Professor Reyes is now giving dancing lessons. Here he tries to teach the guys at SportsCenter some new moves.

Hat tip to The’Ropolitans for the video

In his usual weekly spot Brian Schneider spoke with WFAN’s Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts.

On last night’s game:

“Those are tough but in a long season they are gonna happen. You gotta just forget about them and move on.”

On the Nationals nonsense in the dugout:

“It caught my attention a couple of times. I’m not used to seeing that in the Big Leagues. But I wouldn’t use the term Bush League to describe it. I think Figueroa’s performance affected his reaction to it.”

More on Figgy:

“He’s more than capable, he knows what he’s doing. The roster move is giving every performance more attention. But he’s been solid.”

On seemingly endless side stories with this team:

“Things get blown out of proportion. A lot more are made of these things than are discussed in the clubhouse. The Wagner/Perez thing was a story everywhere but here…. We barely discuss these things.”

On the clubhouse:

“I’ve been in a few and this is a great one. Everyone is loose. We had a great road trip, faced some top teams. Everyone enjoys each other, this is one of the best clubhouses I’ve been apart of.”

On this weekend’s Yankee series:

“I’ve never been involved in something like this so, yeah, I’m looking forward to it. I’m really excited. Even though it’s at Yankee Stadium I know there will be Mets fans there and I’ve never played there before so, it should be exciting.”

On Scott Schoeneweis:

“Yeah, I was happy to see him get a good hand. With what he’s gone through, it’s nice. He’s really come through for us.”

On how he feels with the Pitching staff:

“I’m feeling more comfortable even with the injury setback. I don’t have to think as much, I’m getting used to their movement. I can just stick with the game plan.”

Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts wrapped the interview by telling Schneider that it has been reported that Nats OF Elijah Dukes was the ring leader of the dugout antics from last night. So, maybe he should be dusted or plunked tonight. Schneider responded thusly:

“I’d rather strike him out, keep him off base. That’s the way I’d take care of it.”

I’ve been one who tries to understand and excuse all the rationals this team seems to put forth at every turn. I read and listen to their post game remarks and think it’s good, their being honest with the media and therefore we get a real feel for the pulse of this team. But I’m starting to come to the conclusion that the sensitivity level for this bunch is way too low. The latest example added to this long list comes from our new folk hero Nelson Figueroa. Last night Figgy seemed to get unhinged by not just the elements but by the “cheerleading girls” in the Washington dugout last night. This is what Figgy had to say after last night loss…

“They were cheerleading in the dugout like a bunch of softball girls,” Figueroa said after the Mets lost to Washington, 10-4, in the series opener. “I’m a professional, just like anybody else. I take huge offense to that. If that’s what a last-place team needs to do to fire themselves up, so be it. I think you need to show a little bit more class, a little bit more professionalism. They won tonight, but again, in the long run, they are who they are.”

Ok, maybe that is true, maybe that is why the Nats are a last place team because they are a Bush League team and act like one. But maybe this Mets team is a .500 team because they cry about everything, the negativity at Shea, the booing, the injuries, being asked about last season, the Ollie/Wagner thing and the weather. Can someone just show some backbone. Hey, Figgy you don’t like what the Nats were doing in the dugout? Shut them down. Or maybe send a message by knocking someone on their a**.

When the Mets fell behind by five funs and it was still relatively early I thought this would be a great time for them to make one of those comebacks that good teams, teams that are going to have a special season make. But It was hard to muster up any optimism and that proved to be correct. So, here they are a .500 team and nobody is upset at themselves. Other than the few D. Wright and Willie Randolph cliche’s that are verbalized after every loss. I know the season is a marathon, don’t wanna get to high, don’t wanna get to low. I get it.

There just doesn’t seem to be any scrappyness, if that is a word, on this team. No, fight. Down by five and you just know it’s over. I hope I’m just frustrated and this team proves me wrong. But it just seems they take any excuse to whine after a game about something other than their bad play.

Note: Reader Rigginsorama points out in the comment section that Figueroa did indeed hit two batters last night. A bad omission by me. I do recall one of them. I chalked it up to Figgy having a tough time gripping the ball due to the weather. But he did hit two batters like Rigginsorama brought to my attention. So, my bad, maybe Figgy was trying to send some kind of message and if so, good for him.

Figueroa’s quote via Adam Rubin of The Daily News.

This guy does some pretty good batting stance impersonations of some Mets players past and present.

My favorite was his Gary Carter. Funny stuff.

Via Yard Barker

Friend of Mets Grrl.com The Shalitas provide the tune behind the new CW11 Mets commercial.

Nice.