Well, after scoring 13 runs last night, the Mets scored how many tonight? That's right, zero, nada, zilch. If I was a betting man, I would have made that bet. Worst of all of course, the Mets were shut out in a rain shortened game-ugh! And Steve Trachsel, man what is his problem? Do we have to send him down to triple A again? He's awful right now. When you consider the injuries and the way Trachsel is pitching right now, the Mets really only have two starters-Pedro and Glavine. I know Trachsel only gave up two runs, but his rhythm is all off, he takes a month between pitches, he puts me to sleep. I can't stand to watch him. The short of it is, the Mets lose in a rain shortened game. Here's the rule:

Rule 4.10.C (From the Official Rule Book of Major League Baseball)

If a game is called, it is a regulation game: (1) If five innings have been completed; (2) If the home team has scored more runs in four or four and a fraction half innings than the visiting team has scored in five completed half innings; (3) If the home team scores one or more runs in its half of the fifth inning to tie the score.

      - Oh well, how can you fight the rule book?

Rain or not, you kind of got the feeling from the first inning that this was not to be the Mets night. First David Wright hits a shot that's a rat's whisker foul that would have given the Mets a three to nothing lead. Wright then walked. Nady hit a drive to center field that would have cleared the bases but Aaron Rowand made a spectacular catch then rearranged the center field fence with his face. Again, the Mets would have had a three to nothing lead at least. After that the Mets made Gavin Floyd look like Greg Maddux. They could muster no offense for the remaining four turns at bat. The loss to the Phillies resulted in only the second series loss of the season for the Mets. In series this year, the Mets have 8 wins, 2 losses and 2 splits. The loss to the Phillies leaves the Mets three games in front so the net result is the Mets lost one game in the standings after the three game series.

Now it's off to Milwaukee to face the dangerous Brewers. Jose Lima in round 2 tomorrow night followed by Gonzalez Saturday night. Sounds painful.

Notes: I must comment on something I heard WFAN's Joe Benigno say yesterday. He said that the Mets should have saved some runs scored on Tuesday night for last night's game. How does that work? He seemed really serious too. I can imagine Willie Randolph during the course of the game saying "Ok guys, we scored six runs already, that's enought to win tonight. "Let's save the other seven for tomorrow night". How could the Mets or any team possibly know how many runs they would score in a given game or a given inning for that matter. It makes no sense. And scoring a bunch of runs on one night has no bearing on what a team does the next. These are the kind of thoughts that keep me awake at night...