Sitting in the press box at the new Nationals Stadium. Looking threw a spiderweb crack on one of the indestructible plex-glass windows which broke on opening night and takes three months to repair. Perhaps the Mets’ offense will be repaired before then.

There’s a stunning view of the Capitol framed between a bank of lights and a building under construction.

Carlos Delgado was out taking early BP.

We really are high up here. One of my DC friends said he “hadn’t been this high since the 60s.”

Johan Santana pitching for the boys tonight. The best pitcher on the planet? Not so far.

The Mets were lucky they only played two games at Wrigley. As I type this they are getting on the bus to head to the airport for another two-gamer at DC.

Just a horrible showing today. Simply awful. Nelson Figueroa didn’t stink, but he got no help from his offense. Both he and Carlos Delgado combined for a defensive malfunction that kept the fourth inning alive and enabled the Cubs to score three times.

Both admitted they blew the play.

IN A NUTSHELL, Chicago 8, Mets 1

The offense was 1-for-9 with RISP and left nine runners.

FROM THE CLUBHOUSE

David Wright on the offense: “It seems like we get only one chance a game to have a big inning and if we don’t we don’t score any runs.”

Carlos Delgado on not covering first in the fourth: “I went too far off the bag, then I realized Damion (Easley) had a better angle.”

Nelson Figueroa on getting to the bag late: “I should have gone over and covered the bag. It was my fault.”

IN-GAME ANALYSIS

4th INNING: Figueroa keeps on rolling. A wasted opportunity that inning. Carlos Delgado comes up small with the bases loaded. Mets 0, Chicago 0.
5th INNING: Just weak. You’d think they’d get a hit with RISP by accident. Chicago 3, Mets 0.
6th INNING: They are only down by two runs, but why does it seem so much more than that? Chicago 3, Mets 1.
8th INNING: Ronny Cedeno slam Jorge Sosa. Chicago 8, Mets 1.

POSTGAME NOTEBOOK

-Pedro Martinez was examined by Mets’ doctors in NY and is ten days to two weeks from throwing off the mound. And, that’s throwing a bullpen. That takes him into May. A week or so of bullpens and then two or three rehab starts (five days apart), and I do believe that will put him into June.

-Two more weeks for Orlando Hernandez in the boot.

-Ramon Castro and Moises Alou played in extended spring training games.

-The offense: Five hits and only three runners reached third.

Time for me to write my story and grab something to eat. I have no intention of watching Yankees and White Sox tonight.

I turn the blog over to you guys. Let it rip.

Well, it is possible for me to do. I have done it, but I hate to do it. I’ve banned some who have been vulgar and obscene.

As far as deleting, I’ve done that too, and for the same reasons. Also, if that poster has been attacking others I’ll delete him for the day. It’s not as if I say “off with your head,” if you don’t agree with me or like me.

I don’t delete comments from those who disagree with me. That defeats the whole concept of free speech. If I did, my archives would be pretty thin. And, unless there’s a curse or something vicious, I don’t delete personal attacks on me. If I deleted or banned somebody simply because he is highly critical of me you’d never see Metsfan again.

As far as I’m concerned, the blog concept is for an exchange of ideas. People will disagree. I just hate the attacks. It’s like talk radio or some ESPN programming that’s just screaming and shouting.

As far as DC goes, there’s no reason to ban him. He’s not been vulgar or obscene. Every once in awhile he’ll say something that clicks. If you don’t like him, don’t respond.

My hope from the blog is that you are informed and entertained. And, if I can get you to think about things, that’s a plus. Enjoy. JD

-Maybe tomorrow for Brian Schneider. He took BP and did some throwing. Nice shade of black-and-blue. Wonder if they can match it as a paint color at Home Depot.

-Ryan Church and Luis Castillo have the day off. Just rest for Church. Castillo’s knee is bothering him.

-No word yet on a return date for Moises Alou.

-Willie Randolph said he’s not considering reducing Aaron Heilman’s workload.

METS

SS Jose Reyes
RF Angel Pagan
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
2B Damion Easley
LF Brady Clark
C Raul Casanova
RP Nelson Figueroa

Greetings from the Wrigley roof top. Mets just finished taking batting practice and we will be underway in little over a half-hour.

John Maine against Carlos Zambrano. Maine’s fastball command has been off and his walks are way up. Can’t afford to let too many runners get on base in this place.

Spoke with Howard Johnson before the game and said he sees hope in Carlos Delgado if he stays patient. He also admitted a player his age coming off an injury and down year is reason to be concerned.

IN-GAME ANALYSIS

1st INNING: Easy inning for Maine, with help from Raul Casanova, who threw out a runner attempting to steal. Mets 0, Chicago 0.
4th INNING: Take away one pitch and Maine is pitching a great game. Of course, every pitch counts. Chicago 2, Mets 0.
7th INNING: Ron Santo sings “Take Me out to the Ballgame.” Chicago 2, Mets 1.

9th INNING: Speaking of singing, remember Don Meredith?“Turn out the lights, the party’s over …. ” Chicago 7, Mets 1.

Indy Colts receiver Dallas Clark was a guest of the Mets before the game. He grew up in Iowa rooting for Doc Gooden and the 86 Mets.

Clark was introduced to David Wright by Billy Wagner and they talked before BP and exchanged numbers.

It’s always fascinating to see stars relating with stars in other sports. There’s a connection there that only they can understand and appreciate. One of my favorite spring training moments was years ago when Wayne Gretzky visited the Orioles camp and gave Cal Ripken a signed hockey stick. Gretzky came away with a signed bat.

But, the two just talked and talked.

-Brian Schneider’s bruised forearm is still sore. Maybe tomorrow or the next day, said Willie Randolph.

-Endy Chavez starts over Angel Pagan. There’s no injury. Just a chance to give Chavez some at-bats. Pagan should play tomorrow.

-Randolph said he’s like to give Marlon Anderson some at-bats by starting him. When, he wouldn’t say.

METS

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
LF Endy Chavez
RH John Maine

Sorry for the late posting. Not a great travel day and the BlackBerry wasn’t working. Just showed up at Wrigley. The ivy is muddy brown. But, it’s still a wonderful place to see. A lot of history.

Chicago is a great town. Of course, the cabbies leave something to be desired. Mine gave me a hard time because I wanted to use an Amex. He kept saying if I wanted to pull over and go to an ATM machine.

Finally, he asked me, “do you know why we don’t like to take credit cards?”

I said, “Sure, you don’t want to pay the fee and you want the cash so you can fudge on your taxes. … It’s the cost of doing business … and don’t try to pull that surcharge to use a card.”

Gotta run. Clubhouse is opening.

PHILADELPHIA _ Willie Randolph slipped into serious tone mode when asked about the mentality of his team.
A few hours before first pitch, the topic on Randolph’s plate was the possibility of sweeping the Phillies and winning five straight against them. Randolph spoke of the importance of winning the division, and eventually addressed what everybody wanted to hear.

“There’s nothing psychological about it,” Randolph said. “We know we can beat the Phillies.”

And, the Phillies know they can beat the Mets, but who really beat Randolph’s team, 5-4, last night?

Chase Utley drove in four runs on a pair of homers, but in the end the Mets lamented their lost opportunities.

“We had a golden opportunity to pick up three games on them,” David Wright said. “But, we let it slip through our fingers.”

When a team loses by a single run, there are a lot of places to look.

“It was a good ball game,” Randolph said of the tenseness of the game and rivalry.
“But, we didn’t execute the way we needed to.”

Mike Pelfrey looked in the mirror and pointed a finger at a lousy pitch he threw to Utley for a three-run homer in the fifth.

“The first one was a sinker down and away and I got it a little up,” Pelfrey said. “I tip my cap to him on that one.”

And the second?

“I was going inside and I left it out over the middle of the plate,” Pelfrey said. “He’s such a great hitter. You can’t make mistakes with him.”

The Mets sniffed sweep again when they came back with four in the sixth off Adam Eaton to tie the game, 4-4.

“In this ballpark, with this line-up, you’re never out of the game,” Wright said. “I’m excited about the way we bounced back.”

Jose Reyes, who hit a game-winning homer Saturday, tripled to lead off the inning and scored on Luis Castillo’s single. Wright followed with a double to give one the feeling this one was going to the wire.

Carlos Beltran singled home two runs to chase Eaton in favor of Chad Durbin.

Beltran, who hasn’t been able to run as much as he’d like coming off knee surgery, stole second which put him in position to score on Ryan Church’s bloop single to shallow right-center.

“I thought we were going to steal one there,” Church said.

The Phillies came back with Pedro Feliz’s seventh-inning homer off Pedro Feliciano for the game-winner.

Still, the Mets had their chances, and by that, one should be able to guess the ugly numbers: They went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine.

They wasted Raul Casanova’s double in the eighth, then watched in frustration as the game slipped from them in the ninth.

Damion Easley walked to lead off against closer Brad Lidge and Reyes reached on an infield single.

Castillo, however, couldn’t deliver a sacrifice. After Wright fouled out, the game ended when Phillies shortstop Eric Bruntlett snagged Beltran’s grounder up the middle and threw him out by a step.

Close, but there wasn’t a Met who didn’t believe it never should have come down to that one play had they pulled off one or two earlier.

You can reach me at jdelcos@lohud.com.

PHOTO: MLB

The Mets kicked away several chances to sweep the Phillies tonight.

They climbed out of a four-run hole with four in the sixth, but Pedro Feliciano gave it up in the seventh. Still, Pelfrey had no chance against Chase Utley and the offense, despite the rally, went 3-for-11 with runners in scoring position. Most of those came before Luis Castillo botched a sacrifice in the ninth.

So, where to you think the game was lost? Pelfrey? The offense? Feliciano? Somewhere else?

IN A NUTSHELL

Missed opportunities and no clue as to how to handle Utley.

FROM THE CLUBHOUSE

David Wright on the series: “We had a golden opportunity to pick up three games on them, but we let it slip through our fingers.”

Mike Pelfrey on the second homer he gave up to Chase Utley: “I was going inside and I left it out over the middle of the plate. He’s such a great hitter. You can’t make mistakes with him.”

Willie Randolph’s summary of the game: “It was a good ball game. But, we didn’t execute the way we needed to.”

IN-GAME ANALYSIS

1st INNING: Easton has no problems, but like most pitchers, Pelfrey can’t solve Chase Utley. Philadelphia 1, Mets 0.
2nd INNING: Pelfrey doing a good job, but they don’t even have a sniff of Eaton.
5th INNING: Utley goes deep again. Philadelphia 4, Mets 0.
7th INNING: Big time rally, but did Pedro Feliciano throw it away? Philadelphia 5, Mets 4.

They say it’s a 25 percent chance of rain for tonight. Phillies are taking infield now and the Mets will shortly.  Skies are gray and bleak. The Phillies say the game will start on time, but there’s also a chance for a delay.

-Brian Schneider’s bruised right forearm has improved, but he’s out until tomorrow. “I’m hoping to play tomorrow,” he said. Schneider told Willie Randolph he could be available in an emergency.

-The Phillies put Jimmy Rollins on the DL. He was injured last week at Shea, but they resisted. Since they used him as a pinch-hitter yesterday, the 15-day clock starts today.

-Moises Alou went 3-for-3 in a minor league rehab game for Port St. Lucie. Randolph didn’t rule out him being ready by next weekend.

METS

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
LF Endy Chavez
RH Mike Pelfrey

PHILADELPHIA

CF Jayson Werth
3B Greg Dobbs
2B Chase Utley
1B Ryan Howard
LF Pat Burrell
RF Geoff Jenkins
C Chris Coste
SS Eric Bruntlett
RH Adam Eaton

COMMENT: Notice that Luis Castillo is back hitting second. Willie Randolph said he was never married to Ryan Church hitting second fulltime. He said he had a feel about him hitting second. Now, he has a feel for putting Castillo back. Didn’t he see Bull Durham and the scene when Kevin Costner said you “don’t mess with a streak?” Evidently not. The Mets have won five straight and eight of ten.