Looking at Matt Cerrone's injury update this morning, it's just amazing how shorthanded we have suddenly become in the last three days, and at the worst of all times, going into a day-after-night rubber match against the Braves.

Let's get one thing straight. It would be great to beat the Braves right now. I can't be sure that losing this series would be a big dent to the team's emotional state, but I can be sure that losing today would be salt on the wounds of mets fans. And this team is feeding off of the enthusiasm and confidence of the flushing faithful, so even if it's not direct, I fear the hidden damage of a loss today.

If we expect this to be our year, or at least our best year in a while, we need to compete with the Braves. And this is as good a shot as we'll get at them. They starting pitchers are cold and erratic. Chipper and Edgar are on the DL. We're playing them at Shea and we're playing with confidence.

Now who do we have available to put on the field today? Most of our bats. But the outfield is suddenly looking like a bunch of spare parts. Why is Victor Diaz in Norfolk? Why can't he come up? Aren't there ways around this? I know we don't want to put Beltran on the DL... but how about a strange wrist problem befalling Jose Valentin? Do we need him that bad? Woody can play second and Woody deserves some AB's.

And that brings me to one question that has really been nagging at me: just why are we seeing so much of Jose Valentin? Is there something we don't know that the scouts do? Did Valentin beat Minaya at poker or win some bet? Can't he just get hurt so we can get some VD in left?

If not, I say throw Lo Duca out there in left and start Castro. Castro's bat hasn't been too shabby since he's worn the blue and orange, and the Reyes/Lo Duca combo is becoming more Dykstra/Backman every day. Well, ok, Jose AIN'T Dykstra, but you get my drift.