This Crew Deserves A Brew

The Brewers came into this series having won 9 out of 10 games looking like they might be the second best team in the NL and a stone cold lock for the wildcard. With the exception of a nervous Jonathon Niese who was put in a real tough spot, the entire Mets team exerted their might on these Brewers, who all of a sudden are not an absolute in October.

The much maligned Mets bullpen shut the Brewers down pitching 12 1/3 scoreless innings. Even if I told you Heilman wouldn't pitch in this series, that is just a shocking stat. Brian Stokes has been a godsend and Luis Ayala, while not a closer you want to count on very long is 5 out of 6 in save opportunities. Joe Smith has quietly gone 13 straight outings without allowing a run. Pedro Feliciano looked much sharper. Billy Wagner is close to returning. Things are looking a little less dark in the pen. The Mets haven't even had to use their callups yet, although the monkeys find it odd that Jerry Manuel claims to have not seen much of Al Reyes.

The Brewers bullpen, however, looks like a mess. Eric Gagne and Saloman Torres don't give fans of the Brew Crew any more confidence than the Mets relievers provide to the monkeys.

The team we heard dominates lefties were shut down by Johan Santana, Oliver Perex, Pedro Feliciano and Scott Schoeneweis. The only lefty they beat up was young Jonathon Niese who clearly had the jitters.

Now 2 looks at CC Sabathia in October might make this dominance look like a mirage. But who isn't a little less worried about the Mets playing the Brewers than they were on Monday? Not the monkeys. And for easing our fears, this Mets crew deserves a brew.