Gwreck

At least Marty's work appears on the Mets website. Maybe then, somebody working for the team would get a clue... ...or perhaps not. Tonight's number-puller is -- I shit you not -- the Lincoln-Mercury Representative.

Metsblog reports[/url:1igkkh6t] that this offer was emailed to season ticket holders, combination plan and weekday plan holders. They also report that this was included in the info: �Proceeds from the Mets� share of net revenues generated through the sale of seat pairs will be donated to the Mets Foundation, which will distribute the funds to various charities.�

Rotation shake-ups are a-comin,' what with Maine's DL trip, etc. Adam Rubin reports that the Mets will again try to split up Santana and Perez, meaning that the spot starter will go on Friday. Additionally, San Diego rotation shakeup means we miss Peavy. vs SD Tue Aug 5 - Pelfrey v. Chris Young Wed Aug 6 - Pedro v. Cha Seung Baek Thu Aug 7 - Santana v. Josh Banks vs FLA Fri Aug 8 - TBA (Claudio Vargas?) v. Ricky Nolasco Sat Aug 9 - Perez v. Scott Olsen Sun Aug 10 - Pelfrey v. Josh Johnson v PIT Mon Aug 11 - Pedro v. Zach Duke at WAS Tue Aug 12 - Santana v. Jason Bergmann Wed Aug 13 - Maine returns? v. Colin Balester Thu Aug 14 - Perez v. Tim Redding

Perez 3.5 Delgado 2 Heilman 1.5 Wagner 1 Evans .5 Reyes .5 Wright .5 Beltran .5

Easley 2.5 Anderson 2 Muniz 1.5 Schneider 1 Reyes 1 Sanchez .5

Reyes 1 Delgado 1 Smith 1 Easley .5 Tatis .5 A. Reyes .5 Wright .5 Feliciano .5 Martinez .5

Santana 3.5 Easley 2 Reyes 1 Delgado 1 Murphy 1 Beltran .5 Sanchez .5 Smith .33

Delgado 1 Reyes 1 Perez .75 Schoeneweis .67 Beltran .5 Muniz .33

As mentioned in the game threads, I spent the past weekend in the Lone Star state watching the Mets get their asses handed to them by the Astros (Friday/Sunday) and took a detour to Arlington to see the Blue Jays/Rangers tilt on Saturday. Minute Maid is a spectacular park and after this visit, clearly one of my favorites. It compares nicely to most of the retractable roof parks, in that you don't feel like you're seeing baseball in a warehouse (Arizona). The huge windows over left and left-center field require the wearing of sunglasses indoors for those seated on the first base side of the stands -- strange, when you're watching baseball in air-conditioned comfort. Nice views from just about every seat in the house, and the alley over left and center field is a nice feature as well. The Astros also do a very nice job of integrating city (ie. the train, and the old Union Station which was converted into an entrance into the park/offices/team store) and team history into the park (tons of murals, timelines, tributes to Astros of the past). Thumbs down to not allowing any outside food or beverages. The barbeque baked potato (a potato loaded with cheddar cheese, beef briskey, sour cream and chives) was amazing. Rangers Ballpark doesn't have the open concourses that most of the newer parks has but they're still plenty wide and allow for easy movement to the numerous concession stands. Didn't get to eat much there but I did notice they offer several choice items, including an authentic Chicago Hot Dog as well as Garlic Fries. Thumbs up for allowing outside food and beverages (the 4 bottles of water we brought were not enough!). I appreciate the baseball traditionalist approach of having the game played outdoors no matter what (even if was 101 degrees at gametime on Saturday night). The upperdeck seats aren't very good, and the lower deck seats were a bit pricey for a team that hasn't had a lot of success in the recent past. Rangers have their own mini-Cooperstown (great for fans who won't be in upstate New York much) with exhibits and items on loan from the HOF, but also a very well done Texas baseball museum to boot.I On the plane home, I came up with Gwreck's updated current baseball park rankings (what are yours?) 1. PNC Park, Pittsburgh 2. Safeco Field, Seattle 3. Comerica Park, Detroit 4. Minute Maid Park, Houston 5. Miller Park, Milwaukee 6. Bank One Ballpark, Phoenix 7. Rangers Ballpark in Arlington 8. Citizens Bank Park, Philadelphia 9. Wrigley Field, Chicago 10. Comiskey Park, Chicago 11. Fenway Park, Boston 12. Shea Stadium 13. Skydome, Toronto 14. Yankee Stadium

Tiny sample size (30 PAs) for that stat, however. After the one glorious game in Coors Field, Evans is 8 for 45 with one double and one RBI. That being said, I would agree that it's defensible (even if I don't like it/disagree) for Manuel to give him a start once a week. Minaya doesn't have the same excuse.

AG/DC wrote: Good point. On Nick Evans... sure, except, if you're not going to score any runs, it doesn't matter if you have Roberto Clemente out there. Nick Evans is also a big part of the "not scoring any runs" problem. If you're giving up on getting offense from the position, we should at least put Chavez out there -- yes, even against a lefty. Unless and until Evans can hit, he shouldn't have a place on the team.

I thought -- from my 12th row seat behind home plate (no sign of George and Barbara Bush) -- that Meriwether was calling the strikes inconsistently. Nick Evans should not be playing left field. Cannot believe he did not get an error when he fell down, and then on the next batter, his slow pursuit and retrieval of the ball in the corner allowed the second run to score. Oliver deserved better (no walks, again). Houston getting three runners thrown out on the bases in terrible fashion was no comfort, nor was David Newhan's GIDP. Kunz looked nervous of course but if he controls the fastball he should be ok. The Houston fans still really hate Beltran. "He deserted us for a couple extra million" was the stated reason. They don't seem to understand capitalism (in Houston, of all places!), or that their owner has plenty of dough, or that Beltran wasn't exactly a homegrown player, or what he did for them in the playoffs, etc. Suffice to say that the Houston fans did not impress at all in terms of baseball intelligence.

Greetings from Houston. I assure you this game was 50% worse in person. I'll never get that 5 minutes of hell back after the Loretta home run. Especially because Jerry lifted Heilman at that point, which only propelled the celebration on further. (Fortunately, Texas hospitality prevailed and it was "ok" being there, rather than the "I kinda fear for my safety right now" feeling that I get in Philly when something like that happens). The Schneider "hit" was a egregious example of hometown scoring. Tejada had what I like to call a "completely unnecessary spin-move" but then threw it away, when any good throw at all would have nailed Schneider. Sanchez warmed when the Mets were batting in the top of the 8th but I was fine with sticking with Heilman. Misc. notes from Houston: The ballpark is a very pleasant experience. Food options are limited but the barbeque baked potato was reported as 'super-yummy.' As far as roofed parks go, it's nicer than Toronto, Arizona or Milwaukee but not as nice as Seattle. I'm still a little unsure about if I like air-conditioned baseball but it certainly would have been unpleasant in the Houston heat. (Tomorrow we are in Texas to see TOR-TEX so I'll have a point for comparison). Kaz Matsui was greeted warmly before the game by Wright and Reyes, and Delgado (ever the classy gentleman) greeted him with a bow.

If nothing else, it's nice to have Bay, Nady and Marte off the Pirates when we play our remaining 4 games against them.

I generally despise what Wallace Matthews writes, but here[/url:i92l8bbe], I generally agree with him.

The off days on either side of the Houston series will allow Maine's next projected start to fall on August 9 against Florida. at FLA Wed Jul 30 - Pelfrey v. Josh Johnson at HOU Fri Aug 1 - Pedro v. Brandon Backe Sat Aug 2 - Santana v. Roy Oswalt Sun Aug 3 - Perez v. Randy Wolf vs SD Tue Aug 5 - Pelfrey v. Cha Seung Baek Wed Aug 6 - Pedro v. Jake Peavy Thu Aug 7 - Santana v. Greg Maddux vs FLA Fri Aug 8 - Perez v. Ricky Nolasco Sat Aug 9 - Maine v. Scott Olsen Sun Aug 10 - Pelfrey v. Josh Johnson

With all those prospects involved, too early to know if it's horrible, no? The Rangers haven't gotten any major league production of substance from those players yet.

I thought his real first name was Eldrick. Anyway, definitely the Edge commercials gets the bullet. Nothing else even comes close.

It's just the familiar terminology.

Time for an update: CONCOURSE LEVEL (Lower level): Sterling Club Seats First 20 rows of seats, directly behind home plate (between the dugouts) -- approximately 1,600 seats in total Rows 1-2 ("Platinum"): $495 Rows 3-8 ("Gold"): $375 Rows 9-14 ("Silver"): $225 Rows 15-20: $175 Ebbets Club Seats Next 8 rows of seats, directly behind home plate (between the dugouts) -- approximately 600 seats in total Rows 1-2 ("Gold"): $250 Rows 3-8: $200 Metropolitan Box Seats The four sections of field level seats closest to the Sterling and Ebbets Clubs -- Approx 3,500 seats in total Rows 1-2 ("Platinum"): $375 Rows 3-6 ("Gold"): $225 Rows 7-12 ("Silver"): $175 Rows 13-31 ("Box"): $150 Field Box Seats Next four sections of lower level seats-- Approx 3,500 seats in total Rows A-E ("Gold"): $225 Rows 1-6 ("Silver"): $175 Rows 7-31 ("Box"): $125 Baseline Box Seats Next four sections of lower level out to the foul poles -- Approx 3,500 seats in total No pricing information provided yet. Left Field Reserved / Right Field Reserved Approx 5 sections in LF and 3 sections in RF; seats in fair territory in the OF -- Approx 4,750 seats in total First two rows ("Gold"): Rows 3-19: No pricing information provided yet. Big Apple 3 sections in CF closest to the Apple -- approx. 1250 seats No pricing information provided yet. Bridge Terrace 2 rows of seats above the bullpens in right-center field No pricing information provided yet. EXCELSIOR LEVEL (Middle level): Excelsior Club Seats Approx 4000 seats in total Rows 1-2, behind home plate ("Platinum"): $175 Rows 3-6, behind home plate ("Gold"): $150 Rows 1-2, behind dugouts ("Silver"): $125 Rows 3-12, behind dugouts ("Bronze"): $115 Rows 1-12, the remaining 4 sections from infield out to foul poles: $75 Left Field Landing Above left field reserved -- approx 2000 seats total Rows 1-2 ("Gold"): Rows 3-14: No pricing information provided yet. Right Field Porch Above right field reserved -- first few rows overhang field -- approx 1800 seats total Rows 1-2 ("Gold"): Rows 3-16: No pricing information provided yet. PROMENADE LEVEL (Upper level): Split with "boxes" at front and "reserved" in back, similar to current Shea setup Promenade Club All boxes on infield -- approx 1800 seats Rows 1-2 ("Gold"): $60-$75 Rows 3-5: $48-$60 No pricing information provided yet. Promenade Boxes All remaining boxes from bases to outfield - approx 2250 seats No pricing information provided yet. Promenade Reserved Infield Highest level of seats, infield -- approx 5700 seats $20-$25 Promenade Reserved Highest level of seats, outfield -- approx 5700 seats No pricing information provided yet.

Nope. It's like Moose or Fish. If you have a lineup of 9 Fernandos, it would be 9 Tatis.

Delgado 2.5 Tatis 2 Reyes 1.75 Wagner 1.5 Sanchez .75 Schoeneweis .75 Heilman .75

="Benjamin Grimm"]According to the Daily News, Jose Reyes got married at City Hall yesterday. Picture of the happy couple:

="John Cougar Lunchbucket"] Looks like The Schneid also made the shindig but who are the others? The other male in the picture is Dave Racaniello, Mets bullpen catcher and close friend of Wright.

Yes. One of the talking heads on SNY was saying that the Yankees could have had Santana last year for Ohlendorf, Tabata and Ian Kennedy.