Hit to DEEP Left Field, Back to the Track, to the Wall!... and it's Caught

We're back from a vacation that thankfully had us missing most of both Philly sweeps, possibly cost us the championship in not one but two fantasy leagues (due to roster update negligence), and provided our first Shea appearance in over nine years- a game in which from the top of the upper deck we watched the likes of Carlos Beltran and Blastings Thrilledge hit home runs, Mike Pelfrey (despite getting the win) continue to be ridiculously unlucky, and a Yankees fan make a long retort to a "best in New York" claim (not mine) that involved context-dependency and league-adjustments. From Kentucky to Tennessee to Missouri to Arkansas to Oklahoma to Texas to New Mexico in one day, and we're back.

Obviously, fans of Blastings! Thrilledge have been neglected. At the most crucial time of the season. That's just how we do things here. A few points-

1. It pisses us off to no end how much playing time Endy Chavez sees instead of Lastings Milledge. Shawn Green is finally no longer a problem (just moved away temporarily, of course), and the "regular" right-fielder is benched, not for a veteran, pay you mind, but a defensive reserve, a bunt specialist, a pinch runner. We love Endy Chavez. He is very useful to this team. But it is ridiculous for him to start regularly over Milledge. Chavez is not a good hitter. He is not a veteran who was once good but now is in the privileged position of having "earned it." No. Willie Randolph is a dick, and doesn't like Lastings Milledge. There are no other explanations left.

2. No matter how much praise is heaped upon him, we are still anti-Luis Castillo. Again, great guy, proven veteran, etc. We don't even say those things with tongue-in-cheek, or sour lemon ball on tongue, or cliches in mind, used ironically. No, really. And he's a competitor. We love to see how hard he takes a Met loss, and how thrilled he is with Met success. But he is hurting the Mets at the top of the order, and his defense is not great. We maintain this position, because it is still true.

3. Tonight's game features Brian Lawrence starting instead of Mike Pelfrey. The Pelfinator better be injured, because there's no excuse for that. The rookie is the better pitcher.

4. Guillermo Mota. We don't know why he's coming into tie games with division rivals no matter how early in the game it is. Willie Randolph is proving how much he (Randolph) sucks for me, so I don't have to labor too much to make this point. However, some lesser spouted points- Jorge Sosa (even before yesterday's grand slam) is not so good either. The Mets need to use their abundance of starting pitching in the bullpen, and that means Orlando Hernandez and Pedro Martinez. John Maine and Oliver Perez will more likely end up there, but that will be a mistake. Maine and Perez can give more innings, and those sixth inning tie game spots can be given to one of the two veteran starters.

5. The bullpen is the Mets' biggest mistake of the year, even greater than their continued mistreatment of Lastings Milledge. Out: Chad Bradford, Heath Bell. In: Scott Schoeneweis, Jorge Sosa. (To name just a couple on either side.)

6. You want positive thoughts, you say? The Mets are playing the Nationals tonight!

Edit- We'd like to add that Shawn Green's AB music makes me feel like we are being lulled to sleep, which is a- happening to his production, b- what is going to happen to his career after this year's collective Met Green-love-fest and hallucination is over, and c- what happens to us when we watch one of his ABs.