This is fitting

Pretty indicative of the Mets season, if I do say so myself.

AP Photo

Bittersweet: Johan Santana named NL Pitcher of the Month for September

Oh, yay.

Via Mets.com:

During September, Santana tossed 44.1 innings, allowing nine runs on 39 hits with 13 walks and collecting 47 strikeouts. The 29-year-old did not allow more than two runs in any of his six starts, and recorded 10 strikeouts on two occasions (9/1 at MIL and 9/23 vs. CHI). The three-time All-Star hurled a three-hit shutout on three days' rest against the Florida Marlins in his last start of the season on September 27th. Santana became the fifth pitcher since 2000 to post a complete game on three days' rest. The two-time A.L. Cy Young Award winner finished the season 16-7 with a Major League-best 2.53 ERA and 206 strikeouts in 234.1 innings pitched. This marks Johan's sixth career monthly pitcher honor. He won five times in the American League, most recently in July 2006.

He should be in contention for the NL Cy Young, but the bullpen was just terrible, and blew any chance he had for that award.

He's been worth every single penny. He almost saved the season, and he's done as much as possible for the team.

Congrats, Johan. Here's to next year...

Should they stay or should they go? [Pitchers]

As we solemnly shift into the 2008-2009 off-season, I guess it's never too early to look ahead.

Here's a list of all the pitchers who made an appearance with the Mets in 2008, and whether they should stay or go, and why:

Pitchers

Johan Santana - Stay.

Mike Pelfrey - Stay. Probably the #2 starter next season.

Oliver Perez - Stay. Maybe. First tough one. He's good, he's young, and he's lefty. Too bad he's going to be expensive. I would say sign him again, maybe a three year deal. He's proven capable of pitching, sometimes. He put together a few good starts, but struggles at times. If he's re-signed, Mets fans must accept he will never be consistent.

John Maine - Stay. Surgery for him on Tuesday, and with a full recovery, he'll be back to normal. Without any huge acquisitions (CC Sabathia), Maine could be the #3 guy in the rotation. I think the Mets need a bit of an upgrade in the starting rotation, so Maine might be the #4. I love his fight and I think he can be a top-class pitcher if he can limit his pitch count and work further into games.

Pedro Martinez - Go. Sorry, Pedro. I love you, you helped turned this team around, but I can't see the Mets bringing you back, if you even keep pitching past this year. I say call it a career. Focus on your family, and become a fun-loving announcer or something like that. You've had a great run. Sorry this team couldn't send you out on top.

Billy Wagner - Go. Injured, and out for all of 2009. He's thrown his last pitch as a Met. Too bad they'll still be paying him.

Pedro Feliciano - Stay. Though he'll probably take a month off after appearing in 86 games this season. He's decent for what he does and won't be too expensive.

Joe Smith - Stay. I love him. He is overused, but that was a creature of the rest of the bullpen. He's great.

Aaron Heilman - GO! Trade him away, ship him somewhere, get him off the team. He's worn out his welcome on more than one occasion, and if the Mets want to please Mets fans and pay them back for what they've done these last two season, they will trade Heilman as soon as possible. He's the scapegoat of this team and he will never prosper while pitching in Queens.

Scott Schoeneweis - Go. People had interest in him nearing the end of July, so hopefully there is still some sort of market for him. Trade him.

Duaner Sanchez - Stay. Only because I think he wasn't fully prepared for a full season of pitching. After getting this under his belt, and a long offseason, I think Sanchez can come back as a decent pitcher. Take a chance.

Nelson Figueroa - Stay. I say keep him. He's perfect AAA fodder. He can start, come out of the bullpen, and is very versatile. He's not lights out, but he's capable and a New York native.

Brandon Knight - Stay. Why not? He's not going to cost much and can pitch three good innings. He's better suited out of the bullpen, as opposed to starting. Will not be heartbroken when the Mets release him, though.

Claudio Vargas - Stay. This is going to become a theme. I don't mind keeping guys like this because we all know the Mets will suffer injuries. They're going to need "veterans" to come up and fill in. Vargas was much better than I expected, so if he can keep that going, I wouldn't mind a spot start or two from him.

Brian Stokes - Stay. Smoking fastball, and with a bit of tweaking, he'd be a great relief pitcher. His fastball doesn't seem to move much, but he can get it up there. A good 6th or 7th inning guy, but nothing in clutch situations. He's not the next closer.

Carlos Muniz - Go. I know he's been on the Heath Bell Express, but I haven't seen more than a handful of good performances from him. Stay in the minors, please.

Luis Ayala - Go. Worth what we traded for him, but he's a guy on the fence. He's not a closer, but he might be able to pitch in relief in non-pressure situation. But then what's the point of keeping him around? Adios, amigo. You successfully got Anderson Hernandez out of this organization, and for that we are forever in debt to you.

Jonathon Niese - Stay. Possible starter next year? We saw what he's capable of with that eight inning, shut out performance against the Braves. Young, with a nasty curve ball. He's obviously not going anywhere, but it's yet to be determined if he can make the cut for the majors. See you in spring training.

Tony Armas - Stay. See: Claudio Vargas.

Matt Wise - Go. What a waste of a contract. Eight games, seven innings, 6.43 ERA. Good riddance.

Bobby Parnell - Stay. Another guy who could be starting next year, if things work out in his favor. Could also stick in the bullpen, but more valuable as a starter, I think. He looked a bit less polished than Niese, so we'll see him in spring training, and maybe if someone gets hurt.

Ricardo Rincon - Go. No sir.

Eddie Kunz - Stay. Closer of the future? That's yet to be determined, but he showed some signs of brillance. A big guy that can throw heat, how can you not love that. I could see him sticking in the bullpen out of spring training.

In the end, I'd like to see a starting rotation of:
Santana
Pelfrey
Maine
Perez (if cheap)
Niese / Parnell

And a bullpen of:
Smith
Feliciano
Stokes
TBD
TBD
TBD
TBD
Kunz, Parnell, or Niese could all fit in there at some point in time, and maybe Knight for long relief.

Omar Minaya has a lot of work to do with this bullpen. Hopefully he doesn't take all four years of his contract extension to put it together.

A tearful goodbye

I didn't think I'd be so beat up over this, but I already miss Shea Stadium. That final send off had me in tears from beginning to end, and I wasn't even around for most of that history.

Seeing Mike Piazza and Tom Seaver walk from home plate, out to center field, and "shut the door" on Shea Stadium has me teary eyed even writing about it.

Goodbye, Shea. You served us, the fans, admirably for 45 years. We'll all miss you, but we'll never forget the memories we saw within your walls.

Game Recap: Marlins 4 -- Mets 2

See you next season.

Goodbye, Shea Stadium. Hello, Citi Field.

Pitching Performance

Oliver Perez was spectacular for five innings. Through the first five, he allowed only one hit. Coming out in the sixth, Perez allowed three straight hits, with one run scoring. Another run was charged to him when Joe Smith entered the game with the bases loaded and issued a walk, driving in another run, charged to Perez.

Perez walked three and struck out six. He needed 85 pitches, but couldn't get out of the inning in the sixth.

Could have been the last start for Perez as a Met. His first five were simply spectacular, even after taking a ground ball off his pitching hand, but the sixth was a huge speedbump and he couldn't get over it.

Re-sign Oliver?

Smith stayed in the game after the walk and got two big outs to escape the inning with only two runs scoring. Brian Stokes pitched the seventh, allowing a hit and striking out one.

Smith will be back, Stokes should be.

With the game tied in the eighth, Scott Schoeneweis came on to face pinch hitter Wes Helms, a righty. Schoeneweis stayed in the game, and promptly allowed a home run into the bleachers. Luis Ayala entered the game, and he let up a solo home run to Dan Uggla. Ayala ended up throwing one 1-3 innings, allowing two hits and that earned run.

Don't know why Schoeneweis wasn't removed once Helms was announced. He's terrible against righties. Hindsight is 20/20.

Pedro Feliciano and Bobby Parnell each got an out in the ninth as the Mets tried to rally to win.

Both should be back. Maybe Parnell gets some more grooming in the minors, but it all depends what Omar can do this offseason.

Offensive Output

What offense? Five runs in three games isn't going to cut it.

The sole runs came in the bottom of the sixth inning, after Robinson Cancel drew a pinch hit walk, Carlos Beltran belted a two-run homer into the bleachers, tying up the game.

And that was it. That's all. They had more chances sprinkled through the game, but just couldn't get it done.

The Rest of the Story

Endy Chavez entered the game as a defensive replacement, and made another wonderful catch. Going back on the ball, mere feet away from where he made his catch in '06, Chavez tracked one down on the track, jumped, and snagged it out of mid-air. The parallels are frightening.

David Wright had his nine game hit streak snapped.

Game Ball: Carlos Beltran.

Live Blog: The last (?) day at Shea

From the pre-game ceremonies, all the way to the last pitch, I'll be live blogging this possible last game at Shea Stadium, and crucial game in the 2008 Mets season.

Stay right here for all things Mets today.

11:31 am :: And let the pre-game fun begin. Cue the epic music.
11:33 am :: Wow. What a crowd. I thought they were piping in the "Let's Go Mets!" chant. I was wrong.
11:43 am :: Love that Yogi is there. He's a party machine this week.
11:45 am :: No Hanley Ramirez for the Marlins. That is huge.
11:47 am :: I love Ralph Kiner and Yogi Berra. Put them in the booth today.
11:57 am :: Edgardo!!! Second base next year, Fonzi?
12:10 pm :: Wow. They're really pulling out all the stops. Robin Ventura!

Going live!!

Honestly, I'm already teary eyed [My Shea stadium farewell]

Yeah, I'm a sap.

I literally just woke up, and I flipped on SNY. "45 Years of Shea" is on, and I'm already a little emotional.

There is not better way to send out Shea than this day. This day could mean it all for the Mets in 2008, but it will never be forgotten as Shea's possible goodbye.

It's a battle of present versus the past.

Do the Mets celebrate Shea in grand style, or do they focus on the task at hand and beat the Florida Marlins. Oliver Perez goes today, and he could cement his place in Mets history, and probably guarantee a big paycheck next season.

I'll miss Shea, there is no doubt. I first saw my first game against the Florida Marlins (how fitting) and my final game against the Pittsburgh Pirates.

I have two favorite moments from Shea: One happened last season, and the other was this year.

May 16, 2007, against the Cubs, the Mets were getting rained on, and hard. But the game was not canceled. The Cubs refused to come back to Shea, so they were going to try their hardest to get the game in, no matter what.

The game didn't start until 10 pm, and didn't end until 1 am. I've never been in Shea that long, or that late, so it was truly something amazing. There were only a handful of people left in Shea by the time the game started, so from our seats in the mezz. the players could easily hear us.

My other moment happened this year, on FOX Fan Night. Due to my internship, I was able to work at Shea, setting up for a FOX News Channel event.

I got to Shea at noon for a 7 pm game. I was able to walk around the bleachers and take a long, hard look at the stadium, completely empty. I admit I got teary eyed then as well.

Just looking around at the completely empty, quiet stadium was just overwhelming. Most people only see it packed to the gills with fans, cheering their heads off, with the players on the field. So to see it completely empty, with only a few security guards roaming the field level, was simply unbelievable.

Thanks, Shea. You've been an amazing ballpark.

You've had some great memories inside your walls, and hopefully one more can be etched into Mets history today.

Wild Card only

The Phillies were able to stave off the Washington Nationals and clinched the 2008 NL East title.

Congrats to them.

Right now, the Cubs are leading the Brewers 6-3, and are threatening for more. (Thank you, Kosuke Fukudome!) If this game ends as is, it will all come down to tomorrow.

Go Cubs!

Update: Cubbies win, 7-3.

Brewers and Mets are tied atop the Wild Card standings.

Well, tomorrow will be fun.

Game Recap: Mets 2 -- Florida 0

Johan Santana just pitched himself into Mets history. Absolutely amazing.

As Jerry Manuel said, "If I had to explain that one...that was gangsta."

Pitching Performance

This was Johan Santana's day. He's worth every million, every dollar, every penny. I've never seen or heard Shea Stadium rock as loudly as it did today. Amazin'.

Johan Santana, coming off his career high 125 pitches on three days rest, threw one of his best games of his career, and easily of his Mets tenure. With their backs against the wall, Johan went out and threw a complete game shut out. He allowed only three hits, walked three, and struck out nine Marlins.

He was supposed to have a cap of 105 pitches, but he was so good, he had to stay in. 117 pitches later, the Mets were walking off the field victorious behind one of the best pitched games I've ever seen.

There's nothing else that needs to be said. He's the ace. He's the leader of this staff. He is amazing. Cy Young bid, I think so.

The Mets needed him, and he stepped up and filled in with the game of his life.

Offensive Output

You must tip your hat to Ricky Nolasco. Seven innings, allowing only five hits and two earned runs. He walked only one while striking out 10.

This was a pitchers duel, and one of the most exciting and tense games I've had the privilege to watch.

It didn't look like Nolasco was ready for the game to start, as the Mets were able to jump on him in the first for a run. Jose Reyes led off with a single to center. With Carlos Beltran batting, Reyes stole his 56th base of the season. Beltran then singled, moving Reyes to third. Carlos Delgado followed that with a long fly ball to center, allowing Reyes to tag and score.

Another sac-fly. How about that.

In the fourth, an unlikely source drove in the Mets second run. Daniel Murphy was hit by a pitch, bringing Ramon Martinez to the plate. Martinez then drove a double into the gap between center and right field, allowing Murphy to chug all the way around from first to score the only other Mets run.

Honestly, where did this guy come from?? He's 4-13 this year, with three doubles and three RBI. He's another diamond in the rough, and the Mets seem to have caught some more lightning in a bottle.

The Rest of the Story

A mere two hours and seventeen minutes of spectacular baseball.

At time of post, the Cubs are up 2-0 on a Daryle Ward two-run home run.

Go Cubs and Go Nationals.

Game Ball: Johan Santana. A no-doubter.

Photo from Shea: Johan on the mound

Shea Stadium, with Johan Santana on the mound. The place is electric.Thanks to Doug Helferich for sending these photos today. A true Mets fan. He flew up from Duke University to attend his final game at Shea.