CheeringMetFan
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(7/12/04 7:28 pm)
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Mets tread water, still in the hunt
MIAMI - Whether the Mets know it or not, their game against Florida on Sunday at Pro Player Stadium distilled the first half of their season into a neat 2 hours and 57 minutes.
Using the Art Howe expression that has become a team mantra, the Mets battled. They tried to come back from a four-run deficit, just as they've been trying since late May to recover from as many as 6½ games down in the National League East.
They brought the tying run to the plate in the seventh, but got no closer than two runs and wound up losing, 5-2. They were nine outs from tying Philadelphia for first place Thursday, but blew a seventh-inning lead and wound up losing in the ninth. The Mets lost two of three against the Marlins over the weekend and enters the All-Star break in fourth place, two games behind the Phillies.
Still, the Mets' mood was upbeat. And why not? Consider that although the Mets' won-lost record was only five games worse last season at 39-48, they were 17 games behind first-place Atlanta. By the time the break came, they were 40-53 and 21 games out.
"We're right in the thick of this thing and we like our chances," Howe said. "We're right where we need to be.
Here's a quick look at how the Mets have gotten there:
Bright spots: Although his record has been going south for the past month, Tom Glavine will be as well - to Houston for the All-Star game.
Glavine (7-7) hasn't won in his last five starts, yet owns a 2.66 earned-run average, fifth-best in the NL entering Sunday. The veteran lefty, who had a 4.52 ERA in 2003, has re-established his command of the outside corner and has looked more like the pitcher he was for years with the Braves. Except, of course, for the won-lost record.
Mike Piazza was troubled by injury and controversy in 2003, but has been very productive this season, with a .297 average, 16 homers, and 40 RBI. Those numbers would probably be higher if the hitters around him had been more consistent throughout the first three-plus months.
Disappointments: After batting .298 last season, catcher Jason Phillips has slumped this year. He got off to a slow start and is hitting .214. He was pinch-hit for Saturday by Shane Spencer, another right-handed batter.
"It can always get worse," Phillips said when asked about his struggles. "Hopefully, it will get better."
Those thoughts could be echoed by lefty relief specialist Mike Stanton, who allowed one run in two innings Sunday, increasing his ERA to 3.59. Of course, that number doesn't reflect the 18 of 38 inherited runners he has allowed to score.
Highlight: Ty Wigginton's solo homer in the eighth inning broke a 5-5 tie and the Mets went on to a 6-5 victory over the Yankees on July 4, completing a series sweep and winning the season series for the first time since it began in 1997.
Lowlight: The Mets lost their fifth consecutive game June 12, all on an interleague road trip to Minnesota and Kansas City. After that 4-3 defeat against the Royals, losing pitcher David Weathers threw a trash can in the clubhouse. Weathers was traded to Houston for Richard Hidalgo five days later.
What now? Really, anything is possible. In a watered-down NL East, the Mets could stay in the race until the end, and maybe even pull off a modern-day miracle at Shea. (Hey, did somebody say 1973?)
Or a still-flawed team could lose a few more close games, lose confidence, and drop out of contention before the leaves start falling. But after playing 13 of their past 16 games on the road, the Mets begin the second half with an 11-game home-stand against the other four NL East clubs.
"We've played really well at home," Spencer said. "We can set the tone for the second half."
One way or another.
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