Skin Deep Sixed

Matt Morris made the Mets bats look listless today as the Cardinals took the weekend series today by a score of 4-2.

Morris, who with his new beard is looking a lot like the late actor John Ritter from the movie "Skin Deep", ran his record to 3-0 today by pitching 7 and 2/3 innings while giving up 6 hits, 2 walks and 2 earned runs. It never seemed as if Morris was in any serious trouble today. And when he was, the Mets killed themselves with the double play. Floyd drove in the first Met run of the game with a 3-6 double play, and Jose Reyes' first pitch (!) double play in the 8th was a killer because it came just ahead of hot hitting Mike Cameron's third HR of the season. Reyes is an exciting player, but not a leadoff hitter. Reyes' four at bats were two pitches, four pitches, two pitches, and one pitch long. For some leadoff hitters, 9 pitches is an entire at bat. Unfortunately for the Mets, Reyes is the closest thing they have to a leadoff hitter.

Aaron Heilman (3-3), was impressive with his K to BB ratio (7:1 in 5 and 2/3 innings) but was victimzed by the long ball. John Mabry's 2nd in the second was a two run shot, and Reggie Sanders' 10th of the year was a solo shot in the fourth. The issue that is bothersome for the Mets was not so much that they only took one from the Cardinals, because that was the expected result against the defending N.L. champs anyway. What's bothersome is that they lost 2 of 3 to the Cardinals who rested Jim Edmonds one game, rested Albert Pujols one game, didn't have Scott Rolen the whole series, and couldn't get anything going off a recently activated Jason Isringhausen for two games. The Mets are going to have to do some serious healing against the Reds on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before the Yankees come to town. If not, this season will fast turn uglier than the ANSKY guys in speedos.