LUCKY SEVEN

Mets 6, Cardinals 2 (NYM: 78-48, STL: 66-60)

There's an annoying interesting new trend out on the internet these days. I've seen it happening more and more often the past few months, and thought I'd trash it comment on it.

It's called a scratch-out, I think, where you write something stupid funny, then cross it out to write what you think would be "appropriate". When used sparingly, it can be tolerable effective. When overused, it can be downright awful slightly annoying. So I thought I'd use this tool in this posting, and then never again. Because most of the time I see this feature, I think to myself, 'Just save us all the trouble and hit delete.'

The Mets beat the mediocre unimpressive NL Central-leading Cardinals, 6-2, on Thursday at Shea, extending their winning streak to 7, tying a club record with their 11th straight home win, and improving to a season-best 30 games over .500. Remember when the Mets lost 3 out of 4 to the Phillies? They responded pretty well, no? The Phillies are up next. I'd watch out if I were them.

I owe a huge apology to Dave Williams. Maybe he needs to be on a good team to pitch well. Because that's all he's done in his past two starts as a Met - pitching very well. Williams gave up just 2 runs in 6-and-a-third innings, improving to 3-3 on the season with the win. Roberto Hernandez put in 1-and-2-thirds of scoreless relief - by far his best outing since re-joining the Mets. Billy Wagner was ready to go in the ninth with the Mets up 5-2, but the Mets scored in the bottom of the eighth, negating the save situation, so Guillermo Mota pitched the ninth - and he looked very good.

The Mets got another homer from Carlos Delgado, his 32nd of the year, a 2-run shot in the 5th inning to break the game open (right after the Cardinals had cut the Mets' lead to 3-2). David Wright is swinging the bat better - he was 1-for-3 with an RBI, flying out to the warning track in right field with the bases loaded, barely missing another Mets' grand slam (it was a sac fly).

The Mets' defense looked good, too. In the 4th, the Mets made back-to-back defensive gems. Endy Chavez ran down a fly ball, making a very tough catch look routine in left field (he did this in the 5th inning, too), and David Wright ended the inning diving to his left to snag a grounder, and getting the force at second (he also made a nice stab later in the game). Everything is clicking again for the Mets right now.

New Met Shawn Green even got in on the act in his first game, going 1-for-3, with an RBI single.
Here's a mundane neat fact that I made up about this year's Mets. It must be due to the talent on the left side of their infield, but I've never seen so many near-collisions in shallow left field. What I mean is, there are all these bloop shots down the left field line, in very shallow left, that Jose Reyes always goes back on, the left fielder (mostly Cliff Floyd or Endy Chavez) comes in hard on, and David Wright goes back on, and the three of them nearly collide. It happens, I'd say without exaggeration, at LEAST once every other game. Sometimes more than that. It happened twice in Thursday's game alone. And I think it's because of how good competitive Wright and Reyes are - they're always going to try to make the play, at risk of life and limb. You don't always get that out of the Mets. And it sure makes me happy nervous.

Friday night the Mets begin another series with the Phillies. Orlando Hernandez was scheduled to make the start, but the Mets decided to take advantage of their big lead and give him some rest. I guess that's the luxury of the situation they are in...but it's still a little sudden. Willie Randolph insists it's a precaution. Brian Bannister will get the start instead, which is exciting.

MAGIC NUMBER: For the first time, I heard a broadcaster (Gary Cohen) mention the magic number - after the Mets' win on Thursday night. I also saw it posted on another blogger's site. But I'm pretty sure I was the first. Just saying. The number is down to 22! The Mets win, coupled with the Cubs pummeling the Phillies Thursday afternoon, results in a 2-game swing. Just saying again...If the Mets sweep the Phillies this weekend, it could go down to 16.

INJURY UPDATE: I've been forgetting to mention this, and it's about a week old now, but there's an update. Last week, Ramon Castro was set to begin his rehab with the Brooklyn Cyclones, but twisted his knee while stretching, and was on crutches at the end of the game. It was thought to be serious, turns out it was. Castro has now been placed on the 60-day DL, so his season is probably over. The Mets made a move Thursday, signing Kelly Stinnett to a minor league contract. Stinnett started his career with the Mets, and found success with Arizona. If he can breathe hit, I would think he would replace Mike DeFelice on the major league roster.

BOSTON MEDIA: There's much going on right now regarding the Red Sox. First of all, their season is tanking, which hasn't happened in about 5 years this early, so the Boston media is loving it. (This city thrives more on failure than success. Really.) And Manny is being Manny Manny Ramirez is acting up. Put those elements together, and things are quite combustible. So here's the latest situation - Manny supposedly sat out a game because he was mad that an official scorer in Boston scored what should have been a hit for him as an error on Derek Jeter last Friday. The Red Sox say Manny is injured. I tend to believe he is really injured, because even with all of Manny's antics, this is a bit stupid.

So after Wednesday night's game, David Ortiz rips into the media, saying they're reporting rumor about Manny, and they're not doing their jobs responsibly, in so many words. I say, good for Ortiz, calling out the Boston media, because this is what they do - overblow stories, especially when Manny is involved. There are a couple of problems, though. First of all, this happened after a west coast game, so there's not a lot of write-up in the papers. There probably will be on Friday, but there's the chance this will die down by then (doubtful). The other problem is that Ortiz has the chance of being KILLED in the Boston media (I don't listen to local talk radio, because they're a bunch of morons, but I'm sure he's taking some abuse there today). He has the chance of being KILLED 1) because the media types have the power of the pen, and they don't like being insulted, even if a guy like Ortiz is speaking the truth, and 2) there's a chance Ortiz is siding with the wrong horse. He's friends with Manny, I know that. And I believe that Manny is hurt. BUT....I wouldn't put it past Manny that he would sit out a game because of an official scorer's decision. What I'm saying is, it could have happened. And that's enough to drain all the credibility out of Ortiz's statements.

I just wanted to address that, because the Boston media drives me nuts. So this story struck a nerve. I'll follow up if it merits a follow-up in the coming days.

THE KID'S KIDS: The doubleheaders are scheduled, after the past three games for the St. Lucie Mets were rained out. The Mets will play doubleheaders against Palm Beach next Monday and Wednesday. That's right at the end of the season, so my guess is Hall of Famer Gary Carter won't mess too much with his pitching for that doubleheader, making sure guys are in shape for the playoffs. Remember, the Mets have already clinched the first-half division title, so they probably won't worry too much about winning the second half, if it came down to that or being in good shape for the playoffs.

As for Thursday night, the Mets began a 4-game series with second-place Daytona. Daytona edged the Mets, 2-1, to move to within a half-game of the second-half division lead.

ALFONZO'S COMEBACK: A start at second base for Edgardo Alfonzo, and he didn't fare as well as he's been doing. His average is back down to .250, after an 0-for-4 with a strikeout.

MIDSUMMER BUMMER

American League 3, National League 2

I've tried looking up Trevor Hoffman's career numbers against the Mets, but I can't find them right now. I'm pretty sure, though, that he is a Met-killer - his numbers against the Mets have always been very good, if I remember correctly. And Hoffman killed the Mets in the All Star Game tonight, giving up 2 2-out runs in the 9th inning, handing home field advantage to the American League, and costing one Met an MVP award.

I was really hoping this game would be no contest - with my nemesis Kenny Rogers the starting pitcher for the American League, I was hoping the NL would rock him and jump out to a big, early lead. No such luck. The AL took a 1-0 lead on a Vladimir Guerrero homer in the second off Brad Penny (who knew Penny could throw such heat - he was consistently in the upper 90's...and threw almost nothing but fastballs). The NL tied it in the bottom half when David Wright hit his first (of many?) All Star Game homer - a solo shot into left field.

The NL then took the lead they would hold into the 9th when Carlos Beltran singled up the middle with Alfonso Soriano on second base....Soriano was nailed at the plate, but Beltran took second on the throw home. Then he stole third. And came home on a wild pitch, to give the NL a 2-1 lead. So there you have it - both Mets responsible for both NL runs - take your pick for the MVP, Wright for his homer, Beltran for his manufacturing a run. Paul LoDuca was ineffective at the plate, but he handled the pitchers well (and he's the first Mets catcher to not be involved in tipping off the AL hitters as to what's coming since Gary Carter). Also, Carlos Beltran's performance tonight resulted in my decision to take the asterisk away from his name forever. He played like an All Star (not to mention his regular season stats - 25 homers), and looks like the Carlos Beltran that has played for other teams. So he merits no more asterisk. I'm still superstitious though - I think the All Star break is the perfect time to do this because he has two days off still to not notice it, and still play like he thinks he has an asterisk still on his name. (That's my crazy logic....I had to write it.)

Phil Garner left a lot of bats on the bench for the NL - and decided to use Trevor Hoffman as his closer. I can't fault him for any of those decisions...but I'll fault Hoffman. He got two easy groundouts to the pitcher, then with two outs gave up a single to Paul Konerko, a double to Troy Glaus, and then a 2-run triple to MVP Michael Young (who I really like and am quite happy for...but man is that going to be costly), blowing the lead.

Beltran had another at-bat in the bottom of the ninth, with one out and the bases empty against Mariano Rivera. He did the best he could, hitting a hard grounder to third, then beating the throw after a bobble, and ending up at second after another ground out. But he was stranded there (as he was stranded at second in the first after a double), and the NL lost.

So if the Mets make the World Series, they will have to settle for games 3, 4, and 5 at Shea. Hopefully it doesn't make a difference - but home field is important....and the National League came sooo close to earning it.

WRIGHT: David Wright has come a very long way since the "Wright Watch". He was featured in a silly little "What Does David Wright Like" feature on FOX (apparently he really likes '24'), and Jeanne Zelasko even interviewed his father (I thought The Wife was rewinding the interview so I could see it - because I was in the other room....turned out she wanted to see if Wright's brothers were as cute as he is.). Throw in the All Star Game homer, and the runner-up in the Home Run Derby, things are never going to be the same. I hope he stays as grounded as he has so far.

OTHER PLAYERS: I like watching David Ortiz play 1st base - but every time he makes a nice play, people go out of their minds over it. You know what? Based on interleague play, the World Series, and this All Star Game, watching him play, I've decided he's a good first baseman. Maybe better than good - above average? He makes good plays there - it's not just coincidence. So get over it, people. Give him credit, don't go overboard every time he does it like you could have never expected such a thing.

Freddy Sanchez is a good ballplayer. I saw flashes of it when he was in Boston - but it's really starting to show as he gets a chance everyday. Plus, he can play anywhere.

PITTSBURGH: Pittsburgh did a really nice job with the All Star Game (I guess - I wasn't there). Their fans were outstanding. Good ovations for the hometown players, the Clemente celebration, and recognizing their old-timers (Mazeroski, Tanner). It shows that it's a good baseball city, and doesn't deserve the poor baseball it's forced to watch these days. Pittsburgh needs a good team again. Plus, have I ever mentioned I love their ballpark?

ESPNEWS: I keep forgetting to mention this, and it's strange to mention it when there are no scores worth looking for on the crawl, but consider this an advisory for the second half of the season. ESPNEWS is driving me nuts. Usually, they put the baseball scores on the crawl, divided into AL and NL, in order of the time of game. So if there was a day game, that would be first in the order, then the 7pm's, then the 10pm's. But for most of the season (the first time I noticed this was in mid-April, when I was on the West Coast), they have been putting the San Francisco Giants as the first game on the NL ticker, even if it was a 10:30 game, the latest of the day. It's probably (definitely) because of Barry Bonds' homers, but does anyone really care that much?!! I think more people are like me - it probably bothers people more than anything. I don't want to pay Bonds any mind, so I don't want his results taking precedence over the rest of the league. When I first saw this out west, I thought it was because I was out west, and ESPN had customized their west coast ticker to show the Giants first...but then I came home and realized that wasn't the case. I didn't care before Bonds passed Ruth, and I don't care now. I bet lots of others feel that way too - put the Giants back where they belong - at the end of the crawl.

THE KID'S KIDS: The St. Lucie Mets were off on Tuesday night, but they've been struggling lately. First of all, they've had to deal with some weather issues, and have had lots of doubleheaders. But when their manager, Hall of Famer Gary Carter, was in Pittsburgh to manage the Futures Game, they hit the skids. Right now, the Mets are on a 4-game losing streak, and will play two on Wednesday against Brevard County. They're two games back of Daytona in the second half of the season (after winning the first half), with a 10-6 record.

COMING UP: Wednesday night, aka the most boring night of the year, I'll post my review of American League broadcasters. Thursday night I'll do the NL, and write about anything notable from the night in baseball. Friday night the Mets are back, and I'll get back to regular postings.