After a week-long vacation everybody's favorite writer has returned. Welcome to the weekly feature that freely admits to being worn out by the Braves all season long. This is Touch 'Em All Time.

If you're looking for an optimistic article I suggest you just close your browser now. The fact is that I am less than happy with the Amazins at the moment after they dropped yet another series to the Braves, this time at Shea. Say what you will about Delgado's home run being snatched away at the last moment. The truth remains that it would have taken a four-run ninth to even tie the game. The Braves own the Mets in 2007 and what's worse is that they know it. The Mets aren't done with the Braves yet. The Mets will travel to Atlanta and have a chance for redemption at home in September.

Despite what Willie and many of the Met faithful appear to believe New York's woes against the Braves are a big deal. Even if the Mets do win the division the reality is that the Braves aren't going anywhere in the playoff race just yet. As of this post the Braves are only 0.5 games behind the Padres for the Wild Card. If the Mets and Braves meet up in the post season...well, that's something I just don't want to think about at this moment.

Rick Ankiel hit a three-run homer in his return to the Majors last night as St. Louis defeated the Padres 5-0. I couldn't be happier for this guy as it really is a great story. How many of us get a second chance to live out our dream? I wish Rick plenty of success (until he plays the Mets).

Speaking of "feel good" stories in baseball; how about those Seattle Mariners? They went on a long winning streak earlier in the season only to be rewarded by having Mike Hargrove, their manager at the time, resign. This was a move that came out of nowhere and shocked the baseball world. Instead of folding or mailing it in the Mariners are in first place for the American League Wild Card and are only two and half games out of first in the AL West behind the (overrated) Angels. While teams like the Yankees, Indians, and Tigers have been receiving most of the publicity from the media (*cough* east coast bias *cough*) the Mariners have quietly become one of the best teams in the league. I'm quietly cheering for Seattle, if only to ensure the Yankees will be sitting at home come October.

Speaking of which; the Tribe hosts the Yanks this weekend. I'll be cheering for my Indians for more than one reason these next three days.

Please welcome the newest addition to the Baseball Tonight team: David Wells, everybody.

My favorite statistic regarding Barry Lamar Bonds? The San Francisco Giants are 49-64. Thank you, Barry, for finally breaking the record. It's the last time your pathetic excuse for a Major League team will be on national television in 2007.

The Mets play hosts to the Marlins this weekend and should have little problem winning at least two out of three (jinx jinx jinx). With a three and a half game lead in the NL East and the end of the season rapidly approaching every win helps. Hopefully the rain subsides by this evening and all of you heading out to Shea will see a win for the home team. Lets Go Mets. (F-A-N). Read More...

"The team I'm most worried about in the National League? The San Diego Padres. They have a much better lineup than many people give them credit for along with arguably the best pitching in the NL."

-Touch 'Em All Time: July 13, 2007

I never take joy in watching one of my favorite teams lose, regardless of what sport it is or whether or not the loss will help the team's "draft status." However, I had more than a few people make comments to me about how the Padres were an overrated team and probably wouldn't even be around come October. Nevertheless it was the opinion of just about everybody I spoke with that the Padres couldn't hang with the Mets.

Sure, it's still July, but there isn't one follower of this blog who isn't slightly worried about the Mets' chances in a playoff series against the Padres after last week. I know what plenty of you are going to say.

"The series was in San Diego. At home the Mets will dominate!"

I have to agree that the Mets have a better chance to win in Queens than they do in San Diego. However, it is not a given that the Mets will have home-field in any series yet, let alone play in October. Right now the Mets are 53-42; the Friars stand at 53-41. With two months left in the season anything can happen, but fans are going to have to get used to the thought of the Mets not having home-field advantage in the playoffs this season. Ask yourself this question: As of this exact moment do the Mets look like the best team in the National League?

Nope.

Then again, the Mets did just beat the Dodgers last night, and LA has the same winning percentage as the Padres. At this point the National League is so crazy the Marlins could make a late run and sneak into the playoffs. Well, maybe not.

Barry Lamar Bonds hit home runs 752 and 753 yesterday, bringing him within just two long balls of tying Hank Aaron's record. There are going to he plenty of Barry articles popping up just about everywhere, probably even one or two on this blog. I already wrote the closest thing to a Barry article that you'll get from me, so I'll keep this short. I don't care if Barry Lamar breaks the record at home or if Bud Selig is in attendance when Bonds does crush 756 out of the park. Cy Young's 511 wins, Pete Rose's 4256 hits, and Joe Dimaggio's 56-game hit streak are more impressive to me at this point than whatever number Bonds ends up with. Oh, and for those of you not keeping track, the Giants lost to the Cubs yesterday 9-8. San Fran dropped to 39-54, the worst record in all of the National League.

The Yankees have been surging as of late, and despite yesterday's loss the Bronx Bombers are only seven games out of first place. One of the many reasons I love living across the river from Manhattan is the stark difference in how the New York baseball teams are covered in comparison to one another. If the Mets were "coming back" from a double-digit deficit and were seven games out on July 20 talk shows and newspapers would be having a field day about what a letdown the Mets have been thus far. The Yanks, however, are "surging."

I love New York.

It's being reported that Chris Carpenter is going to have the dreaded Tommy John surgery and be out for ten to twelve months. This is a devastating blow to the Cardinals and will serve as the final nail in the coffin for the team this season. The 2006 World Series must seem like decades ago for this team. More importantly, however, is the fact that I can now drop Carpenter from my fantasy team. Thanks for nothing, Carp.

The Mets are 2.5 games ahead of the Braves in NL East, the exact same lead the Mets were enjoying at this time last week. Last night was shaky but it's always good to start a series off with a win. Beating up on the Reds is one thing, but this weekend is going to be difficult for the Amazins.

Tonight's match-up: Oliver Perez (8-6) vs. Brett Tomko (2-7)

Jinxes exist in sports. I'm not saying a word. Although maybe the negative talk about the Mets in this blog will cause the team to rise to the occasion. We can only hope.

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There are a few lessons taught to me by my old man regarding sports that will stick with me forever.
-Always support your team no matter what their record
-If you ain't cheatin', you ain't tryin'.
-Never be upset about a victory.

Sorry, pops, but I can't help but be unimpressed with the performance put on by the Mets in last night's 3-2 victory over the Reds. There is no doubt that it's always a plus to start the second half of the season with a victory. However, despite the (un)expected release of hitting coach Rick Down and the call-up of everybody's favorite son Lastings Milledge this was the same Mets team we've seen throughout the 2007 season. A miscue on the bases, a poor effort in the outfield, and the lack of clutch hitting that has plagued the 2007 Mets was still prevalent in last night's victory. Truth be told if the Mets wouldn't have been playing one of the worst teams in baseball last night the outcome of the game probably wouldn't have gone in the Mets' favor.

It would be foolish for me or any other fan to believe the Mets are going to pull a complete U-turn and magically become the 2006 squad that dominated the National League. What bothers me, I suppose, is just how many fans are waiting for that exact thing to take place. This is 2007, everybody, and it's not going to be that easy this time. Be prepared for a fight that's going into September this season. It should be fun.

As much as I enjoyed spouting off "Julio Franco facts" during games this season it caused me great delight to see Franco's departure. What he has been able to accomplish at his age is indescribable and perhaps he will find a niche with another team. The future is now for the Mets and I'm ready to see if Milledge is as good as advertised. Time will tell.

There is absolutely no way that Alex Rodriguez is worth $30 million a year. I will go into further detail about this on my other site but, simply stated, the man still hasn't won anything. I'm a big believer in team chemistry and I see him as a negative in the clubhouse especially if he is making more money per year than (at least) half the roster. Major League Baseball really needs to move more towards contracts based upon incentives, but as I said I'll get into that at a later date.

The team I'm most worried about in the National League? The San Diego Padres. They have a much better lineup than many people give them credit for along with arguably the best pitching in the NL. East-cost bias has caused many to not notice this team. That could be a big mistake come September and October.

And finally, as many of you reading this already know, this Saturday is the first ever Facebook Global New York Mets Fan Group game, where over 50 people will be gathering at Shea to watch the Mets take on the Reds. I cannot begin to express just how amazed I am at the growth of this group (over 14,000 members now). I'm also unashamed to say that I have met some great fans through this group, and have even gone to a few games with one (thanks for the tickets, Steph). This blog is even further proof at how far the group has come. As one of the administrators of the group and a writer of this blog I can speak for my colleagues when I declare that we have only begun to scratch the surface. Stay tuned.

The Mets are 2.5 games ahead of the Braves for first in the NL East. That's a great way to end any post.

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