Welcome back to first place, Mets

And here we are again.

Despite all the bullpen troubles, the Mets have pulled back within a tie for first place with the Philadelphia Phillies. Much thanks to Nomar Garciaparra for hitting a bottom of the 9th inning walk-off home run last night to beat the Phillies.

With all the issues and griping, one would expect this team to be 15 games out and severely incapable of winning games, yet here they are in first place in the middle of August. All the whining I hear from Mets fans, if you didn't know what team they were rooting for, you would think we were all Devil Rays Nationals fans.

This team has a definite shot at making another run. A few key players are getting very hot (Carlos Beltran, David Wright, and even Daniel Murphy) and the team showed no flaws in last nights 12-0 romp of Washington.

The bullpen obviously need work, but Billy Wagner should be back by Monday, for better or worse. Just the mental aspect of having him in the bullpen will help the team and the rest of the relief corp.

I'm calling it now: The Mets will stand alone in first place by tomorrow morning.

TSTDIA: Mets 12 -- Nationals 0

A blowout, finally.

Mets Batting Photos [8/11/08]

More photos from my trip to Shea. Carlos Beltran, Nick Evans, Daniel Murphy take their hacks at the plate against the Pirates.

Brandon Knight struggles in Olympics

Team USA fell to South Korea by a score of 8-7 to open their Olympic play.

Brandon Knight, who made one start for the Mets before he was DFA'd and boarded a plane for China, was touched up for six runs. Knight threw 4 1-3 innings, allowing six hits, walking two and striking out two. All six runs were earned, as Knight threw one wild pitch and surrendered one home run.

Ouch.

On a funnier note, the first four batters in South Korea's lineup has the last name of Lee. As does the batter in the six hole.

Boy, this team has changed since 2006

I found this plaque while cleaning out my room today. I thought it was too good to pass up.

The X-ed out Mets (top row): Victor Diaz, Xavier Nady, Willie Randolph.
(center): Cliff Floyd, Paul Lo Duca.
(bottom row): Steve Trachsel, Tom Glavine

Why was Victor Diaz on this plaque? That's all I want to know.

Photo of the Day: David Wright

Simply a gorgeous photograph.

How sweet is that?

(Photo by Greg Fiume/Getty Images)

Mets could reclaim first by Friday

The Mets are sitting only one game behind the Phillies, even though their bullpen troubles make it seem like they're 20 games back.

With the Mets playing the Nationals, and the Phillies playing the Dodgers, it's entirely possible the Mets could be back in first place by the end of the week. It mostly depends on how well John Maine can bounce back from his stint on the DL.

On Friday, both the Mets and the Phillies square off against sub-500 teams. The Mets take on Pittsburgh, a team who handed them a come from behind loss on Monday, while the Phillies take on San Diego.

Right here, right now, I'm going to call that first place in the NL East will change hands at least 3 more times before the year is over.

Mets Moves: Carlos Muniz down, John Maine returns

Carlos Muniz was optioned back to AAA New Orleans, as John Maine has been activated from the DL.

Maine will start Wednesday against the Nationals.

Muniz should stay down at triple-A, for a long time. He just doesn't seem to have it to pitch at the Major League level. He eats innings, but not effectively.

Game Recap: Mets 4 -- Nationals 3

Here's the new recap style. Enjoy.

Johan Santana earned his 10th win as the Mets barely squeaked by the lowly Nationals by a score of 4-3.

Pitching Performance

Santana threw another solid start, and this time around, the bullpen actually help and saved a win for him and the Mets. Johan was on the bump for seven strong innings, even though he lacked his A-game tonight. He allowed eight hits and three earned runs, walked two and struck out six. Two runs came in the first against Santana, and the other came on a pinch-hit solo home run in the seventh inning.

Overall, a very good effort from Santana, who let runners on but limited damage and kept his team in the game.

Joe Smith needed only 10 pitches to get through the 8th inning, even though he let up a lead off single. Smith got Lastings Milledge and Jesus Flores to strikes out on three straight pitches, and needed only another three to finish off Ronnie Belliard on a ground out to second

When Austin Kearns singled to lead off the second, I thought it was all over, but Smith bounced back admirably. Well done.

Pedro Feliciano was the man called upon to close out the game for the Mets, and he did a spectacular job. Feliciano retired the side in order, striking out the last two batters to face him.

I thought Feliciano would only pitch to the first batter, but he stayed in and Eddie Kunz stayed in the bullpen. It worked and that's all that matters.

Offensive Output

The Mets got multiple hits from Jose Reyes, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran.

Beltran picked up three hits, leading the team, doubling twice in his first two at bats. Wright also picked up a two-bagger, scoring twice.

Carlos Delgado had the big hit, driving in two runs in the top of the first inning.

Damion Easley was the hero, as he was the lucky man to get plunked in the head, which drove in the eventual winning run in the top of the 8th inning.

Nothing spectacular from the Mets tonight, but they did just enough to scrape by the terrible Nationals.

The Rest Of The Story

Fernando Tatis looks to be coming back down to Earth...in a hurry. 0-3, 2 K's.

Ramon Castro doesn't seem to be totally healed, and it's showing at the plate. Still manages to call a great game from behind the dish.

The first three runs for the Mets all came with two outs. How surprising is that??

Game Ball: Johan Santana

Amazing photo of National Park

Quick post to point you in the direction of this photo (actually a few photos stitched together) of the Nationals Park from Opening Day 2008.

It's awesome.