe to safe Reyes could be the first.

The Mets are in dire need of having Tom Glavine go seven innings tonight, but that is a tall order in Citizen's Bank Park.

Ramon Castro is on his way back.

Catcher Ramon Castro took soft-toss batting practice yesterday at Port St. Lucie, Fla., but still had problems with his strained oblique muscle. "The report I got was he didn't look comfortable," Randolph said. It had been hoped Castro would have been cleared to play in a rehab game, but that's still a few days away. ... Left fielder Cliff Floyd is still not ready to do anything other than work on an exercise bike or swim therapy to help his strained left Achilles' tendon.

Why trade Nady for Roberto if he is not even going to get used? He has been used in four losses and two wins so far and looks like he is not getting much responsibility. The Mets weakened their team to bolster the pen with a guy they are not using. Why not just give those spots to Heath Bell? I liked the move because of what the Mets received in return with bullpen help and Oliver Perez as a low risk, really high reward, but if you don't trust Roberto enough to use him, the move was not really good at all.

This was the second time I was at Citizen's Bank Park and the first time this season. Last year, they had Geno's cheesesteaks. This year? Rick's. Apparently Pat Olivieri, who is the purveyor of Pat's cheesesteaks, has a cousin Rick Olivieri. He wanted nothing more in his life to grow up and make cheesesteaks and his wish finally came true. Rick decided to cash in on the family name in 1995 with his very own cheesesteak venture. The result? A weak imposter. Very perplexing move by the Phillies.

Cheesesteak-gate aside, it is still an amazing park. We were able to get some tickets for the Hall of Fame Club which is a glass enclosed, air conditioned, and carpeted part of the ball park. It has a full bar, plasma TVs, and sit-down eating as well as some other perks. Coors field had the same thing and I hope Shea has one. As of now, the Mets have the Diamond Club, but this just is way different. You can buy a one game tickets for the Hall of Fame Club so anyone can go and you can get a seat behind home plate with Press-level seating and youcan walk from your seat to enclosed area all game. Good stuff. I hope the Wilpons took note.