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NYM0031003007151
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W: R Franklin (3-2)
L: C Muniz (0-1)

Boxscore

I stand by my contention that this team does not want to be over .500. Every time they get close, they blow games in new and amazing fashion.

The stat they threw up last night was telling. The Mets are the only team in the major leagues who have not come back to win a game after being down by more than two runs. This team has no ability to hold leads or to keep it close. They punch out early. They’re almost TOO veteran-y. It’s nice to be unaffected by losses — to an extent, in baseball, you have to be. But to be completely unaffected by losses — not embarassed by them or not bummed by them — is not good. This team seems to honestly keep thinking that everything will be fine. The Padres swept us — that’s fine, we’ll get them next time. The Cards are beating us — that’s fine, we need to worry about the Phillies this weekend.

One other thing I noticed last night. Pedro is going to have a really good second half. For whatever reason he’s in his own head right now. Maybe he’s afraid to let it go because he’s afraid of re-injuring something. Watching him in the 2nd inning and after the rain delay… he still looks like Pedro. He’s still got speed and location. As soon as he’s out of his own head (and I believe he will be soon) he’s going to be really good again. He’s one of the few things that’s giving me, as a fan, a bit of confidence about the 2nd half.

If they split against the Cardinals here and drop a 4-game series to the Phillies… what’s the plan after that? We’re fine?

And, really, if Carlos Muniz is what you have to hold a 1-run lead in the 9th inning against Albert Pujols, Rick Ankiel, and Troy Glaus — pack it in.