I’ll miss Anderson Hernandez . Maybe not the player, but the name. Anderson Hernandez. It just flows, you have to say it. Granted, we didn’t get to say it often, since he frequently boasted a batting average so low that most assumed it belonged to a relief pitcher. Somehow, being in DC for two days he remembered baseball players need to hit. He’s gone 5 for 9 with an RBI and a run scored in two games. Keep in mind, it took him 25 games to get to 10 hits in 2006, and he has just 3 RBI’s as a Met, spread over 3 seasons. Clearly, this is Anderson Hernandez’ career year.

The question remains, where did this offensive outburst come from? It wasn’t like he was hitting .400 in AAA. Was the jet exhaust above Shea his kryptonite? Was there too much pressure caused by trying to live up to the Hernandez name in New York? Or maybe Paul Lo Duca left some steroids behind in the lockerroom. We’ll probably never know for sure. But best of luck to Anderson Hernandez, who at the very least has found a team that actually has a roster spot for an oft poor hitting middle infielder.

For those who missed it, the umpires and the league have reached an agreement that will allow the use of instant replay, but solely for determining boundary calls. For those wondering what that means: homerun or not homerun. Umpires will decide when instant replay is used. 

I’m not one of those super traditionalists that thinks any change is bad, whether it be instant replay or Yankee pitchers running bases in an interleague game, there is some merit in the argument that instant replay has the potential for slowing the game down. Much as I enjoy those west coast games that run till 1 or 2 am NY time, the thought of extra time added on to them makes me cringe. And not the good type of cringe. That being said, with use limited to boundary calls, how much an affect will really take place? Odds are, at best there will be one use max of instant replay per game.  Its not everyday someone hits a questionable homer, steroid homers aside. There’s no need to worry realistically till they start broadening the replays use, as football has. If we can start using replay for close plays and questionable catches, an unlimited use would potentially result in 6 hour marathons. Imagine how painful that would be for those late summer Baltimore/Toronto fight for last matchups.

For now, limited replay seems like a good idea. At the very least, its worth a try, at least until 2015 when the robot umpires take over. They’ll be 100% accurate, and powered by the medicine of the elderly.

Brave turned Met turned Brave Tom Glavine has thrown his last pitch of 2008, and possible career. In his first start since early June, lasted four innings and gave up seven runs, which while an improvement over his previous start that lasted just three innings, still considered not that good.

Glavines injury is yet another blow to the Braves, with Smoltz and Hudson already down for the season, leaving them with a rotation of rookies and Mike Hampton. Luckily for them, Hampton is the Cal Ripkin of pitching. And he almost has his ERA below 8. Almost.

This will be only the second time Glavine failed to throw 100 innings, the first being his debut season in which he only appeared in nine games. Oddly enough, his ERA then was equal to his current one: 5.54. Since 1995 Glavine has proven able to break the 200 inning mark almost every year, his 183 innings in his Met debut being his ‘worst’ season.

I know he says if he doesn’t require surgery and is feeling healthy, he’d consider coming back for 2009, but it just seems that Tommy is done. He really didn’t seem that interested in coming back this year, he’s clearly struggled the last two seasons, which have included his worst five games of his career. Its time to pack it up, maybe accept some minor league coaching position in the Braves system, and start writing that Hall of Fame speech. Ignoring the bad taste he left with the NY Fans on his way out, there’s no arguement: Tom Glavine is a Hall of Fame pitcher, probably the last 300 game winner we’ll see for quite some time, and proved you could dominate with smart pitching instead of using PEDs. He was a class act, and someone who was good for the sport. But its better for him to stop now, use this new injury setback as an exit, rather than return in 2009 for a season that would most likely do nothing but leave a blemish on his career.

It appears that concerns regarding John Maine and his state of readiness were perhaps a bit unneeded. Though his efficiency was not his best, he tossed 90 in five innings, his line was quite good. Maine surrendered just one hit, while striking out 6 and walking 4. He was even a team player, and scored a run while getting walked twice. When your pitcher spends almost as much time on base as the entire opposing team, I think we can call it a good night all around. Brian Stokes was the sole reliever of the night, going four full innings. Stokes gave up three hits and struck out three, none too shabby as it seems different Stokes will in fact rule the world.
The offense probably shouldn’t be ignored either. While Maine and Stokes were busy getting outs, the offense went the other way. Bergmann helped, walking six, two of which resulted in runs walked in. Tatis and Murphy both homered, Reyes had his 31st double, and Beltran kept pace with his 30th. Most of the scoring came in the third, during which David Wright scored twice.

Stokes gets a save for his effort tonight, which will surely be used next time you read a debate about the use of Saves as a stat. Great night all around, the pen got rest, Maine looked good, and everyone contributed. What can you say about a game where your team leaves 12 men stranded on base, and still wins by 12. Cause otherwise, you know it could have been a real blowout.

Ollie takes the mound tomorrow, as the Mets finish their series against the Nats.

Paul Lo Duca is once again a Marlin. Lo Duca came to the Mets from Florida as part of a fire sale market correction, and has once again joined the team, though his current contract is a minor league one. Paulie was released after the trade deadline by the Nats who are looking to go younger.

Lo Duca hit just .230 with the Nats, but spent more than his fair share of time on the DL.

Lo Duca is on pace to spend the 2009 season in low A ball in the Dodgers system. I liked Lo Duca and all as a Met, but its looking pretty apparant at this point that its about time for him to hang up his mask, or I guess with his temper to toss it really hard at the closet or something.

John Maine was pulled after 4 and a third innings for apparent shoulder stiffness. There is no further information on his possible injury at this time, though it appeared to be primarily as a precautionary measure. For those who weren’t watching the game, Maine was visibly upset when Manuel pulled him, and continued to look quite unhappy about being pulled in the dugout.

While Maine was at the time in line for the win, having given up just one run to that point, being that he already experienced some swelling problems this month its probably safer to have him take a seat and be angry then keep pitching and hurt himself. When push comes to shove, we need Maine and its better to risk Muniz losing us a game tonight then a AAA starter lose us multiple games while Maine sits on the DL.

As you all know by now, or at least, should know by now, Carlos Beltran made a spectacular catch this afternoon, snow coning a fly ball to rob the Cardinals of a homerun. And while we can talk about poor Ludwick, who played hard and should have had a homerun, or of the Catch from Cardinals series past in which Endy too made a magical play to rob a sure homerun. But what has been overlooked so far, is the bird.

Watch the video carefully. The closeups. Mere feet away, crossing his path while he ran, a bird attempted to knock that ball just out of Beltran’s reach. Birds always have hated the Mets, and are natural Cardinal fans anyway. The mere athleticism and instinct of Beltran, to not just track the ball and its path, but the bird as well, thus avoiding yet another outfield collision, one that could have ruined Beltran forever. The only question that remains now: was this an isolated incident, or merely the start of an Avian Epidemic.

The Big Pelf comes up once again. Pelf went a full seven, giving up just one run on seven hits. He threw no walks, and struck out five. Pefl has been on a roll, with the Mets winning his last 9 starts, in which seven he got the decision. Pelf has also only given up two runs at Shea over the last two months. So lets keep it up Big Pelf.

Joe Smith meanwhile gave up a hit and a walk in the eight, but then the bullpen struggled a bit in the ninth. Dirty loaded the bases on two singles and a walk (not in that order), Feliciano got Schumaker to pop up, and Heilman allowed one inhereted run to score on a Ludwick sac before inducing the final out. All things considered, when you have bases loaded no outs in the ninth, and the rest of the pen manages to get through it with only one run, I’ll take it every day of the week. Except the day we’re up by one.

Offensively, the Mets had 7 runs on 13 hits, with a lot coming from Everyday Endy. Endy went 4 for 5 yet somehow managed to score just once and had no RBIs. Poor Endy, all those hits for nothing. Jose tripled, his 12th, as he puts more space between him and Mookie, quelling any possible return for Mr Wilson. I still say, unretire and reclaim you triples title Mook. Jose’s triple scored two runs. Starting at second tonight, T.O.R. went 2 for 3 and homered, his first, a solo shot. Delgado added another two run shot of his own.

If Pelf keeps pitching like this people are going to start talking, but in a good way. The other day I actually heard a sportscaster refer to him as ‘one of the better young pitchers in the league.’ I thought maybe I had used too much ammonia again cleaning my kitchen or something, but sure enough, they really said it. While there are still some concerns with the team, its good to see at the least we chose the right young starter to hold on to.

Brandon Knight will start tomorrow night’s game, replacing Pedro Martinez. Pedro has been placed on bereavement leave, he is currently home due to the loss of his father.

Knight has served as both a starter and reliever for the Zephyrs, with 5 starts in 11 appearances. He’s currently 5-1 with a 1.60 ERA. His ERA as a starter this season is 2.08. Knight is also slated to pitch for Team USA this summer on the Olympics.

Over/under on Dark Knight references in tomorrows pre and post game posts is set at 3.