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.

As I was pursuing the various stories across the web I ran across this on the great site MLB TRADE RUMORS.. It seems that the Padres are sending out feelers on interest in Jake Peavey and the Brewers J J Hardy feels his is as good as gone from the Schlitz City. So if you are the GM of the Mets (a job we all want and feel we’d be outstanding at) would you call SD GM Kevin Towers and offer Jose Reyes in a deal for Peavey? Or would you deal David Wright in a package for Peavey and RHP Mike Adams? I’d do it with Reyes as the centerpiece but for Wright I’d have to think that over because it would be much tougher for me to deal Wright than Reyes. If you could get Jake Peavey for Reyes I’d have to do it and then call Doug Melvin and work out a deal for JJ Hardy.

J-Man better be careful with this hard line stance he’s taking with his new contract. It seems J-Man’s thinking is no matter who the Mets go after to be manager they would have to go 3yr/$3mil minimum and he’s right but when the team you are associated with just collapsed for the second year in a row and the fans and media are questioning if your team has the heart and balls to win a championship you really are not negotiating from strength here. As I said yesterday Gary Carter would be here on the red eye tomorrow morning to take the Mets managers job. Don’t over play your hand here Warlord.

It’s been called a Yacker, Yellow Hammer, Uncle Charley and it some very rare cases (see Koufax, Sandy Blyleven, Bert, Viola, Sweet Music and Gooden, Dwight) Lord Charles.  It’s the curveball. As historians tell us  was developed by a pitcher with a porn star name, Candy Cummings back in the 1870 and since been perfected by the four pitchers I mentioned and when it’s thrown correctly it’s a devastating pitch.

Last night the Mets put a year of bad luck into the hands of a soon to be 22 year old Jonathon Neise who had the unenviable task of making sure the Mets did not get swept by the pathetic Atlanta Braves, a team that looks as broken down as it’s 104 year old manager. Niese was brilliant last night as his curveball with it’s big 12 to 6 break was unhitable and gave the fans a lesson in basic baseball, throw strikes, get ahead, win game.

It also helped that the offense showed up in game 2 as it’s very easy to point the finger at the bullpen for game one loss and it would have been a huge boost  if Brain Stokes got out of the 8th inning jam but you wonder if the offense had come through in big spots with the bases loaded to break open just a drag along boring game, that J-Man manages it differently by taking a hard working Johan Santana out after 7 innings and letting Figgie, Knight or even Bobby Parnell come in to mop up. But it didn’t work out that way but this is not your 2007 Mets team as they came back rejuventized by a 21 year old leftie at his coming out party.

Jon Niese Dan Murphy, Nick Evans, Joe Smith, Bobby Parnell, Fernando Martinez, Jose Reyes, David Wright, are not a bad bunch of home grown players that the Mets farm system has produced. Add in what’s coming up next in Brad Holt, Wilmer Flores, Jefry Marte, Josh Satin and Ike Davis the State of the Mets looks very strong. Not bad for an organization that the “experts” claimed had a barren farm.

Only in baseball can you be called “filthy: and be highly complemented. Last night Warlord Jerry sat at his post game presser and said the Pelfrey had “Filthy stuff” and proud to say it. The progression from rags to riches continued for Big Pelf with another turn back the clock performance with a complete game win. As the ninth inning rolled around according to the SNY radar gun Pelf was hitting 92-94 mph with his fastball. Now that’s nasty. With John Maine as sure as gone for the season Big Pelf has told J-Man to cancel any plans to give him a leave of absence as we got a pennant to win. Old time baseball I love it.

We all sit and watch with awe the reincarnation of Carlos Delgado and not one of us can figure out how he turned his season around.  I tried to figure it out after his first inning opposite field home run and then again after his majestic shot to center field and I still can’t figure out how he’s done it. It can’t just be the change in manager it has to be something else I just can’t figure out what.

Some detergent company will wise up and get Jose Reyes to endorse deal for their product. The guy has the dirtest uniform in baseball. Not a game goes by where he stays clean but it’s not just in spots but from head to toe filthy (there is that word again) he’s Nails without the tobacco.

The NY Daily News and NY Post should be ashamed of themselves for not putting Big Pelf on the back page. Instead the News puts Big Papi and Captain Craptastic for the um-teenth fucking time as this long over done Rivalry has past its expiration date. NEWSDAY got it right at least. Here is a bulletin fans of the Bronx Bastards and Old Town Team neither of your teams is going to the post season as the Rays will win the East and either the White Sox or Twins will be the Wild Card so you folks are shit out of luck. Sorry but someone had to put you out of your misery. The Post has Michael Strahan on the back cover. I love football and the G-Men but it’s the end of August and Big Pelf just pitched back to back complete games and the Mets are headed to the Land of Cheesesteaks to take on the Phucking Phillies, THAT”S the RIVALRY that should be played up.

Oh yeah, Fuck Joba, We got Pelf.

I have found the Mets new closer.

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.!!!!

Funny how you don’t hear about Tony Bernazzard that evil bad man that was undermining the former manager and was the cause of all the clubhouse chaos and is it just a coincidence that two players who were not favorites of Willie Randolph’s, Jose Reyes and Carlos Delgado are not just hitting and playing on an MVP level but Reyes for one is back to the Jose-Jose-Jose we all love and Delgado has stepped up his leadership role as he looks and plays like an anvil was lifted off his shoulder. When Jeff Torborg and Art Howe were run out of town the media in this town loved putting a big foot in their asses as they headed out the door but when it comes to Randolph no one has heard a discouraging word, even though the skies at Shea are no longer cloudy all day. This not meant to bash Willie as I think he worked hard as a bench boss but he just couldn’t get out of his tight ass Highlander ways. One of the things that stands out with J-Man over Randolph is you hear the term “communication”  from the Mets players when they are asked what the big differences between pre J-Man and now and it shows on the field. The Mets are having fun and yes this stretch of prosperity and good cheer is coming from the bottom feeders of the league, but back in May this team would have lost to those teams.

One big difference now from then is J-Man uses his whole team. Everybody contributes and everyone gets to play. Guys are not asked to take a day off which puts them in an awkward position as if they are weak and maybe the manger is playing a head games with them, no they are told they are getting the day off and there is no argument. Yesterday David Wright took a breather and today Jose Reyes gets a personal day, which hopefully will keep them fresh and smelling good come September.

If it were up to J-Man, Gimp Castillo would sit out until September 1 or off into the sunset) as his tag team second base duo of Easley Reyes has done more than an admirable job at the position but why does that tandem need to be broken up? How does Robinson Cancel fly under the NOLA radar as to me as a third catcher is more luxury than necessity so I would think Cancel would be the one cancel-ed out.

Speaking of the walking wounded, Ryan Church is off to NOLA as Hurricane Fay could be washing out games in the Sunshine State along with Trot (Mojo Risen’) Nixon and Ambiorix  Burgos  (anyone want Brain Banister back?) goes to Kingsport where he will continue his comeback from elbow surgery.  Jeffy better order some folding chairs for the Mets dugout come September as it going to be one crowded hangout.

A story in today’s Daily News details astronaut Mike Massimino transporting Shea Stadium home plate from the 2007 season into orbit . Word is J-Man was hoping that Gimp Castillo would be joining the plate in outer space.

I hope you all appreciate Gary Cohen as Gary is defiantly one of us. Saturday night during the SNY telecast Cohen relayed the word that Titan Tom Glavine had blown out his elbow after making his first start since being out most of the season with elbow trouble. Cohen made it known that it would mean that Titan Tom would not be back at Shea this week and the Mets fans would not be able to give him the ovation he deserved after he disgraced the Mets uniform in his last start for the club. . Now Mex had a problem with this and said that Mets fans should calm down and forgive and forget and as soon as I got the “Fuck you Mex” out of my profane mouth toward my TV set,  Gary told him in a nice way the same thing.   

I wonder what time the ticker tape parade is for Brett Farve and the Jets after their pre season win the other night.?

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

It sucks to lose two of three to the Fish but it’s the first series the Mets have dropped all month so no screaming and yelling here about that. The major story of the day is the trade deadline and it looks like the Mets usually major players on deadline day will be standing pat. Maybe Omar has finally gotten it through his head that collecting old guys is not the way to go as it seems in every phone call involving a Mets deal the names Jon Neise (great Triple A debut last night) Dan Murphy (looks like he will be a big time hitter but needs a position) Eddie Kunz (the 8th inning gate man in about two weeks for Billy Wags) and of course The Teen Aged Hitting Machine (who should be brought up to the big team just to let the training staff work with him on stretching his hammys and conditioning a la Jose Reyes when Jose was a puppy) So if Manny Ramirez is NOT to be a Met then hopefully Omar leaves the phone off the hook.

Here in Massachusetts the big news is Manny. It’s 24 hours of Manny. What has seemed to have broken the hearts of the Fenway Faithful was Manny saying the Red Sox “Don’t deserve a player like him” but after he made those remarks he kind of back tracked and professed his love for the city of Boston and the Red Sox fans. Be that as it may the hot story here this morning has Manny going to the Fish, with Jeremy Hermidia going to the Bucs and Jason Bay and John Grabow going to the Red Sox. From all indications this is a done deal and all that awaits ato make it offical is The Used Car Salesman Seal of Approval. This sucks on three levels, first the Mets have no shot at Manny like I said it seems that the Mets front office has wised up and is done dealing kids of geezers even for geezers who can rake but it looks like the plan is to let the flowers grow. Second, it sucks if he goes to the Fish as this pennant race in the NL East is a three team affair Manny or no Manny (how do the Fish do it? They have to be the worst team ever to be in position to win a division) Third, there is going to be one sad soon to be thirteen year old boy going to Fenway for the first time Sunday if there is no Manny in LF.

Tons of Red Sox fans here on the Cape as to be expected some Highlanders fans as well but very few Mets fans which surprises me I guess we are all saving up money to get tickets to $iti Field so no vacations this year. Loads of European tourists as that Euro is very strong. Here is what I find here and at home in NYC, the Euro’s are the most impolite people on the face of the earth. They cut in front of you on line, are clueless on where they are going, have no regard for other people and the words please and thank you are never ever spoken . Use of any personal hygiene products  have not reached that side of the Atlantic. Just two swipes of deodorant Pierre under each armpit is all it takes.

One story I forgot to relay about Saturday night at Shea. I was sitting in Section 40 of the Upper Deck and next to us was a guy with no arms. He asked the guys in back of him if they were going up to the concession stand to let him know as he wanted a beer. So one of the guys tells hem he’s going up so the arm less guy whips off a shoe and with his toes grabs a ten dollar bill out of his shoe and hands (foots?) it to the beer runner. The beer runner comes back with a beer in a cup and armless says to place it right on the empty seat next to him. My son is in the next seat over and my daughter the next over and they both stopped watching the game and were fixated on the armless man as they watched him lower his head to the beer cup, grip it with his teeth and proceed to drink his beer. But that wasn’t the highlight of the night. When Carlos Delgado homered, the armless guy whips off both shoes and claps his feet like a seal.

God I love Shea Stadium.

Greetings from Yarmouth as the first full day of vacation is under way. I am in the middle of Red Sox Nation where the Manny Being Manny talk is hot and heavy. With the Old Town Team dropping 2 of 3 to the Highlanders WEEI is all atwitter over Manny asking for his walking papers. Please Omar Please make the deal get this .300 30 HR 110+Rbi hitting machine to Shea and don’t worry Jose Reyes will keep Manny on the straight and narrow.

I got to hear the Met-Cards game coming up here yesterday (in torrential rain by the way) and I have to give a big tip of my Mets cap to Johan Santana for finally stepping up and being the ACE bu going 9 fill as the bullpen was exhausted after Saturday’s game. The Mets beat the crap out of Cardinal pitching and taking two of three was fine by me. I did get to see the remarkable catch by Carlos Reyes as we went to dinner and what a catch.

Speaking of Saturday I was a the Mets-Cards game at Shea but I have to confess we left in the 8th inning as with a 6 hour drive ahead of us the game ran longer than I anticipated. There were loads of Caridnal fans  at the game most of them from a tour group and I guess as I was leaving there were cops and security running all over the lodge down the ramp where I guess the Cardinal fan fell off the escalator trying to use it as a surf board.

That’s it for now as my birthday celebration continues at the pool. I hope to find a place here that has MLB Extra Innings and maybe the proprietor will put the Mets-Marlins game on for my birthday FAT CHANCE here in Red Sox Nation.