NLCS: Mets - The Monsters Are Out [J. Mark English]

I'll be back in the high life again, all the doors that closed one time will open up again. I'll be back in the high life again, all the eyes that watched me once will smile and take me in. And I'll drink and dance with one hand free. Let the world back into me, and I'll be a a sight to see. Back in the high life again. - Steve Winwood

Back in the 2000 NLCS, when the Mets were playing the Cardinals, in game two, Mike Piazza hit an incredible home run that helped give the Mets a 2-0 lead in the series heading back to New York. In his previous playoff games, he had been in a serious slump, causing many to believe he was not capable of stepping up to the occasion in the playoffs. After his home run, one could hear in the dugout, someone saying "the monster is out, the monster is out."

Last night, in the Mets 12-5 victory over the Cardinals, the monster was finally out. The swagger from the regular season was back. And oh, what fun it was to see them gang up on the Cardinals.

From the getgo, there was a feeling last night would take on a different, and positive spin for the Mets when in the first two innings they stretched Cardinals starter, Anthony Reyes, out to over 50 pitches. By the third, Carlos Beltran, and David Wright took adventage and smacked two solo shots out of the park.

By the end of the fourth inning, Reyes was out of the game. Mets starter Oliver Perez, was keeping the Mets in the game. In the fifth, the Mets back roared into the lime light, with Delgado hitting a three run homer, silencing the Cardinals die hard fans for the rest of the night. In the sixth, things began to just get silly as the Mets scored a whopping six runs.

Carlos Delgado, and Carlos Beltran are on fire. Beltran has now hit a total of seven NLCS home runs against the Cardinals. Delgado has four in these playoff series alone.

Tonight will feature a rematch from game one, with Tom Glavine going up against Jeff Weaver. Historically, Glavine has not done well coming off three days rest. With any luck, rain will prevent the game from being played tonight. This would give Glavine a badly needed extra day off, and hopefully he can help the Mets take control of the series.

One thing is for sure, there will be a game six, and the Mets will play at home again.

LETS GO METS!