I'm not sure what else there is to say except "more of the same". Again, the Mets weren't hitting. Again, the Phillies outplayed the Mets. The only difference on Wednesday night was that Tom Glavine pitched very well - it just wasn't enough, the way the Mets have been hitting, and the Phillies shut out the Mets for the second time in three games.No one is hitting right now. No one. Not David Wright, not Carlos Beltran, not Carlos Delgado.
Let's not overreact. Yes, the Phillies have picked up three games on the Mets - but this is just a bad stretch for the Mets - by no means is it going to cost them the division. The problem would be how much the Mets let it affect them. If they're able to bounce back Thursday afternoon, then this weekend against the Rockies, it'll be like these three games never happened. But if this three-game losing streak turns into a stretch where the Mets lose 10 of 11 or some such thing, then we have problems.
To make matters worse, the Mets placed Pedro Martinez* on the DL Wednesday (again) with the calf strain from Monday night, where he gave up 6 runs in one inning. Like Paul LoDuca reportedly told Pedro* during that game - we need him healthy in October, not right now, so this is not necessarily bad news for the Mets. If it turns into longer than a 15-day DL stint, then, again, we'll start worrying. Heath Bell was recalled to take Pedro*'s roster spot. At least there's some bullpen help right there.
The Mets turn to John Maine to stop the slide on Thursday afternoon, against Scott Mathieson of the Phillies.
MAGIC NUMBER: Another day, another day of no changes in the magic number. It stays at 32. For the Mets to go back to New York with a magic number of 30 would be quite an accomplishment at this rate.
CORRECTION: A month or so ago, when the Mets played the Astros, during a game where John Maine shut the Astros out, I was proud to report that the Astros' announcers gave the stat that John Maine was the first player in Major League history to have a last name spelled exactly like a state. I thought and thought, and figured, though hard to believe, it must be true - football had Joe Montana, but baseball hasn't had Montanas. I told my dad this, and he said, "What about Washington?" And immediately I thought of Claudell Washington. So there's a flaw here in this stat - I'm wondering if they meant first pitcher with a name spelled exactly like a state. Then I think they might be right.
THE KID'S KIDS: I must have missed a half-game somewhere, because even with St. Lucie's loss Tuesday night, they are tied with Daytona atop the division, in the second-half race. On Wednesday, St. Lucie beat Clearwater, 7-2. They're a half-game ahead of Daytona, pending the outcome of the Cubs' game. (They're tied at 4 in the 8th at press time.)
ALFONZO'S COMEBACK: A day game after a night game - but it didn't matter for Edgardo Alfonzo. After swinging such a hot bat lately, he didn't start for the second game in a row. He did strike out in a 9th inning pinch hit appearance, dropping his average to .273.
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