Why is Ryan Church with the team?

I understand that Ryan Church wants to be with his teammates, with his friends, as they move through the season. But Church is still coming back from migraines and a concussion.

He's taking unnecessary plane flights around the country and the Mets don't seem ready to have him start his rehab assignment any time soon. He's been diagnosed with migraines and cleared to start playing baseball again, but so far he's only taken batting practice and done some throwing.

Two scenarios could be in place here: In one, the Mets are feeding the media bad information on Church, who might not actually be ready to play. Could be just a ploy to keep fans waiting and not screaming for a trade or promotion in his absence. The other could be that they just don't want anything to backfire and they're taking this time around extra careful.

For the sake of the organization, I hope it's the latter, but every time he travels with the team and isn't heading to Port St. Lucie to work out and rehab, I get a little bit more suspicious.

Church was supposed to stay in Florida after the Marlins series, go to the Mets facilities and begin working out on his path back to the Mets. Those plans were scrapped and he traveled to Houston with the team.

After Houston, I figured he would go back to Florida and start. Now Church is coming all the way back to New York. Why? I don't know.

The Mets need Church to get right, and if they keep dragging him all across the country and blocking him from starting his rehab assignment, I don't know what they're thinking.

Early Morning Madness: Lifeless edition

Flat. Dead fish. No oomph. Nada. Zip. Zilch.

This team looks dead. It has no spark, no fight. What we saw nearly three weeks ago, the 10 game winning streak, feels like it happened months ago. Such an abrupt fall from grace. After battling back strong, getting within a few games and finally taking over sole possession of first place, the Mets have fallen back to reality, hard.

A 1-5 road trip, one marked by bullpen disaster after bullpen disaster, was not easy to swallow. Almost every game, it seemed the Mets had a chance. Even Sunday's game, where they had men on base and threatening nearly every inning, but failed to push across any runs.

This team needs a spark. Maybe the youth infusion could do it. I'd love to see Jerry Manuel pull out all the stops and stock the lineup full of these young guns. Throw Nick Evans in left, Daniel Murphy at first. Argenis Reyes can man second base. Eddie Kunz can close. While we're at it...have Jon Niese start and Fernando Martinez in right (or left, and move Evans. It doesn't matter).

I like the way the team is moving. Instead of promoting the old guys hanging around at AAA, it's moving towards getting younger and healthier. There will be a bit of a learning curve, there is no doubt about that. But these kid are young and fresh and ready to go. If they're chomping at the bit, let them run.

TSTDIA: Astros 4 -- Mets 0

More offensive wasted opportunities. Another loss. A sweep at the hands of the Astros. A 1-5 road trip. Mets could be three games out of first by the end of tonight.

What else is there to say?

Not good news: John Maine to DL, Billy Wagner injured

Doom and gloom from Adam Rubin:

John Maine is going to the DL. Jerry Manuel said he didn’t have a setback, but could use more time. The Mets needed an extra bullpen arm anyway because Billy Wagner is injured and unavailable. Wagner has a stiff forearm and will be examined in New York.

Looks like the wheels are coming off this season in a hurry. Injuries are starting to pile up and the offense has started to look flat.

The Mets need a run of a few wins here before things get worse.

Rubin also notes that Eddie Kunz could close today if needed.

Movin' on up: Eddie Kunz called up to the bigs

The youth movement continues.

Binghamton closer Eddie Kunz was promoted to the Mets. Kunz is 1-4 with a 2.79 ERA, tallying 27 saves for the B-Mets.

I called it. Well, so did a lot of people. Will update when we know who is getting demoted or heading to the DL to make room.

Update: John Maine is heading the DL. Kunz will take his spot.

The Mets need to call up Eddie Kunz

If the Mets were unsure whether or not to call up AA pitching prospect Eddie Kunz before last night's game, they must know what they have to do now.

Short of the bullpen staff making a sign that read "Omar, promote Kunz now! (Hi Mom!)," they could not send a clearer sign to the front office that they need help. They need reinforcements, and they need them now.

I think it's time for the Mets to wise up and send Duaner Sanchez to the DL. His velocity seems to be dropping with every appearance. The newest Met, Daniel Murphy, saved his butt with a beautiful jumping grab at the wall and eventual double play, or the game might not have gotten to Billy Wagner (not that it mattered, because Wagner blew the save anyway).

Sanchez, who spent a year and a half out of baseball rehabbing his injured shoulder, seems to have hit a wall. It makes sense, as he hasn't thrown this much in two years and his stamina just isn't there. It works on the same reasoning that the Mets don't want Mike Pelfrey to top 180 innings.

Pelfrey's arm is young and fresh, but it's not used to throwing this much. Same thing with Sanchez. The promotion of Kunz would give Sanchez precious time off to both rest his arm and strengthen it.

Both games in Houston have seen a bullpen implosion, costing the Mets the game. A move needs to be made, and promoting internally is the only way to do it. The bullpen market is slim and the player would have to pass through waivers as it is.

Promote Kunz now.

TSTDIA: Astros 5 -- Mets 4

All you need to know is that Johan Santana pitched great and the bullpen absolutely imploded again.

I really feel bad for Johan. This must be his 243904809 no decision this season (a rough estimate).

And the Mets move back to third place.