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.

I am normally a glass half-full person, but after yesterday’s loss and the Mets pathetic showing in their series at Shea against the Washington Nationals, I’ve had it. I’m dumping the glass.

This team has no heart. Yup, I said it… NO heart.

Wags, DWright, Moises, Johan, Mainer, Ryan Church and Brian Schneider are the only ones on this team who have shown they are gamers; so let’s get that out of the way. I’d even put Nelson Figueroa in there.

However, guys like Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, and Oliver Perez aren’t getting it done. Reyes has become a shell of his former self and has reverted to that pre-2006 player than hacks at everything. He had a week and a half where he appeared to be getting on track, but now he’s off again.

We all know that Delgado has been hit or miss; it’s been mostly miss this year. I can’t say I’m too surprised after last year’s swoon. He told everyone that would listen in the spring that he broke down everything this off-season and re-taught himself how to hit. Unfortunately, his re-teaching has made Carlos Delgado into Wilson Delgado.

The most disappointing person, to me, is Carlos Beltran. He was very boastful in the spring, telling reporters that the Mets were this year’s team to beat. They sure are (as my Phillies fan brother keeps telling me); teams just keep beating them and beating them.

Beltran has done absolutely nothing this year, aside from his spring declaration. I especially enjoyed watching him yesterday; he swings at the first pitch with runners and first and third and two outs. Perfect opportunity to hit in the clutch and work the count; of course, that didn’t happen.

I’ll keep it short on Perez. I have zero confidence in him when he’s on the mound. Someone, anyone want to tell me where the passion is? Where is the hard work that this team was built on when Willie Randolph took over as manager in 2005?

I know Gary Grund has called for an overhaul of the coaching staff, but I can’t put all of the blame on Willie and Co. Is he the one that hits a wall in the 4th inning? Is he the one that can’t play fundamental baseball? The answers are no.

Sure Willie will take the fall, but you can blame Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, et al, for his ouster.

There will be some that believe that since it’s May 16 that there is plenty of time. It’s an excuse. This team is running out of time… and fast. Losing two of three, or getting swept by the Yankees, and

Billy Wagner said it best after Thursday’s game:

“We’re not earning our money.”

That is an understatement.

The Mets (19-17) face off in game 2 of their 4 game set against the Nationals (16-23) tonight at Shea. Pitching for the Mets will be John Maine (4-2). Opposite him tonight will be John Lannan (0-3) who in his last start against the Mets K’d 11 in 6 innings.

The Lineup:

• SS Jose Reyes
• RF Ryan Church
• 3B David Wright
• CF Carlos Beltran
• LF Moises Alou
• 1B Carlos Delgado
• 2B Damion Easley
• C Brian Schneider
• P John Maine

As always, head on over to talk Mets baseball in The Hot Foot Bleachers.

Just a quick look around the NL East, to see how the other teams are faring on this Wednesday evening.

John Smoltz, the former Braves closer turned Braves starter, might be headed back to the bullpen, once his stint on the DL ends. The Braves have suffered some blows to their pen due to injury, but according to ESPN, manager Bobby Cox likes Smoltz where he is. Meanwhile, Mike Hampton is still out, and left his last AAA start early with soreness. Tommy Glavine is back, giving up 2 runs and getting a no decision in a Braves loss to the Nats.

In DC, Nats reliever Chad Cordero is headed to the DL. Cordero threw just 13 pitches against the Braves before a trainer came out to the mound and brought him in for good. Cordero has no saves yet this season. Cordero has been struggling with injuries all season, and was almost DLed after the series against the Mets, and is expected to now miss at least four weeks.

Ex Met Jeff Kent had an RBI single to help the Dodgers beat the Marlins in the ninth last night. The Marlins had rallied back from a 6-1 deficit before losing anyway.

The Washington Nationals have placed Paul Lo Duca on the DL, retroactive to the 14th.  Paulie was hit by a pitch in the hand in the Nats/Braves series last weekend, while facing Jeff Bennett. This follows Lo Duca’s preseason struggles with injury, and in his 12 games this season he’s hitting just .200 with 4 RBIs. He does have 3 doubles, putting him on pace to easily pass last seasons single filled 18.

According to the AP, Paul Lo Duca is prepared to return to Shea as the enemy.

“I’ve got a great last name, because if they’re booing me, I can say they’re saying, ‘Duc.”

Lo Duca also tells them that despite some bitter feelings for the Mets management and the way his time ended in NY, he holds no ill will to the members Shea Nation.

They stuck by me. I owe a lot to them.

Lo Duca was signed as a free agent by the Nats in the offseason, where he joined traded outfielder Lastings Milledge. This will be their first return to Shea. Lo Duca is hitting .200 so far this season and suffered a mild injury during the offseason.  Lastings meanwhile, is doing better. He’s hitting .308 with 4 doubles and a homerun. He has not as of yet highfived anyone at RFK II Stadium.

It should be interesting either way. At the very least I’m sure we’re to get some sort of classic Paul Lo Duca saying something he probably shouldn’t have post game interview.   

Paul Lo Duca will not catch President Bush, who is throwing at the first pitch at the Nationals new stadium. According to the Washington Post, formet Met coach Manny Acta will take Lo Duca’s spot.

The Post reported that this decision had nothing to do with the fact that Paul Lo Duca was mentioned in the Mitchel Report one or two 37 times. And for your fun fact of the day, last Nats catcher to catch President Bush: Brian Schneider.

Sure…nothing at all to do with Lo Duca and steroids. And Ruben Gotay won’t come back and haunt us either.

In a story by the Associated Press, Nationals OF Elijah Dukes claims to a be a changed man.

“I’ve been working on myself a long time, and I finally found a breakthrough,” the 23-year-old Dukes said. “And from now on, everybody gets a chance to really see (what) the real Elijah Dukes is like. I’ve always been working on it, it’s just been issues of mine and I think now I finally tuned it up a bit so I can stay on the field the whole year.”

Dukes, while talented, has been arrested six times since 1998. This offseason, the Nationals traded for Dukes from the Rays.

While I doubt they’ll contend this year, or even next year, the Nats have a nice young OF corps there with Dukes, Lastings Milledge, Wily Mo Pena and if 1B Nick Johnson can every stay healthy at 1B they could look to be a playoff contender in the next few years. Even down the stretch this year they could be scary and play spoiler.

The Washington Nationals, seemingly unaware that the Mets have already won the national league east, are looking at Johnny Estrada as a catching option while Paul Lo Duca heals. For those following along at home, the Mets failed to sign Lo Duca, picked up free agent Johnny Estrada, traded the Nats go get their catcher Schneider, nontendered Estrada, who is now possible signing up with the Nats to replace Lo Duca.

All this needs is Jose Conseco injected drugs into someones butt and a love triangle with Arod and Jeter and this would make a great daytime Soap.