Let me lead off with a quote from the Miami Herald:

Yes, it is a bummer for this pennant contender that folks aren't in the stands. But it also is a blessing the few sets of eyes on them are either looking through a rosy prism or not really paying attention.

That is an advantage only the Marlins enjoy.

This seems so absolutely foreign to me, I don't even know where I'd begin to break this down. Not every Mets game is a sellout, but it's pretty close. Tickets for the good seats are tough to get, and if you do land them, they'll cost you.

Yesterday, I told the Mets to burn this image into their memory. I told them to use it as motivation for their games against Philadelphia and beyond.

Well after Jose Reyes hit his three run home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to put the Mets in the lead for good, Reyes showed his rebuttal to Jimmy Rollins' celebration.

Bob Raissman has quotes from Fred Wilpon where he admits to screwing up the Willie Randolph firing.

From Raissman:

Fred Wilpon said he learned something from firing Willie Randolph. And it is this: The next time he fires a manager he'll do it in the light of day, when reporters are not sleeping.

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"I said (to Omar Minaya) 'When are you going to do this?' He said 'After the game (Mets-Angels, June 16).' I wasn't smart enough to say, 'And cut the New York press out of it?' I didn't even think of it," Wilpon said. "I screwed up."

Great. Wonderful. Super. It took two months for this?

I think this just makes the team look even worse than before. We knew you handled it poorly, you knew you handled it poorly, so coming out and saying it two months later makes you look like even bigger buffoons than before.

Come join us for a LIVE GAME THREAD as Brett Myers and John Maine clash at Shea Stadium on Wednesday night!

Just study everything about this picture. Jimmy Rollins celebration, his posture, his fingers to the sky. Look at Damion Easley's slumped shoulders, dejected look, and "I'm going to stare at the ground and hope this is all a dream" stare.

This, right here, is your motivation. Remember this image tomorrow night. Remember this image Thursday afternoon. Remember this image for the rest of the games you play the rest of the year.

There are two sides to every coin. On one hand, I leave Johan Santana out there for the 9th inning to work his magic. That's why he's getting the big bucks. On the flip-side, I can see why you don't want to run your "ace" out there and run up his pitch count, especially with Pedro Martinez ailing.

But, your closer is unavailable, and no one has really shone through as a viable replacement. Why not give Santana a shot? Maybe you keep him on a very short least, if he gives up a hit or two, you yank him. Easy as that. Just have the bullpen ready to go as soon as possible.

Yesterday, I brought you five of the reasons the Mets wouldn't make the postseason in 2008. Here, now, are the five reasons I think the Mets will make it to the playoffs and contend for the World Series in '08.

Johan Santana and Aaron Heilman are...

Billy Wagner's MRI results came back negative.

A sigh of relief was just issued from Mets fans everywhere.

Tonight, Johan Santana faces newly acquired Phillie, Joe Blanton in the first of a three game series at Shea Stadium. Since it's the second half, against the Phillies, and both teams tied for first, it's already being outlined that this is the biggest start of Santana's Mets career.

It seems to me that if he doesn't take a no-hitter into the seventh and finish with a three hit, complete game, it will be deemed a failure by the media, and to many fans.

Yesterday, I reported that Billy Wagner was going to have an MRI on his shoulder. Then I reported that the MRI was scrapped because he felt all right.

Now, I am reporting that he will have that MRI done on his shoulder.

He did see a doctor yesterday, and the Mets are stressing that this is a "precautionary" MRI.

The Mets have seemed to learn a valuable lesson from their handling on Ryan Church. "If it hurts a little bit, go see a doctor." It looks like they're going to handle each and every ache and pain a player suffers with the utmost care.

I'm still unsure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

Two articles today break down the NL East.

Jayson Stark gets absolutely blasted by Mets fans in his "That's Debatable" column where he breaks down the National League East. (Spoiler: He picked the Phillies)

John Donovan reveals the cons for the teams of the NL East. The Mets is kind of iffy...

The Mets are tied for first place, but everyone loves a pessimist. Here are the five reasons I think the Mets will fall apart and fail to make the postseason.

It's the bottom of the tenth inning on Sunday. The Mets are up by two, bringing in their closer Billy Wagner. Two pitches in, both Jerry Manuel and trainer Rey Ramirez begin trotting out to the mound to check on Wagner, for an injury they think he has.

Billy shrugs them off, and flashes a smile as they walk away. He proceeds to strike out the side, in order, and seal up a win for his team.

He does all this with a cramp in his pitching shoulder. More cramps, I say!

Very simple. Between Yankee outfielder Brett Gardner and Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who do you think is faster?

OK, so I lied.

I actually saw the Billy Joel tribute band, Big Shot, and I wasn't in Shea Stadium either. I was actually in Bloomfield, New Jersey enjoying the musical stylings of Beginnings (a Chicago tribute band) and Big Shot.