Appearing on SNY, while addressing the media following this afternoon’s loss to the Cardinals, the team’s manager, Willie Randolph, had the following to say regarding…
…the state of the team after a 3–6 road trip…
“Tough trip, but we’ve been playing well at home.  We ran into one of those trips where we didn’t very timely hitting [...]

…there has been a lot of talk about Cliff Floyd lately, and whether he should be platooned, is he in a slump, is he tired, is he too old, is he this and is he that…i have been saying he isn’t slumping physically, just statistically, in that he isn’t striking out a lot and is [...]

The Mets lost to the Cardinals by a score of 6 to 3 in St. Louis this afternoon, concluding a 3–6 road trip…
For a recap, check out the always-reliable Associated Press…
…a few thoughts…
…first off, and this has nothing really to do with why the mets lost today, but, i am starting to buy into the conspiracy theory about the [...]

A reader of MetsBlog, whose 2–year-old son currently suffers from lymphatic malformation, has asked that you check out an auction currently running on eBay, on behalf of the Vascular Birthmarks Foundation…
The auction features over 125 items personally signed by members of the sports and entertainment community, including several baseball items donated by Troy Glaus, Roy Halliday, [...]

In his first start for Triple-A Norfolk, while rehabbing an injured hamstring, Brian Bannister was removed from the game with an ‘injury,’ after facing just two batters…
Bannister will undergo another MRI on Friday…
…the word from norfolk is that bannister left the game because he felt ‘discomfort’ in the recently injured hamstring…the trainers will treat it, and [...]

The Game…
The Mets (24–15) conclude a three game series against the Cardinals (25–15) in St. Louis this afternoon starting at 1:10 pm EDT… 

The Pitchers…
RHP Jose Lima (0–2, 9.31 ERA) starts for the Mets … Lima has allowed five earned runs in each of his two starts for the Mets this season … He has allowed 18 runners [...]

At Sportszilla.com, Ben makes the case to shift Aaron Heilman from the team’s bullpen to the starting rotation, writing, “Heilman is the Mets second best pitcher and should be in the rotation.”…
Ben goes on to make a solid case, citing all sorts of stats, and defending each counter-argument, such as, “Why mess with a good [...]

At Hot Foot, Anthony feels it is inexcusable to have Paul Lo Duca lay down a bunt in the ninth, to move Jose Reyes to third, as Willie Randolph elected to do in last night’s loss to the Cardinals…
Anthony writes…
“Lo Duca, as we pointed out in yesterdays post, is the second best clutch hitter on [...]

Over at the Mets Minor League Report, Toby recaps the night in Mets minor league action…
Among other comments, Toby writes of strong performances by Tides OF Michael Tucker, yes, Michael Tucker, who was 2–for-4; Bingo OF Carlos Gomez, who hit a solo home run; and Suns IF Nick Evans, who was 3–for-5 with a double, a [...]

By the way, in case you haven’t noticed, the Braves have won eight of their last 10, mostly against Washington and Florida, and have reached the .500 mark, at 20–20, for the first time this season…

…the mets blogosphere is quiet this morning, featuring a lot of mellow rants about pitching duels…in short, there’s a lot of sincere hat tipping going on, and, as such, not a lot of linking being done here…
…except to the following…
At Metstradamus, John wonders if Cliff Floyd’s recent struggles are due to his body breaking down, writing, “You [...]

Brian Bannister will make a rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk this afternoon at 12:15 pm EDT…
To listen to today’s game between the Norfolk Tides and the Toledo Mud Hens, go here…
…the buzz from shea is that the bannister’s target date to return to the mets rotation is next wednesday at home against the phillies, though [...]

In two games, the Mets have held Albert Pujols hitless in seven at-bats.  He was walked last night, and scored the game’s only run on a double by Scott Rolen…
Pujols is batting .316 this season with 19 HR, 40 runs scored and 48 RBI in 40 games…

Cliff Floyd was hitless in four at-bats during last night’s loss to the Cardinals.  The Journal News and Daily News each point out that Floyd was in the lineup against the left-handed Mark Mulder, despite being 2–for-21 against lefties this season…
By the way, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Kaz Matsui and Xavier Nady were all hitless, as well…
Willie Randolph, [...]

Appearing on SNY, while addressing the media following last night’s loss to the Cardinals, the team’s manager, Willie Randolph, had the following to say regarding…
…Steve Trachsel, who allowed one run over seven innings yet suffered the loss…
“Trax needs to get on track like he can, you know, and he’s been pitching well for us, so…it’s a [...]