In honor of Lost finally returning to my life last Thursday (okay, I'm a few days behind reality), and the Mets finally finding a way to get a couple of hits in a row in the 4th inning of yesterday's game against the Braves, here are some other people and things who have been lost and/or found....

1.  LOST:  My computer.  The bastards at HP have had this thing for the past 3 weeks and my loaner barely does word processing.  Hence, the dearth of posts.

2.  LOST:   Jose Reyes.  Last April Reyes hit .356 with 17 stolen bases and 26 runs.  So far, he's hitting .237 with 5 stolen bases and 13 runs.  I haven't been able to catch any games lately due to Lost item #1, but from what I have read it seems like he can't get the ball out of the infield.  Can't someone make up some more handshakes with the guy?  I know they're all probably sick of the tens of handshakes they have to memorize for Jose, but it's worth it.  (Though, to be fair, at least Reyes isn't as bad as Troy Tulowitzki, who's hitting a mere .157... that's basically a county away from the wrong side of the Mendoza line.)

3.  LOST:  John McCain's priorities.  Actually, wait, can you lose something you've never had?? (Sorry, I know I shouldn't talk about politics, but I just...can't... resist.)

4.  FOUND:  Carlos Delgado (hopefully).  Knocking two out of the park against John Smoltz is a great way to silence your critics, Carlos. And for the record, this whole "curtain call controversy" is beyond me.  If you're going to boo a player for a month straight, don't expect him to jump up and pound his fist in the air when you finally stop.  Carlos Delgado is not Armando Benitez, Braden Looper, or Mo Vaughn - he's a leader (see:  him talking to Heilman in the dugout on Saturday), and he gives a shit about the team.  End of rant.

5.  LOST:  My fellow Metworkers and likely the readership of this blog.

6.  LOST:  Ramon Castro.  No, really, where is he? Don't get me wrong, Raul Casanova had a great game yesterday, but I'm genuinely concerned for Ramon's well-being. Come back, Ramon, I miss hearing the Imperial Death March.  The last I heard of him, he was in "extended spring training" working on his hamstring, but I'm beginning to think that "extended spring training" is on the same farm that my parents brought my old dog Sam when I was 6. 

7.  FOUND:  A little less hatred for Chipper Jones after reading this.  Larry said if he could take back one comment he made in his entire career, it would be saying that the Mets fans could go ahead and put on their Yankee gear.  Thanks, Chip!  We appreciate your apology 9 years later.  I do find it surprising, however, that Larry wouldn't take back whatever comment he said that got that Hooters waitress to bang him.  I feel like that's probably had a bigger impact on his life than talking smack about Mets fans, but who am I to judge?

(Yes, I will continue to bring up the Hooters-waitress-adultery-thing every time I talk about Larry Jones both on the Internet and in real life because it's such a hilarious cliche.  I guarantee you I can fit it into every conversation in which Chipper comes up.  Seriously, try me.)

So the Metwork had been very quiet in the offseason months... I took some finals, watched my fantasy football team suck, and eagerly awaited the 2008 season. 

October:  As I may have mentioned before, I stayed away from anything that would show baseball.  Halloween was ruined, as I couldn't dress up as any baseball character without hearing it from someone (although, in retrospect, Jose Canseco could have worked..).  When approached by a Phillies' fan about the Mets collapse, I replied with my favorite clever retort - "Yeah, well here's an interesting fact, the Mets won as many post season games as the Phillies did!"  This was usually met with sympathetic laughter, as it was not nearly as clever as I thought it was.

November:  When we all went around the table saying what we were thankful for, I said that I was thankful that Guillermo Mota would not not be a Met next season.  And that there is no way Jose Reyes could have a worse month than he had in September.  My family was not pleased at my "frivolous" priorities.  I was not pleased with the lack of home-made pumpkin pie.

December:  I asked Santa for Johan Santana and a bicycle.  Instead Andy Petite admitted to using HGH.  Not everything I asked for, but better than the Christmas I got the gift certificate for a make-over.  How are you supposed to take that??

January:  January 29 - You know what happened, I know what happened.  Finally the Mets pulled the trigger.  Santa delivered on his promise.  I really liked Gomez, I did.  I love speed, so he's my type of player.  But the fact that the Mets didn't have to give up F-Mart is beyond amazing.  Also, I skied in West Virginia.  There were mullets, but there were also $3 Miller Lights.  And a girl in front of us for the lift pass named Channel.  Seriously.  Channel.  In West Virginia.

February:  After days of making me sweat and using up all my cell minutes, Santana was signed until 2013.  That's truly all I remember about February - the rest was spent trying to recover from those 72 hours of tense horror.

March:  I went to Thailand and pontificated on the virtues of baseball over rugby to drunk Australians.  I drafted my fantasy team and managed to have no Phillies, Braves, or Yankees on my team.  I tried to forget about 2007.  That first pitch on March 31st nearly did it for me. 

Thank god baseball season is back. 

Tonight the Mets kicked the crap out of the Marlins, 13-0.  I won't lie, I didn't catch any of this game past the third inning and it's a little too late to watch the replay on MLB.tv, so I'll just do my best...

- Carlos Beltran went 3-4, with 2 runs scored.  He is apparently the only offensive contributor to my fantasy team, so thanks for that Carlos.  Beltran hit one off the top of the wall in the 5th that was initially ruled a home run, but then was overruled to be called a ground rule double.

- David Wright was 3-5 with a 3-run homerun.  Everyone joined in on the fun tonight - every starting position player had a hit and Ryan Church contributed big time by going 3-5 and notching his first homer as a Met.

- Oliver Perez limited the Marlins to 5 hits through 6 innings while striking out 8... almost making me forget that Pedro will be out 4-6 weeks for the hamstring injury.  Almost.

The Phillies have yet to win a game and are in last place... just saying.  Yes, Tim Redding (who??) one-hit the Phillies tonight and outpitched Cole Hamels.  The Nationals are in first place at 3-0, so it might be time to start preparing for the apocalypse.  I know it's the third game of the season, but still.... I just think it's always good to be ready and pick up some canned foods and freeze dried ice cream. 

Tonight the Mets beat the Marlins 7-2 on OPENING DAY.  Did you find yourself wishing the Mets had this run production on September 29th of last year?  Because I sure did.  I swear.. 2007 is like herpes... you might temporarily forget about it, you might try to suppress it, but it always comes back to haunt you.

- Also, did anyone notice that JOHAN SANTANA was wearing a Mets jersey tonight?  It was unreal.  Santana went 7 innings and struck out 8.  Other than the Willingham 2 run HR he seemed untouchable.

- Heilman was back to his old self, shutting down the Marlins in the 9th with two strikeouts. 

- My God.  Could the polos in the announcers' booth be any worse?  I was watching the game with friends and was embarrassed by what SNY was making Gary, Keith, and Ron wear.  Come on.  Let them put on a suit.

- David Wright was 2-4 with 3 RBI.  Carlos Beltran, aka, man of terrible haircut but great away from Shea numbers, was 2-5.  Jose Reyes who was SAFE despite being called out stealing in the 6th inning, was 2-4. 

Thank god baseball is back.  Tomorrow I will let you all know what I was doing this off season.  It won't be pretty, but then again, neither is Dolphin Stadium.