Crazy Eights

This current run by the Mets has been outstanding.  Eight wins in a row.  They have gone from being 6.5 games behind Philadelphia to just .5 a game back (but tied in the loss column) as of their win, and Philly loss today.  I am trying to curtail my delight, and remind myself that this is the Mets.  I should be preparing for some kind of impending disaster.  Despite, the feelings of doom I am thoroughly enjoying this winning streak–even though it has been mostly against terrible teams.  However they have been playing great baseball getting: 2-out RBI’s, clutch homer runs, great starting pitching, great relief pitching, productive outs, and they have been aggressive at bat and on the base paths.  This team is starting to finally play like they are capable of, and it is a delight to see them put pressure on the other teams–especially Philly.

In the last five games the Mets have given up a total of 13 hits, four games of 3 hits and one 1 hit game, including three shutouts.  It has been an absolutely ridiculous stretch of dominance, and they are putting the pressure on the Phillies at just the right time.  I hope that they can come out of the All-Star break and continue on playing like this.  If they can they should be able to take over first place, and pull away from the Phillies.  Even though the Phillies have a better offense their pitching is terrible, so the Mets should be able to, hopefully, pull out to a good lead by mid-August.  The only sour-note from today’s game is Pedro left early, looks like he is injured again.  The Mets need to sign Freddie Garcia, or some other nominal pitcher.  They can’t be dependant on Pedro and El Duque in the second half.  Garcia would give them another decent arm that they could run out every five days, and expect at least 6 innings from.  Other than that though this week has completely transformed the Mets first half from disappointment into opportunity.

Tomorrow is the last game before the break and the Mets will be sending Big Pelf to the mound against Mark Redman.  This is a very winnable game, since Pelfrey has been outstanding as of late, and Redman is terrible.  I fully expect the Mets to push this streak to nine games, and go into the break on a high note, and maybe even in first place.  Even if they lose, however the Mets are still in a very good position to overtake the Phillies in the second half.

BTW my boys David Wright and Evan Longoria made the All-Star game, congrats.  Found out that Longoria is going to take part in the Home Run Derby, and I’m going to go with Longoria to win it all.  I know Yankee Stadium has the short porch in right field–giving lefites a huge advantage–but I’m sticking with the dark horse Longoria to pull it off.

Update 12:09

Watching Baseball Tonight, and Tim Kurkjian just mentioned that the Mets are the first team since 1900 (I repeat 1900) to go 5 straight games giving up 3 hits or less.  Unbelievable, they are the only team in the modern era to do this.  Usually the Mets are the fist team to do something bad not good, so this came as a surprise.  Although I hate Baseball Tonight, I do like the Kurk-gems.

~ by Perpetual Memory Loss on July 12, 2008.