It's Hard to Beat a Bad Team

The Recap: Mets/Astros split a 4-game series in Houston.

After losing 2 of 3 from the Phillies, the Mets stormed into Houston, played 3 one-run games and kept all four games close, leaving the woefully inept Astros mumbling to themselves under their breath: it's hard to beat a bad team! The Mets still haven't won a road series from a National League team all season - but their next stop is Pittsburgh, where Pirate fans have been heard saying "well, at least we get the Mets this weekend"

THE GOOD: The Mets continue to get strong performances by their starting pitchers - none better than R.A. Dickey who bidded for his second consecutive shutout before a hard luck no-decision. He also accounted for both runs the Mets scored while he was in the game, another testiment to how bad the offense is. The guy has to do everything.

And it's good to see the team play hard-ball with KRod, now that Super Tak looks to be in the closer spot and is performing admirably as well. Remember Joe McEwing, aka Super Joe? That guy did everything and played everywhere. Similarily, Takman has pitched in mid-relief, 7th inning spots, 8th inning setups, pitched in the starting rotation and now's the closer, all the while doing the job! (for the most part, at least).

Finally, for all you "the glass is half full" people, the Mets are only 8 1/2 games out of the wild card. (Come on, even the most optimistic die-hard can't possibly expect this team to win the division, right?)

THE BAD: Well, it looks like the honeymoon is over with Ike Davis. After another 0-fer last night, he's now hitting just .240 and looking more and more like Jeff Francoeur each day. That makes Davis, Francoeur, Tejada, any catcher, Chris Carter, and the pitcher's spot all automatic outs in the lineup. Add to that the invisible Carlos Beltran and a totally unpredictable David Wright and it's no wonder this team can't score any runs. Angel Pagan's been cold as well and Reyes is Reyes.

It reminds us all of one of the most amazing lineups ever to play the game: firstbase - Bugs Bunny, second base - Bugs Bunny, third base Bugs Bunny, first base - Bugs Bunny, etc... How bad is the offense? Try these stats on for size:

- Mets record versus NL teams under .500: 17-25
- Mets record in one-run games: 17-24
- Mets record trailing after the 7th inning: 1-46
- Mets record in extra innings: 5-8

Yet HoJo's job is safe. HoJo - a bad major league hitter becomes the batting coach of a bad offensive team and the team's hitting actually gets worse! Now who could have forseen that?

THE UGLY: Nothing says ugly better than the manager. Here's the latest from Jerry (and I quote):

We have to do what we’ve been talking about all of the time, we have to do more offensively. We’ve got to find a way to get that done. I mean, that’s poor. That’s a very poor effort on our part offensively… We have to do better. Period. It’s pathetic. We have to do better.”

We all know the offense is pathetic. Now Jerry Manuel's confirmed it. This is the same manager who last year said the only way the Mets have a shot at winning is if the other team screws up. Yet first place San Diego was a popular pre-season pick for worst team in baseball and the Red Sox, Dodgers, Phillies, and Twins have all experienced injury situations similar to the Mets and continue to prosper. Looks like Jerry is finally seeing the writing on the wall and my guess is he's going to throw everyone under the bus before he gets the axe.