Hurting

Of the limited video I witnessed of the Mets 4-1 loss to the Astros, here's what I've noticed:

Carlos Beltran is noticeably hurt. And if he's not as hurt as we think he is, then he's extremely cautious.

• A healthy Beltran scores during the first inning on Ramon Castro's double.
• A healthy Beltran makes Lance Berkman, at the very least, hustle to first on Beltran's liner to first that Berkman juggled...possibly forces a throw to Brandon Backe.
• A healthy Beltran doesn't lunge after Jason Lane's double in the gap on the last step, instead he runs through it and picks it up without effort.

Carlos Beltran is not one hundred percent. That much is obvious to me.

Of the rest of the game, pretty simple. They couldn't get a timely hit with runners in scoring position (eight total for the game). Jason Lane did make a great catch on the Marlon Anderson liner, but other than that, it was just a heaping spoonful of Brandon Backe and his traveling can of Houdini tricks (6 walks in 6 innings, but just one run).

And as for Mike Piazza, if he is out for an extended period of time after the foul tip off his wrist, it will only mean that David Wright starts batting fifth. Can you say "blessing in disguise"?

I knew you could.