More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

This play was the Mets' game in microcosm. (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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Not a terrible game for Mike Pelfrey. Nine baserunners in seven innings, three runs and just one walk. His groundball rate -- 13-to-6 -- was very strong. As others have pointed out, his season hasn't been as altogether awful as his superficial numbers -- wins, losses, ERA -- might have you believe. He has hardly been superb, but randomness -- and its bullying offspring, bad luck -- has done Pelfrey in with exceeding regularity. This isn't to say that he can't improve himself on his own, but a swing of luck in his favor this season and we'd have far fewer people carping about how disappointing he has been.

In other news, if Carlos Beltran is still injured it doesn't seem to have manifested itself in his on-field performance since his return. I'm not sure if I'm ready to hand him another long-term contract just yet, but his outlook for 2010 has to be considered sunny.

Haiku by Howard Megdal

When bases loaded
kills rallies, grounders booted,
throws sail- time to stop

More photos » by Manuel Balce Ceneta - AP

"Better than the Mets. We're better than the Mets. We're B-E-T-T-E-R than the Mets!" (AP Photo/Manuel Balce Ceneta)

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• Daniel Murphy's OBP: .313
• Anderson Hernandez's OBP: .317
• Verdict: Anderson Hernandez for 2010 1B!

More photos » by Lynne Sladky - AP

"That just earned me a three-year, $30 million extension." (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Haiku by Howard Megdal

Simple solution
Mets only play the Marlins
When season is lost

More photos » by Lynne Sladky - AP

"I don't know what to do with this. Here, you take it." (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

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Seven to go.

Haiku by Howard Megdal

Disjointed effort
Leads to Marlins' bust-out fifth
And crushes the Maine

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

Ladies and gentlemen: your 2010 Opening Day starter, Ken Takahashi. (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Haiku by Howard Megdal

In 2009
Home's also house of horrors
When Mets face the Braves

More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

"It ain't my fault!" (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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Water, water, everywhere, and though the boards did shrink
Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink.

Haiku by Howard Megdal

Nelson outdueled
For he battled an offense;
Mets' bats were no threat

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More photos » by Kathy Willens - AP

"Now I remember: I'm nonentity Pat Misch." (AP Photo/Kathy Willens)

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The good news: Daniel Murphy hit his eleventh homerun of the season, inching closer to John Stearns, John Milner, and Steve Henderson of the 1977 Mets, who each hit twelve homeruns that season, the lowest team-leading mark in franchise history. So, yay for that.

The bad news: Pat Misch was terrible again, but that can't really come as a surprise to anyone who has either watched Misch this season or for that matter has watched Misch ever. Misch faced twelve batters in all, retiring four and allowing the other eight to score. It was the fifth time in franchise history that a starting pitcher allowed at least that many runs while recording four outs or fewer.

7/4/1989 - Bob Ojeda allowed eight runs on six hits in two-thirds of an inning against Mike Scott and the Astros. One of the two outs to his credit was a strikeout of Scott. Houston racked up five singles, a double, two walks, and a hit-by-pitch to drive Ojeda from the game. Kevin Tapani came on in relief and balked in Billy Hatcher, who was on third when Ojeda departed. The Astros would go on to win 10-3.

9/17/1997 - Bobby Jones allowed eight runs -- four earned -- on three hits and four walks against the Braves. Jones failed to retire a single batter and even tossed in a throwing error for good measure. Atlanta won the game 10-2; a Butch Huskey solo shot was the only highlight for the Mets.

8/9/1984 - Bruce Berenyi lasted just 1.1 innings against the Pirates, surrendering nine runs on five hits, four walks, and a wild pitch. Pittsburgh won the game 11-0 behind a two-hit, ten-strikeout performance by Rick Rhoden.

7/19/1988 - Ron Darling coughed up nine runs -- five earned -- on five hits and three walks, two homeruns, and a wild pitch in two-thirds of an inning. Howard Johnson got things started with a throwing error and it all fell apart from there. The Mets lost the game 11-2.

Haiku by Howard Megdal

Can we at last say
That mediocre Misch ain't
Glavine or Moyer?

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More photos » by Henny Ray Abrams - AP

"Our team's payroll per win this season is laughable!" (AP Photo/Henny Ray Abrams)

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