C'MON METS!!

Greetings all:
What is happening to my NY Mets? A week and a half ago we were riding high after taking 2 out of 3 in Toronto and getting ready to invade Boston and give them a reminder of the 1986 World Series.

3 games later after being swept out like kitchen floor dirt, we were sent to the Stadium to take on the Yanks. After a tough 2-0, 1-hit loss on Friday, the Metropolitans bounced back with an 8-3 trouncing of the Big Unit. Everything looked okay and it seemed like the team was back on track. We jump out to a 4-0 lead against Jaret Wright, and all of a sudden the roof caves in.

An 8-run 3rd, highlighted by an A-Rod grand slam and we lose 16-7 on national TV (ESPN). A couple of glaring deficiencies were brought to the forefront during that game. #1 was that without early-season, rookie sensation Brian Bannister, the Mets are a 2-3 pitcher starting rotation team. Cuban rookie Alay Soler was obviously brought up too soon. It is obvious that he is not ready to pitch in the Big Leagues.

Why? Because he's too scared to actually challenge hitters with his best stuff. He nibbles and tries to get calls on the outside of the plate. When the umpire doesn't call things his way, he ends up walking guys. Then when he actually does come in with a fastball, these professional hitters are sitting on it and crush him. Jorge Posada hit one in the second, A-Rod's slam in the 3rd and a guy with a .077 batting average hit a 2-run shot a few batters later. In between, there were a couple of well-struck doubles to the left field wall. I'm afraid GM Omar Minaya should be saying So-Long to Soler.

To add insult to injury, the Mets lost to the worst team in the NL, the Pittsburgh Pirates, 11-1 tonight. Pedro Martinez was scratched from this start because of an injury, and the Mets had to use another rookie, John Mains, who hasn't really showed anything yet.

The Mets are slumping right now and I'm sure the ship will be righted after the All-Star break. But I think they also got too comfortable with their 10-12-game lead and lost a little of the hunger that is needed to drive you to a title. It's up to Manager Willie Randolph to light a fire under these guys' asses in the second half, or their time in the playoffs (assuming they don't fold) will be extremely short.

COME ON!! LET'S GO METS!!
Of course you know that.....LEN IS RIGHT!!

I am Len Tollerton
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