New York Mets Roster / News / Info

Mets not sure who will start Game 1

2006-10-04T12:14:00.000-07:00

The New York Mets are running out of healthy pitchers at the worst possible time.

Already missing Pedro Martinez, the NL East champions suddenly might have to replace scheduled starter Orlando Hernandez in Game 1 of the playoffs because of a calf injury, too.

El Duque felt discomfort in his right leg while he was jogging in the outfield Tuesday as the Mets tuned up for their first-round series against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 40-year-old right-hander was pulled off the field and went for an MRI exam.

"Obviously, we're up in the air on who's our starter tomorrow," Mets manager Willie Randolph said. "We have some options, obviously, but we'll wait and see how he feels first and then we'll make a decision."

Those options are limited, however. Martinez, a three-time Cy Young Award winner, is out until next summer because of calf and shoulder injuries.

Tom Glavine, slated to start Game 2, pitched Saturday in Washington. So if the Mets want to bump him up, the 40-year-old lefty would be working on only three days'
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rest.

Steve Trachsel, who went 15-8 with a 4.97 ERA this year, skipped his scheduled outing last weekend to attend to a family matter on the West Coast. He was due back in New York on Tuesday evening, but Randolph said the right-hander probably wasn't an option to pitch thisafternoon in Game 1 on such short notice.

Randolph didn't even think Trachsel had been throwing while he was away from the team.

That left rookie right-hander John Maine as a possibility. Maine was 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA in 16 games this season, including 15 starts.

But he obviously lacks the October experience the Mets were counting on with Hernandez, acquired from Arizona in May. El Duque is 9-3 with a 2.55 ERA in 19 career postseason games.

N.Y. Mets vs. Philadelphia Phillies.

2006-06-12T06:26:00.000-07:00

Wednesday June 14th, 06. 7: 05 e.t.
Citizens Bank Park.

Phillies are visiting the New York Mets, after playing as visitors also at Washington and wining a great game, against the Arizona Diamondbacks, 10-1 on Tuesday June 7.

With 31 wins and 27 losses at the moment, this team that comes in second in the NL East Standings, goes to N.Y without C Mike Lieberthal due to a sore left hip. Now it is time to think of the up coming game against the Mets. Rumors say the Phillies could use outfielder Shane Victorino as a bargaining chip if they attempt to upgrade the roster for a run at the playoffs. It’s not only this coming game that’s important to win, it is the upward look for the play offs that is appealing and they must play with all they have to for a chance at the end of the regular season. Playing against the top team is not going to be easy but they have to go and play hard for the win.

Line up: 1.Sal Fasano, catcher. 2. Ryan Howard, 1st B. 3. Chase Utley, 2nd B. 4.David Bell, 3rd B. 5. Jimmy Rollins, SS. 6. Pat Burrell, L F. 7. Aaron Rowand, CF. 8. Bobby Abreu, RF. 9. Brett Myers, S P.

New York, is has some important injuries that must be taken into consideration for this up coming game. Unfortunately, outfielder Cliff Floyd and shortstop Jose Reyes were injured and both listed as day-to-day. Floyd sustained a sprained left ankle running the bases in the second inning at Los Angeles, last week. He was replaced by Endy Chavez. Reyes was scratched from the starting lineup after complaining of soreness in his right wrist. X-rays were negative. Reyes was replaced by Chris Woodward.
Sports betting fans are keeping tabs on any changes in the line up for this game. All teams want to keep their players healthy, in good condition to play; they know this is very important for winning a game. Now, we will see how they overcome these injuries and hopefully, the starting line up could be as close as what we have seen from the Mets, in past games.

El Duque shuts down Diamondbacks

2006-06-09T10:58:00.000-07:00

PHOENIX -- If Orlando Hernandez had pitched like this more often, Arizona might never have traded him.
Fortunately, El Duque was wearing the Mets' blue and gray on Thursday evening as he shut down his former Diamondbacks teammates in a complete-game 7-1 victory in the opener of a four-game series at Chase Field.
In nine starts for the D-Backs earlier this season, Hernandez (4-5) showed occasional spurts of dominance, but he was usually very inefficient, racking up high pitch counts early and struggling to go deep into the game. He managed to pitch into the seventh inning only once.
Not only did he pitch into the seventh inning this time out, he pitched his first complete game in almost six years -- the last coming while a member of the Yankees in September 2000 -- and is the first Met to go the distance this season. He allowed just one runner to reach third base in his first eight innings, and only a Chad Tracy sacrifice fly in the ninth prevented the shutout.
Was there a little something extra tonight for Hernandez, considering his opponent?
"Yeah, I think so," said manager Willie Randolph. "He's a competitor. Anytime you pitch against your former team, it's a little nicer."
Regardless of whether or not the motivation of pitching against a team that traded him just two weeks ago was a factor, Hernandez peppered the strike zone early on with his usual assortment of offerings, speeds and arm angles.
"This is the type of guy that we usually run the pitch count up on," said Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin, "but to his credit, he was throwing his breaking ball for a strike and teasing us with the fastball a little bit."
Hernandez allowed just three hits and two walks in the game, while striking out three and throwing 114 pitches.
He said simply: "I was happy with [the job I did] today."
Meanwhile, the Mets offense gave El Duque all the help he would need early, building a 5-0 lead after three innings, highlighted by Carlos Beltran absolutely turning on a Claudio Vargas (6-3) fastball for a 428-foot three-run homer.
Diamondbacks manager Bob Melvin knew better than anyone what Hernandez's splits were this season. Entering the game, El Duque was allowing left-handed hitters to bat .372 with a .726 slugging percentage against him. However, he had been able to stymie right-handed bats to the tune of a .213 average and .370 slugging percentage.
Melvin stacked the deck as much as he could, with four southpaw swingers and four switch-hitters. In fact, only the pitcher, Vargas, batted from the right side.
But in this game, it didn't matter one bit.
"They know I sometimes have problems with lefties," said Hernandez. "I had good luck today."
"He pitched well," said Tracy. "He was mixing it up. There were a lot of balls hit right at people. We just couldn't get anything strung together."
Hernandez had just a whiff of trouble in the third inning, when Vargas hit a one-out double and Craig Counsell followed with a walk. Jeff DaVanon grounded out and Tracy flied out to end the threat.
"He hit his spots, he used his curveball effectively and kept the hitters off-stride," said Randolph. "It was a nice balance of pitching, and that's when he's most effective."
"He throws [the curve] a lot slower than the fastball, so it makes the fastball look a lot harder than it actually it is," said Tracy. "You've got to kind of be in-between, because he'll throw it in any count."
One might think that spending close to four months with a team, from Spring Training until he was traded on May 24, might have given Hernandez a little bit of an edge in knowing the Diamondbacks hitters, but he did not agree with that assessment.
"I don't know their hitters that much. I just worry about pitching," said Hernandez.
Randolph said it simply came down to a crafty veteran pitcher using all the tools at his disposal.
"To me, it was vintage El Duque, and hopefully he can continue that," said Randolph. "He got ahead in the count and used the hitters' aggressiveness against them. They're an aggressive team, a fastball-hitting team, so I had a feeling if he could get ahead and use his off-speed stuff, he would be effective, and that's pretty much the way it played out.
"El Duque did his thing tonight."

Mets fall to Giants

2006-06-05T09:05:00.000-07:00

A Rookie Helps the Marlins Take Down a Mets Goliath

2006-05-29T16:52:00.000-07:00

For all their pluck and spunk, the Florida Marlins, the majors' youngest team, entered Friday night's game at a monumental disadvantage. Their lineup boasted a combined 10 plate appearances against the Mets' ace, Pedro Martínez, and had recorded only one hit.
For all their talent and payroll, the Mets have proven unsuccessful in solving young pitchers. Their lineup boasted a combined zero plate appearances against the Marlins' impressive rookie starter, Josh Johnson. Martínez and Johnson matched each other nearly pitch for pitch through six innings. Johnson retired the Mets in an uneventful seventh. Martínez served up more hits to begin the seventh (three) than he had until that point (two), and the Marlins capitalized, scoring the go-ahead run in a 5-1 victory at Dolphin Stadium. After Martínez left, the Marlins in the eighth pounced on reliever Duaner Sánchez, who allowed three runs, one unearned, and did not record an out until the inning's sixth batter. The Marlins, coming off a sweep of the Chicago Cubs, defeated a likely Hall of Fame pitcher for the second consecutive game. They defeated Greg Maddux on Wednesday, and they will get another chance Saturday, against Tom Glavine.It was Martínez's fifth consecutive start without notching a victory, and his first loss of the season after winning his first five. Martínez struck out 10 Marlins, including every Marlins starter and Dan Uggla twice, and walked none, and he retired 12 consecutive hitters between Miguel Olivo's leadoff homer in the third and Mike Jacobs's leadoff single in the seventh. Martínez entered the seventh having thrown 70 pitches, and was showing no signs of tiring. But Jacobs slapped a line single into right field, and Miguel Cabrera followed with a sharp liner to left field, advancing Jacobs to left. The next hitter, Josh Willingham, squared to bunt, which seemed the prudent decision. Considering how well Martínez was pitching, the Marlins were praying to get a run any way they could. Willingham could not move the runners over, however, and after taking a pitch to even the count at 2-2, he decided to hit away. His next swing connected with a low-and-outside slider, sending the ball hurtling past Martínez's outstretched glove and into center field. The announced crowd of 15,338 (approximately 15,000 were rooting for the Mets), finally had more than just Johnson's effort to cheer. Johnson was masterly in his fifth career start, allowing two hits: Carlos Beltrán's run-scoring single in the first and Paul Lo Duca's single in the fourth. When he departed after the seventh inning, he had recorded eight strikeouts and walked two. The Marlins' bullpen, which had blown four ninth-inning leads in the last week, had no problems shutting down a Mets lineup missing one of its stars, David Wright. Logan Kensing pitched a perfect eighth and Joe Borowski dampened Carlos Delgado's first game back here since his November trade by striking him out with José Reyes on second to end the game. Wright was removed about a half-hour before the game because of back spasms. He was replaced by José Valentín, who became the 132nd player in franchise history to start at third base and was certainly not the first one to go 0 for 3.If possible, Martínez was even better than the 22-year-old Johnson until the seventh inning. Fans around the stadium waved Dominican Republic flags in honor of Martínez, and the chants of "Let's Go Mets" began after Reyes walked to lead off the game. Martínez steamrolled through first-time victims and, before the seventh, befuddled Cabrera and Jacobs. In the first, Jacobs, the former Met, struck out on an unhittable 1-2 changeup, but he did not so much swing at the pitch as throw his bat at it. The bat flew out of Jacobs's hands and up the third-base line. Then, in the fourth, Martínez struck out Cabrera on a pitch that, according to the Marlins' scoreboard pitch tracker, registered 43 miles an hour. While Martínez no longer overpowers hitters the way he once did, that figure seemed ridiculous.

Quarterly Report on Major League Divisional Races (NL WEST)

2006-05-24T14:40:00.001-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Now that most teams have played around forty games, let’s look on in the Divisional Races:

NL WEST

Here’s a division where all the teams are in the hunt for the title. Not much has been determined in the first quarter of the season except that the division is not nearly as bad as many thought it would be. All four teams currently have winning records and they are only separated by 2.5 games.

Arizona has been led by Brandon Webb (7-0), who is probably the early leader in the NL CY Young race. Unfortunately, the rest of their pitching staff has about a 6.00 ERA. Jose Valverde (13 saves), Luis Vizcaino (3.38 ERA) and Brandon Lyon have led a bullpen that is improved over last year’s version. After a miserable start, Shawn Green has been on a torrid pace and Chad Tracy was recently rewarded with a $13 million plus contract extension for his fine work. The offense has been a moneyball fan’s dream: Craig Counsell (.387 OBP), Conor Jackson (.372) and Luis Gonzalez (.387) have certainly managed to get on base. Most analysts of the minor leagues rank Arizona near the top of the list and they are going to need to dip into their system to get some rotation help if they are to win the division or compete for the wildcard.

Colorado has been one of this year’s early surprises. One of the best bets in recent years was against the Rockies on the road, but they have dramatically improved this year. The skepticism usually associated with their gaudy numbers are not valid this year as guys like Brad Hawpe who is hitting .340 overall is hitting .383 on the road. Matt Holliday has added 11 dingers and Garrett Atkins has filled out what has been a very productive, albeit no name, middle of the order. In Jeff Francis and Aaron Cook, the Rockies have developed two nice young starters. Brian Fuentes (10 saves, 1.45 ERA) is having his second straight good year. The Rockies appear to finally have a sound plan in place. In a division that will beat up on each other, you can’t count the Rockies out.

The Dodgers have gone the high risk/high reward strategy the last couple of years. Nomar Garciaparra is the perfect example. He has hit .369, but injuries have limited him. J.D. Drew has 8 homers and 33 RBI so far, but don’t you wish wagerweb.com let you bet on whether or not he would make it through the season? Kenny Lofton (.350 OBP) keeps chugging along, but the Dodgers are waiting for Furcal (.244) to get going. Brad Penny has been pitching well (4-1, 2.53), but also has a dicey injury history. Will Eric Gagne be healthy and effective for the second half of the year? Like Arizona, the Dodgers have a strong farm system. Unlike Arizona, they may be willing to trade a few to fill holes.

Most of the attention surrounding the Giants has been around Barry Bonds. The fact that Bonds is hitting close to .250 and still has an OBP close to .500 speaks volumes about the Giants offense, especially without Moises Alou. The starting rotation led by a resurgent Jason Schmidt (3.07 ERA), the recently returned to action Noah Lowry (3.38 ERA) and Jamey Wright (3.38 ERA) have pitched well enough to keep them in contention, but it would seem another bat is needed for them to stay in the race.

The San Diego Padres recently won 15 out of 18, but still appear to be the weakest team in the division. Mike Piazza has hit 6 homers and has hit better of late, but 15 RBI for a cleanup hitter is just not going to cut it. The challenges of Petco aside, this team has a definite power outage. Only Khali Green has joined Piazza in hitting over 5 homeruns to this point. As usual, Brian Giles continues to get on base with an OBP over .400 and Trevor Hoffman (7 saves, 1.20 ERA) and Scott Linebrink (3.27 ERA) lead a strong bullpen.

So it will come down to Arizona’s farm system, Colorado’s youngsters, The Dodger’s health, The Giants pitching and San Diego’s ability to keep doing it with mirrors. Stay tuned.

Quarterly Report on Divisional Races --- NL CENTRAL

2006-05-24T14:40:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

After a few weeks and with some surprises, the NL Central has begun to look a lot more as expected, particularly at the very top.

With a lineup containing the best player on the planet, the Cardinals have recently started to pull away and
seem well on their way to their third straight division title. Pujols’ numbers are mind-boggling (22 homers and 54 RBI). Barring an injury or a stunning slump, he’s practically locked up the MVP Award in May. Underrated David Eckstein has an OBP of .390 and provides the kind of spark few leadoff hitters can match. While injuries and age have slowed Jim Edmonds and Scott Rolen to some degree, they are both still dangerous hitters. Juan Encarcion and Yadier Molina have been disappointments, but the rest of the lineup has picked them up so far. Chris Carpenter has continued to pitch like an ace and starters Mark Mulder, Jeff Suppan, and Jason Marquis form a solid rotation that always keeps the Cardinals in the game. After a slow start, closer Jason Isringhausen has rounded into form. Only injuries will keep the Cards from playing in October.

Losers of 10 of their last 15, the “Big Red Mirage” are starting to play like their talent level indicates they should. Bronson Arroyo has been an outstanding acquisition and is obviously thrilled not to have to face those tough NL lineups, but you simply can’t send out such a mediocre starting rotation and expect to stay in the race. I told you a few weeks back to bet against them and those who listened are a bit richer today.

The Astros got off to a hot start before their starting pitching went through a horrid stretch. Roy Oswalt remains one of the league’s top pitchers and Wayne Rodriguez has been a nice surprise, but Andy Pettitte has struggled, Brandon Backe is out for the year, and the rest of the rotation has been inconsistent. Brad Lidge has struggled (mostly with his control), but expect him to turn things around. Morgan Ensberg hit home runs in six straight games early in the year and Lance Berkman would be an MVP candidate in a league without Pujols. Also, very quietly, Brad Ausmus has put together a very good year (.418 OBP). The Astros could stay in the wildcard race and may soon get the kind of help that could rocket them to the finish line.

The Brewers are fun to watch. They lead the majors in home runs, and youngsters Prince Fielder, Rickie Weeks, and Bill Hall mix nicely with veterans Geoff Jenkins, Carlos Lee, and Corey Koskie. The only thing is they may be too dependent on getting home runs and they strike out too much. A bit of small ball might help them at times. Getting Ben Sheets healthy would help a rotation that has one underrated star (Chris Capuano) and mostly back-of-the-rotation types. Derrick Turnbow is showing he’s no fluke, but the bullpen lacks depth. This year’s trendy sleeper pick will stay around a while, but ultimately doesn’t have enough for the playoffs.

First the Red Sox, then the White Sox, now the Cu … stop right there. Derrek Lee’s injury has revealed just how impotent the rest of the Cubs lineup is. Juan Pierre has an OBP of .271. Aramis Ramirez is hitting only .231. It’s ugly on the North Side. Greg Maddux’s May has been very different than his April and still no sign of Mark Prior. Dusty Baker must be on edge. No playoffs here, folks.

The Pirates were expected to be an improved team this year, but their starting pitching has failed them. Zach Duke has hit a bit of a tougher time facing teams the second time around, and whatever happened to Oliver Perez, who was thought to be a fast rising star? Not much hope in the Steel City either.

So early on, it looks like it’s the Cards division to lose and the Astros waiting for Roger Clemens to make them serious wildcard contenders.

Fantasy Tip of the Week

2006-05-24T10:50:00.000-07:00

By Chris Goudey
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

We are about 1/3 of the way through the 2006 MLB season, and whether you are doing well or are struggling, this is a crucial time. You know what categories you need to improve on and one of the best ways to improve your standing is to pick up guys who have started off slowly but are due to break out. Here is a list of players to target who have had a bad spring but should soon get as hot as the weather: Batters:

Marcus Giles, 2B, Atlanta –He is historically a .300 hitter who is currently hitting .235. He’s a perfect buy-low candidate.

Manny Ramirez, OF, Boston – Usually good for 40 HRs and 130 RBIs, he is currently in single-digits in HRs and very low in RBIs. He is the ONE player who is due to go crazy in the month of June.

Juan Pierre, OF, and Aramis Ramirez, 3B, Chicago Cubs – Both players have seen their value decrease with the injury to Derrek Lee. Pierre isn’t scoring or hitting as well as normal, and Ramirez’s numbers are all down. When Lee returns, watch these numbers start to rise.

Ken Griffey Jr., OF, Cincinnati – IF he can stay healthy, a power surge is coming. Todd Helton, 1B, Colorado – Now over his mysterious stomach ailment, he should be sending many homers into the Mile-High air shortly.

Reggie Sanders, OF, Kansas City – Should be good for at least 15 homers and 15 steals in the upcoming months.

Garret Anderson, OF, LA Angels – The Angels’ offense has been horrible so far, so look for Anderson to have more RBI opportunities as they begin to heat up.

Jeff Kent, 2B, LA Dodgers – Kent is always good for 25 HRs and 100 RBIs, so take advantage now and reap the rewards later. Cliff Floyd, OF, NY Mets – Floyd has really struggled so far, barely batting over .200. That won’t continue.

Alex Rodriguez, 3B, NY Yankees – Along with Manny Ramirez, he is the highest-profile player on this list. Look for A-Rod to really explode soon. He is too good a player not to.

Jimmy Rollins, SS, and Bobby Abreu, OF, Philadelphia – It’s amazing the Phillies have done as well as they have with two of their biggest players slumping. Abreu is about to bust out, so snag him quickly. Rollins is the best SS in the NL, but you wouldn’t know it judging from his numbers so far. He will hit over .300 and get you at least 20 steals the rest of the way, so grab him now!

Jason Bay, OF, Pittsburgh – He’s already started to break out, but if you can find an owner who isn’t paying attention, go get those 20-25 HRs and 75-80 RBIs that are coming.

Richie Sexson, 1B, and Adrian Beltre, 3B, Seattle – These two were supposed to be the Mariners’ power duo of the future, but it just hasn’t happened….yet. Look for both of these guys to get it together soon and help Ichiro out.

Jim Edmonds, OF, St. Louis – With only 5 HRs so far, Edmonds is a very good candidate to bust out. He’s normally good for 35, so look for him to get at least 25 more for the year…IF he can stay healthy, which is always his biggest issue.

Carl Crawford, OF, Julio Lugo, SS, and Aubrey Huff, 3B, Tampa Bay – All 3 of these guys have had slow starts due to injury (Lugo/Huff) or just a sub-par performance (Crawford). All 3 should start to pick it up together.

Mark Teixeira, 1B-DH, Texas – With only 4 HRs so far, Big Tex is my bet to hit the most homers in the AL from here on out. He is simply too good a player not to have a huge hot streak and in the 100-degree Texas heat, the ball simply flies out of the stadium.

Jose Guillen, OF, Washington – This is a talented player if he can keep his head on straight. He was projected to have 30 HRs and 100 RBIs, so pick him up now and hope he stays on the straight and narrow. The numbers will come if he can.

Obviously not all of these players will break out and start to hit immediately, but they have done much better historically than this year. Next week, I’ll take a look at some pitchers to acquire that fall under the same classification.

The Subway Series: A Wild Ride

2006-05-23T12:21:00.000-07:00

Andew Corselli
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

This weekend’s Subway Series between the Yankees and the Mets was one for the ages. Not only did the winning team triumph by one run in each of the three games, but the series as a whole was about as exciting as it could possibly have been.

Game 1 on Friday night had blowout written all over it when Randy Johnson gave up 6 earned runs in 5 innings pitched. However, the Bronx Bombers battled back against pitcher Jeremi Gonzalez to keep it close. Gonzalez gave up 6 earned runs and 9 hits in only 3 innings pitched. The Yankees kept it close all game, only to have Mariano Rivera lose the game at the bottom of the ninth inning in a dramatic fashion on David Wright’s walk-off single. The game was a nail-biter all the way through and kept fans glued to the game until the final play. At the end of the game, the Mets pulled out a 7-6 victory.

Game 2 on Saturday afternoon was more Yankee-friendly as Mets’ reliever Billy Wagner blew a four-run lead in the ninth inning to send the game into extra innings. Mike Mussina threw 7 strong innings, giving up 4 runs and 5 hits. Pedro Martinez dominated the Yanks by throwing 7 scoreless innings, striking out 8 batters and giving up only 4 hits. Maybe the Yankees are still Pedro’s daddy, seeing as how the Mets failed to secure the win.

It was Johnny Damon who beat out a potential game-ending double-play ball to tie the game in the top of the ninth inning, capping off a four-run inning and embarrassing Billy Wagner; Wagner had dominated the Yankees during the previous game. Andy Phillips hit an RBI single in the eleventh inning, scoring Miguel Cairo and giving the Yankees a 5-4 lead. Mariano Rivera struck out the side, including David Wright, Cliff Floyd, and Xavier Nady, in the eleventh to give the Yankees the 5-4 victory and improve his record to 2-3.

Game 2 for the Yankees was a historic win that will not be forgotten anytime soon, but game 3 was an embarrassment that hopefully will not be remembered for very long. Granted the Mets only won by a score of 4-3, but the Yankees went 2 for 17 with runners in scoring position and left 15 men on base. Tom Glavine gave up 2 runs, 7 hits, and struck out 4 in 6 innings to give the Mets a victory and record his 282nd win. Aaron Small had a sub-par outing for the Yankees, giving up 7 hits, 4 earned runs, 2 strikeouts, and walked 1 batter in 4 1/3 innings pitched. The Yankees, for the third straight game, failed to hit a home run.

The Mets won the series 2-1, improved their record to 26-17, and are now preparing to host division rivals Philadelphia Phillies for a three-game series starting on Tuesday. The Mets have a three-game lead over the Phillies for the best record in the NL East. The Yankees’ record now slips to 24-18 as they head up to Boston for a three-game series against their bitter rivals the Red Sox; the Yankees trail the Sox by 1.5 games for the lead in AL East.

Quarterly Report on Major League Divisional Races (NL EAST)

2006-05-22T10:07:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Now that most teams have played around forty games, let’s look at the Divisional Races:

NL EAST

The Mets, Phillies, and Braves have gone through hot streaks (seemingly, coinciding with the times when they had games against the division’s weak sisters, the Marlins and the Nationals).

The Mets got off to a hot start, but have slowed down a little bit as the injury bug has hit the back of their rotation. Look for them to make a trade or rush phenom Mike Pelfrey, as they have finally given up on Jose Lima, with Jeremi Gonzalez soon to follow. If the Mets can fix the back of the rotation behind Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine, they will be the team to beat as their bullpen trio of Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez, and Billy Wagner has been sensational, and their balanced lineup led by Carlos Delgado, David Wright, and Carlos Beltran is solid.

The Braves got off to a tough start, as Tim Hudson and Jeff Francoeur struggled early, but both have turned things around. The Braves always seem to come up with bullpen finds (check out Kenny Ray’s stats so far this year), but they still need to find a solid closer at some point in order to win this division. The lineup has been solid, as the Jones Boys keep putting up big numbers, Edgar Renteria is playing like one of the league’s top shortstops again, and Brian McCann has been a revelation on offense. The Braves should hang around and push the Mets for the Division title or at least compete for a wildcard berth.

The Phillies recently had a nine game winning streak, and ended play on Saturday with a four game losing streak, so this is a streaky team. Their pitching killed them early as Jon Lieber, Cory Lidle, Gavin Floyd, and Ryan Madsen all struggled. Lieber has pitched better, of late, and the Phillies hope recent call up Cole Hamels can join Lieber and ace Brett Myers as a strong top three in the rotation. Chase Utley, Ryan Howard, and Bobby Abreu are the core of a powerful lineup. The bullpen could use some reinforcements, despite Tom Gordon’s surprising early season success. The Phillies should stick around in both the division and wildcard race, but, ultimately, they may fall short due to their pitching.

The Marlins and the Nationals? The season is already over for them.

The Marlins can take some consolation from the fact that they are developing some good talent like Hanley Ramirez and Josh Willingham. They face a big decision as to whether they want to trade off their remaining superstars, Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. If Willis is traded, the balance of power in baseball may shift.

The Nationals can look to acquire some of their own prospects for the likes of Jose Vidro, Livan Hernandez, and Alfonso Soriano. After a solid season last year, injuries to John Patterson and Luis Ayala have killed a Nationals pitching staff with very little depth.

One thing we have learned is that there is a wide gap between the top three teams and the bottom two. Knowing the division may come down to how well they feast on the weaker teams, consider betting on the Mets, Braves, and Phillies when they face their weaker opponents.

“Ain’t no sucker like Jim Duquette”

2006-05-15T11:34:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs]
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

A baseball trade is basically a wager by two general managers that the player each acquires will be better than the one he gives up. It may or may not work out well. That’s gambling.
Now that Scott Kazmir is off to a great start at 5-2 with a 2.94 ERA and Victor Zambrano has just undergone season-ending surgery, it might be a good time to review how Jim Duquette, the Mets GM at the time, broke every single rule of gambling.

NEVER BET MORE THAN YOU CAN AFFORD
When the Mets traded Scott Kazmir, their farm system was almost completely bare. The only true blue-chip pitching prospects at the time were Phil Humber, who has since undergone Tommy John surgery, and Alay Soler, a Cuban defector who just made it to the U.S. this season and is currently pitching at AA. This year the Mets are throwing out such retreads as Jose Lima and Jeremi Gonzalez as they wait for Mike Pelfrey and the next wave of prospects to be ready. Do you think they would rather have sent out Jose Lima – or Scott Kazmir, to try and sweep their arch-rival Braves last week?

NEVER BET WHILE INTOXICATED
Right around the time of the trade in 2004, the Mets had just swept their cross-town rivals, the New York Yankees, in an exciting three-game series. The Mets, who had been dead in this town since 2000, finally had some juice. They were close to first place and back on the back page. Of course, they still had a .500 record and not much talent. But Duquette, drunk on the city’s enthusiasm, wanted to “win now” no matter what the future cost.

DO YOUR HOMEWORK
You wouldn’t bet on a Falcons game without checking if Michael Vick was hurt, would you? Yet Mr. Duquette failed to adequately check into Victor Zambrano’s injury before the trade. Zambrano admitted he has been hurt the entire time he has been a member of the New York Mets. The week the trade was made, Zambrano skipped a start because of arm stiffness. Shouldn’t some alarms have gone off? Duquette blamed Tampa doctors for downplaying the injury, but you don’t need to be able to read medical charts to know something might be amiss.

LOOK FOR VALUE
Barbaro, who was such a good bet on Derby Day, might not be such a great bet for the Preakness. You won’t get enough in return. A lefty who throws 97 MPH has more value than a barely over .500 pitcher with control problems. Had Mr. Duquette waited until the off-season, he might have received Tim Hudson or Mark Mulder in return.

KNOW WHEN TO WALK AWAY
This is the one Mr. Duquette clearly missed. Tampa officials were said to be laughing to themselves when they realized what they were getting. Mr. Duquette should clearly have just walked away. Next time you’re in Baltimore and you’re looking for someone to round out your poker game, look up Mr. Jim Duquette because there ain’t no sucker like the one who doesn’t know the rules.

New York Mets vs. St. Louis Cardinals

2006-05-12T10:25:00.000-07:00

Thursday, May 18th 2006 1:10 PM ET
Busch Stadium

Tom Glavine from the Mets had a great game against the Phillies that ended a nine game winning streak; Glavine pitched seven strong innings and drove in a pair of runs to help the New York Mets beat Philadelphia 13-4 Wednesday night.

The Mets pounded Phillies starter Cory Lidle (3-4) early, with eight players getting hits and all nine scoring while building a 10-0 lead through three innings. The NL East-leading Mets pushed their lead back to four games over the second-place Phillies, who were on their longest winning streak since a 13-game run in 1991.

"It was a nice game for me to have an early lead and have the guys keep tacking them in the way they did," Glavine said.

It was a great game that showed everybody why they have the best record in the NL East; they have a powerful offense and great pitchers that can get this team very far this season.
"That's the way we have to play, come out and be aggressive and make things happen," Mets manager Willie Randolph said.

Lineup
1. Jose Reyes, SS. 2.Paul Lo Duca, C. 3. Carlos Beltran, CF. 4.Carlos Delgado, 1st B. 5. David Wright, 3rd B. 6.Cliff Floyd, LF. 7.Xavier Nady, RF. 8.Kazuo Matsui, 2nd B. 9. Tom Glavine, P.

Pujols hit his major league-leading 18th homer and Jeff Suppan won his fourth straight start, leading the St. Louis Cardinals to a 7-4 victory against the Rockies last week. Juan Encarnacion also homered for the Cardinals, who took two of three from the NL West leaders and have won five of six overall.

"I'm being patient at the plate and just taking what they give me," Pujols said. "There's nothing secret."

It’s impressive the way the Cardinals offense is playing, they have the one of the highest run scoring record in the league; and they will have it as long as the offense keeps playing like they are playing now. Lead by Pujols they also have great players like Encarnacion and Rodriguez that can have RBI’s in any game and any situation which has been a great formula so far for them.

So expect this game against the Mets to be a heart pounding one, filled with emotion and excitement. Most sports book will have lines and props for the game and the whole series; you can start your study and take your pick in this great match up.

Lineup
1. David Eckstein, SS. 2. John Rodriguez, LF. 3. Albert Pujols, 1st B. 4. Jim Edmonds, CF. 5. Scott Rolen, 3rd B. 6. Juan Encarnacion, RF. 7. Gary Bennett, C. 8. Aaron Miles, 2nd B. 9. Jeff Suppan, P.

“It’s Not Rocket Science”

2006-05-11T10:40:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Wagerweb.com has posted odds offering bettors the chance to predict which Major League Baseball team Roger Clemens will return to.

Clemens is clearly enjoying the attention he is garnering from his four suitors. Let’s take a look at how Clemens has played this situation thus far, and how it will play out at the end.

THE EASY MARK:
Roger Clemens enjoyed opening day in Arlington Stadium, sitting next to owner Tom Hicks. When Clemens was introduced and shown on the scoreboard, the fans went crazy. Do the Rangers, who have gone all these years searching for pitching, really have a shot at Roger Clemens ? Well, the Rangers are an improved team, with Kevin Millwood leading some young up-and-coming pitchers. And it would do wonders for Clemens’ legend to ride into Arlington on his horse and lead them to their first World Series Championship. Is it going to happen? No. Why would Clemens pitch in a hitter’s park for a team which, despite their improvements, is not a serious World Series contender? More likely, Roger was paying attention when Tom Hicks bid against himself to sign Alex Rodriguez to his franchise-crippling $250 million dollar contract. This is exactly the type of guy you want to draw into the bidding. Wagerweb.com has the odds on Clemens going to the Rangers at 6-1. Trust me, it’s far longer than that.

AN OFFER HE CAN’T REFUSE:
Roger Clemens still keeps in touch with buddies Derek Jeter and Jorge Posada, and there were reports that Jeter had his ear during the World Baseball Classic. And if Clemens is looking for a sure bet to get to the playoffs, it’s been a while since the Yanks sat out October. Can Clemens return to the Yankees? Probably not. Roger Clemens already got a Hummer as a retirement gift, and you have to figure, after feasting on weaker National League number eight hitters, and pitchers’ feeble attempts to catch up to his fastball, he might not be dying to face more formidable American League lineups. If Randy Johnson keeps looking his age, can George Steinbrenner make Roger Clemens an offer he can’t refuse? Could happen, but George will never let Clemens skip road trips in fear that all of his stable of superstars will demand the same special treatment. At 1:2, this is not a good bet.

FINISH WHERE HE STARTED
Imagine the nostalgic feeling of coming back where you began your career, and leading that team to a World Series. What a perfect symmetry to a career. Almost like a movie script. Only the impact of leading the Red Sox to a World Series is not nearly what it was two years ago. The Red Sox already have had a hero who started in their organization come back and lead them to the Promised Land. And that hero wore a bloody Red Sock. How can Clemens possibly top that? Besides, if the Red Sox really get close, Mr. Steinbrenner may very well make him an offer he can’t refuse. At 1:1, I just can’t see this as a good bet.

FINISH WHAT HE STARTED
The first year, Clemens led the Astros to the playoffs. His second year, he helped them to their first World Series. Why not finish what he started? The Astros are off to a great start. Besides, the Mets, Cardinals and, possibly the Phillies, who can you remotely predict can stop them from at least getting there? His best friend Andy Pettitte has mentioned the possibility of retirement after this year (Don’t bet on that, though). Houston offers him a chance to stay close to home and it lets him skip those pesky road trips. They have already made him a generous contract offer. The odds are 2:1. After all that analysis, it must come down to this: If you could work closer to home, travel less, and not have to work as hard, for similar money, what would you do? Come on, this may be Roger Clemens, but it is not rocket science. Bet the 2:1 on him returning to the Astros. It may be the best bet available on the entire website.

Ball Buzz: Mets' Zambrano out for season

2006-05-08T16:47:00.000-07:00

New York Mets right-hander Victor Zambrano will miss the rest of the season after tearing a tendon in his pitching elbow, the latest in a string of injuries to the team's starting staff.
The Mets placed Zambrano on the 60-day disabled list yesterday, and said he could be ready to pitch by spring training. Right-hander Jose Lima was brought up from Triple-A Norfolk to take Zambrano's roster spot and started yesterday against Atlanta.
Zambrano left Saturday's 6-5 win over the Braves after facing just four batters, and striking out three.
In the second inning, manager Willie Randolph and trainer Ray Ramirez visited Zambrano on the mound to make sure he was feeling okay.
Zambrano stayed in the game and, two pitches later, struck out Andruw Jones. He then bounded off the mound, down the dugout steps and into the clubhouse.
"When I threw my last pitch, I knew it was over," Zambrano said.
An MRI exam taken after the game revealed the tear. Zambrano, who came to New York in a trade that sent top Mets prospect Scott Kazmir in July 2004, said he has been pitching with discomfort for some time but felt he could fight through the soreness.
The Mets already have pitchers Brian Bannister and John Maine on the disabled list.

Baseball’s First-Month Awards

2006-05-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

The calendar has turned on the first month of the 2006 baseball season. While there is plenty of season left, it’s a good time to evaluate who has the early lead on baseball’s top awards.

American League MVP:

1) Jim Thome – While he has slowed somewhat since his sizzling start, Jim Thome has been the best acquisition any American League team has made. Many questioned what he had left, but he put any doubts to rest immediately by homering in his first 2 games and 6 times in his first 10 games. His 10 homeruns and 24 RBIs are tops on the American League’s most talented team.

2) Jason Giambi – His .542 OBP is fantastic as Giambi continues to expand on last year’s comeback- player-of-the-year performance. While he leads the AL in walks with 27, Giambi is not just being passive, as he also leads the AL in RBIs with 27. Only his statuesque defense and stubbornness about embracing the DH role make him second choice.

3) Vernon Wells – The Blue Jays went on baseball’s biggest shopping spree, this off-season, but one of their incumbent players has turned in his best effort so far. With 9 homers, 25 RBIs and a .374 batting average, Wells is carrying a heavy load as Toronto tries to prove that they can keep pace with the Red Sox and The Yankees.

National League MVP:

1) Albert Pujols – Provided he stays healthy, it appears as though this award will be his to lose for many years to come. His record-breaking 14 homeruns in April and 32 RBIs have led the Cardinals to another great start.

2) Lance Berkman – The reason for the Astros’ slow start, last April, was likely because they missed Berkman’s bat. Berkman has had a fast start, this year (10 homeruns, 31 RBIs and .240 BA), and so have the Astros.

3) Carlos Delgado – The best acquisition any National League team made, this off-season, Delgado has really carried the load (10 homeruns and 21 RBIs) while Beltran was injured and Cliff Floyd slumped.

American League Cy Young:

1) Jose Contreras – His 4-0 record and league-leading 1.45 ERA still leads a pitching staff that makes the White Sox the best bet to win the AL Pennant at the sports book.

2) Curt Schilling – Baseball’s biggest loudmouth is once again able to “walk the walk.” His 4-1 record, 2.88 ERA and durability (40.2 IP) have led the Red Sox to an early tenuous hold on first place in the AL East.

3) Kenny Rogers – The ace on a staff of promising young guns, veteran Rogers has done everything you can ask for the Tigers (4-2, 2.59 ERA and a great 0.98 WHIP).

National League Cy Young:

1) Greg Maddux – Talk about giving a club a lift. Once again frustrated by injuries to Mark Prior and Kerry Wood, the cursed Cubbies are thrilled by Maddux’s early renaissance (5-0, 1.35 ERA).

2) Pedro Martinez – The daily updates by a panicked New York press corps on Pedro’s toe during spring training are long forgotten as Pedro has been fantastic (5-0, 0.89 WHIP). He already has beaten the hated Braves twice.

3) Bronson Arroyo – Wow, after the AL East, this is sure easy. Arroyo (5-0, 2.06 ERA) has led the way for baseball’s biggest early season surprise.

Rookies of the Year:

American League:

Jonathan Papelbon – Thrown into the Boston pressure-cooker, Papelbon leads the AL in saves (10) and has yet to allow a run in over 15 innings.

National League:

Prince Fielder – Unlike his father, Cecil, Prince didn’t need to serve some time in the Japanese League to find his stroke. Fielder’s .343 average leads all rookies.

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"Carlos Play When Carlos Ready"

2006-05-05T07:23:00.000-07:00

By Jonathan Wachs
WagerWeb.com Contributing WriterThis spring the Mets invited Ricky Henderson to the camp to tutor leadoff hitter Jose Reyes, rookie Anderson Hernandez, and stud prospect Lastings Milledge on the nuances of base stealing and increasing on-base percentage. From the looks of it, Ricky may have been lecturing Carlos Beltran on another one of his areas of expertise—nursing a hamstring injury.Coming off a record setting postseason in 2004 where he hit 8 home runs, Beltran was rewarded by the Mets with the highest contract in franchise history—7 years for $119 million. For this tidy sum, Beltran turned in the most dismal season of his career with statistical lows in home runs (16), RBIs (78), runs scored (83), and stolen bases (17).In fairness to Beltran, he started out playing very well in April 2005 until he injured his thigh. A gamer, Beltran tried to fight through the injury and played despite his speed game being nonexistent and much of his power sapped. And who can forget the horrifying collision Beltran had with Mike Cameron last August in San Diego? Beltran shocked most observers by coming back just five days later despite suffering from vertigo.A quiet man by nature, Beltran was ill equipped to be a vocal clubhouse leader, but he is one who likes to lead by example. Despite playing through pain, Beltran picked up many doubters this off-season. His name, which previously topped many fantasy draft boards, was dropped down severalrankings. Local newspapers placed him on top of the "most overrated" lists.While it is obvious Beltran is not the player the nation saw in the 2004 postseason, he is a solid player who can contribute in many ways. His talents are most appreciated by watching him on a daily basis, where his defense and solid fundamentals are on display.On opening day this year, New York fans shockingly booed Beltran after he stranded runners early in the game. Beltran, who really took one for the team playing injured last year, was noticeably stung by the fan's venom. In fact, a few days later when he hit a game-turning home run, he refused to go out for a curtain call to acknowledge the now adoring crowd. It wasn't until veteran Julio Franco coaxed him (more than once) that Beltran gave a lukewarm wave. Franco understood it is not a good idea to get on the bad side with of the fans. Clearly it is a war a player can't win, particularly in New York.This year Beltran has again injured himself, suffering a hamstring pull early in the season. While the MRI seems to indicate the injury was far from severe, Beltran took his sweet time getting back on the field. He is no longer going to risk his reputation and health for the good of the team since it went clearly unappreciated last year.Rest assured, Beltran will most likely produce solid numbers as he regains his health, but as he probably learned from Ricky Henderson, from now on "Carlos play when Carlos ready."

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Philadelphia Phillies vs. NY Mets

2006-05-04T12:37:00.000-07:00

Last week against the Nationals, the Mets that have one of the best records in the league went down 2-6 in a game that the Nationals needed to win desperately. Byrd and Marlon Anderson opened the game with consecutive doubles down the left-field line, putting the Nationals ahead. Lo Duca tied it with a solo shot in the bottom half.

But the mlb Mets couldn’t keep the game of the Nationals and ended up losing a game that wasn’t that hard. The Mets seem unfocused and the pitching department wasn’t that good The Mets need to keep playing like they were playing for the past few weeks; they had an impressive roll that if they can continue with it they’ll easily make to the post season.

"You've seen how ugly it's been and how desperate we needed to win a game," Washington manager Frank Robinson said. "Hopefully, this will get us going”.

In other news Rookie John Maine, promoted from Triple-A Norfolk to replace the disabled Brian Bannister. He made his major league debut Tuesday against Washington, and gave up four runs in 5 2/3 innings in the 6-2 loss to the Nationals.

Lineup
1. Jose Reyes, SS. 2.Paul Lo Duca, C. 3.Carlos Beltran, CF. 4.Carlos Delgado, 1st B. 5. David Wright, 3rd B. 6. Cliff Floyd, LF. 7. Xavier Nady, RF. 8.Kazuo Matsui, 2nd B. 9. John Maine, P.

Phillies pitcher John Lieber left Florida with his first win of the season in a 7-5 victory over the Florida Marlins. Lieber gave up nine hits, five runs and four earned, which lowered his ERA to 6.87. He left for a pinch hitter in the seventh with the Phillis trailing 5-3. Abercrombie put the Marlins ahead with a two-run triple in the fifth. But Florida pitchers walked eight batters, and five scored.

The Phillies manage to get 4 runs in the seventh inning to take the lead 7-5 and eventually win the game. Lieber 1-4 had been off to the worst start of his career after winning 17 games last season. "The bottom line is we won as a club -- that's all I care about," he said. "If we win a hundred games and I'm 0-18, I don't care."

This week they will face the NY Mets in Philadelphia in a series that will face the youngest team in the league (Phillies) and a team with one of the best records (Mets). If you like to gamble on sports don’t miss the chance of betting and give extra pitch to the All-American sport.

Lineup
1. Jimmy Rollins, SS. 2.Chase Utley, 2nd B. 3. Bobby Abreu, RF. 4.Pat Burrell, LF. 5. Aaron Rowand, CF. 6.Ryan Howard, 1st B. 7. David Bell, 3rd B. 8. Sal Fasano, C. 9.Jon Lieber, P.

Washington 6, New York Mets 2

2006-05-03T13:36:00.000-07:00

Alfonso Soriano hit a two-run homer and Michael O`Connor pitched seven innings Tuesday as Washington beat the New York Mets, 6-2.
O`Connor (1-1) earned his first big league win as he allowed just one run on two hits while striking out six and walking two.
Damian Jackson also hit a two-run homer and Marlon Byrd went 3-for-4 with three runs scored for the Nationals, who snapped a three-game losing streak.
Carlos Beltran homered and Paul Lo Duca got the only two other hits for the Mets, who have lost two of their last three games.
John Maine (0-1) suffered the loss as he allowed four runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in his Mets debut.

Bonds’ alleged cheating scandal hurting baseball history

2006-05-03T10:34:00.000-07:00

By Bill Kugelberg
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Having just finished reading Game of Shadows – the alleged tell-all book in which the authors claim to have records detailing Barry Bonds’, as well as other athletes’, use of performance-enhancing drugs – it has become crystal clear that Bonds cheated, continues to cheat, and could not care less about it.Bonds just about says this when he claims in his grand jury testimony that he hasn’t played in a baseball game since college when he attended Arizona State University. Basically, what he’s saying, and what he continues to say, is that he is an entertainer and not a competitor. He conveniently forgets how his alleged cheating has impacted the other players in the game, both past and present. And how, every night, in every stadium he plays in, he is the only person who is in on this little secret.

When I go to a game, I’m not there to be entertained. I’m there to see the team I support try to win. And when I make a wager on a team, I’m not doing it for the entertainment; I’m doing it to win. If I go to Vegas and play blackjack or craps, I consider that to be entertainment. While I would like to win, and I don’t believe the outcome has been predetermined, I still understand the odds are against me coming away a winner.But Bonds apparently doesn’t see playing baseball as a competition. It sounds as though he views it as our opportunity to watch an “entertainer” stand up there and be walked two or three times a game and, maybe, just maybe, see him grace our presence with a home run. Get over yourself, Barry. Not only are you coming off like a pompous ass, you are also making an impact on the game that the record books will reflect forever.For example, since 1999, when his steroid use is alleged to have begun, the San Francisco Giants have won or finished second in the NL West every year, except for last year when he spent just about all of the season on the disabled list, and they finished third.

Take away Bonds’ production, or fill in the production that most players would contribute, and the Giants find themselves in a different position. Also, as he approached 40 years old, his numbers would naturally decline, not go up. With that factored in, the Giants truly would be hurting for production from Bonds.Just ask Albert Pujols, who has finished second to Bonds in National League MVP voting twice, how Bonds’ steroid use has impacted his post-season award possibilities.

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Unfortunately, the players who have truly been impacted by Bonds’ steroid use are the players who finished playing the game years ago. Bonds, along with Mark McGwire, has succeeded at setting the bar so high that no one will be able to approach their records. In doing so, they have made the average fan believe that 40 home runs a season is nice, but not Hall of Fame-worthy. One player who has been affected by this is Andrew Dawson. Dawson hit 438 home runs and drove in 1,591 RBIs. He also played baseball for 21 years and has 2,774 hits with 8 Gold Gloves and 314 stolen bases. With close to 10 knee surgeries, Dawson should have been the one allowed to take performance-enhancing drugs, not Bonds.

One thing I love about Bonds is that he refuses to even admit that Game of Shadows exists. The book has been out for about three months now and I have yet to hear of a lawsuit filed on Bonds’ behalf that contests the contents of the book. And yet everyone just casually goes about their sports day, without a care that Bonds continues to cheat because, as an entertainer, he feels he can.As the book explains, Bonds has never had to stand before anyone and explain his actions – not even when he was a kid. He was always the best player on the team, received the benefits that comes with that title, and he continues to expect that to be the case. Regardless of how it impacts his body, the other players in the game, the kids growing up who are learning the game, or the record books – Bonds is concerned with one thing – reaping the financial advantages that being an “entertainer” in baseball provides.And regardless of who has to pay to make that happen, Bonds is only too happy to stand there and take the paychecks and accolades that come with it.

I’ve often wondered how he sleeps at night, knowing that he has an advantage that many other players don’t have – that he has cheated to get to where he is. And the only answer I can come up with is that when you are on the stage and being an entertainer, it’s just acting. It’s not who you really are – so you can get away with more. The question I have for Bonds is, when the show is over and you walk off the stage – who are you then?

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2006-05-02T14:15:00.000-07:00

By Brad Halfond
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Just like clockwork, every spring brings the same hopes to major league baseball teams all over the country. Some fans of teams like the Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals and the Detroit Tigers are just hoping to stay in the pennant race after the first few weeks of the season, while other fans have higher aspirations.Take the rabid fans of Boston Red Sox nation or the equally intense fanatics who root for the New York Yankees.

Not only do these fans demand that their teams be in the playoffs or World Series every season, they also demand that the two clubs beat each other.Boston and New York are separated by about four hours in a car, but their baseball fans and ideas are separated by much more space than almost anyone can imagine.The best word, although not too politically correct, is “hate.” It is not a stretch of any imagination to say that the fans of these clubs hate each other. Every year, fights break out in the stands or in sports bars across America, and they are all involving Yankee or Red Sox fans.

Ever seen or heard about a Cardinals and Braves fan fight?Both Boston and New York have fans who are living in various cities away from their hometown, and this has spread the rivalry across many time zones. Trust me from first-hand experience, you can find New Englanders and New Yorkers almost anywhere in the USA.The rivalry and bad blood runs fairly deep for me, and I would not be able to write with such certainty on the topic had I not been so directly involved through many years.Being born and raised in New York, you have a choice between teams. Once you select the Yankees (in my case, passed down by dear ol’ Dad), the next step is to immediately work up a hatred for Red Sox fans, Red Sox management, New England Clam Chowder and even anybody foolish enough to be wearing actual red socks.

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If you’re a Yankees fan, that is your first given in life – hate thy Red Sox fan. With their annoying accents, general lack of knowledge toward the game, their laughable track record of winning over the years and barrelful of excuses for losing, it is fairly easy to work up a good lather against them.Another year is upon us, and 2006 will see these two teams meeting 19 times. The first pair of these games takes place on May 1-2 in Beantown. If you’re a baseball fan and you’re not watching these games, you either better be getting married or mourning a death in the family. If you’re a Yankee or Red Sox fan, there is no excuse not to be watching—just keep the volume low on your mini TV and nobody at the funeral should get too upset.But emotions and people getting upset are actually the hallmark of this rivalry.

It’s easy to go back and cite all the times on the field that these two teams have mixed it up, which in turn usually carries over to the stands or the bars.More recently, we had Alex Rodriquez taking on Jason Veritek, and Don Zimmer battling it out with Pedro Martinez. Granted, the names and faces change, but the intensity between the two teams and their fans is legendary.I can personally attest to one infamous episode during Game 7 of the 2003 American League Championship series. It was the game where New York recovered from a 5-3 deficit to defeat Boston with a home-run from Aaron Boone that sent the Yankees to the World Series.Drinking a beer amidst hoards of Red Sox fans at the Luxor Hotel in Las Vegas, I was resigned to watching the Sox advance to the World Series.

Soon, the Yankees mounted their comeback, and my bravado had started taking the best of me. Although very conservative in my early remarks, I saved the best for last: When Boone’s shot landed in upper reaches of Yankee Stadium, my outburst lasted for several minutes—which most likely felt like hours for Red Sox fans.Now this incident took place before Boston finally won a World Series title, so Red Sox fans were more surly than usual.With my yelling ringing in their ears and their sorrow turning to desperation, two New England tourists started hurling insults my way, and we exchanged profane remarks for several minutes before your classic dimwitted Red Sox fan charged at me, telling me to keep quiet.

Now, telling a Yankee fan to keep quiet is like telling Pam Anderson not to show any cleavage, so it quickly turned ugly. In the end, Red Sox fan lost the fight but had some red blood to show for it on his nose, and his wife was also the recipient of some collateral damage.If you’re curious, all charges were dropped.I would expect nothing else from the loyal, overzealous fans of either team. In the end, being a Yankee or Red Sox fan is like defending your country. If attacked and provoked—or just not a fan of a particular nation—let them know you’re serious and that they best not challenge you again.Winning a World Series title hasn’t made Red Sox fans any smarter or relevant, it just gave them a one-year sense that everything was fine—but pinstripes will always be the real color of choice.

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Next week on TV (5-1/5-7)

2006-05-02T08:29:00.000-07:00

By Daniel Kline
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer

Both the NBA and the NHL close out the first round of their playoffs. In baseball, you’ve got the Orioles and the Blue Jays, matching up in what has to be one of the biggest questions of the baseball season. One of these teams might hang on to challenge the Yankees and Red Sox, but probably not both, making this early season tilt a little more interesting.

*All times Eastern.

Monday, May 1
NFL Europe, Berlin at Rhein (3 p.m., NFL Network)
Stop arguing about who your team drafted and check in on the sport’s minor league with this mid-afternoon match-up. Though NFL Europe might not get the attention of its big brother, the league offers a good chance to figure out which back-up players might break through come the fall.

Tuesday, May 2
Yankees at Red Sox (7:05 p.m., DirecTV, regional)
Every Yankees versus Red Sox match-up gets covered like a playoff game in Boston and New York, so expect tempers to flare in this tilt. The Sox have had the early season advantage, but that’s nothing new, as the Sox always have a division lead in the Summer – the question is whether they can hold it in the Fall.

Wednesday, May 3
Boxing (9 p.m. ESPN2)
Sharmba Mitchell takes on Jose Luis Cruz in a 10-round welterweight tilt. Cruz plays the role of the fighter on the way up, taking on former two-time champion Mitchell, who wants one more shot at the gold. Mitchell was knocked out in the sixth round in his last fight, but that was against Floyd Mayweather – one of the best in the division – so he’s aiming to prove that was a fluke and knock Cruz off the ladder of contention.

Thursday, May 4
Wachovia Open (4 p.m., USA)
A Tiger-less field should leave this one pretty wide open. Vijay Singh attempts to repeat as champion, a title he took last year in a three-way playoff with Sergio Garcia and Jim Furyk.

Friday, May 5
College Volleyball (Midnight, ESPN2)
Catch the men’s semifinal of the NCAA men’s volleyball tournament. This might be your last chance to see some of your favorite players before they turn pro and head out on the lucrative men’s volleyball tour.

Saturday, May 6
Kentucky Derby (6 p.m., NBC)
Horse racing only matters three times a year to the average fan, but the Kentucky captures the best of the sport. Because it’s the first Triple Crown race, every Derby winner stands the chance of being the first horse to bring home racing’s most elusive prize since Affirmed in 1978.

Sunday, May 7
Premier League Soccer (5 p.m., FOXESP)
Two of the big powers in the Premiership face off as Newcastle battles Chelsea in an attempt to cut into Chelsea’s overall lead in the standings. Chelsea did just fall in the FA Cup semifinal, but their big lead in the regular season standings makes clinching the title almost inevitable.

Daniel Kline’s book “50 Things Every Guy Should Know How To Do” is available in bookstores nationwide. He can be reached at dan@notastep.com.

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Fantasy Baseball Breakdown

2006-04-27T07:58:00.000-07:00

By Mike Brody
WagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
The Six-Month Grind
We’re three weeks into the 2006 baseball season, and if your fantasy team looks anything like mine, you’re ready to unload half of your roster. I know it’s hard, but be patient. The worse thing you could do right now is panic and make a bad trade or drop a good player.
Baseball, more than any other sport, is driven by statistics. It’s a long season with a lot of ups and downs for most players. In the end, the numbers usually even out. If you stick with your guys long enough, they should come around and start producing like you expected them to.
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Off to a Hot Start
While it’s very difficult to watch your team stumble out of the gate (as I’m writing this, my offense is a collective 0-15 today and I’m about ready to have a fire sale), there was a reason why you drafted these guys. If you were lucky enough – or smart enough, depending on how you look at it – to draft Chris Shelton, Jonny Gomes or Nick Swisher, you’re probably at the top of your league, right now. But are these guys really going to lead the league in home runs?
Manny Ramirez hit his first two home runs of the season, last weekend. Mark Teixeira and Richie Sexson have three and two homers, respectively, through the first three weeks. These guys are all perennial 40-home-run-hitters, and barring injury, you can be sure that they will get their numbers by the season’s end.

Waiting for the Right Time
Everyone’s heard the cliché “buy low, sell high.” It’s sound advice. Knowing the right time to deal that guy who’s off to a hot start is the key to making this happen. There’s no way Shelton, Gomes and Swisher are going to keep up the pace they’ve set so far – Shelton’s already started to slow down – but how can you not ride their hot streaks a little longer? Just don’t wait too long if you’re planning on dealing them.
Knowing players’ trends is another key in making the right deal at the right time. Some players are traditionally slow starters, like Ramirez and Jim Edmonds, and trading for them at the end of their slow start could mean big stats for you the rest of the way. A lot of hitters heat up when the weather does too, so they could be busting out of these slumps any day now.
On the Rise
Targeting players who are showing signs of breaking out is another key to making the right roster adjustments. Here are a few players who might be available and could definitely help some teams:
Josh Barfield – The rookie second baseman has excelled since being moved to the No. 2 spot in the Padres lineup. He’s got his average over .300 and has 2 HRs and 6 steals. Grab him if he’s still available.
Ty Wigginton – Playing for his third team in four years, the journeyman third baseman seems to have found a home in Tampa Bay. He’s taken advantage of Aubrey Huff’s knee injury and already has 8 home runs and 20 RBI. Playing in hitter-friendly Tropicana Field should help, too. Ride him while he’s hot. Brad Hawpe – The Colorado Rockies outfielder has established himself as the everyday right fielder and is firmly entrenched in the heart of the Rockies lineup. He’s batting over .340 and already has slugged 5 HRs. The 2000 College World Series MVP is well on his way to a .300-30-100 season. You never can go wrong having a Rockie in your lineup.
The Pitching Hole
While there is plenty of time to make up ground on offense, falling behind in the pitching categories – especially ERA and WHIP – can be a killer. Avoiding those complete disasters in the early season is a key to remaining competitive on the mound.
With pitchers, it’s all about the matchups. Don’t be afraid to bench one of your better pitchers for a riskier play if the matchup is right. Throwing a marginal starter against Kansas City or Pittsburgh is always better than having just about any starter face the Yankees or pitch at Colorado.
Whether you find yourself at the top of your league or at the bottom of the pack after these first three weeks, don’t stop looking to make your team better. Stocking your bench with productive players who could be used as trade bait is always a good idea. The inevitable injuries will come, and having players to step in during those times will help you avoid having to make a desperate deal. Bet MLB Baseball Player and Game Propositions @ WagerWeb.com Sportsbook

Michael Brody
Writer/EditorWagerWeb.com Contributing Writer
Mike has been writing and reporting on sports for 14 years.
He started his career as a sports writer and radio broadcaster at Cal State Northridge. Mike has written for the Los Angeles Daily News and has been a writer/editor for KNBC in Los Angeles, where he worked on the nightly sportscast with Fred Roggin. He also wrote and edited material for NBC network specials and has more than 10 years of online journalism experience. Although he lives in Southern California, Mike was born and raised in the Boston area and is a diehard fan of all the Boston professional teams.

New York Mets at San Francisco Giants

2006-04-21T14:37:00.000-07:00

Tuesday, April 25th, 2006 10:15 PM ET

New York Mets
F Carlos Beltran sat out his second straight baseball game with tightness in his right hamstring. He is listed day-to-day. RHP Juan Padilla, who underwent elbow surgery in March, had his cast removed Monday but is at least four months away from throwing.
LHP Pedro Feliciano was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk and OF Victor Diaz was optioned. Manager Willie Randolph said Feliciano primarily would be used early in games. LF Cliff Floyd came out of Monday's game against Atlanta with a strained ribcage muscle. He is day-to-day. 1B Carlos Delgado extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a single and homer Monday night.
RHP Pedro Martinez earned his 200th career victory Monday, improving to 200-84 lifetime. Only three other pitchers had 84 or fewer losses at the time of their 200th win: Lefty Grove (83), Whitey Ford (79) and 19th-century pitcher Bob Caruthers (74).
With their 4-3 victory over Atlanta on Monday night, the Mets opened a five-game lead on the Braves and Philadelphia after 12 games. It is the fewest games needed ever for a team to open a five-game lead
San Francisco Giants
LF Barry Bonds was the target of another fan throwing something on the field. In the season-opening series, a fan threw a syringe on the field as Bonds headed toward the dugout between innings. On Monday, a fan in Phoenix threw an object, seemingly a toothpaste tube, on the field. Unlike last time, security caught the fan that allegedly threw the tube and charged him with disorderly conduct.
1B Travis Ishikawa was promoted from Double-A Connecticut to replace 1B Lance Niekro to improve their odds on every game in all sportsbooks from now on. Niekro is on bereavement leave after the death of his maternal grandmother. Ishikawa was hitting .323 with a homer and five RBIs in Double-A. Although Ishikawa is a first baseman, 1B Mark Sweeney is expected to start in Niekro's absence.
RHP Armando Benitez has an itinerary. He'll pitch an extended spring training game in Mesa, Ariz., on Tuesday morning. He may rejoin the Giants this week, perhaps Wednesday, but manager Felipe Alou said he won't resume the closer's role until he regains the zip on his fastball. Meantime, RHP Tim Worrell will remain the closer.

Waiting for Take-Off

2006-04-21T10:55:00.000-07:00

By J.D. Jackson
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

You would not know it by their 10-4 record through the first two-and-a-half weeks of play, but the Houston Astros need Roger Clemens pitching for them.

It’s not too often that you read about a team needing a 43-year-old pitcher to have a legitimate shot at the playoffs, but Clemens is not a pitcher who comes along that often. At 42, he put together one of his more stunning seasons in his illustrious 22-year career by going 13-8 with a 1.87 ERA, striking out 185 batters and walking just 62 in 211.3 innings. While Chris Carpenter won the Cy Young for the National League, last season (Clemens finished third behind Carpenter and Dontrelle Willis), his 2005 was one of his three or four best seasons over the course of his career (better than his 2004, in which he did win the Cy Young Award). His 1.008 WHIP was the second-best in his career (bested only in 1986), his 1.87 ERA was the best in his career, and his 44 earned runs allowed was also the best in his career with a minimum of 100 innings pitched. And he was 42.

Clemens tired down the stretch. He labored his way through the playoffs, going 4-3 while helping guide the Astros to the World Series. It was clear that Clemens had worn down, and an injured Clemens posted a 13.50 ERA in his lone outing as the Astros were swept by the Chicago White Sox. Had Clemens not been injured and tired, the history books might remember the 2005 season a little differently.

Without Clemens, this season, Houston is winning games by mashing the ball, which is not something that the ’Stros are accustomed to. They are second in the National League in team average, fourth in home runs, tied for second in runs scored, and second in OPS. This is largely the same team that finished near the bottom in all of those categories in 2005. Though Roy Oswalt continues to prove that he is an ace pitcher, and Brandon Backe has surprised early on, Andy Pettitte has struggled to a 1-2, 6.35 ERA start. Wandy Rodriguez has started off well, but he is a guy who would come out of the bullpen, ideally. Ezequiel Astacio, the Astros’ emergency starter in the 2005 playoffs, has been downright pathetic in his two appearances, this season. The presence of Clemens allows everyone to shift down a spot in the rotation: Oswalt becomes the #2, Pettitte becomes the #3, Backe becomes a #4, and then the Astros can choose between Rodriguez, Astacio, or Taylor Buchholz for the fifth spot. The rotation goes from being second-best in its own division (behind the Cardinals’ deep rotation) to becoming the best rotation in the game, simply by adding Clemens. Assuming that the Cardinals turn it on like they are able to do, assuming the Mets continue to play spectacular baseball while the Braves play their normal brand of solid ball…the Astros without Clemens will have a hard time winning even the Wild Card. The offense just is not good enough, and the pitching just is not deep enough.

The possibility still exists, of course, that Clemens will rejoin the Astros in May. That period exists because the Astros did not offer Clemens arbitration. There are other teams, though less realistic, in the mix. The Red Sox have spoken to Clemens, but here’s to doubting that you will ever see Clemens back in a Red Sox uniform. It is awfully hard to cross a river when you have burned just about every single bridge that leads back to the other side. The Texas Rangers are also interested and seem more than willing to pay any amount of money required to get Clemens to pitch in Arlington. It is just not evident that Clemens reciprocates those feelings, though pitching for the Rangers would satisfy his requirement of staying close to home. The Yankees have called, as well, but Clemens left the Yankees to return home; it is unlikely that Clemens would leave home to return to the Yankees.

Besides that, Clemens’ leaving the Astros for any of those teams would leave a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths. Clemens went to Houston to pitch specifically for the Astros. He wanted to be close to his home, close to his family, and able to spend more time away from the game while still competing. In other words, while he was getting paid the highest salary of his career ($18 million in 2005), Clemens was not doing it for the money. The man has made $121 million over the course of his career in salary alone. If he became the latest Yankee hired gun, it would be a disgusting act to many, many people.

No, the only place where Clemens truly fits is in Houston. And though there was some tension about the Astros’ not waiting on Clemens’ decision about retirement and not offering him arbitration, it is apparent that Clemens would return to Houston in May after taking the first month of the season off. It would allow Clemens to continue resting, the entire month of April, essentially adding a month onto his stamina and effectiveness in 2006, assuming that he is healed completely (and after a 1-1, 2.08 ERA, 0.81 WHIP in two starts during March’s World Baseball Classic, it is safe to assume that he is the same old Rocket). For Houston, the equation is simple: Clemens equals another trip deep into the playoffs, while no Clemens might mean no playoffs at all for 2005’s National League Champions.

Even at 43, Clemens still makes all the difference in the world.

MLB early season observations

2006-04-21T08:22:00.000-07:00

By Brad Halfond
Wagerweb.com Contributing Writer

Is there a more dominant threat to opposing pitchers in the National League than Albert Pujols?

The monster slugger has lit up scoreboards early in the season and sent several managers home wondering why they ever challenged the 26-year-old future Hall of Famer.

Pujols’ nine dingers lead the league and this guy must be now considered, along with Alex Rodriquez, one of the best players in baseball. Pujols clearly leads the list of standout individual performances as the 2006 baseball season gets underway.

Other players making an early impact in the senior circuit include David Wright, the steady third baseman on the resurgent New York Mets, and Ryan Langerhans of the Atlanta Braves. Both of those teams should stay in the hunt for the NL East title as the Mets will try to break the stranglehold on the division that Bobby Cox and Atlanta have maintained for more than eleven years.

But back to Pujols. We kind of had a hint that this would be his year from the way he ended the 2005 season with that massive blast that gave the Redbirds a victory over Houston in game five of last year’s NLCS.

Now Pujols has a new stadium to play in, fans who love and adore him, and the serious potential to reach 60 home runs this season. The only thing that Pujols needs is for his Cardinals to reach the heights that the White Sox did last year and win their first World Series title since 1982.

A few hundred miles to the north is the sleeping giant known as the Milwaukee Brewers. This is a team that has already surprised some with its ability to come back; if they can get their bats heated up with the weather, they could challenge for a wild card berth.

Overall, the early theme of the 2006 season might be parity. The Cardinals lost pitching and won’t be as dominant this year, while the NL West should continue to be mired in mediocrity. Unless the New York Mets can keep up their hot start and add an arm or two in mid-season, this league is definitely up for grabs.

It’s still too early to tell what will happen in the American League, but the usual contenders are starting to emerge. The Red Sox have their energetic new pitcher, Josh Beckett, and Curt Schilling appears to be at full strength, while the Yankees are going to rely on the older arms of Mussina and Johnson. Boston has more speed in 2006, while New York’s bullpen is practically brand new.

If you’re looking for early season surprises in the American League, that honor goes to Chris Shelton of the Detroit Tigers. This kid might revitalize the entire city of Detroit and bring baseball back to a somewhat competitive level. It is very uncommon for an unknown player like Shelton to be hitting with such power. Shelton had hit only 19 home runs in his previous 434 at-bats and now he is leading the league in long balls. Shelton is doing all this from the sixth position, but expect him to move up to the cleanup spot eventually.

The team to watch in the AL is Oakland, with its fearsome trio of Chavez, Thomas, and Bradley. If those guys stay hot and the young arms produce, Oakland will have a great chance to top Anaheim and win the West. The White Sox also have a good chance of repeating, but for the sake of our sanity, I would rather listen to Metallica than Ozzie Guillen any day.

What would the early season be without a mention of Barry Bonds? The Giants slugger has been getting more publicity off the field lately and maybe that is why his hitting and home runs (none yet) are starting to suffer. The other explanation is that Barry is just getting old and all of his various injuries have added up to Bonds becoming not quite the player he used to be. In the end, I’m going to say Barry hits about 25–30 home runs and retires after the season but before he has a chance to pass Hank Aaron for the all-time lead. Would that make Commissioner Selig happy?

Here are some of my observations on the opening weeks of the season around baseball.

New Busch Stadium – I can see the Arch more clearly, but did they even try to make it look different than old Busch stadium?

Giants’ outfield – Pass the Geritol. If these guys last the entire season then McCovey Cove will freeze over.

Pedro – The guy has nerves of steel and will continue to be successful unless a manager steps up and throws a ball near his head. He takes way too many liberties with players, with fewer consequences than any other pitcher I've ever seen.

Soriano – Shhhh …. They don’t want you to play 2B because they have an all-star there already and somebody in management must have watched a film of you bobbling balls in the Bronx for two seasons.

Marlins – and this hasn’t moved yet because….

Upcoming Devil Rays’ name change suggestion – Flounders

Beckett – Okay, we get it, you’re excited and happy that you struck somebody out. Bring that act to the Bronx and see what kind of reaction you will get.

Jeter – How come this guy doesn’t have a bubble gum endorsement contract yet? Hubba Bubba, are you listening?

Trachsel, Mets struggle vs. Brewers

2006-04-17T10:06:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- It was the first game this baseball season the Mets didn't play well enough to win. It was the second game this season they lost.
So now, 161-1 is off the table. If Steve Phillips were still here as general manager, he would have identified it as progression toward the mean. He isn't, so call it an 8-2 loss to the Brewers and understand that there will be more of this sort of thing.
The Mets acknowledged as much on Saturday after their winning streak was severed at seven games. They know you're never as good as you look when you're winning. And after this unbecoming loss to the lowest-scoring team in the league, they were pleased to used the rejoinder: "And you're never as bad as you look when you're losing."
It's another one of the glorious rationalizations players in this game can lean on to get them through the thorny times. The Mets will show up on Sunday and feel better about their winning streak than they felt bad about the loss that ended it. Accentuate the positive, even on days after Tomo Ohka is too much to handle.
The club's longest winning streak since 2002 is kaput because Tomo Ohka, winless in five career decisions at Shea Stadium, had an every-dog-has-its-day game and because Steve Trachsel and Jorge Julio allowed seven runs in their collective six innings. Nothing else matters much when the teams' respective pitching is so uneven.
Ohka, throwing harder than the Mets recalled him doing in the past, completed seven innings and allowed two runs, one earned. Trachsel was gone after five innings and four earned runs, and Julio allowed three in his six-batter appearance in the eighth. All of which made the Mets' 10th game one of the losses baseball sages see as inevitable when they discuss how most seasons evolve: "You're gonna win 60; you're gonna lose 60. It's what you do in the other 42 that determines what you are."
Not that the Mets were powerless to reverse their fate. But too many elements worked against them.
• They fell behind, though only by a run, in the second inning. But the team that scores first still wins 60-62 percent of the games. That's one axiom that hasn't changed through artificial turf, the DH rule, bullpen specialists and steroids.
• The Mets were due for a stinker or at least a loss. Seven straight victories is a pretty good run. This is the Mets' 45th season, and they've had only 15 longer streaks, six of which were produced by teams that would play in the postseason.
• They didn't make sharp plays in the outfield when better defense might have spared Trachsel. Julio's problems could have been avoided only if the Mets deployed outfielders beyond the wall.
• And, finally, the "that's baseball" rule -- even the best teams lose 60 games. Now, the Mets have 58 to go.
Whatever the primary reasons, the most conspicuous were the shortcomings of their pitchers. Trachsel had been quite effective in his first start, against the Marlins -- one run in six innings. But a rainout and the decision to insert Victor Zambrano in the rotation forced Trachsel to make his second start with seven days' rest, a move not recommended by seven out of 10 pitching coaches. The start was the 33rd in his career in which he had at last six days' rest. His record in those games is 8-20.
Trachsel didn't complain about it. Indeed, he said he was fine after the first inning. But he acknowledged later that he prefers the more traditional, every-fifth-day schedule.
"Pitchers are creatures of habit," he said. "It'll be nice to get into a five-day routine. My routine is pretty well set."
The Brewers scored against him in the second inning when Chad Moeller drove in Rickie Weeks with a single. A sacrifice fly by Ramon Castro in the bottom of the inning tied the score.
But the Brewers, averaging 3.7 runs per game through Friday, scored twice in the fourth and once in the fifth against Trachsel, once in the seventh against Darren Oliver on a home run by Carlos Lee, and then three times in the eighth against Julio.
Most of the already disappointed crowd of 55,831 -- the largest gathering at Shea this season and the largest ever for a Saturday game in the franchise history -- were still in the park when Julio allowed one home run and almost a second. And most of them shared their feelings after Geoff Jenkins, who hadn't hit a home run in Spring Training or his 43 regular-season at-bats, hit one with a runner on base.
Julio was booed like John Rocker wearing Doug Sisk's uniform and Art Howe's cap. Some chanted, "We want Benson" and "Bring Benson back." They meant Kris, presumably.
Julio now has made four appearances, pitched 3 2/3 innings and allowed 11 runs and three home runs. The Mets have allowed nine runs in one of their losses and eight in the other; Julio is responsible for eight of those 17 tallies.
Among his post mortem comments was, "I don't have good luck." Perhaps it's hidden behind his 19.64 ERA.
He wasn't hiding from the truth, though. Julio is pretty standup. He said his location, concentration and pitches are fine. The results are quite lacking.
"I don't know what happens on the mound," Julio said. "Nothing works right now."
No one disputed that.

Officials to warn Mets, Nationals

2006-04-12T11:17:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- Umpire supervisor Steve Palermo is expected to alert the crew working this week's Mets-Nationals series of the strained relationship that exists between the two National League teams because of a series of hit batsmen last week when the Nationals played at Shea Stadium.
The message that Palermo is to convey to the umpires -- who in turn will notify the Mets and Nationals -- is "Just play ball." Those words came on Sunday night from Bob Watson, the vice president of on-field operations for Major League Baseball, according to the Associated Press.
"We will do what's normal after a confrontation like what happened last series, and that's called a 'heads up,' " Watson said. "Steve Palermo will send out an e-mail to the crew and let them know what had taken place so they have an idea of what's going on."
Seeds that could grow into something ugly this week were planted last week, when Mets pitchers hit Nationals batters six times and the Nationals retaliated. The teams will play on Tuesday afternoon, Wednesday night and Thursday afternoon in Washington.
The situation came to a boil in the fifth inning on Thursday night, when Mets pitcher Pedro Martinez -- his reputation for intimidating batters already in place -- hit Jose Guillen for the second time in the game. The Nationals right fielder, who has been hit five times in 40 career plate appearances against Martinez and is a very productive hitter against the right-hander, pointed his bat at Martinez and moved toward the mound after being hit for the third time in the series.
Guillen was restrained by home plate umpire Ted Barrett and Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca. Both benches and bullpens emptied onto the field, but nothing more came of the incident until Mets catcher Paul Lo Duca was struck by a pitch thrown by reliever Felix Rodriguez in the eighth inning. Rodriguez and Nationals manager Frank Robinson were ejected.
Robinson and Rodriguez were served suspensions on Monday. Robinson was ordered to sit out one game and missed Monday's game at Houston. Rodriguez planned to appeal a three-game suspension.
Mets reliever Duaner Sanchez had hit Nick Johnson -- his second batter -- in the seventh, two innings after Johnson's three-run home run off Martinez tied the score. Sanchez was not ejected. Mets rookie Brian Bannister hit Guillen and Alfonso Soriano on Wednesday night.
"I know how to take care of it -- don't worry," Guillen said after the game on Thursday. "I'm going to make sure I play in all the games [that Martinez is] in ... I want him to throw inside. Now I want him more than ever."

Mets come out on top in pivotal play

2006-04-04T09:43:00.000-07:00

NEW YORK -- Paul Lo Duca wanted to see a replay, just to make sure he'd actually dropped the ball. His teammates needed no such confirmation.
Lo Duca and the Mets received the benefit of a bang-bang play in the eighth inning on Monday at Shea Stadium, helping New York hold on for a 3-2 Opening Day victory over the Nationals.
"I told [my teammates] I'm a magician in the offseason," Lo Duca said. "The hand is quicker than the eye. I was guilty as charged."
With nobody out in the eighth inning, Alfonso Soriano attempted to score from first base on a Ryan Zimmerman double to left field. Cliff Floyd scooped the ball and threw it to shortstop Jose Reyes, who fired a relay throw to Lo Duca at the plate.
Sliding head-first, Soriano was called out by umpire Tim Tschida, who could not see Lo Duca briefly lose the ball, trickling down his arm before the catcher was able to hold it up for view.
Soriano tried to plead himself safe on the play, but the call was not argued at the time by Washington players and coaches.
"You think I would have stayed in the dugout if I'd seen [the ball] come out?" Nationals manager Frank Robinson said. "It doesn't do any good now."
Upon returning to the dugout, Lo Duca was informed by his Mets teammates -- who had a better view from the first-base dugout than the Nationals did from the third-base side -- that he had 'sold' a call.
Lo Duca jokingly charged himself with a "traveling violation" for the play.
"You try to take your body and block the plate first," Lo Duca said. "Whatever happens, happens. That's what I tried to do, block the plate. I had it originally. When I went to tag him, it sort of slipped out."
Waved home by Nationals third-base coach Tony Beasley, Soriano said he would have preferred to slide feet-first into Lo Duca, but the left fielder was forced to make a head-first attempt because of an errant bat hugging the third-base line.

The bat had been left in the course of action by Zimmerman, who tossed the lumber aside after doubling off the Mets' Aaron Heilman. On-deck batter Royce Clayton watched the play develop and said there was little Soriano could have done.
"Usually, on that play, the catcher or umpire kicks it out of the way. But it was further up the line, so nobody bothered [to move the bat]," Clayton said.
"I can't go out there and move a bat. My job is get into position and tell him to get down. As I did that, I saw the bat and I was like, 'How in the heck is he going to get around that bat?'"
With Lo Duca blocking the plate, Soriano attempted to juke right and then shot his left hand between the catcher's legs, appearing on replays to have brushed the plate.
"I didn't have time to look at the play," Soriano said. "I put my hand on home plate and I saw the umpire call me out. I thought my hand was in."
Footage shot from angles behind home plate captured Lo Duca briefly dropping the ball, then smothering it and showing it to Tschida with his bare hand.
Tschida -- who had properly rotated to home plate to cover when plate umpire Rick Reed moved up the third-base line -- could not see the play from his vantage point, charging in from the base.
Tschida said that Nationals right fielder Jose Guillen mentioned the missed call between innings.
"[Guillen] said, 'I'm not trying to start anything.' He said the replay showed that [Lo Duca] bobbled the ball. And I went, 'You know what? It never entered my mind at the time of the call,'" Tschida said.
"And [the umpires] saw it in here. There were like three replays, and one is very conclusive. The other two, you can't see, which is the view I had. It clearly shows the ball came out. He should have been safe."
With Soriano called out, Heilman escaped further damage in the inning, getting Clayton to ground out and striking out Brian Schneider for the third out. Closer Billy Wagner set the Nationals down in the ninth inning, with Jose Vidro thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double to end the game.
"You're going to get some breaks going against you during the season," Lo Duca said. "We got this one today."

Mailbag: Milledge not quite ready

2006-03-28T07:27:00.000-08:00

If Lastings Milledge is ready for the big leagues, is it reasonable to consider Cliff Floyd at left, Carlos Beltran at center and Milledge at right? -- Ronald, K., Bayside, N.Y.
Yes, it would be a reasonable thought if Milledge were ready. But he has merely 193 at-bats at a level higher than Class A. He acquitted himself quite nicely in Spring Training in all phases of the game. But the earliest he will play in the big leagues is probably September this year, maybe August if he tears it up at Triple-A Norfolk.
Give him some time.
I am surprised to see that Bartolome Fortunato was included in the recent assignments to the Minors. Looking at the Mets' depth chart, I see that it still includes Heath Bell, Yusaku Iriki, Juan Padilla and Mitch Wylie as part of their current bullpen plans. Why is Fortunato seemingly thought of less than these other pitchers? He has great stuff, including a palm ball that could be a weapon against left-handed hitters and allows him to strike out a fair share of batters. Do the Mets really value Fortunato less than Iriki and Wylie, or is this just a matter of options? -- Matt S., Bayside, N.Y.
First off, put aside Padilla; he had Tommy John surgery two weeks ago. And Wylie, a Rule 5 Draft acquisition, declared himself a free agent on Sunday rather than accept assignment to the Minor Leagues. The Mets offered him back to the Giants, as they were obligated to as part of the draft rules. The Giants declined.
Bell is a longshot to make the big-league team, and Iriki is on the bubble. Don't read too much into the timing of Fortunato's assignment. He missed all of last year and he has to rebuild arm strength. And there are more available innings to pitch in the Minor League camp than there are in the big-league camp. Exhibition game innings go to the pitchers likely to be in the Major League roster, especially in the last 10 days of camp when the projected starters are pitching five and six innings.
What is the status of original Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner? I have so many great memories of the old Kiner's Korner on WOR going back to the '68 season. Is he still working as broadcaster? -- Mike R., Phoenix, Ariz.
Kiner, one of the game's enduring gentleman, will work as an in-studio analyst for some games carried on SNY, the Mets' new cable outlet, and he will no doubt provide insights and anecdotes not readily available elsewhere.
I know manager Willie Randolph is set on having Victor Zambrano in the starting rotation, and it could mean either Aaron Heilman or Brian Bannister will be No. 5. But why is Randolph so set on this? After all the Mets have done, the only part of the team that remains a question is the starting rotation. Two of the first three are either coming off of a year of injury, and all three are up there in years. Why not have the Nos. 4 and 5 be young guns and full of potential? -- Mets fan, Chicago, Ill.
Randolph, pitching coach Rick Peterson and general manager Omar Minaya are excited about the way Zambrano has thrown this spring. It is possible he will start the second game next week, but don't read too much into that. The sequence of starters is not necessarily based on quality.
I agree with you in one regard -- that Bannister should be in the rotation. But my preference is to have Heilman in relief. And if that's the case, then Zambrano must pitch in the rotation.
Randolph and Peterson have said repeatedly that Zambrano is looser than he's been since he joined the Mets in 2004. And Minaya often notes that Zambrano had two winning seasons with the Devil Rays before he was acquired. So we'll see.
The Mets seem favored to win the National League East. How far do you feel they can go in the playoffs? -- Greg B., Hicksville, N.Y.
Why don't we wait for at least the last week of September before making predictions for October, as so much changes in the course of six months. The one development that I think may give you some insight into the postseason, come August, is whether 2005 first-round pick Mike Pelfrey has been promoted to the big leagues. If he develops as quickly as some envision, he could change a lot about the Mets. But then again, he might not be promoted at all. Take your time and enjoy the summer.
I might be way ahead of myself here, but in 2007, I see Jose Reyes, Milledge and Anderson Hernandez in the Mets lineup. All three have potential to become very effective leadoff hitters. Is there a chance that this may affect the batting order in the future? Or will one of them eventually be traded? For example, Hernandez for a power-hitting second baseman such as Alfonso Soriano or Jeff Kent. -- Myrtho G., Queens, N.Y.
No one has to bat leadoff, no one has to be traded. Reyes can bat leadoff, Milledge second or third, Anderson second or eighth. I think you're borrowing trouble if you see the three of them as a potential problem. Forget Soriano. He is a substandard defensive second baseman, and Kent, though the Mets would have taken him in a heartbeat last year, will be 39 before Opening Day 2007.
How about this for a little outside-the-box-thinking: How about experimenting with a six-man rotation? Given the injury concerns with Pedro Martinez, and the ages of Tom Glavine and Steve Trachsel, perhaps they would all benefit by the extra rest, including Zambrano, Heilman, and Bannister as well. -- Steve M., Hackensack, N.J.
It's a little too far outside the box for that early in the season. If arm fatigue become an issue in August, it could happen. Bobby Valentine used Rick Reed, Al Leiter, Armando Reynoso, Hideo Nomo, Masato Yoshii and Bobby Jones as a a six-man unit in the late summer of 1998. And it worked for awhile.
Will the Mets have their new stadium, the one proposed that will resemble Ebbets Field? Was the deal accepted? -- Alex X, Long Island City, N.Y.
Yes, the plan is to break ground this summer and for the park to open in 2009.

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