The occasional Quadruple-A desperation callup notwithstanding, no Met starter is more difficult to watch than Pedro Martinez. That's less a reflection of his mediocre output in 2008 than it is how much emotion he elicits from me every time I see him.

His first innings have been killers. If Pelfrey or Ollie were having them, you'd […]

You know when I had an inkling the Mets might be all right? When I saw a matter-of-fact reference in a wire-service story somewhere the other day to the “fading” New York Mets. It brought me back to the third week of the 1986 season when I saw the exact same descriptor used for a […]

To address my lingering virus that developed in the wake of the day-night doubleheader against Philly, I was prescribed some cough syrup Wednesday. Some very good cough syrup. It's got some very good stuff in it. It makes you quite drowsy which is the way to watch the Mets these nights.

I took it a little […]

This year's 150th game, a loss to the Nationals in Washington, is last year's 150th game, a loss to the Nationals in Washington.

This year's team meeting before the 150th game is last year's team meeting before the 150th game.

Odalis Perez is Chris Nabholz.

Willie Harris is Willie Harris is Willie Harris.

Fernando Tatis is Damion Easley.

The […]

The Mets aren't collapsing. They are deflating. There's a difference. Time remains to pump them back up. But if they don't get the air back into the balloon, there's no shame attached. I did not dream amid the mess of April, May and June that the Mets would be clinging to the remnants of a […]

Over the summer, I contributed a bit of research to a very exciting project regarding the history of Shea Stadium. I pass along from the people with whom I worked an announcement that might be of some interest to you.

Maritime and Spitfire Pictures, producers of LAST PLAY AT SHEA, a documentary feature based on Billy […]

So for the reasonable price of $10,000, I joined the Shea Stadium Premiere Club. Didn't think I could afford it, but it turns out if you go to a game without buying a pretzel or a soda, your savings mount up rather quickly. Thus, with the extra 10 G's I saved Sunday by buying nothing, […]

Good things about Shea Stadium when you’re absolutely sick of it from having been there all week (and you’re sick while you’re there):

• Jon Niese, who, if he were sold at the concessions, would be the freshest thing in the house.

• Section 36, Row F of Upper Deck which gives you — and this is […]