metirish

I've no idea why the Mets would want Cano, is he that much better than Keppinger?, I don't think so, I don't like the idea period of making any kind of deal with the MFY's,and certainly not for the prospects they have.

Well the drumbeat has started, articles declaring that the Mets should be sellers are here , this one courtesy of Newsday.]Minaya should be a sellerOmar Minaya, man of action, needs to think big once again between now and July 31. Preferably closer to now.It's time to sell. It's time to realize that what the Mets have won't get it done. Not even with Pedro Martinez pitching every five days. Not even in the egalitarian National League East.The Mets' general manager doesn't agree. While acknowledging yesterday that "all things are possible," he added, "I'd rather think of myself as a buyer right now. I want to try and stay in a buyer's mode for as long as I can."Given that Minaya acquired Bartolo Colon and Cliff Floyd while running the "Hey, don't throw out that soda can! We can redeem that for a nickel!" Montreal Expos, his outlook doesn't surprise us. Hey, maybe he can find someone who can hit and someone else who can help out of the bullpen, and maybe the last-place Mets, 3-9 in the last two weeks, can climb back up the division.But we don't think so, and Minaya himself sounds doubtful about importing helpful talent. "We really have a team that's somewhat set, because of some of the young guys," he said. "We're going to keep playing the young guys. The veteran guys need to produce."Some just need to go. We don't recommend a fire sale. Floyd, for example, should stay. Although he could bring back a strong package, he's a good enough fit with the Mets, now and next year.We're looking at a simple two-year plan: Take a step back. Get some young players in return, who can either help the big-league Mets or serve as future trading chips. Reload over the winter. Compete next year. When the great yet fragile Martinez is your ace, you don't want to take too long to put it together.So here's our proposed shipping list:1. Mike Piazza. Like Bernie Williams in the Bronx, Piazza has nothing about which to be ashamed. He earned his contract. He did great things here. But even Fran Healy, if he accidentally ingested a truth serum, would tell you that Piazza should be a designated hitter. If the Mets pay what's left of his $16-million salary, they should get a decent prospect in return. Or if they want to pay less, they might get financial relief from a club such as the Angels. Let Ramon Castro and Benito Santiago share the catching duties the rest of the way.2. Tom Glavine. The Mets signed the well-meaning lefthander as an ace. Glavine could help a contender - such as his hometown Red Sox - as a back-of-the-rotation guy. Like Piazza, he has a no-trade clause, but the intelligent Glavine surely would be amenable to a change of scenery, as long as it was the right change. Because he's likely to vest his 2006 option, the Mets would have to throw in some financial assistance. And this would open a spot for Aaron Heilman in the rotation.3. Mike Cameron. If his right quadriceps can recover in time, Cameron would greatly help the Yankees, Orioles or many other teams. Although the rightfielder has done well for the Mets when healthy, he's far more valuable to other clubs, for whom he would play centerfield. He should bring something significant in return, and the Mets could use the rest of the season to determine whether Victor Diaz is an everyday player.4. Braden Looper. So many teams -- the Yankees, Red Sox, Braves or even Looper's old team in Florida - need bullpen help. Looper, signed only through this year, would be a worthwhile acquisition by someone willing to give up a prospect or two.5. Kaz Ishii and Doug Mientkiewicz. We group them together, for this is essentially our reminder to Minaya to dump the garbage. Both are profound disappointments and probably wouldn't bring much in return. But again, why not opt for the lower-tier prospects and/or salary relief that these guys would bring? Don't worry about who replaces them. Just remember to frisk Mientkiewicz on his way out."The pickings are slim" right now, one official from a buyer told us last week. Minaya should jump to the front of the line, before the market floods. Before these "New Mets" get on an illusory hot streak and repeat last year's Victor Zambrano fiasco.

I don't know Johnny, he's a buddy of Willies...]"We just thought we needed to bring in a guy of Williams' experience into the clubhouse," Minaya said.

Looks like Keps sprained knee is worse than first thought..Notes: Triple-A INF Jeff Keppinger has a fractured left knee after he was taken out on a slide June 15, but he is not necessarily out for the rest of the season, the Mets said. Keppinger batted .284 with three homers and nine RBIs in 116 at-bats for the Mets last year.

]Mike Cameron had fluid drained from his ailing left quadriceps and could be available Tuesday nightI doubt he'll play tomorrow night.

It's a pity Keppinger is hurt, who knows maybe he would have got called up.

that is just super stuff Doc, I was just PMing with someone to ask who is that person, and I never knew WP and Giant Squidlike Creature were the same person...thanks alot.

a google search yields this article from the Bellville News-Deomcrat.]Posted on Wed, Sep. 01, 2004 Kline has torn groin, may miss rest of seasonMolina recovers from collisionBY JOE OSTERMEIERjostermeier@bnd.comST. LOUIS - Steve Kline has a torn groin muscle and could miss the rest of the regular season, the St. Louis reliever said Tuesday night.Kline, who hurt himself covering first base Friday in Pittsburgh, said a magnetic resonance imaging exam showed the torn muscle."I didn't think it was this bad, and I thought I'd come off the DL (disabled list) in 15 days," said Kline, 2-2 with a 1.86 ERA in 63 games. "I want to get back a week to 10 days before the season ends, before the playoffs."That's the important thing."Kline and fellow left-hander Ray King have pitched in a total of 121 games this year, but Kline's injury could leave the Cards short in the bullpen for their playoff run.One likely candidate to take Kline's spot would be Rick Ankiel, who is expected to be activated today following a season spent in the minors returning from elbow ligament transplant surgery.Still pushingThe Cardinals reached the end of August 43 games over .500, leading the National League Central standings by 15 1/2 games.But they're taking nothing for granted as the calendar page turns to September."I don't see any reason any of us should change anything we're doing," manager Tony La Russa said. "If it turns out we keep playing this well, what you do now sets you up for later anyway, so why change?"You won't see any difference."Especially this week, when the Cardinals are playing possible playoff opponents San Diego and Los Angeles."Because of who you're playing, you've got to get ready to play," La Russa said of the Padres and Dodgers, battling San Francisco for the NL West title and the wild card berth. "They're really good clubs, playing with a lot at stake."It should be everything you want: Tough, interesting, competitive."He said the Cardinals, who have won nine of their last 10 series and 15 of 17 since the start of July, would be prepared to play no matter the opposition. But the Padres and Dodgers put a little extra spice into the six-game homestand -- and the Cards' half-dozen games in Southern California next week."I haven't seen our club be any different in any series, no matter who we're playing, for a long time," La Russa said. "So I think whoever we were playing, we'd be ready to play. That said, you don't have to dig (deep) to get ready to play over the next two weeks, because of the quality of the opposition."Molina OKCatcher Yadier Molina was lugging a bag of ice on his right ankle throughout the clubhouse on Tuesday, a remnant of his spectacular home-plate collision with Pittsburgh's Ty Wigginton Saturday."I'm OK, I'm fine," Molina said. "Pretty good."Molina, who held onto the ball for the out even thought he was steamrolled by Wigginton as the throw arrived from right fielder Larry Walker, got the night off Tuesday with Mike Matheny in the lineup.But Molina, who was rested Sunday before the off-day Monday, was available Tuesday if needed."I'm sure he'd play," La Russa said. "His comment was, 'You can't expect me to steal a base, that's all.'"Tavarez waitingThere's no news on the hearing for Julian Tavarez' appeal of his 10-day suspension for his grimy cap, but the reliever Tuesday was sporting a present from his teammates."Look, they gave me one with pine tar on it," Tavarez said, reaching into his cubicle to pull out a cap with a nearly black brim. "Mine doesn't look like that."Tavarez is pitching while the commissioner's office decides when to hold a hearing on his appeal. He got the 10-day suspension on Aug. 24, after being ejected from the first game of a doubleheader Aug. 20 against Pittsburgh.

True SK, I don't think he was being dirty but from watching Ty when he was a Met you just know he wouldn't hold back either, we need video footage.

I bet my last dollar that Wiggi was trying to run right through Molina and that he was charging bull-like from 3rd, as we know Wiggi was old school & hard nosed

Gaby gets mobbed by his teammate after throwing his no hitter.

Not dirty at all, I wish we would seed more of it,that's two tough players in Wiggi and Molina, I remember Ty doing that to a few catchers, did he ram Posada one time?

Jim Burt doubled in the only run in Gabe Hernandez no hitter.

Daubach looked great his first game, had 3 BB, and he has had some great AB's.

It's the All- Star break for the Florida State League this weekend.I had this team at the other place, great to see Humber get his first win.The West won the 44th All-Star game Saturday beating the East 6-4.St. Lucie Mets first baseman Brett Harper hit a 3 run homer to cut the lead to 5-4, Harper also finshed second in the home run derby,the Lakeland Tigers had 7 players start for the West.

The thing I'm hearing on the 'Fan is that Willie is saving him for the Phillies on Tuesday, for the pen apparently, I can't explain that rational either, Heilman was pitching great and only threw 20 pitches.

Very impressive by Hernandez, looks like we have some good kids down on the farm..two of mine are starting to hit a bit, Concepcion and Burt Jr.Looks like they have a good pitching staff , who's the kid Sanchez who is 10-2 in 14 games with a 3.18 ERA?..Game RecapGabriel Hernandez Throws No-Hitter, Suns Win Sunday's game began with the Hagerstown Suns needing to win to ensure at least a share of the 1st half championship in the South Atlantic League's North Division. It ended with Gabriel Hernandez under a pile of his teammates celebrating his first complete game no-hitter.Behind the masterful performance by the 19-year-old right-hander, the Suns beat the West Virginia Power 1-0, and guaranteed themselves the chance to play for an automatic playoff berth. With Lexington's win today, the Suns game on June 25th will be the tie-breaker to determine the first-half champion. The Suns and Lexington Legends were tied in the standings going into today's final first-half contest.Just before Gaby threw his first pitch at 1:37pm, he used his right foot to scratch out the word "Dad" on the back of the pitcher's mound. He would go on to pitch a complete game no-hitter while surrendering 2 walks and striking out 6. Greg Kloosterman pitched well for the Power, allowing just one run off of an RBI double by Jim Burt that scored Grant Psomas from first base in the second inning. Dante Brinkley played a fantastic game for the Suns, picking up 2 hits and securing the final fly-ball out off of the bat of William Lewis.The no-hitter was the first for the Hagerstown Suns since Clay Hensley threw a perfect game in a 7-inning contest on May 3, 2003 versus the Kannapolis Intimidators. 2,301 fans witnessed the feat on Father's Day at Municipal Stadium.The Suns are off tomorrow, and begin second-half play on Tuesday, June 21 at the Lakewood Blueclaws. The Suns next home game is Saturday, June 25 against the Lexington Legends. The Suns are the single A affiliate of the New York Mets and are owned by Los Angeles based Mandalay Baseball Properties. For more information, or to purchase tickets, contact the Suns at 301.791.6266 or via email at info@hagerstownsuns.com or visit us online at www.hagerstownsuns.com.

Durham has some power in his bat, is about four years older than Kaz and has a career FP% of .978, I wouldn't like this deal really, is Durham signed through next season?

6-1 Mariners, Glavine pulled, well that was frustrating.

this game is starting to suck early - 3 - 1 M's

Happy Birthday to Doug Mientkiewicz who was born on this day 1974.

We wouldn't have been much use during the French Revolution.

Piazza is the active leader for HR's (6) and RBI with 14 on Fathers day, Richie Sexon is the active leader in AVG with .556 on Fathers Day.Saw that earlier today on Baseball Tonight.

Good point gnatman, also we should give randy Winn credit for making a good throw to the cut-off man at 3rd, he saw what was developing for sure.

It sure looked like on the replay that Piazza slowed up coming home, he certainly wasn't busting it, seems to be the way things are going though for this offence.