Thin Around The Middle

Wow. 28-13. Amazin'! Especially since the team doesn't seem like they're really very good anymore. As Rod Serling would say, "Submitted for your approval," the middle of their lineup just sucks. I'm talking about Andre the Awful whose slump looks almost career-threatening. It probably isn't, but he looks putrid. Hard to think his earlier strong numbers weren't in some way due to hitting behind Manny. Also painfully anemic are Martin, Loney, Kemp and even the O Dog of late. And Furcal looks like crap warmed over. Their team BA is in a free fall, all except for their stellar bench, Juan and, of course, the bearded one - Casey Blake. Guess I kind of called the shot. In yesterday's entry I said he needs to be in the lineup because he's the only one left with any pop, and boom! He bangs out the game winner - a 3 run blast in the 6th. Well, winning games where you don't play that great is the sign of a good team, and they won the one they desperately needed to win - the one Chad started, as shaky as he was, and so they're assured of winning the series against the so-called Mighty Mets. (I must admit, not having Delgado in that lineup to hit between Beltran and Wright really changes the complexion of that team) My hope is that they continue to build upon their now huge 7 1/2 game lead in late-mid May and they can run away and hide someplace before the bottom drops out, because unless these guys start putting the bat on the ball again, this team is going to start losing ballgames. 38 left before Manny goes free. I don't like their chances tonight with Weaver going against Livan, but you've all read that before.