Mets Can't Dodger Bullet

Managing is fun again for the Dodgers' Joe Torre, and last night, the Mets aimed to help him keep California dreaming. The Mets had nothing doing against the hot hitting LA Dodgers club. There was little to no Mets offense. Uberdefensive catcher Brian Schneider stuck out like a sore thumb, continuing to toss balls into centerfield. And Ollie? He got through 6 innings after a horrid first, and only lost because he kept serving up the gopher balls with no discrimination as to the hitters' resume, giving up blasts to a resurgent Raphael Furcal and the immortal Blake DeWitt among others. Well for him, that is keeping his composure. If it were possible, I'd send Ollie down for a minor league stint ala Steve Trash-hill and let him get his head on straight if that's possible. But then I'd also send Bats in the Pelfry too. The only positive I saw pitching wise (no pun intended) is that Willie is using Jorrible So-so in the correct, mop-up role. Though I may be deluded by Carlos Delgado's mini-renaissance, I can imagine the hitting coming around at some point. However, I do not have any optimism for this flawed pitching staff. As the lethargic performances and losses start to pile up, can we imagine Omar's first in-season move (ever) might be giving the Guru his walking jacket?


the main attraction at Dodgers Stadium

Seeing this team go through the motions in person does make it hurt more, I think. I attended the game in the excellent company of the Greater Los Angeles New York Mets Fans Sports Bar Club. If you're an LA-area Met fan and you haven't joined up with this group, what's wrong with you? We braved the barbs and beverages of the local sophisticates for a while until the pack of animals got wrapped up in what Dodgers fans come to the game to see, namely beach balls and the wave. I will say that in our section at least, there was finally something of a security presence, a welcome step in the right direction. The Dodgers fans that show up at Chavez Ravine might be the youngest, most ignorant fans I've come across, which is too bad since their behavior besmirches a great venue and tradition. All this history is squandered on an active fan base that ranges from to posturing, gang-sign throwing ignoramuses to screaming drunken louts. The common denominator is that none of them watch the game any longer than they have to. Watching Dodgers fans in action really makes me wonder how bad their lives are if they have to pay 20 to 50 bucks just to let off steam and seek vindication for their miserable existence.

So the Mets keep their series hopes alive tonight by sending journeyman Nelson Figueroa to the mound. If Torre can keep the Dodgers steady, they could be a wild card contender this year, which, the way the Mets are playing, might mean these two teams paths will cross again.

As for the Mets, it is getting late early around here. Is the kind of team that is going to jell and heat up? Is this the kind of team that could face adversity and come up smiling and doing silly handshake dances? They sure do not look like it. It is nice to think that the Mets have only played a couple of games with the envisioned line-up, and maybe the addition of Old Man Alou will be the missing ingredient. But they handed out All-Star ballots at the game last night, which forced me to recognize that the Mets have only one player who in any sense of the word deserves all star consideration: the punching-above-his weight Ryan Church who probably has no prayer of making the team anyhow.

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In other ignoble Mets news, please make note the release of OF Ben Johnson, who was acquired two years ago with Jon Adkins for Health Bell. Now it is safe to say the Mets got absolutely nothing for Heath Bell. I'm no expert on the minor leagues, but it would seem that the Mets really need to have a solid draft this year. The farm is depleted after the Santana trade and the Milledge give-away and for a franchise to have long term success, it needs to be able to build from a strong foundation. Outside of Fmart, the Mets have little in the way of promising position prospects. According to the MLB, this year's draft has little in the way of hyped up arms, but has some hitters. If I were the GM, this would be the off season where I righted the ship: stock the farm and put a stop to the elderly welfare program. I would assume the Mets will need to fill the rotation via free agency, buttress the bullpen (!!), and make a play for Mark Teixeira to fill first base and provide offensive production.