Flushing, NY (My Sportsbook) - It was one ugly weekend for the New York Mets.

First, the team sat around for over three hours before its Saturday game with the Arizona Diamondbacks was officially declared a rainout. This set up a Sunday doubleheader with the struggling desert dwellers. With a veteran like Tom Glavine tossing Game 1 of the twinbill against Brandon Webb, a rookie making his first major league start, one would figure this was a good opportunity for the Mets to secure at least a split. Further examination of the schedule would indicate the Mets had better win the first game, since Arizona's Randy Johnson was coming off the disabled list to hurl in Game 2. New York was opposing Johnson with Jae Seo, making it even more imperative for the Mets to grab Game 1.

As it turned out, the Mets were brutal for 18 innings. New York made eight errors and struck out 27 times before the seemingly-eternal afternoon was over.

In the first game, a 6-1 loss, Glavine (3-2, 3.60 ERA), was ineffective for the first time since Opening Day. He also made his first error since 1999. Mo Vaughn went 0-3 with a pair of strikeouts. Vaughn also made an error when he dropped a routine throw from Glavine on a comebacker. The miscue opened the floodgates in a two-run Arizona fifth inning that proved to be the difference.

While Glavine was floundering for the home team, Webb was mowing down the Mets. The neophyte tossed seven scoreless innings and struck out 10 while walking just one. Webb yielded only three hits.

In Game 2, Johnson gave up nine hits over six innings, but the Mets managed only two runs. Again, errors were plentiful.

"The only good thing about today [is] it's over with," manager Art Howe said.

What went wrong with the Mets this past Sunday? It would take less time to detail what went right. Seo pitched pretty well and nobody was seriously hurt, that pretty much sums up the positives.

Now, some ominous signs from this past weekend.

HOWE DO I USE THE BULLPEN?: Howe made some moves with his pitchers that just left the observer scratching his head. First, he brings in David Weathers, who has been overworked thus far, into Game 1 with the Mets trailing 6-0. This made no sense. Then in the nightcap, Howe brought Armando Benitez into the game in the ninth inning with the Mets trailing 4-2. Benitez has heard boos this entire season, and was finally coming around after saving three straight games. There was nothing to gain by marching him out there against the D-Backs and everything to lose. As it turned out, Mark Grace launched a three-run homer off Benitez, and he left the mound to a chorus of boos. So much for trying to build this guy's confidence.

HOW MUCH MONEY CAN SIT ON THE BENCH?: Roger Cedeno has already been sent to the bench, and now it's time for Vaughn to take a seat right next to him. Vaughn is making $14 million this season and is scheduled to make $17 million next year. This has been enough to keep him on the field so far, but Tony Clark is making a case for playing time. Clark has eight hits and four homers in 27 at-bats this season. He's much better than Vaughn with the glove and he's also been better with the bat.

COMING UP

The Mets kick off a six-game road trip with a stop in St.Louis on Tuesday night. Al Leiter (3-0, 2.35) takes on the Cards' Matt Morris (1-2, 2.45) in a classic mound duel to open the three-game set. Wednesday, Pedro Astacio (1-0, 3.00) toes the rubber against Woody Williams (3-0, 0.69). Thursday, Steve Trachsel (0-0, 3.00) goes against Brett Tomko (0-1, 0.64).