It looks like a foregone conclusion that the Mets and Aaron Heilman are headed for divorce court under the irreconcilable difference statue as Heilman is still fighting his starting pitcher persona and the Mets feel with just two pitches Heilman is more effective as a reliever. From last years results and the fact the Heilman did not step up and grab the closers role by the throat for his welfare and that of Mets fans it’s time for Aaron Heilman to back his bags and look for greener pastures.

The site We Should All Be GM’s has a very good Q & A with one time Met Eric Valent. Valent is now a minor league coach for the Phillies but rates his hitting for the cycle as a Met in 2004 as his big league highlight.

There will be a long dragged out debate about Mike Mussina and whether he is Cooperstown worthy. If he wasn’t a Highlander then guys like Mike Francesa would just hand wave it off as ridiculous his chances but as we all know every player who has worn the Highlander pinstripes is Hall of Fame worthy. It’s a shock to me the Joe Verbanic doesn’t have a plaque upstate.

If Mussina was to be granted a spot in Cooperstown I wouldn’t argue it as he hasn’t been dominant but he has been one of the best pitchers of his time and he was very good for 18 years, but is very good enough to make it to the hallowed halls of the HOF? Well that’s up for debate. I will leave this out there, who would you pick if you were in a must win situation, Mike Mussina or Jerry Koosman?

I’m not ready to panic after last nights Ranger ass kicking at the hands of the Canucks and although Tom (speaks in tongues) Renny claims he gave King Hank the high sign to flee the crease to the comfort of a corner spot on the bench, Hank was well within his rights to abdicate his spot as the Rangers left him in a gun fight with a pea shooter last night.

Daniel Murphy is back in NYC and after stopping off at the Mets offices at $iti Field to pick up the ten bucks for the co-pay, he will have an MRI on his ailing knee.

As per Metsblog, Daniel Murphy whose whereabouts has been the topic of much speculation is suffering from sprain of the right knee. Hopefully this is minor and maybe it’s a blessing as the kid could use a break but the ultimate gym rat that he is I’m sure as soon as he’s healthy he’ll be off to Winter Ball.

In the latest missive from the WWL, Peter Gammons is trying to sell the fact that the Skill Sets are not swimming in cash as it appears:

{The Mets don’t have the kind of money everyone thinks, especially having to pay Billy Wagner $10M next season. They will spend to get a starter, a reliever and a bat to supplement Ryan Church in right and the Daniel Murphy/Fernando Tatis platoon in left.

No one knows what impact the economy will have on baseball, especially in New York, but someone is going to pay a price for the national debt increasing by $450B in October. The Mets are not going to jump over the luxury tax threshold, so they will continue to build around David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran, figure Mike Pelfrey will continue his quantum leap forward, and do their best to fill in around them.}

So a team that owns a television station, has a brand new ball park in the most populous city in the country and has sold all his suites and will draw a minimum of 3.5 mil fans has no money to improve the team? And tell me what the National debt has to do with the Mets finances? Sorry Gammo I’m not buying it. I’m not ready to go out and buy a pennant because I don’t think building through free agency is the answer but don’t you dare insult the Mets fan base and cry poverty. By the way to read the whole article you have to pay to read it.

I did take some perverse pleasure watching the Famous Rays bullpen implode last night in one of the great collapse not involving the NY Mets. I admit I turned the channel at 7-0 to watch Life On Mars (Can we just give Harvey Kitel the Best Actor in a Drama Emmy now and save time later)  and flipped back at 11PM waiting to see the Famous Rays celebrate their first Pennant so you know I was shit shocked to see the game was at 7-4. I hung for the rest and I must say that Coco Crisp at bat in the 8^th should shown to every little leaguer in the country as that is how you work an AB and a pitcher.  Wheeler is a classic reliever with two pitches, fastball/slider and Crisp just kept fouling off pitch after pitch until he got hanging slider to drive to right field. You have a pitcher on the ropes and team that is now drowning in self doubt and defending championship team that is never out of a game. Just classic baseball. Now Game 6 becomes must see as the Rays and Joe Maddon are in uncharted territory as they gave the Red Sox life. They had the pillow over their faces but lifted up too early.

The dark clouds of Flushing seem to be lifting a bit after reading Adam Rubin’s Q & A with Daniel Murphy maybe the hard nosed Dykstra/Backman type we have been looking for is right under our nose.

It doesn’t look like the market of Manny will be a large one. Manny and Agent Bloodsucker are looking for a 6yr deal for over $120 mil. Unless the United Arab Emirates is getting an expansion team next season, that’s not happening.  Those demands are off base. The Dodgers management is in a bind here as they have to make an offer to Manny but how long can they hang in with the Mets, Highlanders and the dark horse in the Manny races the Blue Jays? I don’t really see the Highlanders going for Manny but they could make a bid just to break balls. The Dodgers should be the favorite to sign Manny but Frank McCourt not only doesn’t own a TV station that flows dough he has a piss poor relationship with PrimeTicket but you would think he’d try to sit down with the station to workout a partnership to keep Manny. McCourt should plead his case that if they add more to the rights fee for Dodger games it helps the team sign Manny and that brings up ratings which brings up the ad revenues and everyone makes some scratch.    

If I’m Omar, I offer 4yrs/$100mil and wait for the counter offer. I wouldn’t budge off the years but I would go a bit higher on the money by using incentive bonuses but I’d cap my offer at $110 mil. Now in these economic times that looks like I’m bat shit crazy but as loony as it looks Manny will pay for himself as the SNY ratings go up and the merchandise revenues as well. If it’s just a question of money then Mets will make Manny theirs to loose if it’s all the other questions about attitude and the Manny Being Manny baggage that’ s another story. But if Manny gets away from Flushing again that will be sad. 

There is no better place on earth than New York City on the first crisp cool fall day even though we haven’t had one of those classic “Con Edison can’t handle the electrical demand summers” there is something invigorating when you step out the door and it’s 51 degrees with a chilly breeze. The afternoons are even better as the shadows of the sky scrapers bring back memories of Seaver/Cuellar and Koosman/McNally and just makes me root harder for the Mets to get into the post season as this season HAS TO KEEP GOING. Not just because fall baseball is the ultimate sporting event (made even better that my son was asked to play on a team in a fall baseball league today even though he didn’t sign up as he rather play soccer this time of year but the coach knew of him from Little League and asked him to play for his team today. Talk about your late season call up)  but it’s only fitting that the team from the South Bronx which has looked down it’s nose at us for years closes it’s stadium doors with no post season game but a with a meaningless play out the string game tomorrow night and that Shea the old clapboard house that many an insult has been hurled at it finishes out in style with post season baseball. 

Last night’s game was no work of art by any means but OP was great, Brain Stokes had his fastball back and Daniel Murphy will find a place to play for the Mets this post season and for many seasons to come.

Is FOX kidding by putting Cards-Cubs on in NYC with the Brewers-Reds on at the same time?

Let’s hope Petey has some magic left in that right arm tonight

I can’t say this enough please Skill Sets and Omar shut down John Maine for the season get him the surgery he needs and let the cow chips of the bullpen fall where they may.

When Willie Randolph was let go a lot of venom was spewed in the direction of Tony Bernazard, Omar Minaya’ First Lieutenant and the Mets Director of Player Development .Bernazard was portrayed as a meddler and was no fan of Randolph and was one of the voices in Omar’s head to can Willie. I bring this up today because as I was reading John Harpers pieces in the Daily News today , he mentions how it was Bernazard who pushed for the promotion of Daniel Murphy, Nick Evans and Argenis Reyes all three have made big contributions to the resurgence of the Mets season. Bernazard also looks to have made the big decision to give Jon Niese a start last night which from listening to J-Man was not his first choice to start last night. I’d love to know how hard J-Man pushed to have either Brain Stokes or Nelly Figs get the start last night. From the parting words of Willie Randolph it is hinted that Bernazard and Manuel have a very good relationship and difference of opinion is good as who wants “yes” men around them al the time. So I’m sure J-Man made his case but in the end Tony B had a stronger case. Taken on face value, J-Man was most likely right about going with either Figs or Stokes or even returning Olympian Brandon Knight, not because of the green gills of Neise but with Santana and OP sandwiched around Neise that’s three lefties in a row which you want to avoid at any cost but especially with a team like the Brewski’s who pound left handed pitching. Remember back a few months ago the Mets moved John Maine up in the rotation to go between Santana and OP as J-Man wanted to avoid the three lefties rotation. But back to TB, I never thought of him as a villain that the media made him out to be now I don’t know the guy but I have to give him props for running a better minor league system than we all thought the Mets had.. All the so called expert publications told us Mets fans that the organization was lacking in Major League ready and lucky for the team they were wrong. 

So now Petey is working out to get his arm loose as that was the reason for him not feeling “comfortable” in his last start in Miami.  You all know I’m a Petey fan boy but he is becoming like an old car that burns oil and keeps breaking down. As much affection as I have for the Great Petey no matter how the season turns out it’s time to let Petey ride off into the sunset, as there is no reason to bring him back next season. Too much maintenance.

The idea of the slider is to fool the batter that it’s a fastball but then when it breaks the way it should (like down and away or down and in) it should it is an extremely effective pitch but it is also a high risk, high reward pitch especially when Pedro Feliciano throws it.  So today Feliciano took a risk and threw a slider to a couple of guys Brad Asmus and Darin Erstad who had five HR’s combined coming into the game and instead of just challenging both batters Feliciano goes with sliders which hung just enough over the middle of the for both batters to tee off and take him long. As the Bobby Valentine always says, Proper preparation prevents piss poor performance, that saying should be hung in Pedro Feliciano’s locker.

I have to say I love that the Shea in game staff was hip enough to play the Dropkick Murphy’s when Daniel Murphy comes to bat, I am curious if he chose that or not.

Today I was in beautiful Bay Ridge Brooklyn and as we were walking on 5th Ave I passed a sporting goods store named LEDGENDS. They had a rack on the side walk of MLB baseball jerseys on sale for 10 bucks. No bullshit these were like $200 jerseys with names and numbers sewed on for 10 bucks. The problem was most were Cardinal jerseys with Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds names on them so they were out. There were Red Sox road jersey with RAMIREZ on them so no go there either as were the Cubs, Phillies and the Mets Tom Glavine top. But there was one that caught my eye and after a lot of thinking and putting it back, picking it up, putting it back, I said “ah what the hell I got to take this for 10 bucks” it’s a home pinstripe Mets with 44 MILLEDGE on the back For a double fin I’ll represent for my boy LMILLZ.

Only the New York Mets can go 6-1 on a road trip and have the fan base hold their chest and moan in agony, why? The bullpen of course. Ah yes the Mets bullpen the underachieving child in a family of successful children. Why can’t Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoenewies, Duaner Sanchez, Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano be the pitching equivalent of Jose Reyes, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and Daniel Murphy? Now we have another adopted child from DC in Luis Ayala who could not believe is good fortune to go from a group home in the Nations Capital to the Buena Vista Social Club. Hopefully the new surrounding rejuvenates him and a couple of sessions with Dean of Old School Warthen get him straight as the call to the pen is literally all hands on deck.

What I’m about to write may get me flamed worse than any forest fire in Cali but I have to let it out. I have a hard time hating Larry Jones and the Atlanta Braves. In fact it’s so strange because all the teams I root for I have a deep despise for their arch rival. The Boston Celtics, I puke at the site of Purple and Gold. The NY Rangers, I would love to get the chant “BEAT YOUR WIFE POTVIN, BEAT YOU WIFE” as a ring tone. The NY Football Giants, “How about those Cowgirls”? but when it comes to the Braves a team I should have a deep seeded hatred for, I have admiration. Most of that is for the front office especially John Shuerholz who took a franchise that was nothing but TV programming on a little bullshit cable channel and turned into a model sports franchise. So it was interesting to read Ray Glider’ piece in the NY Times this morning about Larry Jones and his last trip to Shea Stadium. Jones was a guy who got what NY was all about and he played the heel role better than anyone who strode through Flushing. As a kid Mets fans were known for acknowledging great players from other teams. Of course when the Giants and Dodgers came to town Mets fans still had a glow in their heart for Willie Mays and Sandy Koufax but also when the Pirates came in Willie Stargell was revered as well. Times change and fans are more hostile than back then but I always felt that Mets fans respected Larry Jones and I know he appreciate the passion of Mets fans.

Ryan Church played 5 innings last night and went 0 for 2 but the best part is he felt great in the field no headaches or dizziness. Mojo Nixon also played last night and looked fit as well. The only problem is they both not pitchers.

But a pitcher who did a rehab last night was Ambiorix Burgos who may become a big player come September 1

Due to last nights heist of a Gold medal of America anorexic gymnast Nasta Linkum to undeveloped Chinese gymnast He (She?) Kexin, I will be boycotting the Wo Hop Chinese Restaurant for 2 weeks. I’d boycott something Australian as well but what has that Penal Colony given the world?

Joe West is a big fat tool for calling A. Reyes out at first base saying he made a baseball move toward second base, Argenis flinched his shoulder left in the direction to second base and yes according to the rules he could be called out but sometimes you have to use the pea size brain that God gave you for more than contemplating if you want a glazed or Boston cream dount.

I watched the last two innings of the Brewers-Astros game last night and the look on Brewski manger Ned Yosts face while watching C.C. (Carniverous Creature as that is one big fella) Sabathia as he closed in on the 130 pitch mark. Sabathia got Hunter Pence to fly out for the first out of the inning. C C then gave up a single and then J J (lots of initials on the M B’s) Hardy booted a ground ball that could have been a game ending double play but instead it left the ‘Stros with 1 st and 2^nd 1 out. Darin Erstad reached base on an infield hit and now the Astros had the bags juiced with one out and Yost’s sphincter tightens by the second. Mike Maddux went out to talk to Sabathia and Yost paced the dugout floor as Mark Loretta came to bat. Loretta got a SAC Fly to left and now there were two outs. Miggy Tejada up and he walks. Now Yost is on the top step of the dugout like a guy on a roof top getting chased and has to make a decision jump to the next roof which is about 10 feet away or just stay and fight. Yost takes on the mob and let the leftie Sabathia face Lance Berkman from the right side. It pays off with Berkman grounding out 3^rd to 1^st but it was the 130^th pitch of the night for C.C. The MRI will be on Thursday.

Happy Birthday RJ.!!!!

Even though the 12-0 and 9-3 games that the Mets have won this week are a welcome respite from the nail biters and “Please God Let Aaron Heilman Turn Into Dennis Eckersley” games we have been subjected to this season nothing is a better gauge of what your team is made of than when it gets down and dirty in a one run game and last night even with it’s scary moments the Mets had a (gulp!) Championship look to them. The Reyes Boys (Memo to Mark Malusis: When it comes to breaking down baseball personnel you’re clueless if you think Gimp Castillo at this point is better on the Mets than the A. Reyes/Damien Easley platoon then you’ve watch way too much of Robinson Cano) and Carlos Beltran flashed leather and arm in big D plays and Big Pelf had a bounce back game. Yes I know it was the Pirates and I swore I wouldn’t let myself get all pumped again about this team but when they do the little things that you need to win, I just can’t help myself.

I’ve thrown some stones at Billy Wagner here but you have admire the guy for saying screw minor league rehab and is forcing his way back as the closer. Wags knows the team needs him and as long as the medical staff clears him and Old School Dean Warthen gives the seal of approval then Wags will be activated on Monday. Then it looks like Eddie Kunz will go down for a couple of weeks but would come back on Sept 1.

Speaking of coming back, Ryan Church is playing in the GCL as a DH and hopefully by tomorrow will be in the outfield, same with Gimp Castillo who the rumor mill has it has been dealing with some medical issues with his wife.  I’m sure there is some kind of rule that both players have to be activated at a certain time but as it stands now there is no rush for either guy to come back before Sept. 1. As vital as Church’s bat has been early in the year with Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis both swinging potent bats (and don’t forget Nick Evans who has platooned with Murphy and started to hit) and Carlos Delgado’s deal with the devil still paying off, the Mets have the luxuary to let Church and Castillo take their time getting back. Depth it’s a good thing.

John Maine just walked again

This could be a classic Mex game as Gary Cohen has hinted that they may take phone calls. Mex is now reminiscing about his days on Cardinal teams that were out of the race early like these Nats and how you become a selfish player at that point just looking to pad your numbers

Maine threw a pitch right at LMillz it should be something to watch as maybe there will be some payback against the Nats for their bush league behavior from the last time the teams met. Remember, Elijah Dukes and L Millz doing the Little League chanting in the dugout? Last year as well the Nats felt like they helped drive the Mets in their downward slide last September so look out.

Question? If Derek Jeter is supposed to be this great team leader and CAPTAIN of all CAPTAINS then when will he put his foot in Robinson Cano’s ass? Jose Reyes was carved up in this town for shit that wasn’t even close to what this lazy bastard Cano has done the last week or so and even Joey G, who’s slip as a manager is really showing this year, hasn’t punished him either and Pack A Day Hank has thrown in the towel. This is high comedy kids. I mean the least Jeter should do is make Cano wax his Ford Escape. An another thing while I’m on a Bronx Bastards rant, all the so called experts wrote and spoke about how the Highlanders had this abundance of youg players ready to hit the big league scene to keep the Highlanders on top for years to come. What a bunch of bullshit. First off they have no clue on how to cultivate pitching and second they have absolutely no depth in their organization. The Mets have dipped into the bush leagues to pull up gems like Daniel Murphy, Argenis Reyes, Robinson Cancel and the revived Fernando Tatits. When a starting pitcher was needed they called up Brandon Knight and Brian Stokes not world class arms but two guys who would be a big part of the Highlander staff if they played in the Bronx. All we can hope is we have a repeat of the mid 60’s to the mid 70’s when the Highlanders sucked and sucked hard.

Oh Danny Boy you are magnificent. 

I love how Mex thinks this one is in the bag what a kiss of death he is