Mets Merized Online - Get Metsmerized - New York Mets

The Mets now have the best record in the NL East and second best in baseball. Their hold on that distinction might be temporary or even tenuous at best, but I'm definitely a moment to moment type of guy, and this is a moment I'm definitely loving right now!

Some things are predictable in baseball, like Mark Prior and Kerry Wood having arm troubles, or Adam Dunn striking out over a hundred times, but I never would have predicted the Mets would come out of the gate looking like the powerhouse that they are!

What makes this early success even more remarkable is that two key components of this teams offense haven't even hit their strides yet. Of course I'm talking about Carlos Delgado and David Wright. Yes, I know Wright had that hitting streak and that he's hitting .306, but pardon me if I expected more than zero home runs and 4 RBI's after 17 games. Maybe Willie Randolph is tinkering with him in the two hole because he doesn't see him as the run producer the team needs batting 5th in the order?

What a great start Shawn Green and Moises Alou are off to! As you all know if you've been reading my blogs, I certainly expected a big year from Moises and called him the best move of the off-season, but I never would have guessed that Shawn Green would bust out in the way that he has. He is more patient at the plate and he finally ditched that upper cut in his swing for a more level swing that has made such a huge difference. It's nice to see him contribute because he really is a nice guy.

Will the real Oliver Perez please stand up! I swear he's gonna wear me down before this season ends. Either I'm jumping up and down cheering for him, or jumping up and down and screaming at him. He's going to get me evicted either way. Anyway, he pitched a solid game before losing it a little in the 7th inning on Saturday, and being that he beat the Braves I gotta give him bonus points so I'm he's back on my "nice" list.

One of our writers (Andrew) predicted that the Mets would lose the first game in the Braves series and sweep the day games. I think he nailed it. Glavine should easily win this rematch with Smoltz after losing to him in Atlanta. In that game Glavine out-pitched Smoltz who was in trouble in every inning but the Mets couldn't buy a clutch hit that day. Look for Tom to pick up win number 294 on Sunday.

Carlos Beltran just keeps getting better, and better, and better, and better... Is it too early for the MVP voting? Well then what about Player of the Month? OK, I guess we can wait one more week for that. He is without a doubt the hottest player in the National League! (you have no idea how bad I wanted to say "all of baseball," but then a million Yankee fans would have torched my car.)

"Now batting... number 11... Ramon Castro." Who ever thought those words would strike fear in the hearts of opposing pitchers? Is that why they play Darth Vader's' theme whenever Castro comes to the plate? After all wasn't it Yoda who said... "Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering." He sure has made some pitchers suffer lately. How about two thumbs up for the best backup catcher in baseball!