Well, it's finally here!  Saint Pedro Day returns this Monday against the Cincinati Reds.  Irronically, Pedro pitched his first game as a Met against the Reds.  We all remembered what happened after he left, but never mind that.  This is like a rebirth for Pedro and the Mets.  The true leader of the pitching staff has returned.  The fire.  The drive.  The, I'm going to knock you out, spirit is returning to the Mets via Pedro Martinez.  So what does Pedro have to do in order to give the Mets a boost?  

    For me, five soild innings.  Not every game, but just this first one.  We, as Mets fans, need to be realistic here.  This is Pedro's first real start against major leage hitters in about a year.  Although I don't expect him to be very rusty, I do not expect a shut out either.  Why only 5 innings?  Because at most, Pedro will only be allowed to throw 75 pitches.  Given that, I think 5 innings or about 15 pitches per inning would be an excellent goal to reach.  So stay calm and controled as you celebrate your Labor Day tomorrow.  Get a beer or a non alcoholic beverage of your choice (water for me, thanks) and just enjoy seeing Pedro Martinez back on the mound for the New York Mets.

Joe Benigno:   Talkings about calm and cool.   Joe Benigno showed on Friday exactly why I think he is a complete disgrace as a Mets fan and a radio announcer.   God forbid, the Mets went on a brief losing streak.  Biggest game of the year?  Excuse me?  The biggest game of the year won't be until October.  This is a man, the same man, who has continously attacked Carlos Beltran for not catching for every ball in the outfield.  This is the same man that has constantly attacked Billy Wagner, who has been one of the best closers in the National League if not all of baseball this and last season.   This is the same man who with every lose, freaks out.   Message to Joe Benigno.  Please stop saying you are a Mets fan.  Just stop.  You aren't.  You have no idea what it means as You Got To Believe.   Gutless?   Excuss me, but only a fool throws a fast ball at some one's head.  Only a coward would want to do that.  Only, I don't know, Roger Clemens would throw at someone's head. 

      Joe Benigno doesn't like Willie Randolph.   Let's see.  Out of the past three years, the Mets have been in first place for how many days straight?  THREE HUNDRED STRAIGHT DAYS.   Can anyone tell me the last New York Mets manager that had this team in first place for THREE HUNDRED STRAIGHT DAYS.  Anyone?  Let me put it this way, we haven't seen that in TWENTY YEARS.  Did Joe Benigno know that?  Carlos Delgado?  Yes, he's had a rough season, however Delgado still is on pace for close to 30 homeruns and close to 100 RBI.   Jose Reyes isn't having a good season?  I don't know, 74 stolen bases and a .370 OBP isn't exactly horrible and that's with a bad slump.  

     Perhaps I am just too positive.  Perhaps I see too much silver lining.  Then again, maybe I'm right.  Maybe I realize that this is a long season and that teams are going to have down times.  Perhaps Mr. Benigno should simply shut up.