The Mets started the second half of their season with a huge road trip, beginning with four games in St. Louis. After splitting four games with the Yankees, the Mets were looking to get some kind of positive momentum going for the first time this season. They took on the surprising, hustling Cards. They’re a mini Gashouse Gang, but instead of Dizzy, Daffy, Frankie, Leo, Rip, Ducky and Pepper, they have Skip, Braden, Todd, Troy, Kyle, Joel and Brendan. Ok, they sound more like members of the Greenwich Yacht Club than the Gashouse Gang.

Monday, Cardinals 7-1: Sleepy in St. Louis

Take bad pitching, bad fielding and no hitting, mix it up, and what do you get? Another tired, lifeless loss. The Mets keep coming up with these types of sleepy, sloppy losses where they’re out of the game early and never come close to making a comeback. John Maine just didn’t have it in this one. He only made it through four innings, and gave up five runs (three earned). The defense made three errors behind him, and the offense could only scratch out one unearned run. Once Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez start taking calls to the booth even they know the Mets are toast. And Keith almost starts crying every time he talks about how beautiful the Cardinals uniforms are. Separated at birth: Brian Barton and Snoop Dog.

Tuesday, Mets 7-4: The “Good” Mets Show Up

The Mets have taken on the persona of Oliver Perez. There’s “Good” Ollie and “Bad” Ollie. Well, it’s the same thing with the team as a whole. Monday’s game saw the “Bad” Mets come out to play, and on Tuesday the “Good” Mets showed up. Tony Armas, Jr. hung in there after getting hit hard early to pitch six innings, letting in four runs. The offense banged out 14 hits, hit with runners in scoring position, drove in two-out runs and even knocked in some add-on runs. Ramon Castro went two for four and drove in three. David Wright had three hits, including a home run, and Carlos Delgado also belted three hits. Billy Wagner picked up his 19^th save. Duaner Sanchez got creamed by a line drive, but lived to tell about it.

Wednesday, Cardinals 8-7: The Mets Still Can’t Come From Behind

The Mets almost had a come-from-behind victory, but Pedro Feliciano and Carlos Muniz made sure it didn’t happen, when they gave up dingers to Chris Duncan and a walk-off job to Troy Glaus. They still haven’t won when losing by three or more runs during a game. The 46-minute rain delay didn’t dampen their bats, though, as they recorded 15 hits, with Damion Easley (three RBIs), Jose Reyes and David Wright notching three hits apiece. Pedro Martinez looked great in the second, third and fourth innings. Unfortunately, the first and fifth innings count too, when he coughed up five runs. His ERA is now approaching my cholesterol level. Reyes made another throwing error―is he catching Wright’s throwing disease? Whenever Carlos Beltran strikes out looking against St. Louis, it just makes you cringe, doesn’t it?

Thursday, Mets 11-1: Even Steven

Like the “Seinfeld” episode where Jerry discovers he’s Even Steven, the Mets find themselves in the same situation―lose one, win one, lose one, win one. That may be great for Jerry but it makes you a .500 team in baseball. In this one, the Mets took batting practice during the game, pounding out 11 runs on 10 hits (that’s 39 hits in the last three games). Jose Reyes tied Mookie Wilson’s club record for career triples when he belted a bases-loaded three-bagger (the 62^nd of his career). Carlos Delgado blasted a two-run homer. And Mike Pelfrey knocked in his first career run with a bases-loaded single. On the mound, Pelfrey impressed yet again, going seven innings and only allowing one run. So the Mets split a four-game series yet again. They head to Philadelphia for another four-game matchup, once again looking for some momentum and having a great chance to gain some ground on the Phillies. Luis Castillo will have to watch from home (most likely sitting in a rocking chair with a blanket over his lap), as he was finally put on the DL.