Dodgers 8 Mets 5

For the first time since April 26, the Mets reach .500.

To be completely fair to Terry Collins, I purposely chose to “sleep on it” before addressing here the Pedro Beato apology and ensuing team meeting called by Collins. Maybe after a good night’s sleep, and a fresh look at the situation, it would make more sense to me.

Unfortunately, it does not.

Mets 2 Brewers 1

There’s no way the Mets can lose this series. And we can thank a man with the power of voodoo. Who do? Miguel do.

Mets 7 Phillies 4

Come-from-behind victory for the Mets as they set up for a sweep in Philadelphia. Who’da thunk it?

Giants 6 Mets 1

The weather conditions were reminiscent of those that might be experienced during an early season game at old Candlestick Park — cold, wet, windy. And as was often the case in those San Francisco games of yesteryear, the Giants beat the Mets.

Once the Mets reached September and the meaningless games part of their schedule, the pitching staff — and the rotation in particular — was worn out and losing members due to one malady or another. It might have been a good opportunity for the Mets to audition young arms who showed potential. Instead, the best they could pull from their minor league system was 40-year-old Miguel Batista.

Many factors played into this curious decision. First, there was the fact that the Mets had very few, if any, youngsters who a) showed promise; b) were close enough to MLB to consider adding to the 40-man roster; c) genuinely earned a promotion; and d) hadn’t already met their innings limit for the season. And so fans were treated to what might have been the final nine appearances of Batista’s 17-year MLB career.

As it turned out, the poet and novel writer provided workmanlike appearances — and gave the Mets a valid chance to win in all four of his starts. While it might have been nicer to see a 22-year-old flamethrower making his MLB debut in September, watching Batista retire MLB hitters purely on guile was entertaining.

Side note: Batista started the 2011 season with the Cardinals; if things had worked out differently he might still be competing right now.

2012 Projection

Though I haven’t seen anything about Batista retiring, it seemed that he was leaning that way. If he does decide to give it another year, I don’t see the Mets signing him — though, at the same time, I wouldn’t be opposed to a minor-league deal and an invite to spring training. As well as he pitched in September, there are things about that month you just can’t trust — otherwise, Pat Misch would have made 90 starts for the Mets over the past three years.

Mets 3 Reds 0

Miguel Batista closes out 50 years of Mets baseball in Nelson Figueroa -like fashion, spinning a two-hit, complete game shutout.

Cubs 10 Mets 6

This was a really close game until the Cubs scored six runs in the 11th. Talk about the dam bursting …

On the bright side, at least the Mets didn’t lose on 9/11; it was long after midnight, and already 9/12, when the final out was recorded.