Welcome Back Note

I learned a few things while spending some time in Paradise after getting hitched the week before...

The Mets continue to battle with .500 baseball, A-Rod was a worthless number 2 fantasy pick, the Mets will be "sellers" these next two weeks, shown when sending Frankie Rodriguez to the Brewers for nobody and the Yankees will probably be "buyers" as they look for a Starting Pitcher to fill out their rotation. The All-Star game is still only mildly entertaining, while the Home-Run Derby is a complete waste of time. If I had to hear "back, back, back" out of Chris Berman's mouth one more time I would have stuck Q-tips in my ears permanently. It's a home-run derby Berman, a lot of balls go back, back, back...that's the point. Thankfully, I only had time to watch a few minutes of both of these ESPN events in a hallway with two pool tables, plenty of alcoholic beverages and cigarettes. I was relaxing on an island in the West Indies and was still able to be annoyed by the whole sha-bang.

            METS 50 -51

That’s all over with and the 2nd half of baseball in upon us. The New York Mets are 50-51 after having a tough time with Florida. Friday night’s game was the Mets season in three hours. They took the lead, lost the lead, up by one, then no fun. Winning…tied, D. Wright returns with two double…hooray, tied again. My mind was numb, but they pulled off the series opener 7-6. Losing the next two proved there was no spark set after the nice win, even after the team played the Cardinals so well. Nothing new in Queens. Just simple facts, like that 2012 is the year to look at and Beltran’s days in a Mets uniform are obviously numbered. Where he’ll go makes no difference, it’s a question and interest of who the Amazin’s receive in exchange? Sadly not a soul. It’s a moles hole that no one can seem to escape out of.

I see real positive things in the Mets GM, Sandy Alderson. I think he is looking forward and freeing money. I feel he cares about his position and wants to bring winning baseball on the East side of New York. This week will be very interesting as the trade “deadline” looms at Sunday. The Mets organization has work to do. Pitching and power production out of their lineup is a must. Small ball can work in Citi Field, but Terry Collins doesn’t have it going yet.

The Reds are the next challenge and they are not clicking like last year’s surging surprise. Dusty Baker will never be saved by this Doctor on the surgery table. The guy is a walking disaster. I see this every time he walks out for a pitching change, which is no less than four on a good day. 

YANKEES 59 -40

Three games back from the Boston Red Sox, the Bronx Bombers really can still play cool with a 5.5 game lead in the Wild Card spot. Two team that are easily described as mediocre, in Tampa Bay and the Angels strike no threat in my mind to the Yankees. Besides a hurt Alex Rodriguez, which would be a huge hit to any other team it would be fatal. When a player of that stature goes down its season over in any other city, but not in Yankee World. The only other team that could survive a star player losing as much time as A-Rod is would be the Red Sox. The lineup for the Yankees will be fine as they will always produce when hot. With Granderson, Swisher, Big Tex and Cano being a consistent danger to the opposing pitcher you just don’t worry. They took two out of three from Oakland, while scoring a massive 17 runs in Friday night’s game now face the forever struggling Seattle Mariners.

The Yankees are sitting pretty with a trade or two in the near future. Another starter will come into town replacing Hughes. He needs to straighten up and Brian Cashman is not going to wait for Phil to catch up. Another bat wouldn’t be a surprise, but pitching, pitching, pitching win World Series. I’m still looking towards the last few Red Sox series. It’s bound to be cut-throat as the season grows deeper and the AL East title stays up for grabs.

The Yankees are 19 games over .500 and I’m sorry, maybe it’s my Pittsburgh Pirate blood, but you have to be happy with that. Especially in these times, with the Wild Card playoff expansion. They will take Seattle 2 out of 3 at the least and players will be bought by week’s end. Biggest question is why they say Ivan Nova is not up for trades, I say sell high on that guy and see what you get. It’s possible the Yankees “suites” are still feeling the lumps in their throats from letting Ian Kennedy fly over to Arizona.