Heads-or-Tails Perez was on display this afternoon at Shea. For five innings he was the “Good Ollie.” Then came the sixth.

Honestly, I’m so glad I was off so I didn’t have deal with that nonsense. I’m tired of watching him. The one good start isn’t worth it for the three that stink. Willie Randolph said Perez can pitch on his team any time.

That’s only because he doesn’t have any better options. That’s why he’ll be an ex-Met this time next year.

METS

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
RF Ryan Church
LF Moises Alou
1B Carlos Delgado
C Brian Schneider
LH Oliver Perez

Here’s wishing all you moms out there a Happy Mothers Day. Also, to all you guys out there, call her before first pitch.

My mom was a Little League mom. She drove me to all my games. Watched all mine and my brother’s, too. I remember my first home run in Little League. I was rounding second and heading for third when I looked up caught her jumping up and down and yelling, “Ruuuuuuuuuun!!!!!!!!!”

A nice moment. She passed in 1995, but I still think about that from time to time.

If you have a moment you’d like to share about your mom. Or, if nothing else tell us your favorite TV mom. Check out the poll.

 Let’s play two … and let’s stay all day to do it. A day-nighter today at Shea with Cincinnati. You could drive to Cincinnati in the time it takes to play the games today. Probably with time to spare.

We have Johan Santana and Mike Pelfrey pitching for the Mets, and the vultures in full swoop mode on Willie.

Willie might not be the greatest manager, but he’s not at the root of their problems. The Mets are barely over .500 because they haven’t hit in the clutch, their starters aren’t giving them length and the bullpen has been spotty.

It’s the players.

Kevin Devaney here, filling in for John Delcos at Shea as the Mets play a doubleheader with the Reds.

It should be a long day of baseball. First game is 1:10; the second is 7:10. Amazingly, this is the fifth doubleheader (between covering the Mets and Yankees) I’ve been assigned to in three seasons. That’s got to be some kind of record.

The lineup for Game 1:

Mets
Reyes, SS
Castillo, 2B
Wright, 3B
Beltran, CF
Church, RF
Alou, LF
Delgado, 1B
Schneider, C
Santana, P

Pregame notes: Angel Pagan (shoulder) said today that he still isn’t fully healed from his plunge into the stands in L.A. and likely won’t be available today. “It’s getting better every day,” the outfielder said. “I might need two more days.” It’s not ideal to be short-handed on the day of a doubleheader, but the Mets will adjust. Pagan didn’t think he’d be available to pinch hit, either. My gut is that he ends up on the DL. … Reliever Matt Wise still hasn’t been activated from the DL, although he is here. The Mets are waiting for when they need him, which just might be after the first game today. … Mike Pelfrey is starting the second game. Randolph said that he expects to him to “mosey on in” soon.

A few other thoughts:

— It will be interesting to see who plays the second game for the Mets. Randolph said he wanted to keep Santana on target for today’s first game because he was his “best guy” and didn’t want to disrupt him. It’s probably that Willie knows Delgado, Beltran, Castillo, and Alou won’t play both games, and would rather not throw a weak lineup behind Santana.

— If Pelfrey struggles today with his command, there might be some truth to the idea that he was at his best earlier this season because BRIAN SCNEIDER was catching him. Raul Casanova had caught him recently but has been designated for assignment. Ramon Castro is back. Castro will catch the second game.

— Randolph insists that Delgado was dropped to the No. 7 spot in the order to break up the lefties. Makes sense, I guess. But it can’t do much for Delgado’s psyche to be dropped yet again.

Enjoy the game. I’ll be back with updates.

If you had to choose between Angel Pagan and Endy Chavez, who would you take and why?

Don’t forget to vote in the poll

Welcome back to Mets Chat Room. Tonight the Reds are in town. Mike Pelfrey tries to get it together after three straight bad starts. I like Pelfrey, I really do.

Now, about the issue of my favorite team. Some of you think I hate the Mets and love the Yankees, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

Just because I don’t bleed orange-and-blue, the assumption is I bleed pinstripes. When you do this for a living, you stop being a fan. I root for good stories and good people. I root against jerks and cheaters. The last professional sports team I rooted for with any passion were the Larry Bird-Kevin McHale Celtics. That was easy to do because I didn’t cover hoops.

Actually, I would be doing you all a disservice if I loved the Mets the way you gals and guys do. When somebody claims I hate the Mets, I beam because it tells me I am looking at the team objectively and doing my job.

“Raindrops keep falling on my Head.”

“Singing in the rain.”

“Rain (Beatles)”

Any others?

You should have time to think of some because it’s pouring. The tarp is on the field. They still want to play, but don’t bet on it starting on time.

Pedro Martinez threw 60 pitches in a bullpen session at PSL, and that included facing hitters. The Mets said he’s not ready for a simulated game.

Said Omar Minaya: “We’re very encouraged by the progress that’s being made.”

I’ve heard this before. I’ll be encouraged when he’s pitching in real games … and getting people out.

We’ve talked about booing a lot lately on this blog. If they play, and stink tonight, there will be more.

Manager Willie Randolph said he believes the crowds at Shea have had a rough time getting past last season’s collapse.

“When we start to play well, then you’ll see a change,” Randolph said. “For me, as far as my players, we don’t talk about it. We don’t concern ourselves with it. Guys are trying to win ballgames, and that’s really where their heart and soul is.”

METS

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
RF Ryan Church
LF Moises Alou
1B Carlos Delgado
C Brian Schneider
RH Mike Pelfrey

NOTES: This is the first time since 1995 Delgado has hit as low as seventh in the batting order. … Back-up catcher Ramon Castro was activated from the disabled list and Raul Casanova was designated for assignment. … Matt Wise is in New York with the team, but a decision hasn’t been made on when he will be activated.

I used to be able to fly on the red-eye, but I found I was so tired that I slept most of the day and couldn’t sleep at night. Then I was up all night and basically killed the next couple of days. Getting ready to board for home. Will get back late, but should be functional after that.

Anyway, currently finishing up a story on Ryan Church. Easily the Mets’ MVP so far. I go back now and read some of the comments after the trade. Where are those posters now?

The boys are home tomorrow after a 3-3 trip. They should have won four and could have won five if they had any consistent hitting. Hopefully, they found their strokes on the Left Coast.

I won’t be home until late, so I won’t be able to update. The blog rests with you guys today. Talk about Church, about Oliver Perez – yeah, I know, what can you say that hasn’t already been screamed? _ or anything you’d like.

Take good care and have a good day folks.-JD

When you win two of three against the best team in the majors and play to avoid being swept on the final day, it makes for a disappointing trip. That’s the position the Mets find themselves in today.

John Maine seeks his first win over the Dodgers this afternoon. Carlos Beltran, who didn’t start last night because of flu symptoms, is in the line-up. Carlos Delgado and Moises Alou are sitting.

Hope you tune in.

METS

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
RF Ryan Church
LF Angel Pagan
1B Marlon Anderson
C Raul Casanova
RH John Maine

Who thinks of starting a game at noon? The clubhouse was open at 8:30 this morning (local), but nearly two hours later there’s hardly anybody here.

SportsCenter is on. Scott Schoeneweis is doing a crossword puzzle. Carlos Beltran just walked in and it looks like he still has the flu. John Maine is listening to some bluegrass.

The line-up hasn’t been posted, but don’t be surprised if Willie Randolph starts much of his bench.