Oliver Perez: Who are you?

The stats on Oliver Perez:
Birth: August 15, 1981
Height: 6' 3"
Weight: 160 lb.

Debut: June 16, 2002
Career: 51-58, 4.48 ERA, 1.435 WHIP
2008: 6-5, 4.98 ERA, 1.472 WHIP

Here's the problem. That doesn't show that there are actually two different people named Oliver Perez. They look exactly alike, they talk alike, they do everything the same way...except pitch.

One day, you'll get the Perez we saw against the Yankees last week. 7 IP, 3 hits, 1 earned run.

Other days, we'll see the Perez who can't make it out of the first inning, allowing five hits and six runs in only 1-3 of an inning.

John Delcos has affectionately named him "Coin Flip." How fitting is that?

Any day, either of the Oliver Perez's could show up. Hopefully, today, against the Phillies, we see the good Perez. The one who triumphs over evil and doesn't stink on the mound. We shall see.

Migraines keeping Ryan Church out of play

Ryan Church left last night's game in the 8th inning with migraines. The same ailment is keeping him out of the lineup for Sunday's matinee.

Church has suffered from migraines since an early age, but they have recently increased in frequency due to his two concussions in only a handful of months.

Are the Mets corner outfield spots cursed or something?? This is getting crazy.

Ryan Church is dizzy

Here we go again.

Ryan Church left last night's game against the Phillies in the top of the 8th inning with "dizziness." Apparently, it was only a migraine and not repercussions from his second concussion of the season.

I really, really hope he's all right. His bat needs to stay in the lineup.

TSTDIA: Mets 9 -- Philles 4

The Mets took the lead early, fell behind late, but rallied against the Phillies bullpen to score and keep scoring en route to a victory.

Are these the Mets?

John Maine leaves game with injury to non-pitching arm

Update 8:53 pm: It's been diagnosed simply as a "cramp."

John Maine was forced to leave the game against the Philadelphia Phillies in the sixth inning due to an injury to his non-pitching arm.

Maine was pitching to Ryan Howard when he grabbed his left arm, near the elbow. He's in the dugout now, and seems more frustrated than in pain.

He only allowed one hit, a three run home run in 5 2-3 innings. He was up to 103 pitches, so he was going to be done soon, but hopefully his arm is all right.

I usually get a pain near that area, and I have to simply pop the elbow, just like you would crack your knuckles. It feels tight and hurts like heck, but when you pop it, it feels much better.

Aaron Heilman came on, with a 2-2 count against Howard and needed only one pitch, a change up, to strike him out.

Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez's dream lineup

During the 4th inning of the Mets and Phillies game on July 5, Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez were discussing some lineup adjustments for the Mets.

Rumor has it that Jerry Manuel is strongly considering moving Carlos Beltran to the two hole, allowing him to "see more fastballs." Here's how Gary and Keith had the top six of the lineup shaking out:

Jose Reyes
Carlos Beltran
Ryan Church
Moises Alou
David Wright
Carlos Delgado

I'd finish that lineup with Brian Schneider and Luis Castillo, either of which could be placed in the seventh or eighth spots.

I like that lineup, a lot. It is assuming Alou stays healthy, and Delgado can keep up what he's put together in the last few games.

It puts a lot of pop and speed at the top of the order, with a much better #4 hitter. Delgado rightfully shifts lower in the lineup, and will get Wright on base a whole lot more with less pitches to hit.

I like it.

A tale of two seasons

Last week I brought you "A Tale of Two Stadiums," this week, it's "A Tale of Two Seasons."

J.A. Happ has made two major league starts in his career, both against the New York Mets.

In 2007, the Mets pounded Happ for five runs in four innings. He surrendered three home runs to Carlos Beltran, Paul LoDuca and David Wright. Happ allowed seven hits, while striking out five and walking two. Jorge Sosa earned the win for the Mets, who upped their record to 46-33.

Beltran ended up going 4-5, hitting two home runs and picking up 10 total bases.

This time around, it was an entirely different story. Happ went 4 2-3 of an inning, allowing only three hits, striking out three and walking four. He surrendered only two runs, the only ones the Mets managed to put across.

On the flip side, Johan Santana pitched 8 innings, allowing only six hits and two runs. He took the loss as the Mets fell to 42-44. Beltran went 0-4 and struck out twice.

Two different teams, two different seasons, and two vastly different outcomes.

The Mets bats stink

Another excellent Johan Santana start wasted.

Santana gave up only two runs, and the Mets lost again. This reminds me of when Roger Clemens pitched with the Astros. He would dominate the other team, but the 'Stros simply did not score for him.

I sort of feel bad for Santana, because he's doing pretty much all that he can do, and his team still can't manage to win. He may not be the best pitcher in the league anymore, but he's pitching very, very well and the Mets are now 0-6 in his last six starts.

This team always seems to fail horribly with timely hitting. The Mets had the bases loaded and nobody out, and managed to score only two runs. Luckily, at that. Thanks to the speed of Jose Reyes, who beat out a double play ball, and a good eye by David Wright to walk a run in, otherwise the inning could have ended without the Mets pushing any runs across.

I'm not sure if the Mets need to add a bat from elsewhere, but this team needs a jolt. In big games like last night's, the team should be fired up and aggressive, but they still looked flat. Is the team dynamic that different without Ryan Church? Without Moises Alou? Maybe a lineup shakeup will do the trick, but who knows.

Maybe this team really is just a mediocre, .500 team.

TSTDIA: Phillies 4 -- Mets 3

I hate when the Mets lose. I hate when the Mets get walked off against. I hate losing to the Phillies.

This stinks.

Happy Fourth of July!

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

And Happy Birthday to my mom!