Dear Mets and Mike Pelfrey,

Wanna start converting some skeptics into believers? Beat the best pitcher in the National League tonight.

Your opponent, lifetime at Shea:

4 starts, 2 wins, 1 loss (a 2-1 affair in which Victor Zambrano went deep, throwing the game of his life), 29 innings pitched, 29 strikeouts, 5 walks, 18 hits, 1 earned run.

Brandon Webb's earned run average in those four Shea outings: 0.31

This year overall, Webb is 11-2, toting a 2.58 ERA and wielding a WHIP of barely more than 1.

Alou isn't available (the sun shifted imperceptibly this afternoon, requiring Moises to undergo an MRI). Chris Aguila is apparently up, Abraham Nuñez undeniably down. The Mets are riding 'round in a hole in the ground.

Want us to believe you're worth believing in tomorrow? Beat Brandon Webb or at least his team tonight.

Cordially,

F.U. in Flushing

F.U., of course, stands for Fired Up.