Ray of Nope

So I've got a few laments for today

I'm lamenting the likely end of Nelson Figueroa's Mets career
(he wasn't exactly helped by his defense)

I'm lamenting the hiring of Mike D'Antoni over Mark Jackson
(Though I've abandoned my gut reaction of "I won't watch" in favor of "Let's see..."

And I'm lamenting that the Mets don't play the Rays this year.

We've got interleague play coming up on Friday, and the team we're playing first is the team that's lost two straight to Tampa Bay heading into Wednesday, including Tuesday's game, which featured what I'm guessing was the biggest walk-off celebration in Rays history.

I like interleague play. I think it's cool and different, and I like the randomness of the opponents. But there's a glitch in the system somewhere.

The Mets played the Rays in each of the first four years of interleague play (the highlight of which, as I was reminded by a colleague yesterday, was Esteban Yan's HR in his first career at-bat) but haven't played them since 2001. Meanwhile, the Mets will play the Mariners, for the third time in the last six years, later this season.

Now granted, the Mets are probably better off facing a Seattle team that is 15-26 rather than the best team in the AL East, but that still doesn't make any sense. By the time the Scott Kazmir revenge thing comes full circle with his first Mets meeting, he may be pitching for someone else (once free agency sets in), and I'd actually like to get that over with sooner rather than later.

For all we know, this could be the season that the Rays go from 69 wins (actually 66 in 2007) to '69 Mets, and I'd like to get an in-person look without having to go to the Bronx. It's not exactly Seaver-Koosman, but I've seen enough of James Shields and Kazmir on TV to observe that they're a pretty decent 1-2 punch. Their bullpen is pretty good and their lineup is young and promising. They have my stamp of approval, even if they only finish .500, which would be the best mark in team history. I have seen the Ray of hope for them, but at least for this season with the Mets, unless both are still playing in October, it's a Ray of nope.

True Metba Bays know...Tuesday's win marked the 75th walk-off win in Rays history, and the 6th to come against the Yankees. None have come against the Mets.