Note Schedule Change: Getting Squirrely will return on Friday, July 25, a day later than its normal Thursday slot. We apologize for the inconvenience, and we hope your ears are ready.
Now you can all breathe easy. Yes, the New York Mets have taken another series from the archrival Philadelphia Phillies to catapult themselves into sole possession of first place in the National League Eastern Division. You can all breathe easy because Salvatore did not deep six himself after Tuesday night's stunning, unfathomable defeat to Philly and he is speaking once again after a two-day hiatus.
Salvatore Francesca?: Forgive me for a moment while I take on the role of a sports talkshow personality and tell you how great of a prognosticator/genius I am. Looking back at Tuesday's preview of Johan Santana's start in the series opener of this three-game, first-place turnpike tussle, yours truly stated, "Regardless of what happens tonight, the Mets will remain a N.L. East title contender for the forseeable future and Santana will still be viewed as one of the game's top aces."
Well, the oft-criticized Santana stepped up and proved his worth by twirling eight innings of two-run ball. Still, it was not enough as the Mets, with their bullpen taking the lead and Jose Reyes following, melted down in the ninth inning and watched a 5-2 lead turn into an 8-6 loss. Santana could have and should have came out for a ninth inning of work, but there is no sense in revisiting that nightmarish loss any more than we have to.
Now, let us digress back to the central theme of this passage. Santana dazzled, shutting up the skeptics. The Mets squandered his effort with a number of miscues that led to the team's worst loss since Tom Glavine last started in a New York uniform. It was not the end of the world though. Santana is still an ace and the Mets showed their mettle by taking two. For the first time since April, the Mets are top dog.
A Great Matinee at Shea: The Mets are reaping the benefits now, and Oliver Perez's bank account will eventually feel the effect this off-season. A 15-game winner in 2007, the screwy southpaw, a.k.a. Big-Game Ollie, has shaken off his inconsistency and has surrendered a total of five earned runs over his last six outings.
If the Shane Victorino is a Mets' killer, then Perez must look like Charles Manson to Philadelphia. Striking out 12 and allowing only one run over 7.2 innings, Perez continued his dominance of a division rival and once again performed well against a marquee opponent.
The Phightin' Phils have managed only one run, Jayson Werth's seventh-inning shot on Thursday afternoon, in 26 innings against Perez this season.
The Mets have now won nine of their first 13 games with Philadelphia this season, claiming all four series between the two.
Perez's surge over the past month has dropped his ERA from 5.29 to 4.15, but it may not be the most impressive on the team.
After Aaron Heilman induced a clutch, tie-preserving fly out in relief of Perez, Carlos Delgado continued his tear. Miraculously hitting .406 this month, Delgado lined an opposite-field double off J.C. Romero to drive in Robinson Cancel and David Wright with the difference in a 3-1 victory.
Now you can all breathe easy. Yes, the New York Mets have taken another series from the archrival Philadelphia Phillies to catapult themselves into sole possession of first place in the National League Eastern Division. You can all breathe easy because Salvatore did not deep six himself after Tuesday night's stunning, unfathomable defeat to Philly and he is speaking once again after a two-day hiatus.
Salvatore Francesca?: Forgive me for a moment while I take on the role of a sports talkshow personality and tell you how great of a prognosticator/genius I am. Looking back at Tuesday's preview of Johan Santana's start in the series opener of this three-game, first-place turnpike tussle, yours truly stated, "Regardless of what happens tonight, the Mets will remain a N.L. East title contender for the forseeable future and Santana will still be viewed as one of the game's top aces."
Well, the oft-criticized Santana stepped up and proved his worth by twirling eight innings of two-run ball. Still, it was not enough as the Mets, with their bullpen taking the lead and Jose Reyes following, melted down in the ninth inning and watched a 5-2 lead turn into an 8-6 loss. Santana could have and should have came out for a ninth inning of work, but there is no sense in revisiting that nightmarish loss any more than we have to.
Now, let us digress back to the central theme of this passage. Santana dazzled, shutting up the skeptics. The Mets squandered his effort with a number of miscues that led to the team's worst loss since Tom Glavine last started in a New York uniform. It was not the end of the world though. Santana is still an ace and the Mets showed their mettle by taking two. For the first time since April, the Mets are top dog.
A Great Matinee at Shea: The Mets are reaping the benefits now, and Oliver Perez's bank account will eventually feel the effect this off-season. A 15-game winner in 2007, the screwy southpaw, a.k.a. Big-Game Ollie, has shaken off his inconsistency and has surrendered a total of five earned runs over his last six outings.
If the Shane Victorino is a Mets' killer, then Perez must look like Charles Manson to Philadelphia. Striking out 12 and allowing only one run over 7.2 innings, Perez continued his dominance of a division rival and once again performed well against a marquee opponent.
The Phightin' Phils have managed only one run, Jayson Werth's seventh-inning shot on Thursday afternoon, in 26 innings against Perez this season.
The Mets have now won nine of their first 13 games with Philadelphia this season, claiming all four series between the two.
Perez's surge over the past month has dropped his ERA from 5.29 to 4.15, but it may not be the most impressive on the team.
After Aaron Heilman induced a clutch, tie-preserving fly out in relief of Perez, Carlos Delgado continued his tear. Miraculously hitting .406 this month, Delgado lined an opposite-field double off J.C. Romero to drive in Robinson Cancel and David Wright with the difference in a 3-1 victory.
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