smg58

How about Lastings Milledge as the backup CF?

Assuming that the Mets, should they make the playoffs, wouldn't want a 5-man pen with no lefties, and might want an extra bat or two as well, what kind of moves do you expect/want them to make before the Sept. 1st deadline? I'm thinking more in terms of call-ups than in deals, as I'm not sure if a trade is really likely at this point.For starters, I'd try to keep Mintky on the DL past 9/1 so that we don't need to make a decision on him right away. Ride Jacobs now, and worry about how good he really is later.I'd also like to see Offerman and Williams scratched in favor of Hamulack and Eric Valent.I remember that some long-term injury and a strange clause in the rules enabled the Angels to put Franciso Rodriguez in the postseason roster even though he didn't get called up until late September back in 02. Does Cameron's situation provide the Mets with that luxury?

Then again, the Met record for runs in two games is 34. We're at 28.

We may want to save some of this hitting...

It's hard to complain about Jacobs so far. Granted, there's no guarantee at all that this will last, but this is the first offensive spark we've gotten out of a first baseman all year, and the Mets have a lot to gain and nothing to lose by riding it.

A great day for the Mets on multiple fronts, a great week for a few CPFers as well... the start of something?

I love pitchers' duels like that.Don't forget San Diego 1, Houston 0 in the third. This could be a really good night for the Mets.

Who takes his place?

Clever. I was thinking that six degrees of Todd Zeile could work, but Franco might be even better for that.

Bell appears to have benefited from getting innings in Norfolk that he wasn't getting here, and that may indeed turn out to be a blessing in disguise over the long term. But I think that raises the issue of Randolph not giving enough work to the back of the pen. If there wasn't enough work to go around, teams wouldn't carry that many relievers, and overworking the main guys while showing no confidence in guys you'll need from time to time doesn't help the team in the long run.And blocking young guys with "proven" veterans who've only proven that they aren't that good is a waste of time.

I actually caught Sunday's game. It was a fun little diversion. Expect the promotions and between-inning activities to be hokey. The Ducks did not play good defense at all on Sunday, but I suppose it could have just been an off day.

PS I'd like to see Valent up here too. Gerald Williams doesn't play center nearly well enough to justify keeping his sorry bat around.

Admittedly I haven't had much of a chance to watch lately -- a birthday and a brother's wedding will do that to you -- so I can't comment on the defense, other than to say I had a feeling it would be shaky. It's in the best long-term interests of the team to get a good look at Diaz up here, and while I'd have preferred to have Cameron out there, the Mets could get some benefit from the situation.

It's tough to project too far ahead. Other than Wright and Pedro, I can't think of anybody I categorically wouldn't trade for any offer, and other than Matsui I can't think of anybody who has to be some place else next April. I don't like blocking youngsters of at least some potential with veteran mediocrity.As far as next year's starting pitching goes, I was initially thinking that a solid #2 was a high priority, with Glavine (if necessary) or Trachsel or Zambrano (if he can't be packaged for an upgrade) sticking around one more year at #4 to keep an opening for Petit in 07, with one of Seo/Bannister/Heilman serving as #5. Seo's recent performance is making me question the need to deal here (yes, he would have to keep it up to convince me), leaving a possible additional opening for Bannister or Heilman in the rotation.I think they have the major league resources to make at least one blockbuster deal while protecting Milledge and Petit, and the team would be better served both short-term and long-term if they went this route.

I wouldn't take Kaz for Romero, if I'm Minnesota. Why not give Tim Hamulack the chance? How much better than 1.11 does your ERA have to be before you get a call-up?

People have been wanting to see what Diaz can do all year, and now he gets the chance and people have reservations. If the Braves can hold first place by showing patience with a whole bunch of rookies for the whole season, I don't see why Diaz going 8 for 26 since his call-up is a cause for concern.

I think that's part of the problem, like with batting slumps that take on a life of their own. You lose, the confidence suffers, dejection sets in, motivation gets harder, you lose some more, and so on. The deeper you fall into the spiral, the harder it is to pull out of it.I'd feel really bad for the fans of any team who outdid the 62 Mets. Unless it was the Yankees, of course.

It was only two years ago that they were in contention until the last week, and looked for all the world like they had finally tuned the corner after a long run of futility. Now they're worse than ever, none of the young guys they've been banking on have panned out, their best player can't stay healthy, and now 18 in a row. There but for the grace of God.

Why can't they simply demote Santiago right now, as opposed to designating him for assignment? And is it me, or are DFA's happening a lot more often this year? Was there a rule change?

And gets it!

Would I be jinxing Heilman if I said he was on a roll?

I did read half a run somewhere (I'm guessing espn.com), but it was a while ago and I can't give you a specific source off the top of my head. Some of the sabermetricians here could probably give a more precise number, but the difference between a DH and a pitcher batting has to be taken into consideration when comparing pitchers in different leagues.

Welcome Mr. Met!Kazmir has a 4.04 ERA, very respectable in the AL East, and it's 3.21 over the last ten games. The DH alone adds half a run a game to AL totals, plus three of his division rivals have loaded lineups. Pedro's ERA in that division was only 3.99 last year, so don't assume a 4 ERA is bad. Given that he's 21 and would have started the year in AAA if he played for a better team, there's no reason to have expected more. Zambrano has a 4.14 ERA. I like Zambrano -- he's given the Mets a lot of quality starts this year, and I think Mets' fans should refrain from holding the deal against him and be grateful we have something decent to show for it -- but Kazmir is better right now.Bannister has had a great season and appears to have a major league future. The problem is that it looks likely that Mets will have room for only one of Seo, Bannister, and Heilman in the rotation next year, and right now I'd have to lean towards Seo. It would be in the best interests of the team and all three pitchers if the Mets deal two of them to teams that would use them as starters and get players at positions that the Mets need more. If Bannister gets us Lyle Overbay or Chad Tracy, for example, I'd have to say yes.

We'd be committing $7M to next year's payroll when we currently don't have to. (Trachsel has a team option.) Not worth it.

For the record, it would take a more special player than Soriano, and a more established player than Prince Fielder, for me to consider trading Reyes. The point I was trying to make is that Reyes needs to show more than he has up to this point -- or at least show it more consistently -- for me to put him completely off the table, and that the Mets could survive at shortstop if he brought us a big upgrade elsewhere. My apologies for wording it in a way that caused some of you to question my sanity, but perhaps I was subconsciously trying to spark some dialogue...