Mr. Wilpon, Tear Down that Wall!

Chase Utley and Ryan Howard relax after a long day of holding each others' subs.

I'm back from a long vacation, and ready to take on the Phillies and Yankees, Mets enemies #1 and well, I'm not sure where the Yankers rate these days, but we don't like them. I need to get back into the swing of Mets baseball, as depressing as it may be. The results of this week could possibly boost morale around here, or could bury the replaceMets further back in the standings.

Those stupid Citifield walls are fast becoming a nuisance. Sure, the Mets got their share of homeruns tonight, but even so, it seems like the park was built specifically to contain this particular lineup. Gary Sheffield can't be pleased with the way suddenly-gold-glove-Raul Ibanez nailed him easily at second after what looked like a Shef homerun bounced harmlessly off the 400 foot wall in left center. He has to hit those things softer if he's going to get his 40 year old ass to second when he hits a double. The dimensions are annoying.

Not that there weren't plenty of homeruns tonight; particularly disconcerting was the bushel given up by Johan. Citi's weakest yet was "launched" by Chase Utley in the 8th, a ball that was thrown back onto the field harder than it was hit. Optimistically, the Mets held on tonight to survive a comeback and beat the Phillies, crawling to within 2 games. Pessimistically, the Mets barely won with their best pitcher on the mound, and he got hammered (for him) for the second game in a row. Facing Cole "Pretty Boy" Hamels with Big Pelf tomorrow, the Mets are not guaranteed to come out of this series less than 4 games out.

With the Mets decimated by injuries in the past month, fanboys and girls are looking to possible trades to fix the mess that is the Omar blueprint. Or rather, the blueprint is no longer entirely the problem, since we are two or three levels of injury away from that flawed plan.

So let me just say: Matt Holiday--do not want. A former c-Rockie whose bonifides are no doubt exaggerated in one way or another who also happens to have been part of the Colorado club's attempts to moralize baseball--he always left me uneasy being as I am a lifelong champion of the separation of Church and Plate. Speaking of, the Mets already have a soldier of Christ play occasionally in right field, when he isn't doing penance in Jerry's doghouse. This team needs some religious balance. Plus, Holliday's rules for interacting with fans seem odious. Thanks, I just wanted to get that off my chest.

Coming soon...
My trip to Safeco field in Seattle! Teaser: They know how to price seats and have a ballpark Hall of Fame up north!