No Way, Jose

I think the Mets have learned their lesson. At least, I hope that they have.

After getting pounded for 7 runs (5 earned) in 3 innings, Lima was taken out of Friday night's game against the Marlins and then taken out of the league.

This man, Mr. Jose "Lima Time" Lima, just doesn't have it any more. That isn't to say that he ever truly had it.

Wait! Wait! I know what some of you Lima Time apologists are thinking. This guy won 21 games in 1999, as a member of the Houston Astros.

That is, in fact, true. However, what seems to be more and more clear about Mr. Lima is that he's a so-so pitcher with a lot of flair and the occassional hot streak. For his career, he's 13 games under .500.

This is the man who has lost 16 games in a season, not once, but twice. This is the same man who's had not one, but two separate stints with both Kansas City and Detroit (I'm not sure if you can remember back when Detroit was bad, but those were his years).

Career era? Just under 6, and batters hit a Hank Blalock-esque .287 off of him for his career. So, all in all, not too good. In fact, pretty bad.

It's a miracle, as far as I'm concerned, that he's ever even made it this far. A righty with average stuff to last over 12 years in the bigs, that's more than impressive. So, for longevitity, we will applaud Joey's efforts. But that's all.

Joseph started his career in Detroit, in his first major league season he was tagged for 10 runs in 6.2 innings. Most likely, his career ended in New York, after Dontrelle Willis took a first pitch fastball 405 feet for a grandslam. While Willis may be a good hitter, for a pitcher, he still is, without doubt, a pitcher.

If there is one more round of Lima Time, somewhere in the majors, we wish him the best of luck. But, GMs beware, this guy isn't and really hasn't ever been, any good.