Welcome Back David!

Guess who's back?
Back again
David's back
Tell a friend
Guess who's back
Guess who's back
Guess who's back
Guess who's back
I've created a monster
cause nobody wants to see strikeouts no more
they want The Prince
I'm chopped liver
So if you want the Prince
This is what I'll give ya
A little grand slam
along with 5 ribbies

(with apologies to Eminem)

So, after starting to rouse from his "scuffling" on Monday, and continuing on Tuesday, "The Prince" pretty much removed all doubt that he is back last night. A first inning Grand Slam (the 10th for the Mets this season), and a run scoring single in the second inning helped lead the team to an 11-3 victory. Carlos Delgado added and opposite field solo shot, and Jose Valentin (also back) had two home runs as well. Dave Williams pitched well, going 7 innings, allowing 9 hits and three runs. Dave needs to work on his baserunning however, as he missed third, costing the team a run, on a potential Jose Reyes triple. Roberto Hernandez and Guillermo Mota finished it up, two scoreless innings each. The defense continued to play well, with it's 12th straight game without an error, breaking the team record set in 1999. Nice work all around.

So who do we attribute David's breakout to? Jobu? Rick Down? David? Someone who wrote David a letter giving him advise? Personally, I credit the reverse jinx put on him by Mike at Mike's Neighborhood in a post on Metsgeek yesterday. Mike, it worked! The Prince is back baby!

So the magic number is now 16. The Mets own the best record in the Major Leagues (by percentage points over the Tigers). This is the latest they can claim that distinction since 2000. The last time they held it at the end of the season was 20 years ago, in the magical 1986 season. We can only hope that this season ends as well.

Good news on the medical front. It looks like El Duque will be back sometime next week. No news on Pedro, and I wonder what the impact of Hurricane Ernesto will be on him and Uncle Cliffy. Cliff should be back no later than next week as well, possibly this weekend, though that may be pushed back due to Ernesto, which shut down the minor league facility in Port St. Lucie yesterday.

One more against the Rockies tonight. Oliver Perez makes his second start as a Met. Hopefully, he captures the first four innings from Saturday night. Perez throws heat, something the rotation lacks. It will be interesting next spring to see where he fits.

After tonight, it is on to Houston, for three against the Astros. Tom Glavine starts Friday against Jason Hirsh. Saturday, John Maine faces Wandy Rodriguez. The series concludes Sunday as Cy Trachsel faces newly re-signed Roy Oswalt (momentary pause as I shed a tear over his being off the potential trade market).

Next Monday, Atlanta comes to town for a 3 game set. Atlanta's tragic number to be eliminated from the Division Title is 13, and they stand 4 games back in the WC hunt. Poor Larry and Andruw. Not really.