Feels Like a Slap in the Face

So Jose Reyes is no longer batting leadoff for the New York Mets. He is no longer with the only franchise he has known since he was 17. He is now the newest signing of the newly named, newly rich Miami Marlins.

I had a feeling this day would come, and at times I even suggested that I would be ok with it. I feel like I have said it so many times - the Mets were in a shitty situation with Reyes. If he re-signed, his next tenure was bound to be destroyed by injuries. If he left, his tenure with his new team was bound to be highly successful. Simply put, we were damned if we do, damned if we don't.

But now that I sit here knowing that Reyes is officially leaving Flushing, I can't help but be a little sad. Not only does this symbolize the end of a once promising era, but it pretty much signifies the start of our rebuilding process. I thought that we could possibly win 80 games in 2012 and 2013...but now I think we are headed for 65 wins over the next two years (at least). Oh, and I think we trade David Wright. I know Sandy said that Reyes' status did not affect Wright's status, but come on...it obviously does.

I understand that this fan base, which can be hot and cold with players, had it's low moments with Jose Reyes. I understand that he might have been frustrated with the fans and I fully believe that players don't owe anything to the fans, but this just feels like a slap in the face. Jose, it's ok that you wanted to get paid, but to go to the Marlins, an inter-division team, is just insulting. I get that they have a new stadium and new direction. I get that Miami is close to the Caribbean, but come on. The Mets gave you the opportunity to make it to the big leagues. The Mets stuck with you when you were constantly hurt. The Mets were willing to pay you pretty decent money...and yet, it wasn't good enough. You went to the Marlins. the only worse teams would have been the Phils, Yanks and Braves. Come on, Jose.

Weird Times for this Mets Fan

For the second straight year, the Mets are pretending to be more like the Oakland A's than the New York Yankees. Instead of continuing to spend like we are a team in the country's biggest market, we are again scouring the bargain bin for players who might contribute more than they cost. Obviously it is a necessary exercise - I mean, this team and franchise has been an absolute mess over the past few years - but one that I know I am still getting used to. I like to think that I am one of the more rational fans of the team, but even I won't be fully comfortable with an off-season haul in 2012 like that of 2011 (Chris Capuano, Chris Young, Ronnie Paulino, Willie Harris, Taylor Buchholz).

All the rumors I am reading is that not only will Jose Reyes sign elsewhere, but that the money we won't be paying him won't be put into other big name free agents. Going into last year, all we heard was that 2011 would be a lost year and that 2012 was the year we should be excited for. After all, the team would have a lot of money coming off the books (Beltran, Reyes, Perez, Castillo, K-Rod) and we would be able to reinvest the money into other free agents (that of course, would be better scouted than in the previous era). However, with the recent financial troubles of the Wilpon's, it is quite clear that 2012 will not be a reloading year, but rather another rebuilding year. Instead of filling in the gaps around Ike, Wright, Niese and Duda with high priced veterans who might help us win 90 games, Sandy Alderson is resigned to build around those guys with young, unproven guys with potential. It is certainly a smart move for the long run, but in the short term, it is a weird place to be in. After all, it's looking more and more like our 2012 season might be lost as well. From what I can tell, Sandy is going to bring in guys with something to prove on 1 or 2 year deals to help the team remain semi-competitive and then look for 2013/2014 to be the years we make the playoffs again.

From what I am reading on metsblog.com, the team is looking to spend about $8-$10 million on the bullpen. Instead of buying a few arms for middle relief and giving Bobby Parnell the closer spot, it looks like they might be looking at a guy like Joe Nathan, Matt Capps or Francisco Cordero. They are also looking for a few arms to compete for the 5th starters spot behind Johan, Dickey, Niese and Pelf. Dillon Gee, the team leader in wins in 2011, is certainly the guy right now, but you don't know what you will get out Johan and you don't know what version of Pelf you will get. Chris Young might be back from injury, and Jason Marquis might be brought in as a #3 or #4, but there will be no big name guys coming in. It also appears that the Mets will tender Angel Pagan as he is cheaper than the alternative (I still think someone like Grady Sizemore might certainly fit Sandy's idea of a signing with a lot of upside, but who knows) so again, no big names coming in.

Ultimately, we don't know who will be signed (tons of players will be linked with the Mets this offseason), but this much I do know: there will be no Prince Fielder. No Albert Pujols. No CJ Wilson. No Big Papi. No Buehrle. Probably no Jose Reyes. We will probably open up the season with Davis, Murphy, Tejada and Wright in the infield with Duda, Pagan and Bay in the outfield. Johan might not be ready, so it might be RA Dickey throwing to Josh Thole.

While I have talked myself into believing in Tejada, Thole, Pagan and Duda, this team certainly could use some upgrades at those positions (I don't include LF because I have not talked myself into believing in Jason Bay). Those upgrades won't be coming this year. So instead, we as fans will need this team to be exciting. We will need them to work hard every day. We will need to see them show some heart. If we win 75 games again yet are successful in all of those, then I can be content with another lost season. After all, a future with Zach Wheeler, Matt Harvey, Jon Niese and Jenry Mejia in our rotation is not that far away. With that foundation in place, the Mets can then again show some of their big city muscle and overpay for those 1-2 players that will improve the team from 92 to 98 wins rather than flexing it to improve from 75 to 83 wins.

Monday Morning Brain Dump

Another great sports weekend has passed and instead of having a longish entry about something that has got my attention, I am going to post another list of my random thoughts. Sometimes I really feel like I should be on Twitter as most of my thoughts are no longer than 140 characters long. However, I'm fairly certain that would be a disaster, so I am going to continue with the list format. Hope there is something in there for ya.

• Let's start off with the biggest game of the weekend - defending Patriot League champions Bucknell @ Minnesota. The Bison have three really big non-conference games this year: Minnesota, Vanderbilt and Syracuse. Out of the three, this was certainly the most winnable game, but you never know what will happen in the first game of the season - either team could lay an egg. After 34 minutes, it was looking like Minnesota was going to be that team as they trailed the Bison by 7. Even after a 6-0 run over the next 2 minutes, the Bison still led by 1 with 3:28 left. I'm not sure what happened over the remaining time, but the Gophers outscored the Bison 20-7 to walk away with a 12 point home win. How does one team score 20 points in three and a half minutes? Man, what a choke job by the Bison. I had really hoped we could get the win. Ok, I know that is obvious, but besides getting a road win against a major conference team, I was just hoping to see them bounce back from their crushing loss to UConn last March.
  
  I didn't get to see any highlights, but in looking at the box score, a two things are apparent. First, they have no depth. Their starting five looks very strong, but after that, there is not much to be said. My boy Timmy says that sophomore Ryan Hill might be a nice surprise after coming off an injury, but I legitimately have never heard of 5 of the 6 guys on the bench. Second, Muscala, who shot 2-10 from the field, can still get his points and rebounds (12/11) even on off nights. I think he will definitely win the league POY award.
  
  
• On to my other alma mater, UW, who started the season as usual, with two cupcakes at home. Their non-conference schedule always amazes. Besides heavyweights georgia St and Florida Atlantic, the Huskies have Portland, St Louis, Houston Baptist (!), UC-Santa Barbara, South Dakota St and Cal St Northridge on the schedule. Ok, ok, they also have Marquette and Duke, but still...
  
  The boys escaped against FAU with a 6 point win. It wasn't impressive, but they got the job done. I think this is definitely going to be an up and down year. They definitely have tons of talent, but in losing Isaiah and MBA, they lost a lot of leadership. I think all the talent will take a while to gel and I think it will take awhile to find out who the alpha-dog is (my guess: Terrence Ross). They should enter league play 9-2 but we will definitely find out more about the team in the two losses than in any of the wins. One thing I do know: they will again be a super fun team to watch.
  
  
• Ok, on to baseball, where rumors are swirling that Jose Reyes is ready to sign with the Miami Marlins (no, that is not a typo. They changed their name, team colors and logo. I know teal and black might be early 90's, but I don't think this is any better...) for what some are saying will be a 3 year, $60 million contract. It would obviously be sad to see Reyes go to a division foe, but I think the writing is on the wall. If he really wanted to stay in NY, he could have done so. He had every opportunity to negotiate during the season (even if Sandy said he wasn't going to), but maintained that he wanted to test the Free Agent markets. Look, I get it - some people want to see if they are missing anything. Reyes has been in the Mets system since he was 17 - he liked it, but maybe there is another city that is even better. I get that, but at the same time, we all know it comes down to money with these guys, so it often seems shallow. I fully expect him to be someplace else and hope that at the very least if the Marlins do become a player in the division (um, hello...the division could be ridiculously difficult with a few moves by Flordia and Washington) that they can continue to afford their players and not have Fire Sale #3.
  
  
• The Georgia Bulldogs continued their resurgence with a 45-7 win over Auburn on Saturday. With a 6-1 conference record, they are one win against Kentucky from making the SEC title game...a huge turn around after starting 0-2. (enter commentary about how they missed playing LSU, Alabama, Arkansas this year) An amazing stat I saw during the game: the Eastern division was 5-15 against the Western division this year, with all 5 wins coming against the two Mississippi schools. With the win, Georgia gave the East it's first non-Mississippi win this year.
  
  
• The last few weeks of the college football season should be amazing. Right now, it is looking like a LSU-Oklahoma st showdown is on the horizon, but both teams still have HUGE games in front of them. For LSU, it's 6th ranked Arkansas in two weeks and then the SEC title game a week later. For OK St, it's their cross-state rival OU. If either should slip, Alabama and Oregon will be waiting. Oregon again looks nearly impossible to stop on offense, but as with all rivalry games, they need to not overlook OSU in a few weeks.
  
  
• I got to watch the entire Devils game on Saturday. After going down 2-0 in the first, they battled back to win 3-2 in shootout. I was super stoked to see them for the first time this year. The big takeaways - they still have NO scoring, even with Parise back, AND they turn the puck over WAY too much. I was honestly shocked over the number of times they made an errant pass in their own zone, only to have it stolen by the Caps. That is not the way to win games. I'm hoping it was just the rookies reaction to playing their first home-and-home series (and thus, being a little fatigued).
  
  
• I picked up Reggie Bush in fantasy this week and joked with a buddy that I hoped I was getting the Kardashian Bump. He had no idea what I was talking about (good for him - he apparently is not a terrible person like me who knows this sort of shit) and so I reminded him of the list: Kim dates Reggie - he wins a Super Bowl. Khloe marries Lamar Odom - he wins the NBA Title. Kim dates Miles Austin - he has the season of this life (ok, I looked up the dates and really they dated in the 2010 offseason after his big year, but who cares..). Kim dates and marries Kris Humphries - he goes from 4.5/3.7 over his first 6 years to 10/11 last year. Finally, rumors are spreading that Kim and Reggie were seen together before the divorce and over the past three weeks, Reggie had back to back 100 yard games and then 2 td's yesterday. I 100% believe in this. Date a Kardashian and excel at sports.
  
  
• Finally, a word on US Soccer. I am trying to give Klinsmann a long leash...I really am. I love that he is trying new guys out and I REALLY love all of the big name friendlies that he is booking. At some point though, the team has to start looking better and finishing chances. I am curious about his love for Kyle Beckerman and Orozco Fiscal, neither who I think should be playing. I just don't get why Michael Bradley isn't playing and I don't know why Mo Edu looks so bad. We have talented guys in the center of the pitch - Bradley, Edu, Jermaine Jones - but none seem to be getting a solid shot. I know Klinsmann knows more than me, but I think this has to change.
  
  Luckily, we play in a weak confederation, so if his system does need a few years to implement, we shouldn't be hurt too much. Look at our initial qualifying group - Guatemala, Jamaica and Antigua & Barbuda. I'm sorry, but I could coach them two a second place finish in order to advance to the Hex. This should give plenty of time to experiment with the newly found players (aka Germericans) Timmy Chandler, Jermaine Jones, Fabian Johnson, Danny Williams and Alfredo Morales. I have not lost hope.

Ok, on last note- congrats to my boy Irish Mike for his country's 4-0 win against Estonia on Friday. Here's hoping to another great result on Tuesday.

25th Anniversary of Buckner

Today is the 25th anniversary of Game 6 of the 1986 World Series. I got hit heavy with some flu last night so I stayed at home today resting...ESPN Classic actually had the game on, so I watched a bit when not sleeping.

The biggest takeaway is how different everything is in 2011 than it was in 1986. That sounds like an obvious comment, but wow, the technology difference is ridiculous. In 1986, if you weren't at the game, the only way to know what was going on live was to watch on tv or listen to the radio. Now you can follow along on the internet, get updates from people at the game via text and Facebook, watch the game live on your hand-held device or watch it on a 70" LCD tv. (I know I am forgetting some) Oh, and turn in mid game and want to know the score, count and inning? Well, you're gonna have to wait because it was not plastered on the screen like it is today. Nope, you have to listen to the announcer or wait for the producer to put up the count in big bold letters towards the bottom of the screen in between pitches.

I certainly felt like a caveman watching the game, but to be honest, it was kind of nice. Today we are inundated with information on a real time basis. Sometimes it is nice to take a trip back to simpler days and realize why we loved baseball so much.

After having said that, here are some other random comments about the game:

• Mustaches. I counted at least 5 for the Red Sox: Boggs, Buckner, Evans, Henderson, Rice. They were all thick and bushy
• Lack of power. The Mets started Lenny Dykstra(1), Wally Backman(2), Mookie Wilson(7) and Rafael Santana(8). In comparisno, had they made the playoffs in 2011 (assuming Carlos Beltran was not traded) they would have hit Jose Reyes, Justin Turner, Angel Pagan and Josh Thole in those same spots. Obviously I would rather have the former lineup, but it's not like they were gonna hit it out of the park.
• Do you know who led the Mets in batting with RISP in 1986? Scroll down for answer.
• You forget what a physical specimen Daryl was until you see him play again. Dude was 6'6" and yet stole 28 bases on the year and hit 27 home runs
• Vin Scully called the game. I must say I very much enjoyed the experience. In just the little that I heard, you could tell that he was a master of his craft. He was very subtle and subdued, but was amazing at painting a picture and getting his points across.
• I love the Mets Bat Boys with the number 86 and their first name on the back. I think Mike did a better job than Paul.
• It's strange watching old games knowing where the players careers would go. Clemens was on the mound and had great powerful stuff. Gooden pitched Game 5 and obviously had amazingly powerful stuff. i wonder who you would have thought would have the better career in 1986...well, we all know where they ended. Clemens won 300+ games and was considered one of the 10 best until the steroid charges hit. Gooden got into some hardcore drugs and was out of the game by 2000. He won 154 games across his first 10 seasons and 40 over his last 5.
• Both teams combined for 5 errors in the game.
• Replica jerseys were not very common in 1986. Instead, Mets fans had those awesome blue satin Starter jackets. They are classic and really a part of my definition of what it means to be a Mets fan.
  
• Also, a big trend were those blue plastic bag undershirts that some of the guys, most notably 1st base coach bill Robinson wore under their jerseys...anyone have a clue what I am talking about?
  
• I'm sorry, I know I'm probably a homer, but you cannot equal the atmosphere of Shea Stadium when the team was winning. That crowd in 1986 was amazing.
• I remember Roger McDowell as a goofball, but the guy could pitch. He had crazy stuff, and one of the greater statlines I have seen. In 196 he appeared in 75 games and pitched 128 innings, going 14-9 with 22 saves. NO ONE does that anymore.
• Wade Boggs hit leadoff for the Red Sox. That is strange to me...any idea if it was common?
• Finally, the most sobering thing - it has been 25 years since the Mets won the World Series. I know the Cubs, Mariners and Expos have had longer, but it is starting to feel like I might never seen another in the next 25 years (or in my life, but that is a little tooo dramatic)
  

Oh, and the answer from above. Danny Heap hit .404 with RISP in 1986 to lead the team. Crazy.

Damn Good Week

I think this past week ranks up there in the upper echelon of great sports weeks. First on Tuesday, I was one of 36k fans to watch the Sounders hoist the US Open Cup trophy for the third year in a row. Then on Thursday, I turned on the Yankees game right in time to watch A-Rod strike out. Seeing the faces of those Yankees fans in stunned silence was priceless. (I just wish Sterling was calling the game so I could have heard the famous "And the Yankees win. Theehehehe Yannkeeeeees win...") Then tonight was the icing on the cake. I watched the Cards hit a triple and double in the first inning off of Roy Halladay but somehow only come away with one run. I figured it wouldn't be enough, but when I turned the game on in the 8th the scoreline was unchanged. I sat nervous as the Phils came up in the 9th...and was as shocked as the Phillies' fans when they went away without a fight. It was a perfect trifecta over the course of 72 hours.

I am in no way trying to gloat. I really am not. I am just happy that I don't have to suffer through all the gloating of Phils and Yanks fan. My team did not finish with a winning record so I am not here to talk shit. I get it, the Phils and Yanks made the playoffs. The Mets didn't. I just know that in the end, none of the 3 teams will be World Series champs in 2011. It is a beautiful consolation prize to an otherwise forgettable baseball year.

It's Only a Fantasy

Ok, I know fantasy success doesn't mean real life success, but I think the following is pretty telling. ESPN's Tristan Cockroft posted the top 250 fantasy players for the 2012 season. As always, I like to see where Wright and Reyes fall (they were 23 and 33 respectively). As I looked for other Mets players, I came across something disturbing - we only had 1 other player (Angel Pagan - 160) ranked in the top 250. Surely that is a bad sign for next year.

So I decided to see if any other team has as few players in the top 250....and here is what I found

14: Atlanta, Texas
13: NY Yankees
12: Tampa Bay
11: Boston, Detroit, LA Angels, Philly
10: Arizona, Milwaukee, Toronto
9: San Fran, Washington
8: Cleveland, KC, LA Dodgers, St Louis
7: Baltimore, Chicago Cubs, Chicago WS, Cincy, Colorado, Florida
6: Oakland
5: Seattle
4: Houston, Minnesota, Pittsburgh, San Diego
3: NY Mets


So there ya go. Even the 106-loss Astros, the Mariners, the Pirates and the Padres have more players ranked in the top 250 than the Mets. Again, I know this doesn't mean anything in terms of real success, but surely it is a bad sign. I mean, Jason Bay is so bad now that there are 250 players ranked higher than him? Geeeesh. I can understand Johan and Ike not being on that list (although I bet they will be a top 250 player by the end of 2012), but wow, no Bay. That is how far he has fallen.

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In a bit of related news, don't expect any analysis of the MLB playoffs on JerseySounder until both the Phils and Yankees lose. I will be openly rooting for the Brewers and Tigers but I will not be spending a second writing about them.

It Just Didn't Feel Right

When I learned that Jose Reyes was taken out of the game after getting a hit in his first at-bat, something just didn't feel right. So I wrote my boys to get their thoughts on it. We discussed it a little, but I never got a real answer out of them. Instead, the talk turned to what to do in the off-season with not just him but Wright as well. I suppose some issues are more pressing than others.

So then on the way home, I asked The Wife, the sports ethicist, for her thoughts on it. The conversation went as such:

Me: So Jose Reyes entered the day with the highest batting average in the league. No Mets player has ever won it. After he got a hit, manager Terry Collins took him out of the game. What are your thoughts?

Wife: Well I don't see anything wrong with it, but I don't think I get why he came out.

Me: Well, he got a hit which increased his average. By leaving the game it meant his average could go no lower since it was the last game of the year. So essentially he took the easy way out.

Wife: I suppose it all depends on how he felt about it.

Me: There were whispers last night that it might happen that way. Some of the bloggers thought he would come out of the game so the Shea faithful could give him an ovation. But instead of getting cheered, a lot of fans booed. They were like...wait, I paid this money to come see you and you're being taken out early?

Wife: That's fine and all, but what did he think about it? It's only wrong if they weren't on the same page.

Me: Good point. Actually, we found out after the game that Reyes asked to be taken out. Collins felt like he had to oblige because of what Reyes means to the team, but was torn because he saw the other side of it too.

Wife: So what do you think?

Me: I think he took the cheap way out, but that's fine. He says that winning the title was important to not only him but to the entire fan base as well. I can't fault him for that even though I think it's lame.

Wife: Yeah, but would you rather have had him play and then lose the title on the last day of the season?

Me: Actually, I think I would rather have had him play. If he lost it at least he went down swinging. Who knows though, maybe he could have gone 2-4 or 3-4...nothing says that 1-1 would have turned into 1-4. Bottom line for me though, is what this says to the fans. There is a really high probability that this was his last game for the Mets, the organization he has been with since he was 16. Our last memory of him was him being taken out of the game early. All the fans that went out to a 1:00 start on a weekday wanted to see him potentially for the last time...and he requested to leave the field. It just doesn't feel right.

Wife: Well, does Reyes have any obligation to the fans?

Me: That right there is the conversation killer. You break out that question and you kill the debate.

Wife: Why?

Me: Well, because Reyes, like any athlete, does not owe anything to the fans or the owners. We expect them to love the team as much as we do. We cheer for them when they do good, but boo them when they do bad. Reyes is no different. Sure he is being cheered now. Fans are pleading with the ownership to re-sign him and they are pleading with him to come back. But not long ago, we were booing him and talk radio was suggesting that he was an injury bust. We don't care about Reyes the person. We care about Reyes the baseball player. Reyes doesn't need to care about the fans. If winning the title was important to him, than he has every right to do what he did. I just think he looks a little selfish, which is not the perception I would want to paint during my free agent year.

Rooting for the Choke

My buddy used to have a t-shirt that said "My two favorite teams are the Mets and whoever plays the Yankees." It is a motto I have pretty much lived my life by. So for the past decade that has meant I have supported the Red Sox. I mean, nothing hurts Yankees' fans more than seeing them lose to Boston.

By all means, I support the Sox because I know they are the team every year that has the best chance of beating the Yankees in the playoffs (even though amazingly they have not met in the postseason since 2004). This year I figured it was no different. With the additions of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford and a rotation that was the deepest in the league, they were the odds on favorites to win the World Series. After jumping out to a miserable 2-10 start, they won 59 of their next 86 game to take a 3 game lead in the division. As late as Aug 31, they were still in first place by 1/2 games.

Then the unthinkable happened. The Sox went 6-18 in September and lost an 9 game lead over the Tampa Bay Rays. With two games left in the season, they are tied for the Wild Card lead. Their slide has been remarkable and to be perfectly honest, I am kind of hoping it keeps up. I have nothing against the Sox, I just want them to take the title away from the 2007 Mets as the biggest chokers in MLB history. Sure, the Mets may have lost a 7 game lead with 17 left, but that team was not as good as the current Red Sox team. When the Mets choked they were a .572 team...the Red Sox were a .614 team and one of the favorites to win the whole thing.

I know the Sox making the playoffs might mean the Yanks have a better chance at winning, but I feel numb to the whole thing right now. I mean, in my opinion their is a 75% chance that either the Phils or Yanks win the whole thing...so if that is going to happen, why not have someone join us in our misery??

Mets fans, tell me if I'm wrong...

Monday Morning Five-Pack

I have five things I want to talk about this morning, so let's not waste any time.

• For me right now, all weekends start and end with the Sounders. After a disapointing loss at home mid-week (in what really was a terrible game to watch), the club rebounded with a 3-1 win at Vancouver to win the Cascadia Cup. First off, the game was really exciting to watch. I know it is easy to say considering we won, but regardless of the score, there was a lot of end to end stuff with a lot of open space. A few things in particular stood out.
  
  First, it's games like that when we are all reminded how special a player Fredy Montero is and can be. I have been saying for a month that he has been playing really well - problem was he wasn't scoring in league play, so there seemed to be no payoff. However, with Mauro out and the team seemingly needing a leader, he stepped up with two big goals for the win. I noted to The Wife that he even looks happier this year - I don't remember any of those sulking moments that he had in the past when he wasn't the one scoring. I know that doesn't mean much, but I think it goes to show how close this team is right now.
  
  Second, we escaped with no injuries to our currently fragile midfield. With both Rosales and Friberg out with injuries and both Evans and Alonso nursing minor ones, things were feeling pretty dicey. I was surprised to see Sigi keep Evans out there for the full 90 considering his recent injury, but this time it worked. I can only guess that he won't be playing B-Rad on Tuesday night and instead will be counting on El Flaco, who was subbed out by Darid Estrada (!), to go the full 90.
  
  Third, I think we found our Nate Jaqua replacement. I know that Sammy Ochoa hasn't actually score in his first two appearances, but that was by luck alone. On Tuesday he was denied by a world class save and Saturday he was denied by the post. If he is able to get to at least one header a game he is going to be scoring some goals. You just don't put those quality shots on without them going in. His continued emergence HAS to spell the end of Big Nate's time in rave.
  
  Finally, I really think this Vancouver team could be good next year. Even though they both had forgettable games, I think the forward pair of Eric Hassli and Mustapha Jarju could become one of the top units in the league. In Camilo and David Chumiento they also have great quality....but it's that defense that is going to kill them. One place to start would be to find someone of the Alonso/Mastroeni/Joseph to sure of the center of the field defensively. The next step would be to get some outside backs who can actually man mark. Final would be to stop making bad mistakes (Jay DeMerit, anyone?). Bottom line - more quality is needed...remember, Pate Vagenas got the start for them
• On to the Huskies, who improved to 3-1 with a 31-23 win over at Cal. I don't know where this season is going to go, but I can say one thing - there is never going to be a dull game. I mean, their defense is terrible and their offense looks to be actually pretty good. Keith Price may end up having one of the best seasons in UW history (dare I say it, but he is making us quickly forget Jake) but as long as they keep on giving up 400 yards passing they will never be able to get to the next level.
  
  Next week is going to be a key game. If they can get the win at Utah they will with all likelihood be at 5-1 when they make the trip to Palo Alto (assuming of course that we don't shit the bed against Colorado at home the week before). At 5-1, even if we were to lose all 4 games to Stanford, Zona, USC and Oregon, we could still end the season with 7 wins with OSU and WSU last on the schedule. Games against teams of similar strength are the really important ones because they can mean the difference between going to a bowl game and staying home.
  
  oh, one more thing - that Seferian-Jenkins kid appears to be the real deal.
  
  
  
• I really had hoped the Mets could have won yesterday because I could come in this morning and say how we swept the Phils and helped them lose their 8th straight. Unfortunately we had Mike Pelfrey on the mound against Roy Halladay - we never had a chance. Pelfrey has been terrible this year. Their is no doubt about it. Instead of leaving us with something to be hopeful about, he went out and through another dreadful game. I have defended him in the past because of his stuff, but he simply doesn't appear to have the mental stuff to make it in NY.
• On to the NFL where the Bills and Lions are definitely the best stories of the season. Of the two however, I think the Lions have the better chance to make the playoffs. For me, it simply comes down to their division. I don't want to take anything away from the Bears because they are a decent team, but the Lions have Chicago and the defending champs in their division - the Bills have the Jets and Pats. I can accept the Lions being the second best team in the NFC north, but I can't accept the Bills being the second best team in the AFC East. I think the Bills were a little fortunate yesterday. Up to now, the Pats had no equal on offense, but their defense was almost as bad as the Huskies. Well, they encountered a team that could not only put points on the board, but they turned the ball over 4 times to help them put points on the board. Tom Brady had a rare bad game and the rest of the team couldn't get the job done.
  
  The one thing that bothers me about the Lions though is the lack of a running game. They had 20 yards on 19 carries yesterday(!). At some point, that is going to come back to bite them in the ass.
• Finally, a note on soccer with The Incident. It was really really fun. I did not feel competitive for a second (I made sure not to be That Guy who was decked out in full soccer gear) and I just loved being able to run around with her. I am excited for next Saturday.

One final note- with the NBA locked out, I am hoping the NHL sees a huge influx of viewers. I know personally I am more excited about the season simply because I have more time to focus on it. Opening night for the Devils is Oct 8 - less than two weeks away. I can feel the excitement!

Final Homestand of the Season

The long MLB regular season is finally coming to an end. After 156 mostly disappointing games, the Mets season will officially be done on Wednesday. Before I look back on the both the good and bad from 2011, I want to take this opportunity to reflect on one Mr. Jose Reyes.

Reyes, in case you live under a rock, is an unrestricted free agent at the end of the year. People around the game feel that he will be asking for Carl Crawford type money. Most people think he will be on his way out of town. Others think that he will take a hometown discount to stay with the organization he has been with since 1999 when he was a 16-year old.

My thoughts on what the organization have been well documented. I thought they should have tried to trade him before the deadline, when his value was highest. It's not that I don't like Reyes or don't value him - it's just that I thought we needed a fresh start. If we signed him to a long term contract, his knee or Achilles or hamstring or quad or ankle was sure to get hurt. If we traded him he was sure to stay healthy.

Regardless, the Mets didn't trade him and now face the possibility that he leaves and all we get are two compensatory draft picks that at best won't be ready to contribute for 3 years. After assuming he was gone early in the season, I actually think that there is a decent chance he might stay in NY. There just seem to be a lot of signs. First, with his recent injury problem I think the Mets have more of the upper hand. Why would any team, they will ask him, want to sign him to a 7 year contract when he can't go the entire year without being hurt. In June it looked like he might - in September, not so much. Second, the number of teams that could afford him are starting to decrease. Philly recently committed to Rollins. The Yanks are moving a recently resurgent Jeter. Boston seems to be tapped out after signing Adrian Gonzalez and Crawford. Cincy and SF are probably interested, but I can't seem them spending the money. Texas and Chicago have their star SS's. Maybe Anaheim? Third, recent reports indicate that Reyes really loves NY and might not want to go anywhere. I don't know...it's just starting to feel like we might be able to re-sign him.

Of course, what happens if we aren't able/willing to re-sign him? Well, first, Mets fans are going to be pissed. Even though Reyes and Wright have blood on their hands for the 2006-2009 season, Reyes is one of us. He came up through the organization and during his best year, provided a level of excitement we hadn't seen in Flushing since 1986. When he was rolling, our team was rolling. He was our catalyst. And long before we were disappointed by the likes of Fernando Martinez, he entered as the BIG prospect and instantly stole the show. But even with all the good moments, he has had some really down times. It is what being a Mets fan is about - in a way, he is one of us. For that, he will always be one of the most popular Mets ever.

If this six game homestand against the Phils and Reds is his last time in blue and orange, I want to thank him for all the exciting moments we had with him. He simply will not look right in red or in pinstripes.

Thursday Brain Dump

Ok, I'm back and have a lot on my mind. Let's not waste any time and get straight to it.

• Let's start with talking about the Mets. First on the docket - RA Dickey. He was an amazing story last year as he went 11-9 for the Mets with a 2.84 ERA. In the off-season they rewarded him with a 2 year $6.5 million contract (with a club option in 2013 for $5 million). We all knew he wouldn't be able to repeat last year, but still expected good things from him. At first he looked like a disaster as he sat at 1-5 with a 5.07 ERA as of May 14. Since then he is 7-6 with a 3.13 ERA, which is much more inline with a normal bump from last year. He will certainly end the year with a losing record, but I don't think there is one Mets fan who loves him any less. In Dickey We Trust.
• The Mets called up two new arms as of September 1. The first, Chris Schwinden gets his first major league action against the Braves on Thursday. The second, Josh Stinson has been lights out through his first 4 games, having not given up any runs in 5 2/3 innings. It is hard to tell whether he will be a long-term part of this team but so far so good. (Of course, we need to remember that Pedro Beato gave up 0 runs in his first 18 2/3 innings before being hammered for 12 runs in his next 7 2/3.) Let's hope for similar success from Schwinden.
• Finally, let's talk some Lucas Duda. He now has 17 doubles, 9 HR and 46 RBI in 86 games...extrapolate that to 150 games and it comes to 15 HR, 30 doubles and 80 RBI. Now take it a step further and take the 76 games after being re-called on June 10 and it would extrapolate to 18 HR, 33doubles and 91 RBI. I know that might be a little high, but even 80 RBI would be awesome when combined with what Wright and Davis could contribute (I'm not even mentioning Bay in this sentence).
  
• Moving on, this just in: Doug Fister loves being out of Seattle. Ok, I didnt really talk to him, but I assume such. Let's go over the numbers. In Seattle he had a very solid 3.33 ERA, but only got 2.33 runs of support when he started (1.8 if you exclude the 13-3 win over Oakland in April). This led to a 3-12 record. Since coming to Detroit he has a 2.64 era and has received 4.3 runs in support. This has led to a 4-1 record.
• I listened to an ESPN podcast with Taylor Twellman and J-Will's favorite, Alexi Lalas. Twellman made an interesting suggestion - play both Donovan and Dempsey up top. His reasoning - we have enough depth at midfield with Bradley, Jones, Edu, Holden, Torres and even Shea AND we already play them there late in games when we need goals. To him, they should just play there all game since Altidore is not ready to be a loan forward yet. I have to say - somehow I have never thought about this, but really, really like it.
• I did not get to see the US game versus Belgium, but was very happy with what I saw against Costa Rica in the first half. In reading most of the reports, journalists seem to be giving Klinnsman a pass as he looks for new players to play an important role in the team. We know about Dempsey, Donovan, Bradley and the rest, but I am hearing that Brek Shea, Timmy Chandler and Jose Torres were the most promising. I am not a huge Shea fan (well, because I think he is a punk with a horse haircut), but if he can put it all together, he is going to have a great career.
• Reports out of Mexico have former US Bob Bradley interviewing for the vacant Santos Laguna head coaching position. Am I the only one who is shocked by this turn of events? I mean, I understand the interest in the Egypt job, but how the hell does he have any respect in Mexico? I know the US team had some success against the Mexicans during his tenure, but this is the US we are talking about. I guarantee no one has any respect for American soccer minds - certainly not enough to trust them as to be their manager. Respect to the owner if he does hire him and props to Bradley if he takes the challenge.
• By now, you have probably seen the new Maryland football unis. If not, here are some pics...anyways, I might be in the minority, but I really like them. The thing I don't get is why Maryland is sooo proud of there flag. I honestly have never seen one state use there flag more as a symbol than Maryland. can someone help me understand...?
• Justin Verlander won his 22nd game on Wednesday. He has at least three starts left (4 depending on whether they need him to pitch on the final day of the season) meaning that he could easily get to 25 wins on the year (remaining schedule: at CHW, at OAK, vs BAL). Twenty-five wins would be the most since Bob Welch (27) for oakland in 1990. Since then, Randy Johnson('02) and John Smoltz ('96) are the only guys with 24. (more on Smoltz below)
• Any one else excited to have Strasburg back? Ok, maybe I'm not excited for this season - they really had no reason to bring him back - but I am stoked for next year
• Reading Don Banks bold predictions piece from SI, I learned that the Atlanta Falcons have never had back-to-back playoff appearances. That is a really really interesting stat and one that likely will come to an end this year.
• For the 3rd time in the last 4 co-ed soccer games, I got accused of diving. It really pisses me off. I mean, I'm 31 with a kid, playing in an over-30 league where half of the guys are lucky to be able to run around...why would I intentionally want to fall down and get rubber pellets in my shorts? Anyways...I figure there are three possible things going on here: 1. I am diving but just don't realize it. 2. I am a pussy who is just falling over at the slightest contact. 3. The other team is a bunch of idiots who don't know anything. Fuck off if you think #1 or #2 are the case.
• I listened to Grantland podcast with Jonah Keri and he said that Ryan Howard's contract extension doesn't kick in until NEXT year. Sure enough, he is right (never had any doubt in my mind)...Howard will get $20m in 2012 and 2013 and then $25 from 2014-2016. I know the guy is a home run and RBI machine, but wow that is a huge contract for a guy who hasn't hit over .280 in 5 years and has averaged 180 strikeouts during that same period. With the rest of the offense crumbling around him, his contract might become an albatross pretty soon.
• I really love what Steve Sarkisian is doing with this Huskies team. Good piece by Steve Kelly on how he is purposefully using the media to call out his team's lack of effort against Eastern.
• Speaking of the Huskies, I am very very excited for the game against Hawai'i this weekend. I really love watching the Warriors fling the ball around on offense, but am very scared of what they might do to the Huskies this weekend. I mean, the Huskies gave up 475 yards passing against a lower division team last week...and while Hawai'i QB Byran Moniz only threw for 178 yards last week against Colorado, he was the nations leading QB last year with a whopping 5040 yards and 39 TD's.
• I won't be able to watch the Huskies game because I'll be at Qwest for what should be the MLS match of the week between the boys in rave and Real Salt Lake. RSL is currently below us in the standings, but even with the season long loss of Javier Morales, I think they are one of the most talented teams in the league. What I am interested in seeing is how the Sounders respond to having 11 days without a game, 5 of which were spent without practice. Long-term having the guys have a vacation was the smart thing to do both mentally and physically, but I have a feeling it might make them ripe for the picking on Saturday.
• Speaking of the Sounders, four stories are worth mentioning. First, Roger Levesque cut his hair. This is hardly a style blog, but Roger cutting his hair needs to be reported on. Second, our newest striker, 24 year old former US U-20 player Sammy Ochoa is in camp training with the guys. I don't know what he will be able to contribute this year or moving forward, but it is nice to see that they did at least sign someone who may or may not be able to score goals. Third, James Riley had a 7v7 youth tournament and both Jeff Parke and Mauro Rosales showed up to support him and sign some autographs. Great job by both of those guys considering it was the day after a game. Finally, Terry Boss suffered a concussion while playing for Puerto Rico (yes, he plays for Puerto Rico - google for more info) and his season looks to be in jeopardy.
• Not sure if anyone saw, but Andy Roddick recently lashed out at Chris Fowler and tennis commentators in general (check out 2:17 of the clip). I have long been a Roddick guy, but it definitely came off as sour grapes. I have read that he is a good guy who just got caught up in the moment (hell, he didn't even shower before doing the interview), but come on man, you can't have such thin skin. The worst part was that he directed it towards Fowler, who I think is the man. Maybe it's just because he has the dream job (tennis, college football, soccer analyst), but Fowler can do no wrong in my book.
• Reports out of St Louis indicate that Albert Pujols turned down a 9-yr, $195 million contract last winter as he was searching for a 10-yr, $230 million contract instead. This is simply amazing to me and one of the reasons why I respected what Jared Weaver did a few weeks ago. I understand that Pujols is more valuable and deserves more than Joe Mauer for what he has done over the past decade, but the amount given for someone who is successful in 1 out of every 3 attempts is astonishing.
  
  
• OK, now I want to spend a little time looking at some stats for two different Hall of Fame worthy pitchers. First, I noticed that John Smoltz will be eligible for the Hall in 2014. In my opinion, he has to be a first ballot guy. Sure he only had 210 wins, but he is the only guy with 200 wins and 150 saves. He sat out the entire 2000 season with arm injury and then from 2002-2004 he averaged 48 saves. If you turn his 4 years of relief duty into time as a starter and have him average 15 wins a season, that brings him to 270 wins. That is not quite the magical 300 number, but good enough considering his strikeout rate. If you assume he never got hurt, its 285 wins then. The crazy thing is that in 1996 he was the BEST starter and then he transformed himself into the best reliever from 2002-2004. No one, not even Dennis Eckersley cane ever say he was the best starting and relief pitcher during his career. When he jumped back into being a starter, he went 44-24 from 2005-2007 as a 38 year old. Simply put, he has one one of the most deserving Hall of Fame credentials.
• When you look at baseball reference, you see that they compare Smoltz to Curt Schilling, who will be an interesting decision in 2012. Schilling only has only 216 wins and never won a Cy Young. However, he was the best player on 2 World Series winning teams including the one that brought Boston the title in 2003. Need I say more than 'bloody sock'? Given that this was the steroid era and numbers don't mean as much as they once did, shouldn't something as subjective as his leadership be enough? For me, I think it does. For the voters, I'm less convinced. [An aside - Schilling he did have three 20 win seasons and struck out 300 batters thrice.]

Jersey Shore and Other Stuff

The most anticipated episode of the Jersey Shore aired right about the same time Hurricane Irene was pummeling New Jersey last week - I can't believe it was merely a coincidence. Anyways, I didn't get to see it, but got the impression from all those in FB land that the fight between Ronnie and Sitch was disappointed. I finally got to see it last night and I have to agree - it was a total letdown. However, even with that, I think this had to be one of the better episodes I have seen in a long time. How about a list to best break it down

• I can't even look at Jenny anymore. Besides being so skinny, she did something to her face and simply looks like Skeletor. What happened to the girl that we see on the credits? She has not only changed her looks, but she is no longer a praying mantis - she is clearly sanest woman in the house. You've changed J-Woww.
• Seeing Sitch in a neckbrace and sunglasses with a tear streaming down his face is one of the better reality moments of all time. I mean, it was classic.
• I can't believe we are STILL watching this whole Ronnie-Sammi thing. Look, I don't know how scripted this whole thing is, but assuming that it is a bit scripted, we must be really stupid. I mean, the fighting is so ridiculous. I am over it and have been for 2 seasons...I imagine that is how everyone else looks at it, and yet JS is enjoying some of its highest ratings ever. Ugghhh, stupid Americans.
• After they broke up again, Sammi put all the stuff that Ronnie gave her on his bed. He then proceeds to throw it away. What does Sammi do? She takes it out of the trash! That is just classic stuff right there. I mean, first off, she went dumpster diving. Second, how does that make her seem like a bigger person (like she claimed?) Let the stuff be in the trash - don't wimper back and get it! Come on, girl.
• I can't believe she is the only true Jersey girl on the show. I want to like you, I do...
• Vinnie and Paulie D remain my favorites. They alone are the reason I watch (well, this season at least since there are no flyover shots of the shore and boardwalk)
• The Deena/Sammi commercials keep on getting worse (and by that, I mean better)
• I enjoyed when Paulie almost got into a fight in the club and the guys were saying "you're in the streets of Florence" almost like they knew who they were (although I guess you have to sense something is up when you have a camera crew around you).
• Speaking of camera crew, was that the first time we saw them on Jersey Shore?
• I just don't get what Ronnie was thinking with the flowers. Seriously, how did you think that was going to be a good idea?
• Ok, I couldn't go through the whole list without actually talking about the fight...how fitting is it that Sitch (who by the way is coming off as a huge creep after endearing himself to some people with his appearances on ESPN and DWTS) got hurt by a wall? I mean, the guy is so fake that he couldn't even get knocked out by a real dude.
  
• Kudos to MTV for promoting the hell out of a fight that barely even happened. I should be pissed, but hey, they did what they needed to do. The fight may have been a bust, but overall a great episode.
  

Ok, now on to the Mets...

• With the win last night, Miguel Batista won his 100th game. He is now 40 years old with a 100-112 lifetime record and is on his 11th major league team. Amazing that he lasted that long.
• Since returning from the DL, Wright is hitting .314 with 28 rbi in 37 games. That is a pace of 114 over the course of a full 162 game season. It is only 1/4 of the season, but bodes well for him moving forward.
• The deal to sell a minority share of the team is now off and some people are wondering how this will effect the re-signing of Reyes. Ultimately, I don't think it has anything to do with it as I'm convinced that Sandy Alderson is already set into a specific payroll for next year regardless of whether new funds were trickling in. It is going to be tough - as metsblog.com has pointed out, in Santana ($24m), Bay ($17m) and Wright ($15m) they already have $55 on their books for next year. Signing Reyes to a hometown discount of $15m for next year would bring the payroll to $70 meaning the rest of the team would operate on $30m-$40m. I know we have a lot of young players with nice contracts, but it will be tough to put together a competitive team considering our young pitching is still 1-2 years away from making it to the big leagues. Einhorn backing out of the deal will have nothing to do with whether Reyes re-signs...in fact, it will be the terrible contracts given to Santana (ok, not terrible at the time) and Bay that will go a long way in determing if he does come back.
  

Finally, I have been feeling a little bored with sports during the week recently...it almost certainly has to do with the fact that it is August and the Mets being 5 games under .500. While the weekday sports slate won't really be picking up until the NHL starts in a month or two, I am excited to have college and pro football to add to my weekend feast of EPL and MLS. Not sure I can find time for them all, but will certainly give it a shot.

Random Tuesday Thoughts

Here are some random thoughts I had coming into work this morning.

• The Sounders released some photos from the day in Monterrey and it appears that Sigi Schmid has made some interesting decisions regarding the game. First, Taylor Graham made the trip to Mexico - a move that surely only helps the team communicate with the locals better. Second, Kasey Keller was left home, leaving the goalkeeping duties to Terry Boss and Josh Ford. I know I have not been too kind to Boss in the past and should probably kill the decision, but actually I think it is a good one. He is on the roster and Keller is 41 and could use the occasional break, so why not use him? The 4-1 win at home gave us a little cushion. Winning in Mexico has been near impossible, so why not get Boss and Ford some experience? Third, no Mauro Rosales or Fredy Montero. I get both of those exclusions - if I'm not mistaken, they have been starting every game lately, so leaving them home is not the worst decision considering we have an MLS game on Saturday followed by the uber-important US Open Cup Semi-Final a week from today.
  
  If I had to guess on a lineup, I think that even though Brad Evans made the trip, I imagine that Carrasco might get the start alongside Ozzie to try to be more defensive oriented. El Flaco will be on the left and maybe Evans will move to the right. Up top might be Jaqua and Fucito. In the back, Parke, Scott, Riley, Leo seems to be locked in. Come on boys, let's pull off a shocker.
• Speaking of the Sounders, I saw an MLS on NBC ad and was shocked to see that there was not a single Sounders highlight involved. I'm pretty sure I saw the Timbers Army 2-3 times and Kenny Cooper hanging on the net after scoring his only goal, but no mention of the team that regularly draws 36k. I know I sound like a bitter Colorado fan, but where is the respect? To take a step back though, this commercial aired during a Sunday Night Football telecast which drew a 7.1 which means more people may have been exposed to the product than ever before (ok, so most were probably soccer haters, but still...a big step!)
• One final Sounders related thing - take a look at this great post by Jeremiah Oshan. Basically, he suggests that Sounders fans are enamored by the DP designation and that if Mauro Rosales, who is playing like a DP, was being compensated as one the DP, we might be feeling a little differently.
  
  
• The Mets and Dillon Gee followed up my post on them with a 10-0 loss to the Phillies. Really I should have seen it coming. What I want to discuss today is the fact that the Mets front office approached Mike Pelfrey about the possibility of closing. As Matt Cerrone of metsblog.com noted, this indicates that the team is thinking about life after Pelf, which I think it s wise choice. I, like most Mets fans, were optimistic about Pelfrey and Humber being the future aces of the team. Humber served us well as he was part of the Santana trade. Pelfrey has had his moments, but if I had to describe him in one word, it would be inconsistent. Oh wait, no...it would be headcase. Yeah, that is clearly much better. He certainly has the stuff to be a top of the rotatoin guy, but now in his 4th full year in the big leagues he has not mastered the mental part of it yet. At 27 and playing in NY, I'm not sure he ever will. Some are suggesting that we don't pick up his option, but I think Alderson is being wise in not just letting him go, but rather seeing if there is another way he can help this organization. Stay tuned to this one.
• So let me briefly speak about WWE. I wrote a few weeks ago that the company had stumbled into an amazing storyline where CM Punk was blurring the lines of 'reality' and 'wrestling' by using social media and dropping in at public appearances to be in character at all times. At the time, he had just beaten John Cena for the title and 'left WWE with the belt.' I knew he was coming back, but never thought he would be off tv for only 1 week. Ultaimtely I get it - Summerslam was a few weeks away and they had to hype the Punk-Cena rematch, but since then, I have not enjoyed his storyline. Last night he fought Cena for the #1 contenders spot (Alberto Del Rio cashed in his title shot and won at Summerslam) and instead of having what would be an awesome Punk-Del Rio showdown, they decided to further the HHH-Kevin Nash conspiracy storyline. Punk, it appears that he is going to be the anti-authority figure similar to Stone Cold a decade ago. There certainly is some uncertainty with where it ultimately is going...and for WWE sake I hope they don't eff it up, because Punk deserves better. (Oh, and it also looks like The Miz and R-Truth are also going to have some role in the conspiracy storyline...again, for Miz's sake I hope they don't eff it up)
• I'm not gonna lie - I love this whole AJ Burnett/Joe Girardi controversy. For those who don't know, AJ Burnett publicly showed up his manager by swearing at him when Girardi took him out of a recent game. Girardi pretended not to hear it and kept talking to his players, but after he back to the dugout, we stormed right into the clubhouse where Burnett had just gone. Obviously the two had some sort of confrontation. IN the post-game press conference, Girardi not only said that Burnett was yelling at the umpire, but that he went into the dugout to try to catch the replay. Girardi was trying to cover for Burnett, but the question remains, why? The guy has been a huge bust since dawning the pinstripes and has been nothing short of a headcase. It can't be that he thinks Burnett is the key to the postseason, does he? I know he has a WS title to his name, but that was in a different time. The Yanks are screwed if they put their faith in this guy to be their #2 starter for the playoffs (but then to think of it, I think they're screwed with Ivan nova, Bartolo Colon or Freddy Garcia as their #2...I LOVE IT!) Back in the early 90's this type of story in the Bronx was commonplace. That was well before the decade of excellence they encountered - hopefully we can rewind time a little and bring back the Bronx Zoo.
• So I got my SI College Football preview last week and I have to say that I really miss reading magazines. When I was younger I would get The Sporting News season previews chock full of stats and read it cover to cover. Now in the digital age, when more information is available, I actually find myself knowing less about the sports than I ever did before. Part of it is because I'm a dad, but an equally large part is that I simply don't like reading long article over the internet. I suppose it's the same reason I would rather listen to a Bill Simmons podcast than actually read his articles.
  
• The English premier League just finished week 2 and it looks like United and City might be the clear favorites, while Arsenal has definite issues. Obviously it's a long season and Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and Arsenal will be fighting for Europe, but I think the city of Manchester will have the two title contenders.
• I find it funny that ESPN.com is running daily NBA previews when we all know there won't be a season (or at least, it won't start on time). I get that they don't own the cable rights to the NHL, but at some point, don't you think it might be wise to preview a professional sport that will actually be playing come October?
• Seahawks fans- any comments on Tarvaris, the defense and overall outlook? I don't want to jump to conclusions and say mean things.

Going in Opposite Directions

This might officially be the low point for the 2011 Mets (or at least I hope so). After having been swept at home by the Brewers, the same team that they swept a 4 game road series from earlier this month, the Mets are now 6 games under .500 for the first time since early May. It has been a sobering string of games that has reminded each and every one of us that this team was overachieving. I have written several entries about how fun this team is to watch and how great it is to see the young guys play with no fear. We might have traded away Carlos Beltran and K-Rod. We may have lost David Wright for one-third of the year and Ike Davis for the rest of the year. We might have Jason Bay hitting .238 and our supposed ace with only 6 wins and a ERA near 5. Oh, and currently have a rookie starting at 1b, 2b, SS, RF and in our rotation. But we were showing some heart and never giving up. It was fun to watch.

The problem with that type of team is that sometimes working hard won't get you results. No matter how well you play you will always be constrained to maximizing your talents and playing above your head. Often that is not good enough - some teams are simply better and beat you with minimal effort. It's just how it happens.

It was only 3 weeks ago when we sat at 3 games over .500. Some of us dared to think that we could vie for a Wild Card spot. I mean, there are only 6 teams in the league with winning records and 4 of them make the playoffs. Now, after losing 14 of 19, reality has set in. If we can battle back and win 81/82 games than I think this season will be a success. This team has shown that they know how to battle - they are going to have to continue doing so and hope to get a little lucky along the way if they want to stop the downward spiral. It would be too easy to let it completely slip away and finish only with 72-75 wins.

So that is one of the two goals for the final 40 so games...finish with 81 wins. The other is to continue to allow the young guys develop. Lucas Duda as been amazing since he was recalled in June. Many thought he was a career AAA guy, but he has been crushing the ball (.300, 4 hr, 24 rbi since July 1) and giving David Wright some protection (who by the way is hitting .292 with 4 hr and 22 rbi since returning on July 22). Dillon Gee will earn some valuable experience as he tries to get back on the winning track. Jon Niese will try to develop further. Justin Turner will need to show the team that he can be their every day 2b. And Ruben Tejada, playing in place of Jose Reyes, will continue to have unrealistic expectations placed on him - he will at the very least need to show that he can make it in the big leagues. He will never be Reyes, but if we do lose Jose this offseason it will be nice to know that Ruben can be a long term answer.

Finally, the Mets need to work on this bullpen. During their swoon the bullpen has taken 6 of the 14 losses. They simply can't stop giving up runs. My next statement doesn't feel good, but it at least reminds me that I still have some East Coast fan in me. Izzy needs to go. I have always loved Izzy since his rookie season in 1995. still to this day I can recite his amazing season..9-2 with a 2.81 ERA. When he was traded away I was devastated and unlike a lot of other players I continued to follow him throughout his career and always found a place for him on my fantasy roster. When he came back home this season I had no expectations as I figured he would eventually pitch his way off the team. After all, he is 38 and coming off arm surgery. Yet throughout the season he has been great and after K-Rod was traded took over the closer spot. It has been a great story, but with his recent string of suckiness, I think it's time for him to move on. I'm not saying we should release him (by the way, how come in baseball we say 'release', but in football we say 'cut'?) but we should definitely let Bobby Parnell be the closer. I know he hasn't been exactly good, but if we are going to lose games and give up runs, why not have it be a young guy who it can potentially have a positive effect on.

So yeah, love ya Mets. Still enjoy watching ya, but hope this is the low point for the season.

*******

My other summer team, the Sounders, are the exact opposite right now - they simply can't stop winning games. Since a May 25 home loss to Dallas the Sounders are 8-1-4 in MLS play, 2-1 in CONCACAF Champions League and 2-0 in the US Open Cup. This past Saturday's road game against second place Dallas was brutally ugly. There can be no other description. It was brutal. And yet somehow I left that game feeling really excited about the team's prospects.

For over a year now my only complaint with this team is that they didn't know how to win ugly. It seemed that they had no idea of how to win games when they were not on there best. How many times did we see a team like Chivas come into Qwest, bunker in on defense, force us to get frustrated and then score a goal on the counterattack? It seemed like we were unwilling to change our tactics and that they style of our play was more important. I am not saying that style isn't important (I think almost all the teams in the league could learn a thing or two from them), but at the end of the day, unless your name is Barcelona, style won't win you crap.

No one on the team will admit that they played well, but they did just enough to grind out a tough 1-0 win in 100 degree heat, 4 days removed from a midweek CCL game. It was the type of game that they needed to win to give themselves confidence for the MLS playoffs. I know that we probably won't win the CCL (even if we do make it out of the group stage, Keller won't be in goal...) but we can make some noise. I have total confidence that we will win another US Open Cup. MLS remains the bug-a-boo. I still think LA is the top team, but seeing the Sounders grind out an ugly win makes me realize that on any given day, we can beat LA or any other team in the playoffs.

Looking ahead, the team travels to Monterrey, Mexico to face the same team that spanked us around last season (and won the CCL). After having picked up a nice 4-1 win against Communicaciones, we will have some good momentum heading to a country where a US team has only once in actual competition (last week Dallas beat Pumas). At the very least I think we are at a place where we can walk away with a tie. Here's hoping for continued success for this team while it goes south for my other team.

The Crazy 2011 Mets

When ultimately thinking back about the 2011 Mets, I have a feeling that we will be smiling. Not because they are going to make the playoffs or maybe even have a winning record, but as one of my buddies put it the Mets are "an emotional roller coaster, but that I do love watching them."

Most of you know the situation. In 2006 they were the toast of the town. In 2007 and 2008 they choked down the stretch. In 2009 and 2010 injuries ravaged their seasons. Combined with a lot of off the field stuff, they were quickly becoming a laughing stock - some media members called them the worst franchise in the league. So when Sandy Alderson took over prior to the 2011 season, not much was expected of them. In an effort to clean house and begin rebuilding, their only major offseason moves were releasing Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo and signing Chris Young, Chris Capuano and Ronnie Paulino. With several free agents coming off the books, the focus for many was 2012.

Then something strange happened. Reyes had a career year. Ike Davis started off hot. Carlos Beltran played in nearly every game. Daniel Murphy hit .320 and their pitching staff, without Johan Santana, was actually pretty decent. At the All-Star break they were 46-45 and after sweeping Cincinnati and winning the first game at Washington, they sat at 55-51 on July 29. Simply put, they were exceeding all expectations. That day they traded Carlos Beltran to the Giants for a top rated prospect and some around baseball wondered if they were waving the white flag. Sure Beltran was bound to walk at the end of the year, but there were only 6 teams in the NL with winning records. Surely they could make a push towards the playoffs...

Alderson didn't get caught up in the playoffs talk and instead did what was best for the long term future of the team. Since then, David Wright has returned from the DL to fill the gaping hole left by Beltran in the lineup. However, Reyes has gone on the DL. Daniel Murphy hurt his knee and is out for the year. Mike Pelfrey continues to get roughed up. Dillon Gee and Jon Niese are starting to come back down to earth. Jason Isringhuasen and Bobby Parnell (thrown into the closer spot after the trade of K-Rod) are blowing a lot of saves...and yet somehow, the Mets continue to chug along. Credit a lot to Manager Terry Collins, but this team is remaining competitive. Who knows if they can keep it up for the final 50 games of the season, but one thing we know is that this team has not only heart but some hunger as well.

They could have closed up shop after losing 5 in a row (and falling 1 game under .500), but since then they have won 3 of 4 thanks to guys like Lucas Duda, Scott Hairston, Justin Turner, Josh Thole and Mike Baxter. None of these guys are household names, but they are hungry to show that they have long term value to the organization. Sure, David Wright, Jason Bay and Jose Reyes (when he is healthy) will really decide how they finish the year, but getting the occasional boost from guys like Duda will go a long way in not only getting results, but changing the direction of the franchise.

In typical fashion, they Mets lost 5 in a row after hitting the high water mark on the season...but then over the past two nights they have come back from 8-4 in the 8th and 4-2 in the 8th to get walkoff wins. I know they were playing San Diego, but these are the type of wins that help you forget losing five in a row. They don't let things get out of control, which is so easy to do these days (ask the Pirates and Mariners both who lost more than 10 in a row this year).

So yeah, it is going to be frustrating when they continue to lose to the Marlins. But with all the news guys (I also forgot to mention Ruben Tejada and Jason Pridie who have stepped in admirably), the team will at least keep things interesting. I personally am excited not only for the final 50 games this year, but excited at the prospects of seeing our minor league arms in the major over the next few years (as well as a healthy Ike Davis in 2012). We may not win the World Series any time soon, but I think I speak for all Mets fans when I say all we want is a fun team of homegrown players to watch. Really, that is all we can ask for.

Random Thoughts..

The Wife and Kid were out of town this weekend, so I spent most of my time doing things that can't get done when they are around...you know, cleaning the grill, painting a room, cleaning the garage, and of course playing video games. It was a great weekend - one with a lot of sports news. I don't have a long post in me, but rather a lot of random thoughts. As always, let's get to it:

• I can't believe that the Yankees sat back at the trading deadline and didn't upgrade their pitching. Now I know that Bartolo Colon is a surprising 8-6, Freddy Garcia is a surprising 10-7 and Ivan Nova is a surprising 9-4, but I don't think any other GM would feel comfortable knowing that two of them will have to pitch games 3-4, following a would-be Game 2 start by AJ Burnett.
• I think I like Nicki Minaj
• Sounders had a stinker at Houston on Saturday. I am going to chalk it up as 'one of those games' even though they have now lost 3 in row in all competitions. If they fail to advance in CONCACAF Champions League after playing San Francisco of Panama on Wednesday then I might be more worried. But for now, it is only one MLS loss in the last 10. Oh, wait, I just saw that they have to travel to KC over the weekend. They are 2-0 on the road against KC in their history, but KC is undefeated in their new palace. Should be a test of our resolve.
• My men's soccer team played one of the four Emerald City Supporters' teams on Sunday. We walked away with a 1-0 win even though we played the last 15 minutes with only 9 men. After the match, I talked to not only the current president of the ECS, but also the founder. They were really nice dudes and it mae me happy when I learned that I had been a Sounders supporter for longer than the president. Anyways, the guy offers me a cigarette no more than 10 minutes after the game. How did he not die?
• Somebody tell him who the eff I is
• Does anyone care about the X Games still? Is it me or is ESPN putting a lot less into coverage. BTW- this is the 17th edition. Man I am getting old.
• Gotta give ESPN some credit for the amount of soccer they are showing on Sportscenter. I'm still not sold that all the anchors are taking it seriously, but in the last two week I have seen Copa America highlights, Man United-Barca highlights and something like a 5-minute piece on Bob Bradley's firing. We're getting there people.
• Sounders might have lost, but wow did it feel good watching Portland throw away a 2-0 home lead against the worst team in the league. Goals in the 71st and 81st minutes gave Toronto FD a wonder-tie.
• I know the Mets finished their 7 game road trip with a 5-2 record [UPDATE - I was wrong, it was actually 6-4], but I can't help but feel like we missed a golden opportunity in 3-0 and 3-2 losses to Washington. I don't expect them to score 8 runs every night, but those were both winnable games if the offense had shown up.
• The Devils agreed to a 1-year, $6 million contract with Zach Parise on Friday. It is good news for the coming year, but I can't help but wonder what is holding up the long-term contract. I mean, with the gift the Islanders gave us in taking Rolston and his $4 million contract off our hands, they probably have somewhere around $7.5-$8 million in cap space. I have a feeling Lou is trying to lowball him because of his injury last year and the deal was made so Zach can show the team what he has. If that is the case and Parise returns to his normal form, Lou HAS to pay up. The precedent is there in what he did for Kovy and the fact is that Parise is more valuable to this franchise.
• Thanks to my boys Irish Mike and D-Lib (not to mention an empty house for 5 days), I have been playing a lot more of FIFA soccer over the past few days. I have now taken my Northhampton Town FC team from Division 3 to Division in two season and now have my eye on the EPL.
• I learned a great trick for getting oil based paint off your hands - olive oil and salt. Worked like a charm.
• Good drama in the Detroit-Anaheim game. Carlos Guillen hit a home run off of Jered Weaver, admired his shot and threw the bat. Weaver didn't like it, threw (at the head nonetheless) at the next batter and got tossed. In the 8th inning, with the score 3-0, Eric Aybar laid down a bunt in the midst of a Justin Verlander no-hit bid. He got on by error and two batters later, Macier Izturis broke up the no-no. After the game, Verlander was asked if he was surprised or upset by the bunt. He said that there were arguments both ways, but from a pitchers standpoint, it's called bush league. Now I have opined on this in the past so my feelings are well know, but let me say them again: in the words of Herm Edwards, "You Play to Win the Game!" The score was 3-0 at the time, not 8-0. If Anaheim could get two runners on, then they could tie with a home run. They are fighting with Texas for the AL West crown and all games, including those in late July count towards the final standing. Aybar doesn't owe Verland anything - he is there to play the game. In my mind, bunting is absolutely legit in a 3-0 game.
• So Plaxico Burress, after not having played in a competitive NFL game since 2008 is going to get $3 million to play for the Jets? Am I missing something? I mean, do they really think he is the same player after having been in jail? Add in a short pre-season and there is no way he gets more than 600 yards this season.
• The Red Bulls went over to England to compete in the Emirates Cup this weekend. They beat PSG and then tied Arsenal. It was a nice accomplishment, but I can't help think that they continue to have their priorities all mixed up. I mean, here is a team that in 16 years has never won a trophy. I get that with Thierry Henry and Rafa Marquez they want to become a global brand, but wouldn't it be better done if they were to win the CONCACAF Champions League and play competitively against the like of Barcelona and Santos? Winning the US Open Cup would not only get them into the competition next year, but it would give the beleaguered fan base a trophy to carry around. Yet instead, they fielded a C-team in the Open Cup and flew overseas in the middle of the MLS season to play in a pre-season friendly against Arsenal. I get the Henry connection, but it seems sill to me.
  

Re-Evaluating Carlos Beltran

I have always been the first person to get on Carlos Beltran's case. No matter how well he played, in my mind he never earned the 7 year, $119 million contract that he signed in 2005. And yet today, with the news that Beltran was officially traded to San Francisco for RHP prospect Zach Wheeler, I can't help but feel a little sad. (btw - check out my previous entry to see how even a bling squirrel sometimes finds a nut)

It's not entirely surprising. I mean, we always value those in our lives more once they are gone. I always took Beltran for granted and now that he is gone, I am re-thinking my stance on him.

The bottom line is this - Beltran ranks as probably one of the top 3 position players in Mets history. He ranks 17th in number of games played, yet is 6th in home runs, doubles, rbi, on-base percentage and slugging. In terms of Wins Above Replacement, he is 2nd, ahead of Wright, Piazza, Reyes and trailing only Strawberry. While his first season was below standards (.266, 16 hr, 78 rbi) over the course of the first four seasons he averaged 29 hr, 104 rbi, 21 sb, hit .275 and won 3 Gold Gloves. His best season was 2006 when he had 41 hr, 116 rbi, 38 doubles and .594 slugging.

Unfortunately, the 2006 was not only his best season in Queens, but also the season when he didn't swing. All Mets fans know what I'm talking about - down 3-1 with runners on 2nd and 3rd in the bottom of the 9th of Game 7 of NLCS, Beltran struck out looking. Looking back, it is unfair to blame the loss on him (after all, they could only muster 2 freaking hits off of Jeff Suppan through 7 innings), but at the time it stung. Hell, it still stings. I mean, the 97-win Mets choked against a team that barely had a winning record during the regular season. The Mets took over NYC during the regular season and had the chance to turn the tides on the Yankees and they choked. The image of Beltran looking remains in my memory to date.

In all, it is just a microcosm of Beltran's time in Queens. No matter what he did, I always wanted more. In addition to stellar play on the field, he never got in trouble off of it and he never lashed out at the press. in reality, he did everything we could have asked for him. yet at the end of the day, I always felt like he wasn't trying, that he didn't care and that he never wanted to be the face of the franchise. When things were going good, he was there. When things turned south, only Wright was willing to step up.

On top of his effort, his personality just never did it for me. We always talk about certain players not being able to handle NYC. When Beltran signed, some suggested he wouldn't be able to last because all he knew up to that point was Kansas City and Houston. Yet others predicted success because of his faith and solid family life. It turned out that he was totally able to handle the city. He was quiet, respectful and never got flustered. And yet, he never had the personality of a Hernandez, Dykstra, Backman or any other member of the eclectic 1986 Mets.

Of course you knew I was going to mention the 86 Mets. It will always be the measuring stick for all Mets teams, yet it is so unfair because there will never be another team like this. Never will that blend of personalities be able to succeed. Never will a team be able to abuse drugs, alcohol and women in another way. Never. And yet, we want all our teams to be like them. The 2000 Mets came the closest and yet they couldn't get by the Yanks. The 2006 Mets had the chance but they blew it. And Beltran got blamed.

So what is the final word on Beltran's tenure in NYC? In one word: incomplete. Beltran helped lead the team to the NL East crown. You can count the number of division crowns on one hand, so in a way, his signing was well worth it. Yet, with all the talent and hope, he never led the team past the NLCS. Hell, he never led them to the playoffs again and then had season altering injuries in 2009 and 2010.

Coming into the season, the best case scenario was for Beltran to remain healthy, play well and get traded at the deadline. He not only did both, but he also agreed to move to RF to avoid a controversy. He did everything that was asked of him and in return, he is going to get another decent contract and the Mets were able to get a highly touted pitching prospect. Again, he did all that was asked of him, the only difference now is that I am content with it.

Best of luck in San Fran, Carlos. Thanks for your 7 years in blue and orange.

Best Case Beltran Trade Scenario's

My boy JWM asked me to write on what my preferred Carlos Beltran trades would be - specifically, he asked that I "be specific; no maybe they'll get some draft picks or prospects. Tell me which prospects you would look at and what type of pick. Or give the top deals you want made as a fan (more on the unrealistic side) and the top deals you think could actually happen (realistic)."

So here's the thing - nothing annoys me more than reading posts about trading Daniel Murphy, Scott Hairston and Fernando Martinez to St Louis for Albert Pujols. Unrealistic trades rumors do nothing for me. So I will only attempt to rank my top realistic trades...

The problem with that is that unfortunately I know little to nothing about prospects from other organizations, so I will only go with some rumors that I have heard.

A few notes before we begin. First, pitching is more important to me than hitting. I read one writer suggest that since pitching will be abundant in the next few years that they should focus on hitting instead. I couldn't disagree more - they need pitching because they don't have any in the organization outside of Matt Harvey and Jennry Mejia who is out for the entire year. Second, trading him out of the division would be preferable. I mean, even if he goes to Philly it will only be a rental, but still...he'll be in Philly. Third, even though Adam Rubin is reporting that none of the interested teams will be giving up their top prospect, I am going under the impression that someone will panic and pull the trigger.

Without further ado, here is my list:

1. San Francisco for top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler (#57 in 2011 Baseball America pre-season prospects). In order to do this trade as with many others, they will have to eat all of Beltran's salary. He fits all my criteria - 20 year old pitcher, outside of the division.
   
   
2. Atlanta for top pitching prospect Mike Minor (#37). Beltran might be staying within the division, but Minor is a lefty who is already in the big leagues and could help instantly.
   
   
3. Atlanta for top pitching prospect Julio Teheran (#5). Again, Beltran stays in the division, but I don't think Alderson would blink an eye. Teheran is a 19 year old right handed pitcher ranked as the #5 prospect. The only reason Minor ranks above him is the immediate impact he would make as compared to Teheran who is likely to come up late 2012.
   
   
4. Philadelphia for top outfield prospect Domonic Brown (#4). This doesn't exactly fit any of the critiera - Beltran stays in the division and they don't get an arm, but with Beltran gone, Pagan soon gone and Bay simply lost, they need someone to challenge Fernando Martinez, Lucas Duda and Jason Pridie.
   
   
5. Texas for top pitching prospect Martin Perez (#24). Perez is 19 years old and a lefty. Texas is in the AL. It would be a perfect trade for the Mets, but probably the most unrealistic of the bunch. While Texas is all of a sudden crazy deep with pitching, they are not going to mortgage the future. AND Texas is in the AL, so Beltran likely won't waive his no-trade clause.
   

Other teams being mentioned are Boston, Pittsburgh, Milwaukee and Cleveland. Realistically, he won't be going to either of the AL teams because of his stated preference to stay in the NL. He also won't be going to Pittsburgh because they are not offering prospects but rather to pay his salary. I have no idea what Milwaukee has left to offer.

So where does he end up going? No one knows right now, but the theory I like the most is that Philly buckles and gives up their best prospect not named Dom Brown. They are probably feeling pretty good about where they sit right now, but I don't think they can sit back at the deadline and not add a bat. I am not sold on Hunter Pence or BJ Upton being the guy, so Beltran is the obvious fit. It would be the last move in a season where all their chips are all in. The team is built to win in the short term and this would push them over the top. A World Series title is definitely worth it.

All is Wright Now That He is Back

I am loving that David Wright is back. By all shadow of a doubt, he is my favorite current Mets player and has probably surpassed both HoJo and Mike Piazza in terms of all-time favoritism. When Wright was out for 57 games, it just didn't feel right. Sure, the team was overachieving - winning with not just Reyes and Beltran but with Justin Turner, Dillon Gee, Daniel Murphy, Josh Thole and Ruben Tejada - but without Wright, I felt a little dirty rooting for them. I mean, if they were winning without him, then there are some obvious conclusions that can be drawn. What if Wright was indeed the problem and instead of moving Reyes they would be better off moving him?

Simply mentioning that sentence makes me sick. I have said it before and I'll say it again - I know I can't think rationally when it comes to Wright. I'd like to still think that Wright can be part of the solution - that he is not only the top third baseman in the league, but a player that can bring a championship to Queens. I honestly believe this and am happy to have him back in the lineup.

Now I know he will go through his tough spells - he is no longer than same player from 4 years ago that would take what the pitcher gave him and go to the opposite field. He is pulling the ball more, striking out more and solely trying to drive in runs. Yet, at the end of the day, I don't think there is any other third baseman I would want on my team. Not Longoria. Not Zimmerman. Not Beltre. Not A-Rod. AND there is no other player I want leading my team. I love that he grew up a Mets fan. I love that he takes losing personally. I simply love him.

Now I know it is only early, but the returns have been good. In 4 games since his return, Wright is 8-19 with 3 doubles, 1 home run and 6 rbi. He is on fire, but unfortunately the Mets are only 2-2.

If both he and Reyes can stay healthy for the rest of the year AND if both Justin Turner and Daniel Murphy continue hitting well then this will continue to be a fun team to support (even after they trade Beltran later this week - something I will write about at another time). I am loving what Murphy is doing - hitting .308 with 26 doubles and 44 rbi while playing 40 games at 1b, 23 games at 2b, 26 games at 3b and 1 game in Left Field. I had high hopes for him, but not even I could have dreamed of this. With the unfortunate season-ending injury that Ike Davis suffered, it is a blessing to have Murphy and his ever-improving glove in the line-up for us. As for Turner - he was behind both Brad Emaus and Murphy entering the year but is now firmly entrenched in the 2-hole and hitting .277 on the year. I can't even say how pleasant a surprise he has been because I hadn't even heard of him coming into the year.

So yeah, this team is only 51-51, but with Wright back and Reyes continuing to kill the ball, the remainder of the season is bound to be good.

Wednesday Morning Mets Ramblings

The last time I wrote a column discussing how fun this current Mets team is, they team then proceeded to go on a losing streak. So if history is an indication, this column could be a bad idea. I am unfazed though for one simple reason -no matter what warts this team has, they continue to fight and they continue to exceed expectations. I have to hand it to Sandy Alderson - he made a good hire in Terry Collins. I don't know if Collins should be the man moving forward, but he has been a nice change of pace from the previous two regimes. This team is playing with pride and a never say die attitude. When you think about it, it's a perfect Mets team. We have consistently choked over the past 20 years when we were the favorites, loaded with talent. Even when we were successful it never felt as good as supporting a team overlooked by the media that proved everyone wrong. Yankees fans might be good rooting for the favorites, but as Mets fans we need to support the underdog...we need to believe.

With that being said, I am halfway believing that we can make some noise in the Wild Card chase. I'm not sure we can win it, but I think we can be playing some meaningful games in September. It's not that I don't think this team can continue winning, it's just that it's a team in transition. Normally if we were sitting at 42-40, fans would be calling for management to trade our prospects to get a big bat or arm so that we could win this year. This year is a little different - some are calling for trades, but for once they are not irrational requests. Instead, most fans want the team to trade Beltran and K-Rod...some (like myself) are even asking for management to trade Jose Reyes. I am far enough removed from NY that I don't listen the FAN and I don't read the local newspapers, but I can't imagine Mets fans are getting too caught up in the 2011 team. I hope that they all know that we are playing with house money this year and that 2012 should really be our focus.

I'm not saying we should entirely give up on this season, but I don't think we need to add big name players to continue to be successful. It would be one thing if we had our full lineup and were two games over .500. Maybe I would feel differently about our prospects, but the fact is that while we are maximizing our talent with the current team, we have guys within our organization that can step in and continue winning games. I'm talking Jason Bay, David Wright, Ike Davis and Johan Santana (remember those guys??).

Right now the Mets are winning with good pitching, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and a different guy every night - Justin Turner, Daniel Murphy, Ruben Tejada or Angel Pagan. Reyes has been out of this world, but I don't need to tell you that. The April-June 2011 version of Reyes is even more than we all could have hoped for. The problem is that he is a free agent at the end of the year and injury prone. There is no one in the game that compares to Reyes - he is a talent like none other. Conventional wisdom says you don't let a guy like this go, but to me, his injury problems can't be ignored. I have written about this in the past - I just feel like we're damned with whatever we choose to do. If we let him walk he'll become a star someplace else. If we re-sign him he will probably get hurt. In the end, I think we need a change and with Reyes playing at an MVP level, he might be able to bring us some good parts in return. The question we need to ask ourselves though is do we have a suitable replacement? I think the answer is yes - while Ruben Tejada will never be the second coming of Jose Reyes, I think he can be above average replacement who can play good defense and hit 7th in the lineup and maybe someday even 2nd. As for replacing Reyes in the leadoff spot, Angel Pagan has shown that he can do a fine job in the past. Again, it's not Reyes, but it's not terrible.

I have been the first to harp on Beltran in the past, but I will be the first to admit that he has been amazing this year. Did you know that he currently leads the team in games played this year? That's right...Carlos Beltran. Simply amazing. With 13 HR, 24 doubles, 57 RBI and a .283 average, he definitely deserves to be an All-Star. The problem with Beltran of course is the same with Reyes - he is a free agent at the end of the year and an injury risk. The difference is that he is 5 years older. He certainly won't be back with the team next year (although I would take him back for a reasonable salary of say $4million) so the obvious move is to trade him. Some think we won't be able to get much for him considering his huge salary and history of bad knees, but I think some team will panic come August and send us some good prospects (of course, if not, he can stay with the team and we can get two draft picks once he signs elsewhere). As for replacing Beltran in the lineup, we have a guy named Jason Bay who is more than capable than pulling his weight. It might be wishful thinking considering how terrible he has been in his two seasons with the Mets, but he is starting to warm up -since June 15 he is hitting .347 with 4 HR and 17 RBI. IF, and I know it's a big IF, Bay can come around, then we have a nice replacement for Beltran.

When we start thinking about Wright and Davis coming back, we need to think about how it is going to effect the team. If both are healthy, Collins would be nuts to start unsung heroes Justin Turner, Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda over them, but I wonder what effect it will have. Part of me thinks that you don't mess with something good, but it's not like Wright and Daivs are divas. They are hard workers who want to win above all else, so I think their re-introduction would be a positive thing (of course we might not see Davis again this year so who knows). The only thing Collins will need to do is figure out how to get Murphy and Turner some at-bats. They will probably platoon at second base and provide the occasional bat off the bench but their real worth will be at first (if possible). Duda has shown some promising moments, but overall he is still not where he needs to be. Murphy and Turner could continue to see time there.

So there you have it - I just talked myself into trading both Reyes and Beltran all while continuing to flourish on offense. I mean, compare our line-up now: Reyes-Turner-Beltran-Murphy-Bay-Pagan-Thole-Tejada to what it could be after the deadline: Pagan-Murphy-Wright-Davis-Bay-Tejada-Thole-Martinez. It's not the worst thing...

As for pitching, who knows what we'll get out of Johan (or if we should even bring him back this season), but you have to think his introduction into the rotation would be a good thing. I don't want to take anything away from the current guys, but Santana is not someone you throw in the bullpen so that Chris Capuano can continue to get in games. While Pelfrey would be the guy to move based on performance, I don't think they would do it because of what a headcase he is. So I think its Capuano who gets moved to the 'pen, which would then allow us to move Izzy or Tim Byrdak as reports are suggesting. I don't know if we can get anything for either of them, but they are not longterm guys, so why not kick the tires a little? As for K-Rod, we don't have a closer in waiting (some suggest Parnell might be that guy but I don't know), but he needs to go. Trading him might hurt the team on the field, but it is a necessary move to help cleanse the clubhouse and organization of the stank that has been over them for a few years. They got rid of Perez and Castillo in the offseason - now it's K-Rod's turn.

I'm not sure if I was coherent in any way, but those are my rambling thoughts on the Mets before I go on vacation. I am enjoying supporting them this year even if they lost 4 of 6 do the effing Yankees, but I do realize that this isn't their team moving forward. We need to make some moves with 2012 in mind...amazingly though I think we have the within house to remain competitive for the rest of this season. All I know is that it is going to be an interesting few months.