I was out of town for the holiday weekend watching the Greg Paulus Era begin at Syracuse University. Even though Cuse lost to Minnesota in overtime, the game reminded me how much I love and miss football, and how much I can’t wait for this baseball season to be over…
I wasn’t able to watch the three game series against the Cubs, but the Mets took two out of three with strong pitching performances by Bobby Parnell and Mike Pelfrey. Even Nelson Figueroa, who took the loss in the series, picked up another eight strikeouts, making his total 18 in the last two games.
In a season full of disappointment, we Mets fans have to look real hard for things that resemble good news, and normally, one good start from two young starters is not really good news. Unfortunately, that’s how bad things are going, so I’ll take it.
Josh Thole has also provided a small bright spot in his two starts since being called up from the minors. He’s 4-9 with one double and one stolen base. Sure it’s a small sample size, but people have been saying Thole can hit all along, and it seems to be true.
He can ask Daniel Murphy about how a few months worth of scouting reports can turn a hot rookie into a struggling rookie real fast, but it’s still a good start.
David Wright and Luis Castillo are having solid years at the plate. Both in the top ten in the league for batting average.
Wright’s season has been somewhat of a statistical enigma to some. His lack of power is only as glaring due to the general lack of power throughout the line up. I would take this kind of season from David year in and year out.
Castillo came into the season with something to prove, and except for a few bonehead plays on defense, he’s proven himself fully to me. Sure Orlando Hudson would have been a good pick up, but locking up Castillo for the next few seasons may be Omar’s only bright spot this year. It may well turn out to be the last good move he makes in his Mets career.
I’ll be back on the horse watching as much of games as I can stand it now that I’m back in town and doing a lot less drinking…
It was fun to relive my youth for a weekend.
