Mets 3 Marlins 0

Where would the Mets be without everyone’s favorite knuckleballer? Scary thought, isn’t it?

Having won their past two series, (break up the Mets!) New York heads down to Amazing Technicolor Marlins Park for a series with the Marlins.  Miami followed up their offseason spending spree with a comical, and somewhat predictable, fire sale at the trade deadline.  The Marlins are one organization that even Mets fans can point at and laugh.

With most of the drama gone for the Mets, however, we can sit on the edge of our seats to see if R.A. Dickey can become the Mets’ first 20-game winner since Frank Viola.  We all know by now that wins and losses don’t mean all that much when evaluating a starting pitcher, but it would be a nice achievement because 1) It would be a nice reward for R.A. Dickey for a job well done this year, and 2) It simply isn’t done a whole lot anymore.

With that said, onto the Blogs:

• On the Black examines R.A.’s chances of getting to 20 wins.  Also, check out his 50th anniversary bobblehead collection.
• Mets360 breaks down Dickey’s year, and breaks down all of the Mets SPs by xFIP.
• MMO has the latest minor league news, including the still red-hot Wilmer Flores.
• Metstradamus knows who he’s voting for this November.
• Amazin’ Avenue finds out what part of the field Kelly Shoppach likes to hit the ball the most. (Hint: It rhymes with “heft.”)
• MetsCetera has details on “A Night With Ike Davis,” which benefits children’s cancer research.

Enjoy the linkage, and keep following R.A. Dickey and the Mets on Mets Today.

Phillies 3 Mets 2

The Mets enjoyed less than 24 hours in third place. Now, they head into the weekend hell bent on staying out of the cellar.

The 2011 World Champion Cardinals were ten games out of the Wild Card this time last year. The Mets and Phillies are both currently ten games behind in the Wild Card standings. (Ironically, the Cardinals are one of the two teams at the top.)

Just for kicks, I’d like to add that on August 30, 1973, the Mets were in last place in the NL East, 6.5 games out with a 61-71 record. (The Phillies were a half-game better, in fifth place.)

Do you believe? If so, why or why not? Vote below and answer in the comments.

 Loading ...

Mets 3 Phillies 2

The Mets beat the Phillies for the second straight night, locking the two teams in a tie for third place in the NL East and seventh in the Wild Card.

Mets 9 Phillies 5

The Mets make forward movement in the fight for third place. Check the sky for falling lizards, however, because the Mets won this game primarily because of the bullpen.

As the Mets were cruising into the All-Star break with an improbable winning percentage, I distinctly remember whispers from beat writers, bloggers, and the SNY announcers that Terry Collins was in line for Manager of the Year. After all, the pundits predicted putrid performance from Flushing, with most picking the Mets to finish dead last. Since they were only a handful of games away from the top of the NL East, surely, Collins had to be at least part of the reason.

Fast-forward to now, when the Mets are 13-29 (.310) since the break, have lost seven of their last ten, and last week were swept in a four-game series at home against one of the worst teams in MLB.

If Collins was the reason the Mets over-achieved in the first half, then he has to be part of the blame for the second-half snafu – right?

Or, maybe Collins has had no effect — good or bad — on the club. Maybe he’s just a babysitter.

What’s your thought? Vote below and post your opinion in the comments.

 Loading ...

Here’s a link to Collin McHugh‘s latest blog post in which he describes going to New York, pitching a gem, then going back to Buffalo.  You have to love his maturity and positive attitude.

That being said, our trip from Buffalo to NYC to Buffalo is one met with excitement, not dread, pity or fear. We’ve learned that embracing the mystery of what’s ahead makes the present, whether good or bad, just another part of the journey – not the determining factor of where we’ll end up.