OOOOOOO, boy, they sure look good! 4th win in a row, 5 out of 6, the Rookie, Brian Bannister gets his first win and hit in the same day, going 7 innings,allowing only 1 run and 0 walks, only 3 hits, and Pedro goes out there tonight. More on that later.
David Wright did it again, another RBI, sixth game in a row, a club record to start the season. (MVP, MVP, MVP) Carlos Beltran blasted his second homer in the ninth, and Anderson Hernandez got another hit. Things seem to be really falling in place. 2 more games in Washington, a three game series against Milwaukee (watch out for those guys) at home then, a chance to show who we really are. Three games with Atlanta at home. Hopefully,we can gain a game or so, and have the chance to really put some distance between us and them. The mini Evil Empire needs to go DOWN!
To preview tonight's game, Pedro goes for us, and the Nats are all full of bluster. "Strap it on" was posted in their locker room, but I really don't think they want to go there. Pedro just isn't quite there yet, but should be soon. Frankly, the way the offense has been going, it wouldn't be too smart to piss us off. As W would say, "Bring it on".
Game 6: NY Mets 7 Washington 1
Team Record: 5-1
First Place NL East, 2 games ahead of Atlanta, 4 ahead of everyone else.

That's more like it! Three straight wins, with a rainout on Saturday. We are all alone in First place, and Atlanta will be without Chipper for a good while. Just where we need to be... I'm on the edge, really, don't want to get the hopes too high, since it is only game 5!
Let's do a quick review:
Thursday, win over Washington, 10-5
Pedro was just OK, but the offense came alive. Delgado blasted one and Beltran got his first hit, a homer. Carlos B. wasn't going to come out for his curtain call, but Julio Franco straightened him out. I think that's the main reason Minaya got Franco, Leadership. I thought it was a bad signing at first, but that could have really saved Beltran's year (if not career). Beltran would have been hammered viciously if he had not come out, as it was everyone knew he was sick of the boos, but he still gave the crowd the recognition they deserved. Pedro was being Pedro, hitting 3 batters, including Jose Guillen twice. The second was really Guillen's own fault. He stands basically on the plate, then gets pissed when he is hit on the elbow. Pedro is an inside pitcher, and always has been. Plus, that's the chance you take when you are that close to the plate. Guillen got all mad, the Nats tried to hit Wright, and finally succeeded in hitting LoDuca. All that got them was ejections, and Robinson and their Martinez were suspended.
Friday, win over Florida 9-3
Homers by Wright (MVP,MVP,MVP) and Jose Reyes supported a good outing by Steve Trachel. The beginning of a roll?
Saturday, Rainout.
Sunday SWEEP (of 2 games, anyway) of Florida 3-2
Dontrelle Willis and Tom Glavine hooked up in a great pitchers duel. Glavine for 6 innings of 2 run ball, then our 'pen took over and shut 'er down. Willis lasted 8,, and only a 2 run triple by who else? David Wright (MVP, MVP, MVP) tied it up in the bottom of the 8th. Billy Wagner mowed the Marlins down following 2 good innings from Duaner Sanchez, and in the bottom of the ninth, a sacrifice fly scored the winning run. The Batter? Guess again. I'll give you a hint... MVP,MVP,MVP.
Off day Monday, followed by the first road trip of the year, to Washington. Will there be a beanball war? Pedro goes on Wednesday, so we'll see.
Record: 4-1
FIRST PLACE in NL East 1 1/2 games up on Atlanta.

Unbef-----glieveable. The Mets brought in Billy Wagner just for games like last night. Brian Bannister, the new youngster who started on the hill for our guys, and pitched very well for a kid in his first game in NY. 5 1/3 no hit IP, only 3 runs in 6. Nady got his first homer early, and Delgado blasted one, too. David Wright got an rbi and two hits ("MVP, MVP, MVP"). Aaron Heilman was effective in his inning, and then, in comes Wagner to close out a great day.
Cue "Enter Sandman" by Mettalica.
3-2 pitch to Kellam High School (Virginia Beach) and University of Virginia grad Ryan Zimmerman, and the whole night goes to crap. Before the announcers can even say "back, back, back" the ball hits the left field scoreboard. Tie game.
Now, every closer blows a game or two, and the pitch Wagner threw had no business getting knocked out, too high. So, I really don't hold it against Billy boy. The 10th inning, I DO hold against Jorge Julio (AKA Jorge Blewlio) 5 count 'em FIVE runs. Ridiculous. Mets lose 9-5.
At least Pedro goes tonight.
Game two: Loss 9-5 to Washington
Team Record 1-1, Tied for first place in NL East.
More to come, Sports fans
PS What made it worse is that I have Wagner in 5 of my 7 fantasy leagues. SHEESH!

Well, Spring Training is over, and our fearless troupe finished 16-14, no major injuries, other than Victor Zambrano's strain. I personally am not upset with that, I never liked him, anyway.The only surprise was that Brian Bannister made the team as #5 starter rather than Aaron Heilman. Heilman was so good out of the pen last year, and that was the main area of concern for Minaya over the off season, so I guess it wasn't a shock. Anyway, they look pretty good so far.
As for game one, it ended happily, anyway! 3-2 win, Wagner slamming the door. Well, honestly, he kinda just politely pushed it shut, as Jose Vidro pulled a boner and tried to stretch a single into a double. Why take the chance with 2 out in the 9th with the #3 and 4 hitters coming up? Hay, I'll take it.
David Wright blasted an opposite field homer, beginning his charge to the MVP (one can hope!) and Tom Glavine pitched a solid 6 innings. Paul LoDuca got the phantom play of the year (I know it's only game one, but if you saw the replay, you'd agree!) and got the call on a bang-bang play at the plate. Anderson Hernandez had one spectacular play, one bonehead play in the field, but I am more worried over his offense. He went 0-4, and is now 1-22in his career. The kid can field, but even Rey Ordonez outhit him, and that's not good.
Tonight it's the youngster, Brian Bannister. Let's hope he has a great beginning.
Game 1, Mets record 1-0 First place in NL East.

OK, I said #10 would be next, but this is supposed to be a sports blog, and I feel that this is a good time for a rant and some commentary.
Let me first preface this by noting that I am a huge University of Virginia fan. I bleed blue and orange. That said, Kudos to Virginia Tech's athletic department for showing that they have balls. Marcus Vick is out.
Background: Marcus (Michael's little bro) has been a very naughty boy for a while, now. Caught speeding with pot in the car, contributing to the delinquency of a minor (alcohol given to under-age girls, oh, by the way, he was 19 at the time, also under-age). Charges of Statutory rape (with the aforementioned drunk, under-aged girls). Then, recently, caught speeding again, this time on a suspended license. Already on his final strike, he was able to finish the season and play in the Gator Bowl.
Then, it happened. With a national TV audience viewing, Vick was tackled, and upon arising, looked down, saw the leg of a Louisville player there, and STOMP. He then proceeded as if nothing had happened. No foul was called, even though officials were right there. No one saw anything, no foul was called. Ironically, Michael had just finished an interview, in which he praised his brother for his continuing "maturity". Replays showed that this was a farcical statement. Nothing was done by the coaching staff that day. They "didn't want to punish the rest of the team". Marcus said at first that the step was accidental and that he went to the Louisville team room and apologized and the apology was accepted. All this was false. Louisville officials said that Marcus never came into the clubhouse, and that seems to be a more believable thing. If you have been attacked, you would remember your attacker coming into enemy territory to apologize.
For Marcus to say that it was inadvertent was ridiculous. For him to lie about an apology (and by the way, why apologize for a mistake? Why not just tell them it was accidental?) was typical of him. What is not known nationally is the reputation Marcus (and for that matter Micheal) has in this area. I live near where they grew up, and believe me, the rumors of what those boys have gotten away with would curl your hair.
That said, today the AD for Virginia Tech announced that Marcus has been permanently dismissed from the team. Good for them. Thuggery is not what football is about. For the record, a UVa palyer cheap-shotted a Boston College lineman earlier this year. The play was over, and he cut blocked him at the knees. I personally contacted the Athletic department and registered my disgust, as did many other fans. I felt that the player should have been removed from the team. However, what he did didn't even rise to the smallest level that Marcus' actions did. For one thing, he was penalized in the game, second, he was removed IMMEDIATELY from said game and suspended, third, he actually offered an apology, both in private to the offended player, and publicly in a spoken press release. Also, this was the first offense for this particular player. Again, I don't condone his actions, but he was a man who owned up to it, not a punk who passed the buck.
Kudos, Tech for doing the right thing. I just wish Beamer had the balls to do it in the game.