Mike's Mets

For 4 innings this afternoon, the Mets looked as offensively challenged as they have for most of September, managing only 2 hits and 0 runs off Nats rookie Michael O'Connor. A questionable baserunning decision by Jose Reyes cost them a scoring opportunity in the first, and they wouldn't see another one until some wildness and inconsistency from starter John Maine had them in a 4-0 hole coming up in the home fifth.

But that's when the bats finally awoke, and they did so with a vengeance. After Shawn Green opened the frame with a long double to center, Lastings Milledge singled him home to break the drought. A Chris Woodward double advanced Milledge to third, and one out later, Jose Reyes' single brought home Milledge to cut the lead to 4-2. Endy Chavez singled home Woodward and moved Reyes to second, but Lo Duca flied to right for the second out. The Mets pulled off a double steal when 2B Jose Vidro couldn't handle Brian Schneider's throw, and David Wright homered on the next pitch to put the Mets up 6-4, chasing O'Connor.

By the time the afternoon was over, the Mets had amassed 12 runs on 17 base hits, including 9 for extra bases. Paul Lo Duca also homered, and Mets fans finally had a reprieve from the recent offensive penury of their team. On a sober note, Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson broke his leg in a collision with RF Austin Kearns chasing a Wright pop up that went for a triple.

Thoughts on the game
Here's John Maine's chart updated:

Although he has gone a couple of games without giving up a homer, the disturbing trend is the increase in walks and the inability to make it past 5. Maine simply hasn't been able to consistently harness his off-speed pitches, and they're sitting on the fastball. They're fouling off the good ones, and then pouncing on his mistakes. It's a credit to him that he has remained a pretty effective starting pitcher, despite his troubles today. In the long run, though, the difference between John Maine being an efficient middle-of-the-rotation starter or an inconsistent bottom-of-the-rotation one will come down to developing a reliable and effective slider and changeup. But that's a project for next year. I still feel that Maine can be effective as a long man for 2 or 3 innings with what he has right now, and that's what I think his role will be in the playoffs.

Wright was 3-5 today, but the other 2 besides the homer were an infield hit and the bloop that Nick Johnson was injured on. Still, it was great to see him get a big hit in a big spot, and off a left-hander to boot. Shawn Green looked better at the plate with a pair of hits. I remain skeptical of him, but hope he makes me look foolish as Jose Valentin did when I wrote him off in April. Good job by Lastings Milledge with a couple of RBI knocks. Still, Jose Reyes was the hitting star with 3 for 3, 3 RBIs and a pair of walks.

Box Score