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 [...]

"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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

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 [...]

We all know Nelson Figueroa is one of the better Mets' stories of the year. A feel good story. Who doesn't like rooting for the underdog?

However, the simple fact Figueroa is in the rotation means the Mets' rotation is not where they hoped it would be. Figueroa will go against Hiroki Kuroda tonight in LA.

METS

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

NOTE: A late posting on the line-up today as Willie Randolph was waiting for Moises Alou to report. Randolph was considering giving him a day off.

What we saw the last two times from Oliver Perez is what we'll continue to see. There will be a few good games mixed in to keep the tease aspect going, but overall he's still heads-and-tails.

I've posted a new poll asking what the Mets should do with Perez, the assumption, of course, being he's fixable.

No, [...]

Another Oliver Perez start; another bad night. Here's how I wrote it:
LOS ANGELES _ On the bright side, Oliver Perez didn't give up many of those excruciating painful pull-out-your hair walks.
Instead, he settled for giving up those annoying home runs.

Perez gave up three, making for a quicker, less agonizing defeat, 5-1, last night to the [...]

Willie Randolph began the night saying he's not concerned about Oliver Perez. He ended it by saying he's still in the rotation.

Perez cut the walks tonight, but gave up three homers to the Dodgers. I've been calling him heads-or-tails for almost two years now, but more often than not he's landing on his tail.

IN A [...]

METS

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

Los Angeles

SS Rafael Furcal
LF Juan Pierre
RF Matt Kemp
2B Jeff Kent
C Russell Martin
1B James Loney
CF Andruw Jones
3B Blake DeWitt
RH Chad Billingsley