Up, Down

At its most basic level, yesterday's doubleheader was a perfect microcosm of the Mets' yearlong toil in mediocrity. They won the first game, lost the second. They went from 71-71 since last June 1 to 72-72. Nothing too exciting there. Just the same old, same old.

Mike Pelfrey (6 IP, 2 ER, 8 H, 3 BB) actually pitched a little bit better in game 2 than Johan Santana (6 IP, 3 ER, 10 H, 1 BB) did in game one. Pelfrey took a loss, Santana got the victory. So it goes sometimes. Life's not fair.

The Mets' offense, which looked inspired in the first game, once again fell flat against a horrible pitcher in the second. The Mets let Bronson Arroyo, who came into the nightcap having given up 50 hits in 32 innings - that's really bad - drop eight frames on them, and were left looking like they couldn't quite figure out Arroyo's 87 mile-an-hour fastball and token curveball. Arroyo, who lowered his ERA to 7.14 with last night's performance, gave up just one run on four hits and struck out nine, turning in an outing that was arguably better than anything we've seen from a Met pitcher so far this year.

The best hope for our season might be to root for another month or so of .500 ball while also - stay with me here - hoping that the Phillies can rip a few off and open up a nice lead in the East. Nothing unovercomeable, just 4 or 5 games. A lead that can be obliterated by a nice hot streak, but that there's no prayer more of the same can possibly erase.

Because that might just further illuminate the sad truth that Willie really doesn't seem to be capable of getting anything more than a win and a loss out of this Mets team. And that's just not acceptable. The only player hitting .300 in a reasonably stacked Mets lineup right now is Ryan Church.

The Wilpons, faced with the ugly prospect of Citi Field boo-birds, will squirm. The pressure will mount for Omar Minaya, faced with the prospect of a sullied reputation despite putting a team on the field that should currently be well on its way to a third consecutive division title, to cut ties with his boy Randolph.

Said Willie after last night's letdown, "I guess we got all our work done in the first game." This isn't going to work for that much longer. It's not working right now.

The Mets will probably win today. Will that mean anything tomorrow?

Unlikely.

(Picture courtesy mlb.com)