After winning their fourth in a row last night, the Mets will go for five with ace Johan Santana on the mound vs. Jason Hammel for the Rockies. As I’ve mentioned, it all begins and ends with the starting pitching. The way our offense has come alive we have a real opportunity to win some games if we take the lead and hand the ball to our strength, which is our bullpen.

Jason Hammel will go to the mound for the Rockies. He hasn’t won a game since June 26. Hammel though, has been at his best on the road, going 4-2 with a 1.93 ERA in 10 appearances, eight of them starts.

Johan Santana will look to get back on track for the Mets after getting roughed up last Friday. The Mets haven’t lost since and are hoping Johan can keep the streak going tonight, weather permitting.

We are now 5.5 games behind Colorado for the Wild Card lead. But seven teams still remain in front of us. I think the first goal for this team has to be to get back to .500. Once you get back to .500 then the goal is 5 over and you keep building, but getting back to .500 would put the team right into the thick of the wild card race.

The way the team has played over the five days resembles nothing of the team we saw just last week lose two of three to the worst team in baseball, in the Nationals. This team is looking fresh, confident and determined. Could the off-field distractions somehow be a rallying cry that has brought the team together? I’m not sure the team even really cares what’s going on with upper management. They probably just find it comical. It has taken the attention off the team though, that’s for sure.

I will be on vacation the next few days. Heading to San Francisco with my wife and sister in law. A birthday shout out to my sister in law and Pessimets.com graphic designer, Kanika Rehani. I should have internet access but won’t be posting too much. I expect to come back on Sunday and see no major changes to the current roster after the trading deadline. Hopefully the Mets will still be winning, but somehow I doubt it.