I am known to to slam the Mets when they are down. Often launching blogs about what’s wrong with the team or the franchise. Today I am glad to say I am posting to applaud these same Mets. They have really been playing good ball over the last week and are starting to really impress me.

First we have Ike Davis launching 450 foot bombs out to Shea Bridge to Takahashi breathing right down John Maine’s neck looking like he belongs in the rotation. Things have been very good in Mets-land this week and it’s damn refreshing to write a “kudos” thread instead of my doom and gloom.

First and foremost I have to compliment the starting pitching. As much as I am saying that it might be time to put HoJo over the same fire that Jerry and Omar are over, it’s time to maybe consider that Dan Warthen is actually doing a damn good job. I do not know what’s happened with Mike Pelfrey but the kid looks like he won a Cy Young last year and is just marching out to do it again. He looks so comfortable out on the mound and it’s reflecting itself in his pitches. No more mouth-guard and no more making out with his hand out there. He’s all business and he is pitching like the best pitcher in the NL right now. Johan is Johan and has really only had one bad inning thus far this season. I am concerned about his lack of velocity (as with most of the staff) but if his change-up can be as dominant as it’s been his top velocity wont matter as much. Niese has looked strong and looked like a grinder so far. He gets himself into trouble and keeps finding his way out of it. Eddie wrote how he reminds him of Al Leiter and I think that’s a good comparison. He does nothing spectacular and when you look up and he’s only given up 2 runs in 7 innings you wonder to yourself “how the hell did he do that? I have no fingernails left!?” Ollie and Maine are obviously still question marks but even Ollie has pitched ok. It’s been good Ollie then not-so-good Ollie. He hasn’t come in and just puked all over the mound like he has in the past. It may come but for now I am encouraged that he might pitch Ok for a while. John Maine is a mess. Right now he does not deserve a spot in this staff and when Takahashi came in to relieve him after his injury and mowed batters down he made a strong argument for getting a shot in the starters role. If Igarashi hadn’t just been put on the DL Tak would probably be pitching in Maine’s next start, but the plan is to probably keep him in the bullpen for now which has been strong.

The lineup has been productive when it needs to be. The Mets are scoring a lot of their runs late in games which is a far cry from the last two season where they would put up a 4-spot in the first inning and then shut it down. I still do not like Jerry’s move to bat Jose third, but I have to admit it sure does seem to have sparked Jason Bay. Reyes bat seems to have come back as well but that seemed to be happening before the move. For now I like the new lineup and that’s because I really hate the Wright-Bay combo at 3-4 as they were both striking out way too often. At least Reyes makes contact in the 3 hole, and if he gets on it definitely limits what a pitcher can throw to Bay. Wright is still absent from the lineup and I am really starting to wonder what the hell is going on. I see different stance each at bat, he’s chasing horrible balls and it’s really starting to seem like he’s deciding to swing before the pitch is even delivered. He needs to sit and today is the perfect day having already locked up the series. Sit down, don’t touch a bat, relax, and come back clean slate on Monday. Poor Frenchy has had 3 blasts that would have been gone on the road, fall victim to our grand canyon that is Citi, but we are winning games and nobody will complain.

I do have concerns over Jerry’s handling of the bullpen. Like Eddie mentioned he does work like every game is the 7th game of the World Series. I understand that for Jerry it basically is, because he’s on a very hot seat. But when Nieve has pitched in 11 of the 18 games we have played, on pace for over 100+ appearances, that’s crazy. He needs to relax a bit and let’s see if these guys can get out of jams. I understand this team was on life-support coming into this home stand and we had to get the job done and string a good week together. We have done that, now it’s time to see what we have in some of these guys. Lets try to let the starts go an extra inning. Or let the relievers come in for more then the lefty-righty matchup. If we don’t try this now, we will never know what each guy is capable of.

The fans at Citi have been a mixed bag. There has been a lot of talk about the booing of players, particularly David Wright. I am not one to boo my own players, but I do get angry and spew some expletives at the TV from time to time (I am trying to stop due to my new son but it’s easier said then done with RISP and a strikeout looking). I don’t really blame the fans for booing David right now, he looks absolutely horrible. It’s not just a bad start. It’s 18 games piled on top of last years debacle. Not only is he having bad at-bats and off to a bad start, it gets worse in the clutch with runners in scoring position. In my opinion he needs to get back to basics. Shorten his swing, try to hit the ball right back up the middle, and forget about the god damn homerun. Ever since he decided he was a power-hitter he has been a shadow of the player he used to be. I loved David when he was smacking opposite field doubles all the time. Chicks may dig the long ball, but educated baseball fans really love opposite field power!

The Metsies sit at 9-9 and are at the .500 mark since like 2007. Ok that’s not true but man doesn’t it feel like it? Lets get behind this team Mets fans, we are very quick to bitch and moan and boo, but right now we need to get behind this team and show a ton of support. Hopefully it will lift the team to continue this run, and before you know it, it’s not a run, it’s just a damn good ballclub that’s winning series. Don’t look now but the Phillies are facing a lot of trouble with injuries, so don’t start carving the division trophies just yet. The best thing you can say about the Mets is they are 9-9 and 7 out of the last 10. They have done this all while still underachieving and without possibly their best player. If they can keep playing decent ball and then get Beltran back at the end of May the Mets could very much be a team to watch in the NL.