Misery Loves Company: Two Guys Watch Baseball

Game 68 - Mets

Marlins 1, Mets 0
Record: 31-37

The Mets go from killing the ball in Texas and Anaheim and firing a one-hit shutout against the Angels to being the victim of a one-hit shutout in Miami, courtesy of Dontrelle Willis and some extraordinary defense. Gotta say I didn't see that one coming. I thought they might have trouble racking up runs on Willis, who at this early juncture appears to be the next big thing, but man . . . that was wicked. Cliff Floyd hit a long fly ball with a man on in the 4th that I was sure was gone, but it hooked foul and he struck out soon thereafter. And that was the last time the Mets even hinted at a threat of any kind.

Tonight Jae Seo, who's been pitching damn well in his own right, squares off against these same Marlins, who will have Carl Pavano on the hill. Assuming last night's whiff-and-dribble fest doesn't rub off onto tonight's game, I feel good about the match-up.

Armando "For My Next Impression... A Reliable Closer" Benitez's future is being speculated upon by just about every sports news source. He should be in Boston by the end of the month, says this source. So, just for fun, let's remember this quote from Rob Russell: "I'd love to have Armando Benitez." (6/17/03) Later, when "Three Mile Island In Stirrups" has his meltdown in Beantown, we'll chronicle his exploits with a frequency and bitter edge that will dwarf the Tony Clark progress reports.