METS LEIT UP MARLINS

Mets 10, Marlins 1 (NYM: 8-8, FLA: 9-7 - 1 GB)

Things are starting to turn the Mets' way. During the first week of the season, the Mets couldn't buy a break. On Thursday night, the baseball gods more than made up for that as the Mets cruised to a 10-1 win. Here's what I mean:

The Marlins jumped out to a 1-0 lead on Pedro Martinez* and the Mets early - Juan Pierre led off the game with a double, and came around to score to make it 1-0 in the first. So right away you think, with Al Leiter on the mound, having shut down the Mets just 5 days ago, and with the Mets' bats having been silenced on Wednesday night, that this won't be a good night.

But in the second inning, Cliff Floyd walks. Then he steals second! Wait a second, you think...wait a second. Then future Hall of Famer David Wright walks. Then Ramon Castro drops down a bunt, which actually is a pop-up, but it floats over Leiter's head, and lands in between Leiter, Carlos Delgado, and Luis Castillo!! Bases are loaded, Doug Mientkiewicz steps in, and BAM grand slam, 4-0 Mets. That's just the kind of thing that hadn't been happening that first week of the season - if it was the first week, the pop-up would have been caught, and both Mets on base would have been doubled off (or tripled off, as the hypothetical case may be).

So anyway, there are still no outs in the second, and after Mientkiewicz, Victor Diaz walks. Pedro* sacrifices him over, and then THE GREATEST BALLPLAYER WHO EVER LIVED, Jose Reyes, singles him home. Then Kaz Matsui singles. Then Carlos Beltran* hits a fly ball to left, scoring Reyes, and on the play Matsui even tags up to second. Then up comes Cliff Floyd (again - he led off the inning, remember), and he singles home Matsui. Then, with the Mets now leading 7-1, he again steals second base!! Wright grounded out to third to end the inning, but the Mets sent 11 batters to the plate, scored seven runs, and stole two bases.

Let's put this in perspective...Marlins starters had the best ERA in the league - the Mets did some damage to that. The Marlins hadn't given up more than four runs in a game so far ALL YEAR....the Mets got seven in the second inning!!! The Mets went on to a 10-1 win - Carlos Beltran* added a 2-run homer. A couple of thoughts overall:

It's really awesome when the Mets' offense gets going like it did tonight, and on Tuesday night in Philadelphia. I think they're capable of doing it against good pitchers...unfortunately we haven't really seen that yet. We've seen it against Vicente Padilla (who has owned the Mets in the past...let's keep that in mind), and Al Leiter, who they were seeing for the second time in less than a week. But the offense can be explosive...they just need to be a little more consistent.

Here's why I'm not so bothered whenever David Wright gets into a slump like he is in right now. He still gets on base. In Thursday night's game, Wright walked ahead of Mientkiewicz's grand slam. He went 0-for-2, but still got on base and scored. Reyes will hit his way out of slumps...Wright will work his way out of slumps with patience.

Doug Mientkiewicz is a bit of a hothead. I've brought up this point earlier in the season - during spring training. I mentioned he has a bit of a big mouth - I think it was probably around the World Series baseball controversy. But in his next at-bat after the grand slam Thursday night against Leiter, the first pitch was high and slightly inside (sort of like Manny versus Clemens in Game 3 of the ALCS in 2003). In other words, just high. Mientkiewicz took a couple of steps in Leiter's direction and stared at him. I don't think Leiter was sending a message. He was trailing 7-1 at the time, and couldn't find the plate. I think it was just a high pitch...but Mientkiewicz took issue.

Also intriguing, was the fact that Cliff Floyd stole two bases in the second inning. The first one I understand completely - Leiter has a long motion to the plate, and doesn't hold runners well. The Mets were down 1-0, so Floyd took the opportunity to put himself in scoring position. Great work by him. But then, with the Mets up 7-1, in the SAME INNING, Floyd did it again. I thought that broke one of those unwritten baseball rules (I don't mind - I love when the Mets run it up like that...I'm just pointing it out). I wonder if Floyd feels slighted by Leiter leaving the Mets, or if there's some bad blood there, and Floyd just wanted to prove to Leiter he could steal the bag. Just wondering. I have a feeling this win by the Mets got in the Marlins' craw a bit. Jack McKeon got very upset when the Marlins got crushed by the Red Sox in 2003 (I think that game was 25-7). This one was different, but embarrassing to Florida nonetheless. I wouldn't be surprised if there's some animosity between the Mets and Marlins the rest of the season.

That's all I have for tonight. The Mets take on the Washington Nationals for the first time this weekend at Shea.