Put Your Money Where Your Bat Is

Carlos Beltran... King of The Un-clutch. Can't hit a fastball above his belt. I know he drove in a run today, but still, this guy is supposed to be the best player the Mets have ever signed, and he has done nothing to show it. When Beltran drives in a run, or hits a home run (very rare occasion on both), I get a little giddy. Like yesterday, he drove in two runs, and I thought he might be turning it around. The next day, he just blanks that previous memory, and you hope this guy will bounce out of it, but never does.

Mike Piazza during his long tenure with the Mets, was extremely clutch, hitting meaningful home runs during the 1999-2000 regular and post-seasons. He is still one of my favorite players, but Carlos Beltran is nowhere near Mike Piazza in any terms of production. I know Beltran wears a shirt that says "Mets" or "New York" across the front, but doesn't this guy practice so hard? He does in fact, but it never pays off for some reason. When Beltran was signed this winter, I thought we had a very good chance to make the post-season. But then as usual, the Mets jerk your chain... and when you just think they're out of it, they turn it on again. If they don't get out of this offensive funk, slump, dump... whatever you want to call it... this season is gonna be done. We have been getting terrific starting pitching, but the game is lost to a bullpen snafu, offensive slump, or a Willie gut feeling...

Steve Trachsel pitched an excellent game once again today, only to be lost to the Jones Brothers. Larry drove in one in the first, following Marcus Giles' double with a double of his own. It was already 1-1 after the first, but I didn't expect much from the Mets. Thomson was done after 5, throwing over 100 pitches, and left holding the Mets to one run, and on for the win. Andruw smacked a Steve Trachsel offering a long ways away in the fourth inning. In the seventh, the Mets had bases loaded with one out, and Mr. Un-Clutch flied out to Francoeur in right, who threw an absolute strike on the fly right to Johnny Estrada, who tagged Victor Diaz out easily, after he slid right into his leg, which was blocking the plate. The Mets tied it in the top of the 8th when Ramon Castro flew out to Andruw, who made an off-line throw to Estrada at home, which hit David Wright as he was diving home, allowing Doug Mientkiewicz to advance to second. In the bottom of the inning, Furcal led off with a single, and Giles popped up a bunt attempt. Jones smacked a fastball inside as Furcal took off for second, and hit it over the left-center field wall, almost towards dead center.