Monday provided a double whammy to the Mets: A typically superb Johan Santana was betrayed once again by a lack of run support in an 8-3 loss to the Braves while Carlos Delgado‘s hip condition turned ominously serious. Colleague Joel Sherman writes that the lack of run support for Santana borders on the criminal.

The Mets were handcuffed by Derek Lowe, who had been one of their offseason targets before — oops — they signed Oliver Perez.

In the notes, Ryan Church is once again getting accustomed to Jerry Manuel‘s doghouse.