Say Hi to the Barry's

The San Francisco Giants come to Shea this week for a three game set. This means, in addition to overheated ramblings from Chris (Mini Me) Russo about how great his team is, we get to see fan reaction to the Barry's, Bonds and Zito. Let's talk about Zito first.

Many fans (myself included) had hoped that Zito would be wearing blue and orange this season. We hoped that Omar and the Wilpons would open up the checkbook, and that Zito would be our #1 starter. The best laid plans were foiled when the Giants offered up a 7 year $126 million contract. Now, there was some talk that Barry liked the Giants approach more than the Mets approach, felt there weren't as many "ego's" involved with the Giants (of course, this is because Bonds wasn't involved in the recruiting process, he was a tad busy.) I would suggest to Zito that this may end up being a mistake on his part. After all, Delgado apparently didn't love the Mets pitch to him a couple of years back, then signed with the Marlins, who traded him to the Mets after one year. By the end of this season, Zito may be looking to be dealt as well.

So, do I think Mets fans should abuse Zito tomorrow night? Nah. I'd rather the Mets bats did that themselves. Zito made a choice. He is a west coast guy, and decided to stay there. Given his results this year, no great loss for the Mets not getting him.

As for the other Barry, there were stories in all the major NY papers today about how Mets fans would be hypocrites if we booed Bonds, but cheered Mota, since Mota has actually failed a PED test, while Barry has not. OK, I kinda get the point, but remember, baseball didn't test for quite a while. And Barry did reportedly test positive for greenies, so he is not totally clean. Plus, anyone with half a brain can look at him and see how much larger he is now than when he started playing for the Pirates. Weights only add so much bulk, and the last I checked, there are no exercises that increase the size of your head.

The circumstantial evidence is overwhelming. "Game of Shadows" told a lot. Pictures tell a story as well. I think a lot of the fans dislike of Bonds comes from his demeanor as well. To put it kindly, he is a bit of a prick, to the media and teammates alike (he tried to pin the greenies test on a teammate, saying he got the stuff out of his locker). Plus, he is about to break a hallowed record, the 755 from Hank Aaron. Aaron by all accounts was a consummate professional. Bonds does not have the same reputation. I fully expect Bonds to be booed, partly for the steroids, and mostly because he is an opposing player who is very good. He will join a long list of players who have been booed at Shea. No shame in that.

As for Mota, I am torn. Part of me thinks he should not be welcomed back with cheers, given the stain he left on the Mets due to his failed test. I'm not saying he should be booed, as I dislike booing Met players. At the same time, I can understand why some may choose to do so. I'm thinking the silent treatment the first game back. Then, he can be treated like any other Met. Omar and the Wilpons made the decision to bring him back. We all know how the Wilpons are when it comes to players who bring negative news to the Mets (see Milledge, Lastings). I say we support our GM and owners. Besides, if Yankee fans aren't called out for not booing Giambalco and Sheffield, why should Mets fans boo their own guy? One who didn't exactly set any records when he was on the juice. I'm not saying that absolves him of all wrongdoing. But he did at least apologize.

We hopefully will get some news on the walking wounded this week. During the 3-Game Fish Fry this weekend, Shawn Green broke his foot, and Carlos Gomez hurt his hammy. This led to the sight of Damion Easley in left field on Sunday. He had a couple of chances, and didn't make any mistakes, so that was good. We may also find out when Alou is back, it could be as early as tomorrow, or not until the weekend. If not till the weekend, then I think either Gomez or Green need to be put on the DL so Ben Johnson can come up to play. I do not want to see Easley in the outfield again. And I don't want to see Newhan at all.

Nice sweep for the boys. Sosa bounced back nicely. Delgado started to hit. Maine won his sixth game of the season with a nice bounce back start. And El Duque returned, and looked like he never left. The lead is now 4, after the Braves beat the Brewers (what the hell happened to them? Jeez, the Mets started their fall from grace huh?) last night. The Mets have 2 games in hand on the Braves. It's kinda funny. For all the sturm und drang about how the Braves are keeping it close this year, the Mets were only 4.5 games up at this point last year on the second place team. The Braves.

Time for the Mets to put some more distance between them and the rest of the NL East. It starts with the Giants tonight. It's not going to be easy, as the Giants throw Lincecum, Zito and Cain against Perez, Glavine and El Duque. I think we take two of three.

Meanwhile, the Bronx is imploding. At the end of last season, a certain Yankee blogger said to worry about snipers. I don't worry about them anymore.

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