G-Fafif

Reyes 3.0 Turner 2.5 Wright 2.0 Beltran 1.5 Duda 1.0

McKeon's nightmare: Jose Reyes - SS Justin Turner - 2B Carlos Beltran - RF David Wright - 3B Daniel Murphy - 1B Angel Pagan - CF Jason Bay - LF Josh Thole - C Chris Capuano - LHP

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY Through 99 NYM Games 2011: REYES -- .349 1969: Jones -- .346 1998: Olerud -- .323 This is the nadir for Olerud's BA. Watch out!

METS HITS IN A SEASON Through 99 NYM Games Johnson 1996: 136 REYES 2011: 129

METS ALL-TIME HIT LEADERS Through 7/22/2011 1. Ed Kranepool 1,418 2. JOSE REYES 1,248 3. Cleon Jones 1,188 4. DAVID WRIGHT 1,184

Murphy 3.0 Wright 2.5 Isringhausen 1.5 Turner 1.5 Reyes 1.0 Pridie 0.5

The Missus added there are lots of blue jays in Kansas, so forget about him pitching against Toronto.

Gary suggested sometimes the biggest kids in their class have hangups about being too aggressive -- so we are now officially out of excuses for Mike Pelfrey. (Mrs. Fafif on the theory: "What about Randy Johnson?")

Extras! Extras! Read all about them! 094: 1984 -- Keith comes through four times, the last of them late. 095: 1970 -- Tommie steals home in the tenth. 096: 2001 -- Bobby V knows best in the fourth so the Mets can win in eleven. Also... 095: 2008 -- How many Mets does it take to pitch a one-hitter? (Five.) 096: 1965 -- How many games does Casey Stengel win? (None after this one.) 097: 1984 -- How high were the Mets after Doc took the series-opener from Chicago? (Very.)

attgig wrote: Aaron Heilman: Signed by Phillies "Smithers, I'm beginning to think that Ruben Amaro is not the brilliant tactician I thought he was.''

No offense, Cleon, but I look forward to lopping you off this tracker very soon.

This from Newsday regarding the home opener of 2005, Carlos Beltran's first game in a Mets home uniform: They were the stars of the offseason, but [Pedro, Martinez] and Carlos Beltran were not the main attractions at Monday's Mets home opener. Like the rock star he is, Martinez commanded attention just by his presence and was genuinely surprised by the loving reception he got from Mets fans. Beltran glided quietly but effectively through his Shea Stadium debut, almost going unnoticed. Martinez had pitched the day before, throwing a compete game for the Mets' first victory. Beltran was in his customary spot in centerfield Monday and went 1-for-3 with two walks and a run scored in the Mets' 8-4 victory over the Astros. I'm sure there's more that I'm not paying for, but headline seems to express the vibe well: Shea opens heart to Beltran, Pedro Martinez has bigger reception, but greeting by fans touches both new Mets and leaves them feeling at home I was there that day and I seem to recall substantial standing and applauding, typical, I guess, of welcomes to the big names of a new season. There was also the heat (on a chilly day) from Carlos having struck the big blow the day before in Atlanta, helping Pedro break the Mets' 0-5 skid. Three ex-Mets played for the Astros that day: Jose Vizcaino, Dan Wheeler and a vaguely familiar lefthanded reliever from Brooklyn. Small fellow. First pitcher Beltran faced at Shea as a Met was Andy Pettitte. Time has flown.

Sat in natural light listening to today's game on a pocket radio, which is to say was experiencing a Met-like power outage. Electricity came on after Beltran's last at-bat. Not sure what to make of the symbolism.

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY Through 98 NYM Games 2011: REYES -- .349 1969: Jones -- .346 1998: Olerud -- .325

METS HITS IN A SEASON Through 98 NYM Games Johnson 1996: 135 REYES 2011: 127

METS ALL-TIME HIT LEADERS Through 7/21/2011 1. Ed Kranepool 1,418 2. JOSE REYES 1,246 3. Cleon Jones 1,188 4. DAVID WRIGHT 1,182

Reyes 1.0

METS HITS IN A SEASON Through 97 NYM Games Johnson 1996: 133 REYES 2011: 126

BEST SINGLE-SEASON BATTING AVERAGE IN METS HISTORY Through 97 NYM Games 2011: REYES -- .350 1969: Jones -- .344 1998: Olerud -- .324

Pagan 2.5 Thole 2.0 Dickey 2.0 Beltran 1.5 Isringhausen 1.5 Beato 0.5

7/20 game should be Mets 6 Cardinals 5 (10)

Super fun in El Promenade more or less behind home plate for the second consecutive night. Thanks to bmfc1 for having the foresight to walk down the block to his local Manufacturers Hanover Trust and pick up the tix for this one. And I'd like to believe after Carlos hit his home run, he told Angel, "Now it's time for you to be the man of the outfield." Angel takes that stuff seriously.

La Russa's nightmare: Jose Reyes, ss Justin Turner, 2b Carlos Beltran, rf Daniel Murphy, 3b Angel Pagan, cf Jason Bay, lf Lucas Duda, 1b Josh Thole, c R.A. Dickey, rhp

Beltran 2.0 Reyes 1.5 Pagan 1.5 Murphy 1.5 Gee 1.5 Paulino 1.0 Isringhausen 0.5 Parnell 0.5

Some progress, per ESPN NY. Gary Carter's daughter Kimmy Bloemers reported several positive developments in The Kid's fight against malignant brain tumors. � Carter's MRI has been moved to Aug. 1 to determine the extent to which radiation has eradicated the tumors. The imaging will take place near Carter's Florida home, and he will head to Duke that night or the next day for analysis and consultation. � Carter's final radiation treatment is Tuesday. � The Kid walked two miles on Monday. Writes Bloemers: "This is the longest walk since finding out about the cancer. He said to my mom that, 'This is the best I have felt in two months!' Wow, thank you Jesus for giving my dad a great day!" � Carter experienced cold sores in his throat last week, but that has been improving. � Carter watched the All-Star Game on television and was touched by a tribute during the seventh inning. Writes Bloemers: "It was extra special because my brother and his best friend Phil were at the game holding signs with dad's name on it. Dad was invited to play in the celebrity softball game again and of course couldn't play this year. Our prayer and hope is that he is out there in 2012!"