New York Mets

Mets manager Jerry Manuel moved Jose Reyes from his typical leadoff spot into the no. 3 hole in the lineup six games ago, and since then the Mets have not lost a game going a perfect 6-0.

How much of that is due to Reyes? Well here are some of his numbers: 6 G, 22 AB, 7 R, 6 H, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 RBI, 2 BB, 3 SO, 2 SB, .273 BA, .333 OBP, .409 SLG, .742 OPS.

R.A. Dickey pitched a one-hit shutout for the Mets’ Triple-A affiliate in Buffalo. He gave up a hit to the first batter and then retired the next 27 in a row.

After the first batter, Dickey pitched a perfect game, and only needed 90 pitches to do it.

“I felt like I could throw another nine (innings) right now and have the same result,” Dickey said. “That’s a good feeling.”

Grade: A

Matt Capps (Nationals): 3-for-3 in save opportunities, Capps has been the best closer in the game. Possibly the biggest steal in all drafts, Capps added nine strikeouts while not allowing a run. I am not sure if you should sell high at this point or keep the stud on your team: I’ll let you be the judge.

It has been well documented by now, that the New York Mets are red hot.

John Maine was supposed to be a big part of the Mets rotation this season. General manager Omar Minaya said as much this offseason as he skipped out on signing any free agent starters and elected to stand pat with what he had. However, after Maine’s second start of the season it was abundantly clear that he might not be the pitcher they thought he was.

When Chris Iannetta hit the tenth-inning homer off of Jenrry Mejia to seal a 6-5 win for the Rockies and a fourth straight loss for the Mets, Flushing fans were conceding the season all over the Internet.

On April 14.

They split the next four to sit at 4-8 on April 18. They lost the first four series of the year.

Fifteen days later, the Mets are in first place. They just finished their best homestand in 20 years. They swept the Dodgers for the first time since 1995.

Everything gloomy two weeks ago suddenly shines.

On Aug. 16, 1969, New York's most beloved team, the New York Mets, beat the victory-challenged expansion San Diego Padres in the first game of a 10-game home stand.

At the time, the third-place Mets trailed the division-leading Chicago Cubs by nine games.

On Aug. 24, the Mets completed the home stand by defeating the Los Angeles Dodgers. It was New York's ninth victory in the 10 games.

Just some thoughts after the Mets finished up their series with the LA Dodgers.

1. Home Sweet Home.

The New York Mets finished a tremendous homestand at 9-1. That is quite the accomplishment no matter who you are playing. This is only the third time in the teams history that they have finished a ten game home stand with a 9-1 record.

2. 1st Place

Yes, thats right, the New York Mets are in first place. They used the 9-1 homestand to go from last place to first place in the National League East . You have to love baseball. Anything can happen.

In Tuesday night's New York Mets game against the reeling Los Angeles Dodgers, Hisanori Takahashi came in relief of Oliver Perez, tossing 3.1 innings of two-hit, one-run baseball, while striking out five Dodgers.

Takahashi has the looks of a strike-out machine, fanning 21 hitters in 14.1 innings. While allowing only 11 hits, he has also issued 10 free passes, all good for an ERA of 3.77.