Pre Game Junk

The first pitch for tonight's game at San Diego is scheduled for 3 am, my time. Frankly, it'll be easier getting up at 3 to listen than it would be staying up until three for a home night game...

In any event, whilst there is time to kill, shall we point out for the trillionth time that not only is Piazza facing his auld team but so is Xavier Nady?

Nady, who never found a permanent niche in San Diego, is batting .373 with four homers and eight RBIs, ranking among the National League leaders in batting and slugging.

Piazza is batting .231 with 1 homer and 4 RBIs in 10 games.

Mike Cameron, acquired for Nady, starts his rehab assignment at Class A Lake Elsinore on Friday night.

And looking even further ahead, Armandogeddon is coming off the DL just in time for the Mets visit to Steroid Stadium.

Other bits and bobs:

The Onion had time to pan Pedro on Pedro's Success...

A review of the Brief History of Closer Music...(complete with audio for the unfamiliar tunes...)

Tonight's Padre pitcher, Jake Peavy (1-2, 5.50 ERA) is 3-1 with a 3.55 record against the Mets in six career starts.

In 16 career starts against the Padres, Trachsel is 6-8 with a 5.61 ERA.

******

Friday: Mets (Brian Bannister, 2-0, 2.50 ERA) at Padres (Woody Williams, 1-0, 4.50 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Saturday: Mets (Pedro Martinez, 3-0, 3.66 ERA) at Padres (Chris Young, 2-0, 2.95 ERA), 10:05 p.m. ET
• Sunday: Mets (Victor Zambrano, 1-1, 4.82 ERA) at Padres (Clay Hensley, 0-1, 6.00 ERA), 4:05 p.m. ET

*****

The Army's prediction is that the Mets take 3 of 4 in San Diego to bounce back...after all, other than the Red Sox, we've still got the best record in baseball.