The good and bad news: It's a long season

Just when you thought the Mets had something going, just when it looked like the rest of the season would mean something, they lose two terrible games to the Seattle Mariners, one of the worst teams in the league. The difference between Seattle and the Mets? Seattle fired their manager AND their GM. Food for thought, Omar.

We got the bad Ollie again, which didn't help, but once again the offense -- playing without David Wright, who had a much-needed day off -- was pathetic. These are the Mariners. Their pitching is horrible, and yet the Mets make them look like the 1970 Orioles. R.A. Dickey? Are you serious?

The only highlight was seeing some fire from Jerry Manuel and Carlos Beltran. As was noted on the broadcast, Brian Runge, like his father, isn't shy about showing up a player, and of course he took center stage after a terrible strike call on Beltran. He also bumped Manuel, and it was good to see how no one really pulled Beltran off Runge once he had been ejected -- they let him make his points.

Other than that, a brutal, brutal game. The only consolation is that everyone else in the NL East lost, too.

Manuel has promised changes. Surprising to see Claudio Vargas designated, although he did allow four runs last night. Hard to see how Perez' spot in the rotation is shaky if Vargas isn't part of the equation -- unless El Duque is ready to rise from the grave.