Random thoughts on the Mets

The Mets are 81-63 with 18 games to go — which is somewhat remarkable when you consider the way this season has gone.

First, there was the collapse from last year — blowing a seven-game lead with 17 to go — and the hangover it created this year.

There was the turmoil surrounding Willie Randolph and the slow painful movement toward his firing.

And there have been injuries — four starting players, three starting pitchers, the closer and two important bench players have missed significant time.

But here they are, 18 games over .500 and 2 1/2 games up in the division.

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Pedro Martinez has actually not pitched all that badly over the last month — except against the Phillies. In seven starts, he has tossed 41 1/3 innings and given up 21 earned runs — not exactly stellar stats. In two starts against the Phillies, however, he has thrown just nine innings and given up 11 earned runs compared to 32 1/3 innings and 10 earned runs in the other five games.

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Carlos Delgado is third in the league in homeruns and fourth in runs batted in. Who would have thought that back in May.

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Johan Santana is 5-0 since the all-star break and probably should have more wins. Mike Pelfrey is 5-3 and Oliver Perez is 4-2.

Author: hankkalet

Hank Kalet is a poet and freelance journalist. He is the economic needs reporter for NJ Spotlight, teaches journalism at Rutgers University and writing at Middlesex County College and Brookdale Community College. He writes a semi-monthly column for the Progressive Populist. He is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets and New York Knicks, drinks too much coffee and attends as many Bruce Springsteen concerts as his meager finances will allow. He lives in South Brunswick with his wife Annie. View all posts by hankkalet