Beltran will not be pleased

From MLB's rule book, which will be enforced strictly from here on out:

Not grant “time” to a batter who asks for time once the pitcher has begun his
delivery. If the batter leaves the batter’s box without time and the pitcher
delivers a pitch, the umpire will call the pitch as if the batter had not left
the box.

That's Carlos Beltran's key to disrupting pitchers. I can't wait to see him call time, think he's been granted it and step out, only to have a strike thrown right down the center of the plate.

Can't wait.

Piazza and Clemens: Together again

Ken Davidoff posts 5 perdictions for the holiday weekend. Here's number five:

5. Mike Piazza, now retired, will cackle with glee when it
occurs to him that he and Roger Clemens will likely be on the
2013 Hall of Fame ballot together, and that Clemens won't get in. Piazza won't
stop laughing until it's time for his induction speech on July 28, 2013 _ at
which point he'll speak for 28 minutes, and then resume laughing.

I burst out laughing, and got some strange sideways glances for it, but it was worth it. Well done, Davidoff.

Justified

If you were unlucky enough to catch a millisecond of the four game series in Atlanta this week, I hope you now realize how lost and confused this team looks.

Everyone and their mother wants David Wright to stand up and be the leader we all know he can. He's trying, you can tell, but he's still too young to truly step into the role. For now, the Mets are relying on Willie Randolph to steer this team in the right direction.

After the sweep in Turner Field, I think people, even the most die hard Randolph lovers, have begun to realize the team needs a change.

The sweep has shown me one thing: The Wilpons and Omar Minaya are completely and utterly justified to fire Willie as soon as possible.

Are we all in agreement now?

If not, you must be Randolph's wife, daughter, family member or accountant.

That leads me to the all important question of who is next.

Honestly, I don't have a person who I'd want to take a chance on 100 percent. Wally Backman might be nice, as would Bob Brenley, I feel. There is no clear cut leader in the race to replace Willie, which makes the idea of firing him that much more dangerous.

Jerry Manuel might be the best fit, at least for now, but he reminds me too much of the current fearless leader.

All we know for certain is the Mets are in trouble.

TSTDIA: Braves 4 -- Mets 2

While I am glad I finally got to watch a full baseball game, it was truly unfortunate to see Johan Santana staked to a lead and then let it slip away in the late innings.

This team is lost and out of luck. They need help.

Our Alou preview has ended

Moises Alou is heading to the disabled list, this time with a strain in his left calf.

How long did you really expect him to play? The Mets must enter 25 more cents to get another two weeks of play out of him.

The player being brought up to replace him on the roster is Raul Casanova.

This is one of the most confusing roster shuffles I've ever seen. Adding to the craziness, with Ryan Church still sitting out, Damion Easley is also unavailable tonight, as he is attending his sons high school graduation.

It should be interesting to see how Willie Randolph handles the team tonight.

Pedro playing at least two more years

Even though he said he was considering retirement after this season earlier this week, Pedro Martinez now claims he wants to play at least two more years.

From ESPN:

"I feel great physically and for the record I haven't considered retirement. Retirement would only take place if my arm is badly hurt and if I have to face surgery or something near that nature," Martinez told ESPNdeportes.com

Unfortunately, I highly doubt he'll be going it with the Mets. I could see the team picking him up for another year, or even two, but he has to truly prove he's still got it and can stay healthy. But again, I doubt it will happen.

Here is something to be happy about, again from ESPN:

"I'm completing the workouts and doing a great job. My arm feels excellent and the speed is showing, throwing well over the 90 miles-per-hour mark," Martinez said.

Great news. Just stay on track and stay healthy. This team needs his charisma and character back in the clubhouse and his talent on the field.

Poll: Keep Delgy on the field

After a long delay for no apparent reason, here are the results from the latest poll:

Where do you stand on Carlos Delgado?
Keep him: 60% (41 votes)
Cut him: 20% (14 votes)
Trade him: 13% (9 votes)
Bench him: 5% (4 votes)

I find it hilarious 14 people want to outright cut him. Delgado has gotten a tad bit better since this poll was posted, but he's quickly writing his ticket out of New York after this season is over with his play.

Next poll: Should the Mets fire Willie Randolph?

Going to baseball games is dangerous

Another fan fell and died while attending a Mets game, this time in Atlanta, GA.

From the AP:

Authorities have identified the 25-year-old man who died after falling about 150 feet down a stairwell at Turner Field.

The senior investigator with the Fulton County Medical Examiner's Office, Mark Guilbeau, said Thursday that the man who fell was Justin Hayes of Cumming. Guilbeau says an autopsy will be done to determine the cause of death.

Authorities say the man fell during the eighth inning of Wednesday night's
game between the Atlanta Braves and the New York Mets.

Braves spokesman Brad Hainje said the man apparently fell from the club level to the landing on the stairwell on the field level.

Campbell says the man may have been sliding down the hand rails when he fell.

Two deaths, both from apparently sliding on hand rails. People, if you're going to a Mets game, either home or away, steer cleer of the hand rails and take the stairs.

That didn't take long: Alou heading back to NY

Moises Alou took himself out of the game last night and was diagnosed with a cramp in his calf.

He's now en route back to New York to have an MRI taken on the calf, as it might be more than a cramp, possibly a mild strain.

Alou just cannot stay healthy, and it stinks because he's a professional hitter and this team just can't seem to hit over the last three games. They're going to miss him.

TSTDIA: Braves 11 -- Mets 4

Happy trails, Willie Randolph as your fate is being sealed with each loss.