Mets 7- Dodgers 3

It seems as though the Mets could do no wrong during this home stand.  Even John Maine got into the act.

– Maine’s line: 6 IP, 2 ER, (3 R), 9 K’s, 3 BB, on 4 hits and 101 pitches (66 for strikes-  65%).  Frankly this was John’s best start but looking back it seemed as though it was an extension of his last start which he had to leave early due to an injury.  His pitch count wasn’t outrageously high heading into the 7th inning and even in the 5th inning where he seemed to be slowing down and gave up the 2 run home run and then immediately gave up a double.  But perhaps in showing that he is turning over that new leaf, struck out Andre Ethier and then got James Loney to give a slow roller to short.  Mets pitching over all held the first five hitters to 3 for 20.  Then came back and struck out the side in the sixth inning.

– The Met bullpen began their work in the 7th inning when John Maine left after walking the first hitter on four pitches.  Fernando Nieve came in (yeah, I know, Duh) and got 3 outs on four pitches.  No joke.  3 outs, on four pitches.  Incredible.  K-Rod again walked the tight rope and got out of a jam by striking out the side.  Perpetual Pedro pitched a perfect eighth as he’s clearly gotten a hold of that role.

– Meanwhile, the big story has been hitting with RISP for the Met offense, but not just that, they’ve been doing it with two outs.  Out of the Mets 7 runs, 5 were on two out hits.  Think about how far the Mets have come mentally to do that.  They are just playing solid baseball and streaking at the right time.

– The biggest emergence has to be from the middle of that order.  I dont know what the reason for it is, but the reasons could be many: Reyes in the 3 spot?  Ike Davis being called up and inserted in the middle of that power line up?  Who knows what happened but Bay and Wright have begun to swing the bat very well and just in time, heading into a series against the Phillies, they are going to need to score more than 3 runs it seemed like they were scoring every game.  Wright has made another adjustment to his swing and it seems more compact in the last two days and perhaps he can get around more pitches.  He doesn’t seem so lost and understanding how hard he works, its great to see.

– First place Mets?  Yeah.  I said it, first place.  Its a pretty incredible journey as they limped home with a 4-8 record but came out with a 9-1 home stand.  Their most successful home stand since 1988 (when they went to the NLCS) and before that in 1969 (you know what happened then).  Its April and things can torpedo this weekend but with the way this team is pitching and throwing strikes, its forcing the action and causing teams to swing at pitches that they might not be too comfortable in hitting.

– Biggest test for Ike Davis will be this weekend going on his first road trip when he faces Kyle Kendrick, Roy Halladay and Jamie Moyer.  Three different pitchers who will throw strikes at varying speeds.  They are certainly going to feed him off speed stuff to see what the young’n will bite on.  What I like most about Davis is that he seems to get 2-2 counts and 3-2 counts very often and rarely finds himself going down on 3 consecutive pitches so that will be good to see.

– For those wondering, pessimistic me has the Mets losing 2 out of 3 to the Phil.  I have them winning Friday night, and losing the next two days against Doc Halladay and 300 year old Jamie Moyer.

MY PREDICTION: 12-10

SEASON: 13-9

Position in NL EAST: 1st (2 days in first)