Oliver Perez to pitch in relief

For one game.

Oliver Perez, who is coming off his best performance of the year, a seven inning, three hit performance against the Yankees, is now slated to pitch Wednesday or Thursday against the Cardinals out of the bullpen.

Pitching coach Dan Warthen and manager Jerry Manuel are trying to split up the lefty/lefty of Johan Santana and Perez. Perez will pitch against St. Louis from the bullpen before being moved back into the rotation next Sunday against the Phillies.

John Maine will slide in between Santana and Perez, stopping the two lefties from throwing on consecutive days.

The Mets rotation for the next two series will be:
6/30: John Maine @ STL
7/1: Tony Armas Jr. @ STL
7/2: Pedro Martinez @ STL
7/3:Mike Pelfrey @ STL
7/4: Johan Santana @ PHI
7/5: John Maine @ PHI
7/6: Oliver Perez @ PHI
7/7: Pedro Martinez @ PHI

Interesting plan for the rotation. I think these two should be split up, and it's interesting the way they're going about it. Good to keep Perez fresh though.

It's interesting that Perez may pitch again on Pedro's day on the bump. Obviously this couldn't have been planned, but with the way Martinez has been throwing of late, it might be a sign of things to come.

TSTDIA: Mets 3 -- Yankees 1

Behind an amazing effort from Oliver Perez (7 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 8 K, 0 BB), the Mets earned a win and finished the statistical first half of the season one game under .500.

Mets left on base -- 6/29

Let's track the number of Mets left on base for this Subway Series finale...

Team LOB, by inning:
1st: 2 LOB, 0 runs.
2nd: 3 LOB, 1 run. (Luis Castillo RBI infield single)
3rd: 2 LOB, 1 run. (Carlos Delgado solo HR)
4th: 1 LOB, 0 runs.
5th: 1 LOB, 0 runs.
6th: 1 LOB, 1 run. (David Wright sac-fly)
7th: 2 LOB, 0 runs.
8th: 0 LOB, 0 runs. Is that a good or bad thing?
-------------------
12 LOB

Thankfully it ended in a win, because if it didn't, every one would look to this statistic for the reason they lost. Good win. Great effort from Oliver Perez.

Hallelujah! Church is back

Ryan Church will return from the disabled list today, after finally recovering from his second concussion of this calendar year.

The odd man out in this situation is Trot Nixon. According to Adam Rubin, "team brass was discussing putting him on the DL over designating him for assignment."

What's hurt? His pride? The man is batting .171 with one home run and one RBI. He's scored twice. Is he really worth keeping around?

Also per Rubin, Church will apparently hit sixth in the order, behind Carlos Delgado. I don't know why Delgado continues to bat 5th in the order. He had one good day all season, yet he still bats fifth. He's put together an improved June, but not good enough to continue to justify batting fifth.

I figured when Jerry Manuel took over, the lineup would be shaken up a bit, but it's taken until now for that to happen. Rubin reports that Delgado will probably drop to seventh in the order when the Mets head to St. Louis in an attempt to split up the two lefties.

Either way, I'm sure the Mets and their fans are glad to welcome Ryan Church back into the fold. Stay away from other players, walls, peoples knees and any thing else that can hit your head.

Santana isn't perfect, says so himself

Johan Santana:

"All I know is that they brought me here to do a job and help the team and I have given them my best. It seems like every time I pitch I have to be absolutely perfect, or else we lose. I’m not perfect."

It's about time someone stepped up and said something somewhat controversial. This team is still playing lackluster baseball, Willie Randolph or no Willie Randolph.

Omar Minaya better be looking around because Trot Nixon, Andy Phillips, Fernando Tatis and the rest of the cast of characters just are not cutting it at the major league level.

Moves need to be made and someone needs to step up in the clubhouse. Why can't it be Johan Santana?

TSTDIA: Yankees 3 -- Mets 2

Another flat offensive performance for a decent Johan Santana start. Johan is now 7-7 on the year, all with an ERA barely over 3.

Mets to hold Church on Sunday

Ryan Church, who is at Shea Stadium with the team, should be activated on Sunday for the Subway Series finale against the Yankees.

Church went 3-3 in his only rehab game for the Brooklyn Cyclones.

The Mets are sorely missing his bat and his glove. Hey Ryan, just make sure you protect your head, please.

Hopefully Trot Nixon takes a trot back to AAA. He's been flat out bad.

Weather at Shea Stadium tonight -- 6/28

Though it looks like they're going to get a game in sometime today, those heading out to the game might want to bring an umbrella or a poncho.

The game should start on time, but don't be surprised if there are delays during the match up between the New York Mets and the New York Yankees for the second game of the final Subway Series.

A tale of two stadiums

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.

Only hours after the Mets pounded out 14 hits and 15 runs, did any Mets fan in their right mind actually think it was going to continue in the nightcap?

If you've been a fan of this team, for just this year even, you would know the inconsistency of this team. 15 runs? Were you not screaming at the television (or at the players in person) "SAVE SOME RUNS!!!" I know I was. I knew it wouldn't last. And it didn't.

Of course, the Mets come to Shea Stadium, a mere two hours after the last game rout ended, facing a pitcher who can't catch on with any team due to a myriad of off the field problems, and, not surprisingly, get absolutely shut down.

Sure they load the bases a handful of times, even one time with none out, but do they get any runs to show for it? Of course not.

Did Carlos Delgado come to Shea riding high off his 9 RBI performance, and then do something even more spectacular in the nightcap? No way. In fact, he didn't even get a hit. (He did walk twice, though)

Did Pedro Martinez flashback to his Red Sox days and pitch a masterpiece? Not even close.

Did the Mets bullpen stop the bleeding when Pedro was done and take over the game? Nope!

Sir Sidney Ponson was the victor last night, holding the Mets to just five hits over his six shutout innings. The Mets then got to face Kyle Farnsworth (4.11 ERA), Jose Veras (3.09 ERA), and Kei Igawa (13.50 ERA) for three innings and managed only three hits.

Simply a tale of two completely different games, played by two completely different teams, in two completely different stadiums only linked by location and their soon to be destruction.

TSTDIA: Yankees 9 -- Mets 0

In typical Mets fashion, after winning the first game by a score of 15-6, they can't scratch out one measly run a few hours later.