oh, how I've missed you

it's hard to know where to start when you want to get back on the blogging horse, but El Duque made it easy to know where to start on Tuesday night. he's had the green light to run when he's sure he'll be safe all season, and he sensed that opportunity in the top of the 5th against San Diego, after singling to get on base, and then cantered all the way home on Jose Valentin's double. the man is 40-something, was kept from playing in his prime by Castro's fear that he'd defect (effective strategy, huh?), and still looks like he's having so much fun playing baseball. he goes for it. it's inspiring.

the Mets have certainly played in an inspiring manner since the All-Star break, and because of my age and history with the Mets, I credit all the hitting entirely to HoJo. Johnson has been the hitting coach since the season resumed a week ago, and he's clearly having an effect-- even last night, when Wright's three-run game tying homer wasn't protected by the bullpen and the Mets ended up losing. the guys are hitting. they look more confident.

here's to the second half.