The Mets Need a Hero, and That Hero is a 'Little Grouch' Named Trot Nixon

All right, so maybe the Mets aren't expecting Trot Nixon to be a hero and save Willie Randolph's job along with the Mets playoff chances. Rather, simply a guy who will prevent the Mets from bringing up a catcher whenever Moises Alou goes on the disabled list ... as they've traded for Nixon to fill holes in the outfield created by injuries to Alou and Ryan Church.

"Everything that I've heard about the guy is that he's a gamer," general manager Omar Minaya said.

That word -- "gamer" -- was the first out of Pedro Martinez's mouth, too. The two played together for seven years with the Red Sox, and won a World Series title in 2004.

"I'll tell you what," Martinez said. "He can play for my team any day." (...) "He looks like a little grouch all the time, but in reality, he's a great person," Martinez said. "A good family man."

While the Mets roster has been grouchy lately, gamers seem to be in short supply in Flushing ... and Nixon is certainly a gamer. He's also a guy who went five for 11 in last season's playoffs for Cleveland, and has been known for a key playoff moment or two in his time with the Red Sox. Unfortunately, the Mets need to make the playoffs first. That's a tall order even for a gamer.