EIGHT WEEKS LEFT
(August 1st - August 7th)
Mets: Bye-Bye Beltran!
Yankees: Hello Nobody?
For the Mets, it was a productive last half of July even though they were “sellers”. The front office did exactly what fans wanted and have very little to complain about…right now. When the Jose Reyes topic arises at year’s end, then the fans in New York who root for the orange and blue might have a few qualms to complain or worry about.
The Yankees on the other hand took the silent approach this season in a month the team’s front office is known for pulling in All-Star type players to help their usual playoff push. Brian Cashman and baby Steinbrenner must have forgotten about their rotation problems. Cashman stated, “…I believe in our guys.” Well, at 64-42 I guess you can say that with confidence. Too bad you’re still not the best team in baseball, let alone in your own division.
New York Mets55-53
3rd place/13.5 GB/7.5 GB in wildcard
If you are smart and savvy and have some knowledge for America’s Pastime you wanted the Mets to ship out Frankie Rodriguez and Carlos Beltran. Open up some money for the future and hopefully the door to re-signing Jose Reyes. Now, I’m not sold on giving Jose Reyes all the money in the world or as some like to put it, “Carl Crawford money”, but the man is an amazement to watch and have in the lead-off spot for any team. Still batting .342 after another multi-hit game Sunday afternoon Reyes continues to shine in his contract year. Off season talks are going to be treacherous, but at the least Sandy Alderson made some room in the payroll by dumping the formally known “K-Rod”, whose now working as a set-up man in Milwaukee. Moving the aging Beltran was a smart move as well, while adding Zack Wheeler to the Mets farm team. Wheeler is a top prospect from San Francisco striking out 170 plus batters in the minors in only 140 innings. The Giants have grown pitchers through their system for some time now and the Mets were able to steal one away. With Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler as future MLB starters the Mets are seemingly building a foundation of players.
The Mets had some week winning five straight. Four against the Reds in Cinncinatti and the first of three against Washington. The only sour taste left in the Met fan’s mouth was how can they beat such a competitive team in the Reds, (and beat them well 4-2, 8-6, 8-2 and 10-9) scoring runs after runs with a depleted lineup filled with less power then an un-mutated Ninja Turtle then to loose the last two in Washington.
Want to read a sorry stat?
The Mets were 2-10 on Saturday and Sunday games in the month of July and still finished 14-13. This gives them no good endings to a weekend series and no competitive strive leading into the next week of games. Good thing I’m going this Friday, so maybe I’ll catch a win before the weekend slide.
Florida @ MetsMonday thru Wednesday at 7:10pm
The Mets struggle in division games…they always have and most likely always will. Florida’s “red-hots” are the number one and two batters in their lineup. Bonifacio had a serious hit streak snapped just this past week, but raised his average to .298 in the process. Omar Infante had been real quiet all year after coming over from an unbelievable year in Atlanta. However, now the second baseman has been enduring some multi-hit games for the past three weeks and raised his average .20 points in that span. If the Mets can keep these two off the base paths and keep the it all clear for Hanley Ramirez, (who is having his worst professional season to date) the damage can be limited.
As the Mets number one starter on Opening Day Mike Pelfrey takes the mound tonight. He only has 6 wins on the season and an ERA bubbling at 4.55. The completely mediocre Chris Capuano and the ten game winner Dillon Gee will follow to pitch in the series.
Atlanta @ MetsFriday and Saturday at 7:10pm
Sunday at 1:10pm
It’s not like the Mets are really in the playoff hunt, but we all can remember the years they were on top and then knocked out. Florida played a large part in the back to back seasons of squandering failure for the Mets in September, but who was the team that reaped the benefits? Well, Philly of course, but how bout them Braves. Always a rival and always great games when these two teams meet. I’ll be there to witness game one on Friday night and regardless of the records this Doctor is going to be shouting in between sips of beer rooting for the Mets to kick the crap out of a sorry Atlanta lineup. When Dan Uggla is your hottest player (22 game hit streak) then the team must not be scoring runs in bunches. Brain McCann is newly on the DL and that hurts hard in Georgia, having the Tomahawk fans holding their breath and halting their chop.
(A “weak” long prediction 5-1)
New York Yankees64 - 42
2nd Place/2 GB/6.5 game lead in Wildcard
For as long as I can remember the Yankees have always brought in a new face, a new star a new whatever to bring more hope and strength to an already great team. This year, I guess Brian Cashman is realizing that he already has a great team, so why not stick with it? The truth is that the Yankees are fantastic. They sit only 2 games back from the best team in the AL with a powerhouse offense with or without their biggest named player in the starting lineup. So what if they don’t make some moves?
The problem is, the pitching staff. Starters and Relief pitching. The woes of Phil Hughes continue and how long will before Bartolo Colon and Freddy Garcia fall back to reality. Colon’s stamina entering the last two months is a question mark in my head as he is certainly out of shape. But he pitches, it’s the least active position on the field. Will obesity effect a guy who just needs to throw a ball 100 times a game? Possibly. Freddy Garcia, has been amazing winning his 10th game of the season yesterday pitching another 6 strong innings while keeping his ERA down down down to a respected 3.22. Can a guy with a lifetime ERA over four be this unstoppable? It’s happened in the past, but a pick up last week would have sat better with me. The situation grows with the bullpen. The Yankees enter August with one lone lefty in the bullpen in Boon Logan and he hasn’t been completely effective.
The suites wanted to keep their prospects in place and in the long run I think this will pay off in the Yankees favor. I’m just not use to this plan of action by the most successful team in American sports. They wouldn’t budge for Ubaldo Jimenez, but the Indians gave up the farm. The wouldn’t move in on Erik Bedard, but the Red Sox continued to empty their future rosters for the now. Right now. The Yankees feel their sitting pretty, and I agree, but don’t be surprised by a free agent pick up in the middle of August. Just as the Mets I think Cashman and the “bosses” son has a plan. It’s just easier to make those plans look good 22 games over .500 and not be yelled at by screaming mad fans.
Yankees @ White SoxMonday thru Thursday 8:10pm
I continue to love this series, but the White Sox are so ugly at times it makes me sick. At two games under .500 the Sox are still in the hunt only four games out of first. Ozzie G. knows this is the time to get hot and pull out all the weapons he can to deliver winning baseball in Chi-town. They have the players as I picked them to go all the way this year, but the molding of this team needs another coat of paint to hold this squad together. CC goes against Jake Peavy tonight and Hughes, Burnett and Colon will follow. Either Chicago makes a move starting this week or its over and the Yankees go into Boston high on life.
Yankees @ Red SoxFriday at 7:10pm
Saturday at 4:10pm on FOX
Sunday 8:05pm on ESPN
I’ve said enough over the past 10 games between these two and Boston won 9 of them. The Yankees will have Freddy Ann, the struggling Phil Hughes (I guess, we will see after Tuesday) and CC to close out the series. Big week, with an even bigger weekend. It’s time to put a dash of scare into the slack-jaw tawkers up there in Patriot-vill and shake things up a bit before the post season.
(A “weak” long prediction two from each sock making pairs, to go 4-3)
TRADES WINNERS, LOSERS and the uninvited.
The top two teams in baseball made the biggest splash this weekend. With the never say die ball club in St. Louis coming in at a close third.Hunter Pence is a great asset and he is still young. The phillies skipped on signing Werth this past off season and what a move that was. Now they have Pence and I have to say I’m a big fan. He hits for average and fits swimmingly into this lineup that needed a push down the stretch. Ryan Howard will do his usual streak of amazement in the last two months just like the past three years. Old man Ibanez is waking up his power bat and the pitching…we all know about the pitching. It’s one of the best in baseball by far.
The other team with great pitching is Boston and they added to a top-notch rotation with the questionable Erik Bedard. The Red Sox continued to deplete their minor league system for a guy who hasn’t pitch a full season since I liked the Mets. (I know Devlin, he hasn’t been in the league that long…it’s a joke.) Oh, the Bo-Sox also picked up Mike Aviles…why?
The St. Louis Cardinals made some moves this week as they stay close in the NL Central. Enough to make a push, I doubt it. Picking up Edwin Jackson was good, letting Colby Rasmus, go not so great. Other news, Mr. Furcal is too old to make a difference.
Texas got Mike Adams from San Diego. Great move and much needed. They also acquired RHP Koji Uehara and cash from the Baltimore Orioles for RHP Tommy Hunter and INF Chris Davis. Davis never worked out, but Hunter has good potential.
The Indians traded young stud Drew Pomeranz (should be named later this month) and three others for the struggling Ubaldo. I feel it’s a little to late for Cleveland and they should have taken the Pittsburgh approach.
The Pirates got Derrek Lee and Ryan Ludwick without giving up any top notch youngsters. They needed a spark in the lineup, but are these two the answers? Got to be better then what Lyle Overbay has done in four months.
I like the Tigers getting Doug Fister, it’s a quiet move, but he may help.
Arizona and their manager of the year Kirk Gibson made garbage moves with very little impact to come out of them. Jason Marquis will never be worth it especially it you’re trying to take down the 2010 Champions. Brad Ziegler will help in the bullpen and this team might actually continue to surprise the hell out of me. I have no more words on this.
The Braves made a small move (no pun intended) and picked up some outfield help in Michael Bourn. Hey, Atlanta might actually have a lead-off runner on base a few times a game.
ADAM HAMMER’S “Loose Lips”
- The trade deadline came and went, and it sucked. The Blue Jays secured 3rd place in the 2012 AL East by acquiring Colby Rasmus.
- The Yankees made no moles while the Moles traded Carlos Beltran to the Giants. Beltran will likely be remembered for striking mole to end the 2006 NLCS against the Moles, but what I will remember about him is his mole.
- The Yankees did score 12 runs in the first inning against Baltimore in the nightcap of a double-header on Saturday. It was the most runs the Yankees have ever scored in the first inning, or one less run than the Mariners scored in the seven games from July 2nd through July 8th. That isn't a joke.
- Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramirez informed the Cubs that they would not approve a trade. They did try to unload Carlos Zambrano on the Yankees, but refused to trade Carlos Pena, a potential target for several AL teams. The Cubs, who have won 1 playoff series since 1908 couldn't trade the two players teams wanted, tried to trade someone no one wanted and refused to trade someone anyone could have used. - Rafael Soriano returned to the Yankees pen, restoring the hilariously named So-Ro-Mo pen combination.
And now for your reading pleasure…
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The Future; According to the Late-Great George Carlin
“People will be born with just enough money, until they get seriously ill.”
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