Why am I excited?

I woke up this morning and my first thought was "I can't wait to watch the Mets today!"

And then I remembered how they've played recently.

The only possible explanation I have for being excited in anticipation of today's game is the possibility of Nick Evans making an appearance. Knowing Willie Randolph, I doubt we'll see even a glimpse of Evans in the game.

Hopefully, if my wish comes true, Evans will be in left field today. I love young players.

Ryan Church will most likely return in right today, probably moving Endy Chavez (still statistically the worst player on the Mets according to VORP) to left field.

Willie, give the kid a chance. Mets, give me a reason to be excited.

Evans reportedly called up

According to reports, Nick Evans was pulled from the 9th inning of his game in AA and will be called up, presumably to take the spot of Marlon Anderson, who came up lame early in the game.

Thank you! It's about time this team brought up some young talent and let him loose on the majors. Maybe he stinks it up, but who cares. He could bring some fire to this squad.

As usual, I have high hopes for Evans. He might be the shot in the arm this team needs. That might just me talking crazy at 1:30 a.m.

Probably.

TSTDIA: Rockies 6 -- Mets 5 (13)

The Mets can't hold a lead again...and again they lose.

This one stings.

Two notes: The Kid wants in and FJM takes down Lakas

Gary Carter is my new favorite choice for the next manager of the Mets, and not for purely nostalgic purposes, either.

Bart Hubbuch relays a quote from Carter while appearing on an XM sports show:
David Wright

The comments that David Wright made saying that, you know, there’s no spark, there’s no fire [on the Mets]. If anything I would love to bring that to the table because you know me, guys. I love the game, have a great passion for it and you know my enthusiasm and hopefully I would be able to bring that to maybe help turn that ball club around.

Hire him. Now. That is the kind of talk I want to hear from a manager. Fire, passion and enthusiasm are all qualities I want in a manager.

Seriously, hire him.

*****

And my all-time favorite blog, Fire Joe Morgan, takes down Paul Lakas, a self-proclaimed Mets fan and all around fool.

Lakas goes on some crazed, seemingly drunk tirade about how much he hates Mike Piazza for some of the most ridiculous reasons in the world. FJM breaks it down and makes him look like a fool. And rightfully so.

Just when you thought it couldn't get worse

The teams pinch hitting master and current starting left fielder just came up lame while running out a ground ball. Marlon Anderson had to be escorted off the field after the injury.

It looked terrible. Just a scary and painful sight.

Paging Valentino Pascucci...Pascucci...

Anderson will without a doubt hit the DL for an extended period of time.

Countdown: 5...4...3...2...

I can feel it coming.

Reports are pouring in that Omar Minaya is heading to Colorado.

Depending on how the Mets fare against the Rockies, Willie Randolph's tenure as manager could be coming to a very abrupt end.

I doubt Minaya is going there to fire Randolph, but rather counsel the embattled manager on how to deal with the media, the team, and yes, his possible dismissal from his post.

Sorry Willie. I like you, but this team needs a different guy at the helm.

Joe over at Mets Today gives us this saucy tidbit:

In case you missed it, WFAN’s Mike Francesa asked Keith Hernandez if he would consider managing the Mets. To the surprise of many, Keith answered “yes”.

Now, as enticing as that sounds, I don't know if he's the right guy either. And I really don't want to lose Keith's wit and insight in the booth. Maybe SNY can mic Keith up in the dugout and have him discuss the team during games for more than an inning.

Time will tell...

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.