Weeeee!

Last night the roller coaster started its slow climb back up after the gut-wrenching fall from the night before. Of course the barrel-rolling twisty section in the middle didn't do any wonders for my stomach. Don't these guys know how much I drink? Pedro Martinez battled through 6 tough innings last night in a steady rain, leaving with the game tied at 3 in the top of the 7th after letting the first two runners reach base. Following what could have been his final appearance on the mound at Shea, the Mets fans gave Petey a rousing ovation, which he acknowledged with a tip of the cap and a wave to the crowd. Of course, the love fest lasted all of one pitch, which reliever Ricardo Rincon saw deposited in the Mets bullpen for the go ahead three run homer. You know why!

But this Mets team is a different team from yesterday. Literally different from the night before. Ramon Hernandez (I don't know who he is either) and backup catcher Robinson Cancel came through with huge two out hits to tie the game in the bottom of the 8th, thanks in no small part to an imaginative slide from Ryan Church and a generous interpretation of "in the baseline" from the home plate umpire. Carlos Beltran's screaming line drive up the first base line ticked off the firstbaseman's glove in the bottom of the 9th to drive in the winning run and everyone exhaled. Kudos to the Mets for grinding out a victory against a Cubs team that started at least two regulars including pitcher Rich Harden. Sure very few of those players would actually make the postseason roster for Chicago, but the important part is the dream is still alive!

Next up for the Mets in their desperate kick for the finish line, their toughest opponent yet! Mother Nature! It started raining during last night's game and according to most weather reports it won't stop until Sunday. That means the Mets will have to scramble to get their final series against the Marlins played. Could baseball's first triple-header in over a century (if ever) get played on Sunday? Fuck no. Of course Bud Selig forced the Houston Astros to play "home" games against Chicago in Milwaukee while Hurricane Ike battered their city. I can see a situation where the Mets play a double header on Sunday, a makeup game on Monday that forces a tie with the Brewers, and then a one game playoff Monday evening for the National League wild card. It could happen!