Gwreck

Box Score

Well, yeah, semantics and all that. What exactly did you mean by "much better" in your initial question, then?

Elster88 wrote: Yabbut, LoDuca was really not special for us. I don't consider that a trade where the Mets reamed seomeone. I don't think ten years from now that trade will be remembered as such. I think LoDuca's 2006 was pretty good, and if we got him for what is essentially the money on his contract, it was a good deal. If you're thinking blatant "steals," then yes, there's Person/Olerud or Dykstra and McDowell for Samuel etc.

Benson for Julio and Maine worked out pretty well for us. Neither of the prospects we traded to Florida for LoDuca have made the majors yet and haven't exactly impressed in the minors, either. The Bell/Ring for Johnson/Atkins trade was also a total bust for us.

Gary and Keith did a very fair and even handed analysis of the Ryan Church situation during the 3rd and 4th innings -- apparently he's going to see a neurologist in New York on Monday. He wasn't able to play on Wednesday due to fatigue, and couldn't pinch hit last night. It's abundantly clear that the Mets mishandled his situation from the start by not immediately putting him on the DL. He's done 2 cross-country flights; he's played some but been held out of other games due to symptoms; there was a pinch-hitting appearance that he couldn't even remember. At this point, the fact that they have failed to put Church on the DL is truly incompetence by Omar Minaya and the Mets' staff. All I could keep thinking as Gary and Keith discussed this was "It's not too late! He hasn't played in the last 4 games. Put him on the DL NOW!!!!"

Gary telling us SNY viewers that Giles' double would've been a homer in "any other park in the league." Yeah it was hit deep, and yeah, I know Petco's a big park, but the double landed just in front of the warning track. It wouldn't have been high enough to go out in many places, and not deep enough in some, either. I can think of several off the top of my head: Miami, Yankee Stadium, Comerica. I know the default setting is to constantly remind us about how big Petco is every time we're here but now in game 3 of the series, we can give it a rest, thanks.

NY Post Article FAN MEATHEAD VS. MET-HEAD By JOHN DOYLE June 7, 2008 -- Cops called out a rowdy baseball buff who tried to take on Mr. Met. At a recent game, the drunken fan manhandled the Amazin's smiling, giant-baseball-headed mascot, police said. He also allegedly knocked down kids and took a swing at a security guard. The action happened at last Saturday's thriller, which ended with a 3-2 Met come-from-behind win against the Los Angeles Dodgers. Christian Hansen of Gowanus, Brooklyn, was seen "harassing Mr. Met and pushing little children out of the way" at Shea Stadium, a law-enforcement source said. When security officials told the soused sports nut to leave, he refused. Then, as security guards escorted out the Mr. Met-basher, Hansen took a wild swing at an employee and spit in his face, law-enforcement sources said. Cops arrested Hansen, 32, and charged him with criminal trespass, disorderly conduct and harassment. He was arraigned Sunday and released without bail. A woman who identified herself as Hansen's girlfriend denied he had been in a confrontation with guards or Mr. Met. "It's not true," she said. "Nothing ever happened with Mr. Met." Hansen, who could not be reached, is due back in court on July 22. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz declined comment.

Pelfrey 2.5 Reyes 1 Sanchez 1 Feliciano .5 Smith .25 Wright .25

Santana 3 Chavez 1 Wright 1 Heilman .5 Feliciano .5 Smith .25 Schoeneweis .25

I don't Jody Gerut's played in the majors for a few years. Strange to see him leading off, to boot.

According to this report (Source: MLB.com's "Draft Tracker"), he's likely to get moved out of shortstop: Hitting Ability: Havens has improved over time as a hitter and makes good contact with a very patient approach. Power: Excellent bat speed does generate some pop and he could hit 10-15 homers, maybe 15-20 at best. Running Speed: He's a well below-average runner. Base running: Very alert on the bases and armed with good instincts, he won't hurt you. Arm Strength: He's got a plus arm at short. Fielding: He catches the ball well when he gets to it. Range: His range is restricted because of his lack of foot speed. Some feel he'll have to move to third. Physical Description: Havens is really put together with a strong, athletic body. Medical Update: He had a sprained thumb in the fall, but he's 100 percent now. Strengths: A good approach at the plate with the ability to make solid contact; good knowledge of how to play the game. Weaknesses: Lack of speed, which could force a move to third. Summary: A legitimate prospect in high school, teams were scared off because of a strong commitment to South Carolina. He's improved steadily in his three years there and has evolved into a good all-around hitter with outstanding plate discpline. He may need to move to third down the road because of his lack of range, but his smarts in the field may at least give him the opportunity to play his way off of short as a pro. At either spot, he's sure to go off the board pretty quickly.

With pick #22, the Mets get David Havens, Shortstop, University of South Carolina. Bats L / Throws R

Maine 3.5 Beltran 2 Reyes 2 Delgado 1 Wagner 1 Sanchez .5

Frayed Knot wrote: I think he may be HoF anyway (even if he doesn't come back) but he'd be in 300-W territory and a virtual lock if you give him back the two seasons he lost plus the 4 he spent in the pen. I agree that he'll make the HOF but 300 wins wouldn't have come until 2009, I think, even if he had been healthy and not a reliever. He has 210 wins currently, 6 of which were in the bullpen years (2001-2004) and three this year. Even if we were to assume that he would have had 15 wins for each of those bullpen years (4 seasons), and 2000 (he missed the whole year), and this season -- which I believe is a generous assumption -- he's still 9 wins short.

That's a fair point, although I suppose 40-man room could be created by moving Jason Vargas or Ambiorix Burgos to the 60-day DL. And even when Casanova comes back, we'll still be (foolishly?) carrying 3 catchers.

If it wasn't puzzling enough as to why we have 3 catchers on the major league roster -- when we desperately could use another outfielder -- we have a roster spot, and Omar calls up....ANOTHER CATCHER! Omar, WTF?

Vargas 3.25 Heilman .5 Delgado .5

Martinez 3 Easley 3 Wright 1 Wagner 1 Beltran .5 Church .5 Smith .5 Feliciano .5

Box Score

Y'know, Schoeneweis has pitched so well this year, I'm willing to just forget that last inning ever happened. I too appreciated the Pedro interview, and the looking at the camera to thank his supporters was a classy touch.

Great game for Easley.

I like his bat so far, but I can't stress enough how much I'd like to have a real outfielder (read: not Evans, either) out there instead of Tatis. On the other hand, Church's defensive value is on display particularly this series.

Mets Reyes SS Easley 2B Wright 3B Beltran CF Church RF Tatis LF Delgado 1B Castro C Pedro P Giants Fred Lewis LF Ray Durham 2B Randy Winn RF Benji Molina C Aaron Rowand CF John Bowker 1B Rich Aurilia 3B Omar Vizquel SS Barry Zito P

It's the end of the month, I imagine it will affect who is named player of the month. Or pitcher of the month.

Don't let the door hit your ass on the way back to triple A, Muniz.