Happy Recap: Mets 9 Braves 5

In the last 12 games the Mets are 12-0 when the score 5 or more runs. And 1-7 when they scored 4 or fewer. And in those 12 wins they allowed 5 or more runs 5 times. This is how it's going to be for the rest of the season. As Gary Cohen said, they're going to "have to outscore their bullpen.

The big difference so far between this September and last, is Jose Reyes. I don't care what anyone says, he is the unquestioned MVP of this team. The three big boppers are all great, but the Mets can win if one of them isn't hitting, because there are two more just like him. But if Reyes isn't on base, they don't win. And when he starts them off by scoring in the first inning, the Mets usually win. He's also very underrated as a run producer, I feel like he constantly drives in runs when he gets the opportunities.

David Wright also got two running scoring hits, waking up out his doldrums, although the first one was a weak swing that he just got inside the first base line. Good thing because he is absolutely killing this team with his defense. He should have been charged with 2 errors in that second inning, but the official scorer let him off the hook on one of them.

And that's I'm giving Oliver Perez some credit for this outing, even though it was only mediocre. Not only did he have to deal with Wright's bad defense, which cost him 2 runs, he had to deal with the inconsistent and very small strike zone of the home plate umpire.

Jerry Manuel did a good job of mixing and matching pitchers to get through the 7th and I was glad to see Heilman get a big strikeout. And I was glad Manuel left Stokes in for the 9th inning. The guy has been pretty good and I like that he is going with the hot hand. If a guy is having a good night, stick with him, no matter what the matchup says, because chances are bringing in a guy who throws with the correct hand will turn out to be the wrong move.
Oliver Perez bounce back from bad defense and small strike zone