In 2006, the Mets signed Billy Wagner to be their closer. In his first start on opening day, Wagner got a save but it took a tremendous play by Carlos Beltran to end the game by throwing a runner out at second. In his second appearance, Wagner blew a save giving up a long home run to Washington's Ryan Zimmerman. Although Wagner did not receive the loss, he set the stage for a roller coaster career with the Mets.

Because of his season ending surgery last year, the Mets were forced to find a closer for this season. Omar Minaya was able to land Francisco Rodriguez through free agency. So far, Rodriguez has been one of the best closers in Mets history. The sampling is small but a seven for seven start bodes well for the right handed reliever.

The telling of the tape may very well be last night's game. With two outs and a runner on second and first, Rodriguez induced a pop fly to first that should have ended the game. Carlos Delgado, reenacting a scene from his little league days, dropped the pop up. A run scored. The game should have been over but instead, Mets fans everywhere, including me, figured this would be another devastating loss likely to cause us to have a restless night.

Rodriguez gave up a hit that brought in another run. Now the Mets hung on to a one run lead with two outs and the tying run on third. Chipper Jones, who muffed a throw in the top half of the ninth that led to the Mets being able to tack on two more runs, was at the plate. We have seen this script before. The house of horrors known as Turner Field was about to debut the next chapter in Mets futility. I would love to have had a nickel for every Mets fan who imagined Chipper hitting one over the wall to end the game. But instead something different happened.

Frankie Rodriguez got Chipper to reach out and hit a lazy fly ball to right center that Ryan Church caught easily to end the game. Perhaps the end of last night’s game will become iconic for what is to come. There is no question in my mind that last year or the year before the Mets would have lost last night's game. Maybe Rodriguez tenacity and guts will serve as a role model for other Mets players.

It was great to see the Mets win three of the four games played on the road. And realistically they could have won all four. The Mets are playing much better even though they are still leaving a ton of men on base. They could have easily had a 5-0 lead by the fifth inning last night but the big hit did not come till later.

Okay, let's give the Mets a break. I have been very down on them lately. So much so that I have received some feedback blasting me for being so negative (who are these Mets fans?).

The Mets return home for an eight game home stand starting tonight against the Phillies. It's important for the Mets to play well at home. The next road trip is formidable and could very well determine what kind of summer we are in for.