The Mets pick up a game in the standings. A welcome development, surely, but another win tonight is a minimum requirement. The Mets don't need to win 10 in a row (although that would be nice), but they need to win series. Three or four in series win in a row would be a start to turning this season around.

Last night's win was thanks to the 'new' guys in the line-up. (I know Castro's not 'new', but he gets few starts.) Tatis & Castro had 4 RBI's combined. Even when Church comes back I'd be inclined to use Tatis at 1B and give Delgado more 'days off'.

Home-runs and wild pitches. Santana has been plagued by both this year. He's just not the superstar pitcher that Met fans thought they were getting. He's been good, but far from great this year. Last night we had a bit of both as Santana won, but not without struggling. If Santana doesn't produce the way the Mets expect it may mark the end of big contracts for pitchers. Zito was a warning. Santana may be the second warning. Will anyone be willing to hope that it's a case of 'third time lucky' with free agent pitchers?

Leading 5-3 heading to the 8th Willie brought in Sanchez to start the inning even though left-handed hitting Luis Gonzalez was leading off. I would have preferred Shoenweiss, who has been nearly unhittable against lefties this year. Sanchez could have been brought in to face Treanor & Ross.

I can't understand this '8th inning guy' mind-set. You have to go with the guy who's most likely to get you the out you need. The other team has 6 outs left. Why not make it hard for them to get something going with the first of those 6? As it is, Sanchez got the next three after allowing the lead-off double.

*****

Before the game Wayne Hagin forecast that Fernando Tatis would have a good game. He said Tatis looked focused and was swinging well in batting practice. Howie complimented Hagin on his prescience after Tatis's second 2-out RBI hit.

Jordie and George Hahn. Wayne played little league ball with Don Hahn's brothers. Howie brought up Don Hahn when he started one of his favorite discussions: should Yogi have gone with Stone & Seaver for Games 6 & 7 during the '73 World Series? Howie was disappointed that Don's brothers weren't Ron and Juan.