Happy Mother's Day

That's right. Today is Mother's Day, so you better have gotten your mom something good, or you better break out the construction paper and crayons and make her some of those "Good for One Chore" tickets you used to give her when you were a kid. I'm sure it will mean just as much, if not more, to her this time around. (Don't worry, Mom, I got you something better. I think.)

As they've done every year for a while, Major League Baseball will encourage players to use special pink bats on Mother's Day to support breast cancer research.

If memory serves me correctly, Carlos Beltran always seems to tear it up on Mother's Day with the pink bats. If he has another break out game with these special color bats, I'm starting a petition to MLB to let him use these bats all season long.

So again, Happy Mother's Day to all you mommies out there!

Bostick heading north?

Anthony McCarron hints at a possible move the Mets might be making in the coming days due to Saturday's doubleheader.

From McCarron:

Lefty Adam Bostick was yanked from his start last night at Triple-A New Orleans after three scoreless innings, meaning he possibly could be called up to start Wednesday when the Mets may need a fill-in starter as a result of yesterday's doubleheader. They could also use Mike Pelfrey or Johan Santana on short rest, though it's unlikely because each threw more than 100 pitches yesterday.

Well it makes sense in terms of needing a pitcher, but the accompanying roster move is puzzling to me. Would the Mets send down Mike Pelfrey? I would hope not, especially not after his good start against the Reds on Saturday night. What about Nelson Figueroa? It's possible, but unlikely.

Heck, the Mets still haven't made a move to get Matt Wise back into the bullpen.

I guess we're just going to have to wait and find out.

Photo of the Day: Reyes

Photo from Game 2Yes, I know Jose Reyes was the photo from the first game, but this shot was excellent.
Reyes needed some huge ups to leap and catch a ball that Carlos Delgado seemingly airmailed to left field. I don't know how he got up and made that catch, but it made for an awesome photo.
(AP Photo/Bill Kostroun)

Game Recap: Reds 7 -- Mets 1

The revenge of Jeff Keppinger.

The Reds pounded out 14 hits in the nightcap, after knocking 15 earlier in the day, and beat up on the Mets bullpen, scoring five in the late innings to put them up 7-1 and earn a split of the doubleheader for the day.

The best part of the game, at least for the Mets, was the way Mike Pelfrey pitched. Pelfrey allowed only two earned runs on eight hits through six innings. Pelfrey was in control, only walking one while striking out three.

Very, very good start from him. Allowed a bunch of hits, but really limited the damage all game. He really didn't deserve the loss here. Good start from him, which is good to see from him as he's been struggling a bit of late. Very happy with this.

Single runs bookended Pelfrey's start, as a Ken Griffey Jr. single in the first drove in one run and a Scott Hatteberg double in the sixth chased home the other run for the Reds charged to him.

Dusty Baker took a chance starting Hatteberg, who had been batting well under the Mendoza line coming into the day, and he answered by driving in three. Figures it's against the Mets.

The Mets were shut down by Bronson Arroyo who had his most dominant start of the year. Arroyo only allowed four hits through eight innings, and didn't allow a baserunner from the fifth inning on. New York scratched out their only run in the third inning when David Wright singled to drive in Jose Reyes.

Arroyo looked like classic Arroyo. What a dominating start from him, especially since he's struggled all year. Great performance from him, and again, figures it's against the Mets.

The Reds got to both Duaner Sanchez and Billy Wagner for multiple runs to put the game out of reach. In the 8th, back-to-back singles from Hatteberg and Paul Bako each drove in a run each. Wagner allowed three runs, all unearned, after two straight errors from the Mets. Wright had a fielding error and Carlos Delgado committed a throwing error.

Ex-Met Keppinger went 5-5 on the day, picking up his fifth hit with an RBI single in the 9th. Hatteberg picked up his third RBI with a sacrifice fly to left. Bako added another run with an RBI single to the right side.

I really hate to see key bullpen pitchers come in when the Mets aren't leading, and I really really hate to see them get roughed up. Why not burn a guy like Joe Smith, especially if he might get sent down very soon? I don't get that thinking.

Game Ball: Pelfrey

Photo of the Day: Reyes

Photo from Game 1Anyone else ever notice as soon as the game's over, Jose Reyes un-tucks his shirt as soon as possible?
(Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

Game Recap: Mets 12 -- Reds 6

The Mets offense really seems to be clicking, running on all cylinders, or whatever baseball-esque cliche you want to throw in there. The Mets beat up on the Reds, taking the first game of the day/night doubleheader by a score of 12-6.

Johan Santana made the start for the Mets, and seemed to struggle a bit. He allowed a career high 10 hits, but only allowed three runs. Santana walked only one while striking out five. Johan gave up three hits in the top of the first, but was helped out when Corey Patterson, who led off the game with a single, was thrown out while trying to steal second.

He's good. Even when he doesn't have his best stuff, and allows 10 hits, he still shuts a team down for only three runs. That's when you know he's good. People get on against him on a semi-off day, but he still limits the damage and keeps his team in the game.

The Mets got on the board early. In the bottom of the second inning, with Moises Alou on third and Brian Schneider on first, Santana struck out swinging. Fortunately for the Mets, the ball skipped away from David Ross, and Alou came home for the first run of the game.

I'll take it any way they can get it.

In the fourth, Carlos Beltran drove in Luis Castillo with an RBI single up the middle. One out later, Alou drove home two with a bloop single just beyond the infield dirt with the Reds infield playing in.

Crazy move by Dusty Baker playing the infield in there. It would have been an easy pop-up for Brandon Phillips at second, but with the infield in, it drops in for a two RBI hit.

In the top of the fourth, Santana allowed the first run of the game for the Reds when Edwin Encarnacion homered to left field. Alou made an attempt on it, but it was just out of his reach, bouncing off the front of the bleachers.

In the fifth, Beltran picked up another RBI with a sacrifice fly to center, driving in Castillo again. Ryan Church later singled to right, scoring David Wright from second base.

Beltran is getting hot. Watch out other teams, these Mets seem to be clicking.

Encarnacion added an RBI single in the 6th inning before Scott Hatteberg hit a pinch-hit single, plating the second run of the inning.

The Reds are pesky, but the Mets should be able to pick them apart, as we saw today. Let's hope they can match this in the nightcap.

With the bases loaded and two out in the bottom of the sixth, Wright drew a walk, driving in Carlos Delgado. Beltran added to his huge day, picking up his first hit of the season with two out and runners in scoring position, as he smoked a ball down the right field line, driving in all three and earning him a stand-up triple as the ball died after hitting off the wall.

What to say? This team looks good. This lineup is absolutely overpowering when they're all hitting, or contributing in some way. I love it.

Aaron Heilman's 5 2-3 inning scoreless streak came to an end in the 7th as Joey Votto doubled in Ryan Freel.

And he was booed, mercilessly.

The bottom of the seventh saw the Mets pick up their first back-to-back home runs of the year as Delgado and Brian Schneider each went deep. Delgado crushed his ball just to the left of the Mets bullpen in right field. Schneider, picking up his first extra base hit of the year, lined a ball down the right field line, just clearing the fence.

Welcome to the club, Schneider. As Gary said, he's now "off the schnied." (pun intended)

Ken Griffey Jr. came within inches of his 598th home run of his career, as he doubled off the wall in the 8th inning against Pedro Feliciano, driving in two runs.

Jorge Sosa came in and walked one batter, but put up a hitless and scoreless inning to put the game away for the Mets.

Game Ball: Beltran.

Two games and Delgado batting seventh

I know it's pretty bad how the Mets handled the rain out last night, waiting until 8 p.m. to postpone the game, but I love doubleheaders.

I'm pumped. I remember Mike Pelfrey pitched in a doubleheader before (trip down memory lane here) and the Mets put up a 17-spot against the Marlins. Let's hope for the same results tonight. (Yes, Pelfrey is starting tonight as Johan Santana is pitching the day game.)

And last night, Carlos Delgado was planned to bat 7th in the batting order. I like this, as Willie Randolph tries to break up the lefties in the batting order, and protects Carlos Beltran was going to bat in front of Ryan Church.

Smart move, Randolph, though I still think Church should be batting second.

Joe Smith will be optioned to AAA, eventually

Depending on how the games are played out on Saturday, Joe Smith may be optioned to AAA after the second game, or maybe not at all.

The Mets plan is to send Smith to the minors to make room for Matt Wise to come back off the DL.

Marty Noble lays it out:

But now Wise has rejoined the team, though he hasn't been added to the roster. When he is, Smith will be optioned to Triple-A, despite his effective pitching. That is the plan, a person in the Mets hierarchy said Friday. But the postponement of the Mets' game against the Reds on Friday night, the resulting doubleheader on Saturday and the chance for bullpen overload in two games prompted the club to retain Smith on the roster.

If Smith pitches in the first game, he could be assigned to the Minor Leagues to accommodate Wise on the roster for the second game. If Smith doesn't pitch in the first game, the Mets might not make a roster move until Sunday. And if Smith isn't used in the doubleheader, the club could not make a move with Wise until after Smith does pitch.

I love Smith, and I think he has a big future with this team. It's too bad that he's pitching so well and he's going to get demoted. He's very young, so I know he'll be back when (not if) someone in the bullpen goes down with an injury.

I really couldn't gauge Wise's effectiveness as a pitcher, as he only pitched a grand total of two games, posting a 9.00 ERA. I always liked him when he was with Milwaukee, though. I just hope he can post numbers like Smith, otherwise this move looks bad.

Guess the Mets are married to Jorge Sosa.

Flip-flop

The Mets are planning to flip-flop their starters in the doubleheader today.

Johan Santana will start the 1:10 p.m. game, while Mike Pelfrey will pitch the nightcap, starting at 7:30 p.m.

Doubleheader

The Mets and the Reds first game, scheduled for Friday night, will be postponed.

They are planning a day/night doubleheader tomorrow at the stadium. The first game is scheduled for a 1:10 p.m. start, with the second game starting at 7:40 p.m.

Stinks for the fans that made the trek out to Shea. But hey, I love doubleheaders!