Mets luck changes — Will it last?

Before yesterday's game, one Met made a big change. Paul Lo Duca shaved his head. But more change is needed if the team's recent misfortune is to be reversed.

One of the causes of the team's misfortune has been, according to New York Times writer George Vecsey, the fact that "The Mets have looked awful, particularly because José Reyes has been clumsy and indecisive in every phase of the game."

Reyes got two hits last night, including a double, and scored two runs, but also made a throwing error, his twelfth error of the season. He also failed to show patience at the plate in three of his five at-bats, something essential from a leadoff batter. Twice he hit the first pitch and once the second pitch.

The New York Mets won yesterday, 8-4, but their victory didn't convince me that they've set aside their problems, though their luck might be changing. The Phillies finally lost a game, 2-1.

Mets fans have to thank Cardinal pitcher Adam Wainwright for pitching the type of game that Mets fans have prayed for from a Mets pitcher. In eight innings Wainwright limited the Phils to four hits and a run, That's a lot better than Mets starter, Mike Pelfrey, did. In his 92-pitch, five inning stint Pelfrey surrendered nine hits, walked three batters, and gave up three runs, exiting the game with runners on first and third and no out in the sixth.

Despite the win, the pennant's still far from won. As Moises Alou said after the win, "We're not over the hump yet." It's a hump the Mets created.

The team's now in Florida for four games against the Marlins. Hopefully, the Mets won't become Fish food.

Finally, before yesterday's game, Mets manager Willie Randolph made another strange statement, something he's been in the habit of doing lately. Speaking about the Washington Nationals, Randolph said "I’d rather be playing the Phillies and Atlanta, to be honest with you.”

Reyes doesn't score, Mets lose

Yesterday, for the second day in a row, the New York Mets wasted one of baseball's more valuable commodities, a quality start. The bullpen that Minaya built for this season is like the straw house that one of the three little pigs constructed. It's falling apart. But then, it wasn't built to last. Not when it contains ex-starter Aaron Sele (5.26), ex-starter Jorge Sosa (4.30), Steve Schoeneweis (5.02), and Guillermo "Buzzard Luck" Mota (5.71). (Their ERAs are in parentheses.)

The bullpen's latest victims were Pedro Feliciano and Jorge Sosa. In 1.2 innings they gave up three hits and four runs.

It wasn't just the Mets relievers who weren't getting the job done. The Mets batters managed just eight hits off six Phillies pitchers. But then, the Mets hitters aren't as good as the Phillies', so when the Phillies pitchers pitch a good game, the Mets are in trouble.

This season, Jimmy Rollins is better than Jose Reyes. Chase Utley is a better hitter, if not a better player than anyone on the Mets' roster. And the Mets don't have a power hitter that can compare to Ryan Howard.

Reyes, in particular, has not played well in the last two Phillies series.

In the first game on Friday, Reyes stepped to the plate six times, struck out twice, and reached base once; he also failed to it around the bases. In the second game, Reyes had five plate appearances. He reached base three times, twice on walks, once on a hit. Though he stole two bases, he couldn't cross the plate.

In August when the Phils swept the Mets, in game one Reyes went 0-4, neither walking nor scoring any runs; in game two, he went 0-5 with no walks nor runs; in game three, he went 1-3 with a walk but no runs; and in game four, a 11-10 loss, he couldn't get a hit but walked twice and scored once, going 0-3. So in the last six Phillies games, all loses, Reyes scored only once.

A pattern seems to be developing.

It's my guess that when Reyes fails to score any runs, the Mets have a losing record.

Unfortunately, yesterday there was no win by a Mets' minor league team that could cushion the big club's loss. The season's over for their minor league affiliates, and it could be nearing an end for the Men of Shea, who've been playing more like boys.

There was some good news. El Duque's admitted that his foot's still not healed enough for him to return to the mound. ESPN reported that "Hernandez said Saturday it's still bothering him during his delivery."

He never should have made his last start. It was obvious to everyone but Mets' management that El Duque wasn't ready to return. His sore foot obviously affected his ability to pitch: The Braves used him for batting practice, scoring eight earned runs in three plus innings.

Regarding El Duque's status, here's what the Mets' manager had to say about it: "I think we're going to err on the side of caution," Randolph said. "If there is any question or whatever then he won't pitch."

He should take that same caution the next time the thought enters his mind to throw Guillermo Mota into a close game.