Nats 1 - Mets 0

“On a day that started out with the potential for Mets history” ended up in a oh-so anti-climatic fashion. Mike Pelfrey verse Jason Bergman wasn’t exactly being billed as a pitchers duel but it sure did boil out that way as Pelfrey pitched superbly not allowing a hit until the 7th ( 7-1/3, 2-H, 1-R) and Bergman pitched 7-shutout innings allowing only 3-hits while striking out 9. The games only run was scored when Jesus Flores doubled to lead off the eighth and scored two batters later on Felipe Lopez’s sacrifice fly.

megamets notes:

1) On his first day back from a strained quad Luis Castillo missed an opportunity to score the games first run when David Wright hit a sky high pop fly that misplayed Austin Kearns’ rustic glove. Luis could have easily scored but jogged from first to third at a slow snails pace as if he just hit a tape measure jack and was looking to show-up the opposing pitcher; None the less, I can’t criticize Luis that badly as that type of pop-up gets gobbled-up 998 times out of a 1000, as well as the fact that Luis has several other nagging leg injuries to go along with the recently strained quad.

Here’s ten more predictions. Volume 8 will be fine-tuned and be released with the entire roster.

21) Endy Chavez ( .288, 3-triples, 22-web gems )

22) Joe Smith ( 2.10-ERA, 9.82-WHIP )

23) El Duque ( 7-2, 3.57-ERA, 9.22 K’s per 9-IP )

24) Pedro Feliciano ( 78-games, 70-IP, 3.83 ERA )

25) Aaron Heilman ( to rebound from a poor-start and be traded by the deadline )

26) Ramon Castro ( .280, 7-HR’s, 24-RBI’s )

27) Fernando Tatis ( .265, 6-HR’s )

28) Matt Wise ( 4.44 ERA, 56-IP )

29) Claudio Vargas ( 3.90 ERA, 35-IP)

30) Angel Pagan ( .277, 4-HR’s)

Claudio Vargas pitched valiantly but came up short as the bullpen blew it in the 7th. Vargas allowed 3 hits and 2 runs over 6-1/3 innings and exited the game to a Shea Stadium standing ovation. That was as good as it got for the Mets as the Nats went on to win 5-3.

megamets notes:

1) Brian Schneider gave the Mets a 1-0 lead in the 5th with his 2nd HR, and drove in the Mets 2nd run in the 7th.

2) Joe Smith struck out his 7th straight batter over a 5-game stretch.

3) Carlos Betran pulled the Mets to within 2 with a 2-out RBI in the 8th.

Bullpen notes:

1) Heilman ( 1/3-IP, 3-H, 3-ER) in the 7th

2) Joe Smith bailed out Heilman in the 7th and went on to pitch a perfect 8th.

3) Pedro Feliciano pitched a perfect 9th.

Mets 6 - Nats 3

With the Mets Trailing 2-1 Ryan Church led off the 3rd and with the count no balls and two strikes Churchy cracked one big bad ass monolithic solo blast. John Lannon left a hanger out over the meaty part of the plate and Churchy crushed it, cracking it way out of Shea tying the game up at 2. Wright followed up Church with a frozen rope line drive double but was left stranded at second.

The game would remain notched at 2 until the bottom of the 6th and with runners on first and second and 2-out, Ryan Church would step up and blast the most bizarre line drive that absolutely befuddled left-fielder Austin Kearns, who consequently ended up on his can as 2 Mets crossed the plate. Church’s second timely hit made the difference tonight as it electrified Shea Stadium, gave the Mets a 4-2 lead and put John Maine in line for his 5th win of the year.

megamets notes:

1a) John Maine followed up a Met loss with a Met win for the 4th consecutive time ( 6-IP, 2-H, 2-R) improving his record to 5-2.

1b) John Maine made it crystal clear who owned the inner half of the plate tonight as he plunked Washington’s lead-off hitter on the very first pitch.

2) Brian Schneider went 3-4, driving in the games first run, and scored twice.

3) Fernando Tatis was called up from the international league were he was tops in HR’s-12, and RBI’s-36. Tatis paid immediate dividends as he got a 2-out hit prolonging the 6th and eventually came around to score the Mets 4th run.

4) Jose Reyes and Ryan Church provide insurance as they both collect an RBI in the 9th

5) Wagner notches 8th save while pitching a scoreless 9th

6) Alou extends hit streak to 7 ( 8-16 on home-stand)

7) Ryan Church ( 2-4, HR, 4-RBI’s) star of the game

Megamets will be releasing predictions on 3-4 players a day on how they will fare in the 2008 season.

18) Carlos Beltran ( .278, 27 HR’s, 97 RBI’s) LOCK

19) Moises Alou ( .328, 15 HR’s, 65 RBI’s)

20) Mike Pelfrey ( 9-5, 4.12 ERA)

1) Nelson Figeroa and Jorge Sosa were designated for assignment.

2) Fernando Tatis and Claudio Vargas were recalled from AAA-ball. Fernando Tatis was tearing up international league pitching, leading the league in both HR’s-12, and RBI’s-36.

3) Angel Pagan was put on the disabled list and Matt Wise was reactivated.

Shea Stadium: Mets Vs Nats @ 7:10 pm Radio 660-AM, TV-SNY

We all know that revenge is a dish best served up cold and you can bet your bottom dollar that Ryan Church, Brian Schneider, and Lastings Milledge are looking to serve up a dish or two.

megamets menu:

#1) Lastings Milledge: Has proven he can’t string a couple of good games together so give him a (0-3, HBP)

#2) Ryan Church: Look for Church to clock 1

#3) Brian Schneider: To gun down Milledge at 2nd following HBP

Order up: I’ll take the #2 with a large Pepsi.

megamets notes: Milledge aside, the day after Met Pitchers allowed 10 runs, look for John Maine to pitch inside.

Megamets will be releasing predictions on 3-4 players a day over the next week on how they will fare in the 2008 season.

14) Oliver Perez ( 17-6, 3.21 ERA, 9.55 K’s per 9-IP) LOCK

15) Pedro Martinez ( 11-3, 2.56 ERA)

16) Scott Showenwiess ( 81-G, 77-IP, 3.63-ERA)

17) AAA-Fernando Martinez ( at the least, to be made available for October) being a lefty ain’t going to help him out any.

megamets notes:

1) Carlos Beltran’s 2008 season predictions to be released within the next 24 hours.

Washington 10 - New York 4

I liked our chances a whole lot better before falling asleep, that was about the 2nd when the Mets had a 1 run lead. I woke up and the game was out of hand and unentertaining so I picked up the phone, called Geico, and saved a bunch of money on my car insurance.

megamets notes:

1) Damien did a little yardwork

2) Wright hit his 7th and scored 2

3) Beltran continues to impress ( 9-RBI in last 4-games)

4) Alou gets 3 hits and extends hit streak to 6

5) Joe Smith struck out side in 8th

Megamets will be releasing predictions on about 3 to 4 players a day over the next week on how they will fare in the 2008 season.

11) Jose Reyes (.302, 17-HRs, 22 triples, 68-SB, 118-Runs, 77-RBIs, WS-MVP)

12) Johan Santana ( 20-5, 2.27 ERA, 225 Ks)

13) Marlon Anderson ( 3 pinch-hit homers, October At-bats)

megamets notes:

1) There’s no doubt that Jose Reyes’ dynamic-electric abilities spark the Mets Machine and you gotta believe that when the New York Mets face the Boston Red Sox in the 08 World Series that Jose Reyes will be a spark plug extraordinare, a game breaker slash difference maker, catalyzing a New York Mets World Series Championship.

World Series sneak peak: Jose Reyes leads off game 3 with a blast.