Another September, another batch of stress, and mysteriously repetitive circumstances. But what do our friends round the Blog o Sphere think as Jerry and his band of Gangsta’s make attempt to rewrite history, make right what once went wrong. Lets see if Al, Ziggy and the crew say:

Stef takes the voice of optimism over at You Can’t Script Baseball. She’ll even tell you why, in convenient list form.

IMFM takes a look at the bullpen in his usual style, which means pictures of batman. And not the cool Christian Bale or Keaton versions mind you.

The Ed Kranepool Society isn’t exactly relieved after last nights win.

And good advice, as always, from Faith and Fear: take pain killers before every game, you won’t feel a thing.

The Mets and Nationals will play game four of their four game series tonight. Gametime is set for 7:10 EST. Johan Santana will face off against righty Tim Redding. The game can be seen on SNY and can be heard on WFAN. This will be the Mets final regular season meeting versus the Nats.

Key to the Game:

• The Bullpen: Last night, albeit in a win, the bullpen allowed five runs. Also, Jerry Manuel was forced to use seven relievers in four innings, which is unheard of. One of these guys is going to have to step up, or Jerry will be forced to use Bobby Parnell or Al Reyes more (I hope he does).

For a lineup, head to Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News.

As always, to chat during the game head to The Hot Foot Bleachers.

Player 1 (Easy)

• Player 1 was known as “Super Joe” and played five years with the Mets. He had his best year in 2001, when he totaled eight homers, 30 RBI and posted a .283 average. He played all infield and outfield positions while playing for the Mets.

Player 2 (A Bit Harder)

• Player two was traded for at the deadline in 2002, and posted very good numbers as a Mets. He played in 24 games, and delivered a sparkling 2.08. Sadly, the Mets missed the playoffs in 2002, and he will forever be remembered as the guy that came to the Mets when Jason Bay was sent packing.

Player 3 (Hard)

• Player three pitched for the Mets parts of the 2004 and 2005 seasons. In 2004, he was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles to try and bolster the pen. He certainly delivered, and posted a 1.69 ERA in 21.1 innings. He last pitched in the majors in 2006 for the Rockies.

Post your answers in the comments section.

The reorganization of minor league affiliations has already kicked into full gear, as the Indians made the expected announcement today that they’d be partnering up with Columbus, bringing the vast majority of their organization into Ohio. Good news for the Indians, though bad news for those drafted by them, since now they could potentially spend their entire career in the state of Ohio.

The Dodgers have also once again aligned them selves with Albuquerque. Known as the minor league team with the most Qs, they were partners with the Dodgers for 28 years. Albuquerque was home at one point to both Pedro Martinez and Mike Piazza.

Still no official word from the Mets camp, though rumors out of both Buffalo and Syracuse still point to a Mets/Bisons partnership.

As I’ve mentioned previously, its looking more and more like the real loser in all of this will be the Blue Jays. The Nats are now actively pursing the Chiefs, so if the Marlins make a move on the Zephyrs, that leaves the Jays sending their minor leaguers to Vegas. Though on the plus side, Ontario and Vegas are pretty much the same, except for the weather. But both are primarily known for their casinos, strippers, and maple syrup.

According to the AP, ex-Mets minor leaguer Joseph Petcka has allegedly beat a cat to death in a jealous rage.  Apparently, Petcka was jealous that his then girlfriend, a Sports Illustrated reporter, loved the cat more than she loved him. 

Petcka briefly pitched in the Mets minor league system from 1992-1995.  He never rose above high A level ball.  If you’re curious about his minor league statistics, head over to Baseball-Reference.  Since then he has been an actor, having a small role on “Sex in the City” and appearing in other commercials. 

He is now on trial for aggravated cruelty to animals.

Around two weeks ago, I posted here on Hot Foot describing the curse of Damion Easley.  I noted how he has joined teams that won the previous season yet failed to make the playoffs the following year.  He has played the most games of any active player without making the playoffs. 

Last year, with the Mets on track to the playoffs Easley was punished in two ways: the Mets epic collapse and his season ending ankle injury that would have prevented him from playing in the playoffs barring a record collapse. 

This year the Mets have blown a smaller lead in the division, albeit a smaller one, and Easley is hurt again - though it is a less significant injury. 

Easley injured his right quadriceps, which continue to be tender and prevent him from playing.  On yesterday’s broadcast, Kevin Burkhardt described Easley as being at a point where he still feels the injury in daily activities such as standing up.   

Muscle injuries such as the one Easley has often just take time to recover from and it is possible that he won’t be at 100% for a while. 

So - should the Mets make the playoffs - Easley might not be able to play.  While he has been decent for the Mets at 2B, the Mets do have depth with Argenis Reyes and Luis Castillo both being at similar talent levels as Easley, making Damion expendable. 

Just another episode in the saga that has become ‘The Curse of Damion Easley.’

The Braves have been the Mets’ rival for many a year at this point, and despite the Braves being eliminated from contention, it could come back to bite the Mets.

Every time the Mets play the Braves they  face a juiced up team prepared to blow a crushing loss to a rival amidst another potential postseason miss.  This weekend, the Mets lost two of three to the Braves and face them again for three games beginning on Friday. 

On the other hand, the Phillies have won the first two games in their three game set against the Braves and get to face them again for three games beginning next Monday. 

In short - the Braves will be as central to this race for the playoffs as any other team, other than the Mets, Phillies and Brewers of course. 

Does that bode well for the Mets? Probably not.  So far this season, the Mets are 6-9 against the Braves, despite the Braves having a 67-85 record. 

On the other hand, the Phillies have taken advantage of an uncharacteristically poor Bobby Cox squad.  Thus far the Phillies are 12-2 against the Braves.

There is no doubt in my mind that every game against the Mets is more important to Bobby Cox than most other games, especially when the Braves have the opportunity to play spoiler.  It probably gives the Phillies an upper hand, because the Braves care less about playing the Phillies who are less of a rival.  So? Let’s win tomorrow, go into the Braves series with some momentum and wipe that cigar out of Cox’s mouth and that smirk off his face.   

Plus, my Uncle is a die-hard Braves fan and I don’t want to deal with another winter of e-mails from him heckling us about missing the playoffs and the Braves beating on us. 

Behind the luck of two messianic Mets tube socks, the Mets beat the Nationals 9-7 this afternoon. 

The lucky tube socks began working their magic immediately as Jose Reyes led off the game with a HR.  Also in the first inning, Carlos Delgado did some yard work, hitting his 36th jack of the season.  Other important hits included a Daniel Murphy RBI triple, and two HRs from Carlos Beltran.  Beltran’s HR’s were notable for their line drive quality and the speed in which they traveled outside of the park. 

Brandon Knight was servicable tonight, allowing two runs in five innings.  But naturally, despite bountiful luck from the tube socks, the bullpen just had to make the game interesting.  It took the Mets seven relievers to get the last 12 outs.  

Just imagine how the game would have turned out without the lucky socks, jeez.  

The Mets take on the Nats tomorrow at 7:10 with Johan Santana dueling Tim Redding. 

The Mets continue their four game set tonight in Washington, with game three set to start at 7:10 EST. The Mets will face a only their second righty in over a week and a half, as Shairon Martis will face his first career start against the Metsies. Brandon Knight will oppose him. The Bronze medalist will look to put an end to the Mets woes. The game can be seen on SNY and can be heard on WFAN.

Keys to the Game:

• Beltran, Wright, and Delgado: Well, the reason we’ve lost the first two games is pretty obvious. Carlos Beltran, David Wright and Carlos Delgado are a combined 1-23 in the series, including going down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth last night. The Phillies are smoking hot right now, and the Mets are going to need the big boppers to get it going if they want to win this division.
• Beaton’s Tube Socks: We all know Andrew Beaton’s tube socks are the perfect remedy to the Mets woes, as they are only brought up when this team is in dire need. So, good work Andrew, as this is the time the Mets need these tubesocks most.

Also, I’ve got my own guarantee, so move over Jimmy Rollins. The Mets WILL win this game, by a score of 6-4.

For a lineup, head to Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News.

As always, to chat during the game with fellow Mets fans (don’t jump yet!) head on over to The Hot Foot Bleachers.

Baseball is supposed to be fun.

I’m not supposed to turn on my television set every night waiting for the other shoe to drop. Much like last September, I feel like I am watching a car wreck happen in slow motion, as if I already know the outcome. I can only imagine what it must feel like to be in that clubhouse, going through the same pressure cooker with the added expectations and weight of having to overcome the failure of last year and this year both at the same time.

I’ve realized it is time to exhale and let it all go. Its a game and I am going to enjoy it regardless of what the outcome may be. I’m going to try my best to not get so wrapped up in the collapse of last season happening all over again. If thats what this team is destined for so be it. They could just as easily right the ship and find their way over the next 12 games.

Worry and panic does nothing but give me added stress when ultimately I am sitting here watching a kids game played by millionaires. Millionaires who will go home and tuck their kids in and quite frankly move on with their lives regardless of the outcome of the next two weeks.

I’m going to learn to stop worrying and enjoy the ride for what its worth.

Unless of course they blow this thing, in which case I will then spend all winter sulking over.

Hey, Lets go Mets, right!

According to the Post Standard, the Syracuse Sky Chiefs are willing to make a deal with the Mets if they make Syracuse their new home. According the report, the Chiefs, a publicly owned team, would sell a stake to the Mets organization. Officially, neither the Chiefs or Bisons can make any sort of offer to the Mets till after midnight tonight, though rumors have already circulated that the Mets and Bisons have reached an unofficial agreement.

Its like all the fun of trade rumors, but with full teams. For what its worth, if we end up in Syracuse, hopefully the Wilpons can use their new partial stake to give the team a cooler name. Sky Chiefs? Seriously? Sure, there’s nothing really grand about Syracuse in which to name a team after, but we can only have so many ariel based minor league teams in a row. Maybe the Syracuse Mr Met Jrs?

Ok, we’ve lost two games a row - two of which have been against the Nationals.  In one of those games, we were shutout by Odalis Perez.  ‘Nuff said.   

So it is with much vigor that I can announce that I will be wearing my lucky Mets tube socks tomorrow.  My lucky Mets tube socks have the Mets logo imprinted on them, in addition to having a blue heel and orange sole.  People tend to ask me, “If they are so lucky, why don’t you do the Mets a favor and wear them everyday?”

Well the answer to that is three fold:

1. The more I wear the tube socks the less lucky they become, the longer that they remain dormant luck stores up and they become more effective. 
2. I do not choose when to wear the lucky tube socks, the lucky tube socks choose when to wear me. 
3. General societal rules dictate that I should wash my footwear every once in a while in order to prevent serious odor issues.

The good news it that the tube socks are 2-0 this year, and they haven’t been worn since May 17th against the Yankees when the Mets won 7-4 and won again the next day.  The other time they have donned my size 11 foot was on April 15th against the Braves, which resulted in a five game winning streak. 

But, allow me to clarify something.  I have no control over the tube socks.  The tube socks contain the mystical power and the ability to give the Mets a win.  The tube socks choose when they wear me, not vice-versa.  I am merely the prophet that has been blessed (and cursed?) with the responsibility to bear the weight of such a powerful device.  I am just a tool of the magic - a grunt of the larger picture. 

While I definitely do not believe in any cockamamie magic number jinxes and witchcraft of the sort, the lucky Mets tube socks are the messianic provider of our success, given to us on a faithful day by the committee of baseball gods that includes Dizzy Dean and Willie Mays. 

The Mets offensive woes in DC continue, as the team was able to muster a mere four hits off of Odalis Perez. That’s four more hits than they got off the bullpen, and brings their series total to nine hits. They did manage nine strikeouts for the night. But hey, at least they didn’t strand a lot of runners on base. So there’s that.

On the other side, Pelf was Pelftastic. He took a loss while giving up the game’s sole run on a ground rule double. A nice return after the same team took him for five runs in five innings just six days ago. Joe Smith added an inning of hitless relief.

Not much to say here, the offense clearly didn’t show up against the Nats, again. Everyone’s coming up empty at the plate, and to mix it up, they added injury to insult this time, with Tatis going down for the season. With if things continue, at least won’t be much longer. The team seems frustrated, which probably is only making things worse.

The two teams meet again tomorrow, with US Olympic athlete Knight on the mound.

Fernando Tatis left tonight’s game with what is being called a “separated right shoulder”. Tatis was injured while trying to dive for an Odalis Perez flyball. No timetable on whether or not he is done for the year.

I’d guess Fernando is gone for the year, which is sad, considering how big of a part he’s been for this team.