Metrosexuals 4, Braves 3

-If there is a more disappointing loss this season, I hope I sleep through it.

-We should have won this game. Simple as that. But we did not and that breeds a devastating loss. Luckily, there is that earlyass start-time tomorrow to get over it in some ways.

-John Smoltz struggled some through the first few frames and was around 90 pitches entering the seventh with a 3-1 lead. I feel he's transferring in front of our very eyes. He simply doesn't have his best cutter anymore or his overpowering fastball. He's having to locate more and seems to struggle in the early innings before hitting his stride.

-However, the seventh opened. Smoltz immediately struggled, giving up a single to Old Man Green before Paul LoDouch flew out. However, Smoltz couldn't set down Lastings Milledge and the kid singled. That brought out Bobby Cox for a discussion which eventually led to Smoltz's night ending. Cox had Peter Moylan and Ron Mahay ready. The Mets went with Ruban Gotay, who rakes righties. Cox played the book and brought in the lefty and Randolph in turn went to Damien Easley. Here is where I start to really disagree with Cox. It was a by-the-book move, but you need a twin-killing here and Moylan's sinking action would be a big key. However, Mahay, who has been a LOOGY his entire career, stays in obviously.

-Well, Mahay walks Easley and brings up Jose Reyes with the bases loaded. If you didn't mutter or yell "fuck," you have, as Lewis Black said, "anger problems." However, Mahay got him to hit a looper that Jeff Francoeur _just_ got to. Two away and Luis Castillo, a guy I absolutely hate, steps in. He gets sawed off and singles in two. In some ways, it was bad luck. But bad luck usually needs a situation in which it can go bad. Going to Mahay over Moylan in that situation is the kind of thing that asks for bad luck.

-Moylan, by the way, got the final out.

-After Moises Alou broke the tie in the 8th, the Braves had a real shot in the ninth, but like they do every October, they broke some real hearts. Chipper Jones singled before Mark Teixeira snaked a single through the left side. Cox starts getting cute again and goes to Chris Woodward _OVER_ Brian McCann to get a bunt down. Now, I hate the bunt and I especially hate wasting a pinch hitter on a bunt. Not to mention you possibly force the Mets to walk your hottest hitter, Francoeur. Matt Diaz should have gotten the call if you want to waste McCann here.

-However, Billy Wagner walks Woodward on five pitches. It was the oddest damn thing I'ver seen. Jeff Francoeur hits a hot shot toward third that David Wright briefly bobbles, but recovers to get Chipper at the plate. The bobble kept the twin killing from happening, but it only postponed it. Andruw grounded into the easiest double play ever to end it.

-Horrid game. Just horrid. One I'd like to forget. At 12:10 tomorrow, it will be forgotten.