NY's NL This Week

Now that was satisfying.

On Sunday the Mets completed its first sweep of the Braves in Atlanta since 1985. And Carlos Beltran's bat couldn't be hotter.

In a week that saw New York nearly get swept at home by one of the league's worst teams after falling in two close games to the Cubs (7-8 and 6-8), they responded with an extra inning 1-0 win on Wednesday (Maine was spectacular again: 7 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 7 K) and a weekend sweep of the team that, prior to this weekend, posed the biggest threat of catching the Mets in the division.

Now that is highly unlikely.

On Friday night, in the much anticipated series opener (largest regular season crowd in Ted Field history), Pedro Martinez made his return to the mound from the DL and was hit hard in the first inning, giving up four earned runs. However, he responded over the next five innings only allowing a single hit. I chalk up the early battering to rust from not pitching in over three weeks.

Pedro threw 77 pitches in the sixth innings of work and recorded his eighth win of the year, including third against Atlanta. Jose Reyes led off the game with a homerun and Billy Wagner looked as dominant as ever shutting the door in the ninth 1-2-3 with a pair of strike outs.

In the second game of the series, a seven run sixth inning to break open a 3-3 tie was the difference as the Mets went on to rout the Braves. Beltran hit two homeruns (29 and 30) and drove in five. Orlando Hernandez didn't give up an earned run in eight innings on the mound, striking out seven Braves.

In the finale, the Mets jumped out to a 7-0 lead and held off Atlanta for a 10-6 series sweeping victory. Beltran hit another two homeruns and drove in another five runs. Oh, how quickly the talk of him being an MVP candidate begins. Tom Glavine didn't pitch well (4 IP, 6 ER, 3 BB) and couldn't get the win -- something he hasn't experienced since June 23.

Before the game, John Delcos noted that Glavine is feeling anxious for a win. Can you blame him? I'm sure he'll take the team victory and the 15 game lead over his former team though. Wagner collected his second save of the weekend and 22nd of the season.

BASE HITS
- Major League Baseball is running a "Hometown Heroes" promotion where they're urging fans of every team to vote for their respective club's best player in history. The Mets' nominees are John Franco, Tug McGraw, Mike Piazza, Tom Seaver and Daryl Strawberry. As much as I loved Piazza, my vote goes to Seaver. Record your vote before September 17.
- Delgado left Saturday's game after getting hit in the knee with a pitch and was listed day-to-day. He returned Sunday, obviously better, because he hit a two run homer in the first inning.
- Beltran's grandslam on Sunday was his third in the month of July tying a major league record -- he's just one of nine players to accomplish the feat.
- The Mets will not be getting Bobby Abreu (gone to the Yankers) and possibly not Barry Zito either (price too steep, which includes having to trade Lastings Milledge). The attention on Monday will be about whether or not Omar Minaya can swing a deal for Livan Hernandez.
- Great quotation by Paul Lo Duca on the weekend series against Atlanta: "Our goal was to try to end their season. Yeah, we have a big lead, but we wanted to show them that we're going to bury them and end it right now." Via: Metsblog.com.
- Read The Journal News John Delcos' blog post on the Mets being "a special team."

ON DECK
- Nonwaiver trade deadline is Monday at 4:00 pm ET.
- More intradivision fun on the diamond.
- Three games in South Florida beginning on Tuesday. Will Willis still be a Fish?
- The team flies home to take on Abreu-less Phillies in a three game series that could effectively end their hopes of a postseason berth. Saturday's game in on FOX and ESPN will show Sunday night's affair.

NY's NL This Week is a regular feature here on YankeesSuck.com, appearing on Mondays.

Questions, comments, conundrums, concerns? email: jrhippe@canada.com

Abreu Joins the Evil Empire

With just 24 hours to go until the Trade Deadline, the Philadelphia Phillies and the New York Yankees have agreed on a shocking deal that will send five-tool right fielder, Bobby Abreu, and pitcher Cory Lidle to the Yankees for Short Stop C.J. Henry, catcher Jesus Sanchez, pitchers Carlos Monasterios and Matt Smith.

Let the Bronx Bombers rejoice...

While this news should come as no surprise to anybody who has been following the trade rumors (the Phillies have been close to shopping Abreu for nearly three years), the timing and final numbers of this trade seem to be questionable to say the least.

In this deal, the Yankees are gaining an all-star outfielder and a decent pitcher, for prospects. While this type of trade may be customary when dealing with journeymen (which Abreu is not), a team trading their star player for prospects is a feat rarely seen in modern baseball. While the Florida Marlins are the clear exception to this rule, they are a team that is built around youth and raw talent, the Phillies are a far different matter.

FALLOUT FOR THE PHILLIES

The Phillies must have extremely high hopes for these prospects - although Baseball America lists none of the aforementioned 'prospects' in their top 100 list - if they are willing to trade their star for mere rookies... Furthermore, I am honestly confused as to why the Phillies got neither a starting-quality player (like Bernie Williams or Robinson Cano), nor a highly-touted prospect, such as Eric Duncan, in exchange for a potential hall of famer. Even more questionable is why the Phillies traded - namely - for a prospect shortstop at a time where Jimmy Rollins is earning hometown hero status in Philadelphia.

As well, this trade will put even more pressure on the backs of Philadelphia's younger stars, such as Chase Utley (27), Ryan Howard (26), Jimmy Rollins (27) and Brett Myers (25), who will now undoubtedly be expected to bring a Division Title to Philadelphia before arbitration hearings.

While I respect these young players and their ability, I also respect the fact that they are very young players who need time to develop, and I question the logic in putting all of them in the type of situation where they must become the backbone of their team. Yes, the Phillies have good, young talent, but they don't have the type of talent that is ready to adapt to the spotlight (example: Jimmy Rollins). I think this move will hurt the Phillies in the long run and will act solely as a salary dump.

By the way, C.J. Henry was hitting a whopping .237 in Class A Charleston. Now that's raw talent you just can't find on the FA wire.

FALLOUT FOR THE YANKEES

What is there to say? The Yankees pulled a rabbit out of their hat and dealt PROSPECTS for Bobby Abreu. What's more, they didn't even have to give up Eric Duncan or Robinson Cano! Brian Cashman has once again pulled off a deadline miracle that will send Yankee Nation into fits of anxious joy. With a new outfielder in place, the Yankees will have a solid 3-spot hitter (Abreu would sit in well behind Damon and Jeter), a decent power hitter, a threat on the basepaths and a wicked arm all in one!

The Yankees also have plenty of wiggle-room with Cory Lidle. Lidle has shown flashes of ability and may work really well in the New York bullpen (although he would have been better off in New York a year ago, with Mel as the pitching coach). However, while Lidle may be unproven in the long term, it should be noted that while Lidle hasn't been a star pitcher all of this year (he is 8-7 with a 4.74 ERA), he did beat Boston in interleague play.

It's a very simple story for New York fans, your General Manager just earned his money and made your coach's life a hell of a lot easier. This will also be a fantastic move if it turns out that Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui are unable to return in September.

Cheers,
Jack Jablin

How fun was that?

The line on Johnson, who collected his ninth loss of the season: 3.1 IP, 6 H, 9 R, 6 ER, 3 BB, 0 K, 1 HR. The outing raised his season ERA to a paultry 5.07. Former Met Jae Seo won his first game of the season.

The sad part? No errors from E-Rod, as his total remains pat.

NY's NL This Week

Talk about a team that's grand slam happy.

After Cliff Floyd and Carlos Beltran each hit one in the same inning last Sunday in Chicago, Beltran slapped another out in the very next game and Jose Valentin recorded his second GS of the season against Houston.

According to Elias Says on ESPN.com, the Mets are the first team in major league history to hit four grand slams in a five game span. That's pretty darn impressive.

The Mets' pitching this week was also impressive. Rookie John Maine pitched a complete game shutout of the Astros on Friday night after Mike Pelfrey went six innings on Tuesday and improved to 2-0 on the season. He came back to earth on Sunday afternoon against Houston, giving up five runs on six hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Who says this team needs another starter anyway?

John Delcos of The Journal News blogs that Jeff Wilpon doesn't see the need in added another arm right now.

"The Mets have spoken to Washington for Livan Hernandez, but the Nationals keep asking about Mike Pelfrey and/or Lastings Milledge.

That's too high, and with a double-digit lead, the Mets don't feel they have to deal to get into the playoffs. And, once they get there, they will go to a four-man rotation anyway."

I tend to agree.

BASE HITS
- Jose Reyes returned to the Mets' lineup on Tuesday in Cincinatti after suffering the sore wrist from sliding headfirst into first base. He went 0-4, was walked once and scored two runs in the 8-3 New York win.

- A bit of controversy was stirred up after David Wright was seen promoting a "faith healer" that is going to be appearing later in July at MSG. On Saturday afternoon on WPIX in New York, Wright reportedly said "Hi, I'm David Wright. I invite you to the 'Salvation Miracles Revival Crusade' with Dr. Jaerock Lee, at Madison Square Garden, July 27, 28 and 29." On Tuesday the team and Wright issued statements denouncing any such affiliation or association and the commercial was "produced without authorization or approvals through an abuse of a media-newsgathering credential." Intriguing stuff to start the week.

ON DECK
- The Mets (perhaps) get to feast on the poor Cubs pitching again with a three game series at the Sheadium. Wednesday's game starts at 12:10 PM.
- Then it's off to the ATL for a weekend set with the Braves. Will Atlanta keep their hot play up when they play New York for the first time since early May.
- Trade deadline is next Monday (July 31). Who'll come and who'll go?

Sorry for the delay again this week. NY's NL This Week will be a regular feature here on YankeesSuck.com, appearing on Mondays.

Questions, comments, conundrums, concerns? email: jrhippe@canada.com

Let's Go, J.R.

Editor's note: Welcome new blogger, J.R. Hippe, a Mets fan who will give us the rundown on the good team from N.Y.C. each week. Let's go...)

The Mets were well represented at the Mid-Summer Classic in Pittsburgh having four players voted to start and could have had a pitcher starting too, if Tom Glavine had not just pitched on Sunday and Pedro Martinez on the disabled list.

In the Home Run Derby on Monday night, David Wright became the first Met since 1993 (Bobby Bonilla) to participate. And the 23-year-old did not disappoint smacking 16 homers in the first round, the third most in Derby history. He slowed down due to fatigue in the second round with only a pair. In the final versus Philadelphia's Ryan Howard, Wright led off with four. Howard hit five including the winning shot off the Mastercard 50,000 flights sign in right field. Time will tell if he becomes the second Phillie in as many years that sees a major dropoff in production after winning the Derby.

On Tuesday in the actual game itself, David Wright, Paul LoDuca and Carlos Beltran made starts. Jose Reyes couldn't take his shortstop spot because of the injured wrist he suffered sliping headfirst into first just days before. Hopefully that's a lesson learned. In the second, Wright hit a game tying homerun. Beltran put the National League ahead 2-1 after stealing third and eventually taking home on a passed ball. Despite the leading heading to the ninth, the Padres' Trevor Hoffman blew the save and the AL won their ninth consecutive game giving them home field advantage in the World Series.

The Mets took two of three from the Cubs this past weekend at Wrigley. On Sunday they set a franchise record after scoring 11 runs in the sixth inning. The offensive explosion included grand slams from Cliff Floyd, who promised the team he would have a much better second half and Carlos Beltran. Wright added a two run shot in the inning. NYM won 13-5.

When's Pedro Coming Back?
After dealing with sore ribs a couple weeks ago, the Mets' righthander was put on the DL before the All-Star break, he had to miss his chance at starting the game. Now after a bout of food poisoning last week, Martinez threw yesterday in Chicago. He is still expected to have a couple more bullpen sessions and a simulated game. According to John Delcos of The Journal News he could be starting next Tuesday against the Cubs.

Jose Reyes is expected to make his return Tuesday night versus the Reds.

BASE HITS
- On Wednesday night after the All-Star game, David Wright appeared on the Late Show with David Letterman. The interview can be seen here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SANFcm10KhU

- At the ESPY's, Wright was nominated for Best Play for his barehanded over the shoulder catch at San Diego last season, but lost out to football player Tyrone Prothro of the University of Alabama.

- According to Baseball Prospectus, the Mets have a 98.5% of making the playoffs - the highest among any team in baseball.

ON DECK
- Three game series at Cincinatti starting Tuesday night. Thursday's game starts at 12:35 PM ET.
- Back to Shea for a weekend set against the Astros. Saturday is a nationally televised game on FOX. Roger Clemens is the probable pitcher for Sunday's game.

Questions, comments, conundrums, concerns? email:jrhippe@canada.com

AL Win... Again

Aye...

Cheers,
Jack Jablin