Games 153 through 157 - MetsMets 9, Braves 5
Braves 4, Mets 2
Braves 7, Mets 6
Cubs 9, Mets 5
Mets 6, Cubs 2
Record: 87-70
Omar Minaya is rewarded with a four-year extension. Just as some folks in the Township are taking the first four words of that last sentence and replacing the "w" with a "t". Just as the Mets are a few more bad losses away from blowing a second straight golden opportunity for the postseason under his authority. Why? Johan Santana, of course. He landed Santana last winter, and that's arugably the only reason we're still tuning in at this point.
It's debatable whether Omar should benefit from one great move when there remain other gaps that hamstring the team's chances on a nightly basis, gaps that existed last winter (bullpen, 2B) and are problematic once again. That's a discussion for this winter, however. Right now we're smack dab in the middle of the playoff race we always wanted. And it's excruciating.
At one point last night all three games that mattered (to me) sat at 3-2, good guys. And there I sat, dead sure that they'd all three go awry. Thanks to Santana, Jose Reyes, and a few other Metmen, 3-2 became 6-2 in the game that mattered most. Didn't breathe easily until the final out was recorded, thank you Pedro Feliciano, but a win is a win.
Meanwhile, the league of extraordinary gentlemen know as the Atlanta Braves baseball franchise managed to play well enough to take their third contest of the season from the Phillies (in 17 tries). Many thanks, good sirs. Rinse, repeat, if you would.
So far it's coming down to Johan Santana. If you saw his at-bat in the 5th that led to the tying runs being plated, you know that he is doing it on the hill, in the batter's box, and with the hoodoo voodoo. But as an active participant but once every five days, it will not be enough unless the well-established leaders among the everyday players on the squad can reverse the trend of the puckering that's gone on for two straight Septembers and find a way.
Find a way.
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