With a win under their belt in thrilling fashion no less, the talk this morning is not about Big Pelf’ outstanding performance pounding the strike zone down low like a blacksmith, but about a former Met who is still on the Skill Set dole as a roving instructor, SNY commentator and the now the spokesman for management John Franco.

Those statements that Franco made on Sirius/XM  MLB Home Plate channel with Jeff Joyce and Kevin Kennedy was part Franco’ observation and mostly it was John doing his duty for the Skill Sets. The only thing missing was at the end of the interview hearing Jeffey Skill Set saying “I’m Jeff Wilpon and I approve this message”

See Jeffey wants no part of taking on his team, instead of himself waiting for the team to come home and going into the clubhouse and letting them know that he does not hold Omar Minaya, Jerry Manuel or any of the front office people responsible for this slide and is putting the bulls eye right on the players back. And I (I hope you all are sitting down) applaud him for that. I just wish he would have the balls to do it himself and not send Clemenza Franco to do his dirty work. Franco in fact went out of his way to praise Jerry Manuel and his coaches for giving the players the proper instruction during spring training and working extremely hard in the ‘fundies” and making it out that it’s the players who are at fault. It’s about time that the players got a good swift kick in the ass. The message from management is loud and clear to the team “Don’t worry about what management is doing, just shut the fuck up and play”

Nothing that Franco said was out of line in fact in fact isn’t in a convenient  winky-dink that as Franco was telling Joyce and Kennedy that he feels the Mets play more like individuals than as a team and that some players are more “me” than “we” guys that J-Man had all his ladies take the bus”  Franco called out the team as looking at padding their stats than worrying about moving runners over and stealing a base when it’s to the teams advantage and not the individuals gain, and how many times have we wanted D-Wright to take the reins of the clubhouse ?

I know this for a fact Franco will have no problem walking into that clubhouse when the team arrives back in Queens on Tuesday. Ask any Met who played with Franco and they will tell you he was the most feared guy in that clubhouse, and I guarantee that if D-Wright wants a sit down with Franco, Johnny will be more than happy to accommodate him.  

What this message does as well is let the players, media and fans know that Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya are not getting fired today, tomorrow or next year but if I were a Mets player I’d be careful buying green bananas.

Johan Santana had a very difficult time in the first three innings finding the strike zone as he had neither command of his fastball or change up in the first three innings whether this was due to his mechanics or the ineptitude of home plate ump Ron Kulpa  I’m not sure but after giving up a walk to Chris Carpenter in the 4^th Santana all of a sudden got locked in and took control of the game. The mark of a great pitcher is when he can’t get his best pitches over for strikes he still finds a way to stay on top of his game and work his way through until he figures out how to get those pitches working or has a plan B and gets that to work. No panic, no fear that’s Johan Santana.

Ryan Church is lucky J-Man didn’t take out his blade and cut his ass after yesterday’s game. Manuel has put the challenge to Church by putting him the clean up spot while Sheffield recoups from his cortisone shot to his knee. So far the challenge not met by Church. With Daniel Murphy on second and Luis Castillo on first, D-Wright had an outstanding at bat. After looking at two called strikes, Wright bared down and then let two balls go out of the strike zone to even the count 2-2, the next pitch Wright just missed (a fastball I believe from Kyle McClellan) and then took the two more pitches for a base on balls. Outstanding at bat. Of course after that Tony LaRussa made yet another trip to the bullpen (and had me make a mess out of my score card) lefty Trever Miller to face Church.

Now here was Church’s time for redemption in the game as he misplayed a ball hit by Rick Ankiel in 6^th as he broke in the tried to get back and the ball sailed over his head for a double and Ankiel eventually scored the Cards second run so with the bags drunk it was Ryan Church in the spotlight (“Church bells may ring, ding –dong-ding, church bells may ring, ding-dong-ding”)  time to show the manager, the fans and his teammates the he is ready to step up.

Miller seems to have a bit of the yips as he can’t find the strike zone and falls behind 3-0 to Church. Ok now Ryan take a strike here, atta boy. Ok now it’s on a platter for you 3-1 and the pitch………..A CALLED STRIKE!!!!!!!!! Ryan, you are batting in the coveted clean up spot, the bases are loaded, it’s the bot of the 8^th and a 1 run game WHY THE FUCK ARE YOU TAKING ON 3 AND 1!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! AAAAAAAAGGGGGGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!

Now realizing he’s not up there to leave it up to Tatis, Church swings at the next pitch and fouls it off. Now Church is digging that back foot in the batters box determined to get a hit here but Miller just rears back and blows one by Church who took a huge swing and missed but at that point it didn’t matter this at bat was done at 3 balls 1 strike. Want to bet that Church sits tonight against Sabathia ? If he got a hit there lefty or no lefty he would have earned the start but after that at bat and the play in the 6th inning Church will sit tonight and it’s deserved.

The more I go to $iti Field the more I love the place (don’t worry we old timers will always have Shea in our hearts) how can you not. I know it has its faults (see Mets Police for those as he is the Elliot Ness of Mets fandom) and management (are you ready for this) seems to be listening to it’s fan base (S-H-O-C-K-I-N-G I know!) First thing I saw walking in I looked at the scoreboard in right/center and guess what? The lineups were posted ! YA-HOO!. Then in the 8^th inning no Sweet Caroline (HURAYY!!) but Meet The Mets (HURRAH!) now I do have a little bone to pick, how about playing the whole Meet The Mets song? Why do the butcher and the baker and the people on the street always get the short end of the stick all the time?

I was no fan of Michael Jackson’ when he was alive so I’m not mourning his death today but I was shocked that he died just for the fact that he is the same age as me. I know it’s not polite to speak ill of the dead but the guy was a walking freak show which was not the worst of his sins, those he will pay for it he hasn’t already. I do feel sorry for him in that he didn’t really have much of a life which again proves my mother theory that even if you have a lot of money that doesn’t mean you’re rich and if that’s the case Jackson died broke in more ways than one.

Now someone I was a fan of was Farrah Fawsett as were many young men back in the 70’s. Show of hands how many of you fella’s had this poster in your room (my hand is up) and how many of us looked to date girls with that blonde hair in a flip (hand still up)

Top of the 6^th the Mets catch a break as they couldn’t get a sniff of a rally off Anibal Sanchez but Freddi Gonzalez went to his pen and brought in Dan Meyer who promptly gave up a lead off homer to Carlos Beltran to get the Mets on the board. Ryan Church comes up next and singles and this is where you say “here comes the big inning”. Schneider sac bunts Church to 2^nd, a good play because odds are Schneider hits in to a DP in that spot, Gimp Castillo comes up with a man in scoring position and files out. With Castillo getting lifted for a pinch hitter (Jeremy Reed) in 9^th tells you the leash on Gimp is getting shorter and shorter. With 2 outs man on 2^nd Gary Sheffield bats for John Maine who was great last night but Dan Meyer wants no part of Sheffield and throws three pitches out of the strike zone and then Gonzalez orders Meyer to walk him. Respect thy names is an intentional walk. Up steps Jose Reyes and an awful at bat.

Meyer was shook up by the sight of Sheffield and couldn’t throw a strike. The first pitch to Reyes was ball 1. On the next pitch Meyers tries to hit the corner low and away put the pitch was out of the strike zone but of course that doesn’t stop Jose from reaching over and popping it up to RF for an easy fly ball out. Ever hear of take a strike Jose?

On to the Mets 7^th where Daniel Murphy leads off with a base hit (of course!) In comes non-roster invitee Kiko Calero (this looks to be the Marlins downfall, the bullpen that and not being able to play the Mets for 162 games) who walks D-Wright and hits Carlos Delgado with a pitch and the bags are drunk with Carlos Beltran up. Smells like a big inning right ?(”here we are now, entertain us”) uhhh NO!. Beltran drives in a run (a cheap Rib Eye Steak though) hitting into an FC but then Church walks and the bags are juiced once again as Fernando Taits bats for Schieder (J-Man ain’t fooling around, if you can’t hit you will sit) and misses a Grannie bythismuch and that would have broken this one up big. Wright scores and it’s 3-3 and if you want to take a positive out of the inning it’s that the Mets scored some runs late.

Gimp Castillo came up with 2 out worked the count 3-2 and let strike 3 sail over the plate. The clock is ticking fast on Gimp.

You know how I know I love the Mets? I sat through every excruciating pitch of last night’s game. Thank God for Gary, Keith and Ron as they kept us informed and entertained in a four hour root canal of a game, especially Gary coming up with the story of the Rodney Dangerfield day after opening promotion. That’s back in the day when the Mets marketing staff was imaginative.

Big Pelf looked real uncomfortable on the mound, I mean he had that underwear up the crack of your butt look, as he worked soooooooo slow and kept licking his hand. All that stretchimg of his arm and licking of the fingers couldn’t help him gain command of his sinking fastball in the strike zone. But you have to be encouraged that Pelf had nothing in the first inning but either with adjustments by Old School Dan Werthen and Brian Schneider (wow love for Schneider, you know it’s a new year around here) or just that that his hands warmed up to get a better grip on the ball, Pelfrey went on to give the Mets 4 solid innings and saved J-Man going to the pen early.

You know you’re in for a rough night when Angel Hernandez is the home plate ump. Sucking would be an improvement for Hernandez who has no clue of how to call balls and strikes. The man is an embarrassment.

Is it too early to talk contract extension for Carlos Delgado? Forget the monster HR in the top of 1 the hit of the night was his base hit to LF (going the other way is a beautiful thing) in the 7^th

The bottom of the 5th had to give J-Man a few more gray hairs as Pelf was going along strong and steady until Jay Bruce singled and moved Joey Votto to 3^rd with 2 outs and Pelf hitting that magic 100 pitch mark. Manuel made his decision to let Plefrey go after Edwin Encarnarcion. It showed the confidence that Manuel has in Pelfrey and a reward for overcoming a bad first inning and try to get him on the plus side of decision. Plef got out of the inning with the last play in the world you’d think would ever work the fake to third and throw to first that Castillo grabbed and threw home to nail Votto.

Why didn’t the Reds bring in a lefty (Danny Herrera or 87 year old Arthur Lee Rhodes) to pitch to Schneider with the bases loaded and one out? Oh yeah I forgot, Dusty Baker is the Reds manager <doh!>

Bill Welke blew that call in the 9^th as Delgado looked to be on the bag making a difficult outing for Frankie Rodriguez even tougher. As bad as Welke is he doesn’t suck as bad as Angel Hernandez.

Ollie P today at high noon, let’s hope we all don’t lose our lunch.          

Just a couple of items before I head out for the day to enjoy the 65 degree day today in NYC, so with Roy Orbison’ Black and White Night coming through my headphones let’s look at some Mets scuttlebutt:

Looks all the angst over Johan Santana’ elbow was wasted energy by the media and fan base as Santana threw another BP session today and looked sharp and looks to be on track for opening day in Cincinnati:

“I feel pretty good,” Santana said. “I don’t see any reasons why I would not be ready for it. We have been working out, getting everything in the right way, right track, and I don’t think there will be any problems.”

David Lennon watch the session closely:

Of his 36 pitches, Santana threw 22 strikes. He got six swings and misses, with five of them coming on change-up. Even when his change-up was high in the strike zone — a dangerous spot — the group of Mackowiak, Nick Evans, Rene Rivera and Cory Sullivan couldn’t touch it.

Jose Reyes is riding the pine in today’s WB (S) C game between the D.R and the Flyin Dutchmen. Have I told you how much I hate the WBC?

Bye-bye Dirty Duaner? Could be since the Mets came save some coin by dropping him by April 1. Add in the fact he has not been the same Dirty Duaner since his infamous Rice and Beans run car crash in South Beach as he still can’t hit 90 on the JUGGS , it could be the end of the line for Sanchez as a Met

The more you look at the fight for the 5^th spot in the Mets rotation the more I won’t be surprised if Petey signs with the Mets after the WBC

Wilmer Flores parents have submitted a permission slip to Jerry Manuel so Flores will play shortstop today against the Nationals (1PM Ch. 11) Flores was spotted in the clubhouse this morning with his Menudo lunch box and baseball shoes that light up when he runs (ahhhhhhhhh how cute)

not a good song a GREAT song by Roy Orbison watch the video here.

To Endy Chavez, thank you for The Catch and for your outstanding defense please take this section of the Shea Stadium Left Field fence as a token of our appreciation

To Joe Smith, I am very sorry to see you go and I’m sure you’re not to thrilled either but your young and maybe some day we will be reunited. Keep those sinkers low in the strike zone. Sorry but I have to go I have Tobi Stoner on the phone. “Tobi good news Smith is gone looks good for you to make the big club”

To Jason Vargas, I had high hopes for you young man after seeing your rebound performance in the AFL in fact it touted you as my dark horse candidate to step up and thrive in the new revamped bullpen and my prediction may come true except it will happen in the annomitity of Safeco Field.

To Mike Carp, all the best as a fringe ML’er

To Ezequiel Carrera and Maikel Cleto, Hasta la vista los muchachos.

Welcome J J Putz you of the blazing fastball and outstanding K/BB ratio you have the potential to be part of the best 1-2 bullpen punch in baseball. Not only that at 6’ 5’’ 250 you’re one big Putz; a Shvantz (I’ll stop with the putz jokes) so if all those teams in the division want to “Bring the Hate” well bring it on as we have no fear because we have a big Putz (really I’ll stop with the jokes) and fear no one, oh and thank your parents for naming you Jason Joseph Putz and not Shilmazel (seriously I’m done with the jokes)

Sean Green looks like Bison material and Jeremy Reed is at best a 5^th outfielder who is better hitter than Chavez and very good defender as well. How could you not like this deal for the Mets and Omar is not done yet as it looks like he really wants to bring Ollie Perez back in the fold as long as Agent Boras and OP don’t get stupid with contract demands. If the Mets offer 3yr/$36-38 mil with 4^th year option and Team OP turn that don’t he’s an asshole. The guy resurrected his sorry career in NY and now with a fortified pen plus the fact if he turns down this deal,  Randy Wolf will grab it so it’s in Ollie’s best interest to sign on for another hitch in Flushing.

Any word from the greatest hitter to wear dreadlocks? Cover those cards Omar. 

If you didn’t get to listen to our Pro Baseball Central show last night click on the link on the top right hand side or click here to listen to the podcast as we went over K-Rod CC and other options that the Mets are looking at.

Last but certainly not least, I was a bit embarrassed this morning as I was riding the Staten Island Ferry to work. Now normally when I sit down to peruse the newspaper the first thing I do is go to the back page and look for Mets news. But this morning the front page of the NY Post headline and picture had me in a state of drool. A picture of a naked Jennifer Aniston with the words “JENNIFER ANISTON’S SEXY NUDE PHOTO SHOOT” PICS AND STORY ON PAGE 3. I torn that newspaper open to page 3 and there was the lovely Jennifer in all her bare ass splendor. For the next 20 minutes of the ride I was fixated on that photo. I was oblivious to anyone around me. What wonderful visions I had in my head of Jen and I on the beach in St. Croix and her whispering in my ear “baby let’s go back to the room, the Mets are on and Johan’s pitching” but then this nasty voice woke me from my dream state to say “WHITEHALL TERMINAL ALL A SHORE” Damn it, no no I can’t leave now me and Jen are going to watch the Mets game in our room NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO. Now that’s not the embarrassing part. As I tried to get my bearings a woman about my age or little younger just gave me a look like I was some dirty old man as I guess having my eyes riveted to a beautiful woman is a crime. I was ready to tell her she was a jealous old jelly ass but she looked like she could beat the shit out me so I kept quiet.

I don’t know if I’ll post anymore today I have to finish reading the Post. “Coming Jennnnnnnnnn”.