Wanted:  Bucket of baseballs.   Willing to trade:  Guillermo Mota.

Here's a question... where would the Mets be if instead of Pelfrey starting the season as the 5th starter, it was Brian Bannister, and instead of Schowenweis, Mota, and Aaron Sele, it was Chad Bradford, Heath Bell, and Darren Oliver?

Pelfrey 3-7, 5.24
Bannister 12-9, 3.61 (For the Royals!)

Schowenweis 0-2, 5.27
Bradford 3-7, 3.38

Mota 2-2, 5.91
Bell  6-2, 2.22

Sele 3-2, 5.29
Oliver 3-0, 3.36

The Mets let go of four pitchers from last year that could have had major impacts on this season.  So, if the Mets don't see this thing through, don't blame Willie... blame Omar.

Can you handle a glove as well as you can handle code?

What's more lightweight?  Your Web 2.0 app or your bat?

Show up at Central Park (RSVP here, please) and play softball with the folks from nextNY.

Details:

What: nextNY Exhibition Softball (6-12ft soft toss, co-ed)

Two teams of 15.

10 in the field, 15 in the lineup subbing in defensively each inning.

When:  Friday, August 24, 2007 @ 6:15PM  (First pitch: 6:30PM)

Where: Hecksher Field #2, Central Park (by W63rd, use this to locate: http://urltea.com/16l5

Barry Bonds hit his 755th home run last night...

...off a pitcher who had previously been suspended 15 games for using steriods back in 2005.

How's that for ironic?

When Mark McGwire hit number 62, we were all pretty much excited for him... at least if you go by the ratings and the fannies in the seats.  That's because he was a likeable guy.  A likeable, acne scarred guy whose body was freakishly bigger that it had been ten years prior.  His head didn't seem to swell in proportion to the way Bonds had (literally and figuratively), but we knew what the deal was, and frankly we didn't care.

Last night, Barry Bonds was that nice guy.  He carried his son, dodged any questions about the controversy, and even pointed the spotlight on A-Rod and Tom Glavine during his press conference.  He was even gracious about the Bud Selig hubbub.

As a fan, I'll tell you right now, I could seriously care less whether or not Selig's ugly mug is at the 756 game and I don't think Bonds cares either. 

We all know what the deal is with Barry and not only would he have been a first ballot Hall of Famer regardless of the steroids, but A-Rod will likely break his record.  So, in the grand scheme of things, Barry is going to be a blip, and hopefully, so will Selig.   I don't know how someone gets to be elected commisioner or if they can be fired, but Selig has acted like a first class jerk this whole time.  Baseball never had drug testing before very recently, and benefitted greatly from the juicy home run chases of the late 90's.  Now we're "clean", but lets not pretend that Buddy boy wasn't looking the other way to protect the bottom line.

So, now that we're on the verge of history--a history like all other history, clouded by human fallibility--the least Bud can do for baseball is to sit back and watch another ball fly like the rest of us and allow us to move on.  Smile and clap or stay home, Bud.  I don't like Barry Bonds... I almost did last night... ok, I sorta did...  but this is my game and I'm behind it, and looking forward to the future.  Unless you were bashing McGwire out of the side of your mouth nine years ago, you have no right to muddy this moment now.

I just don't know what to say about the Mets.   Finally, David Wright starts hitting and the rest of the team completely stops.

And I guess Joe Smith realized he was Joe Smith, too.

But back to back to back home runs.  Dude...  Baseball 101.   If two guys hit home runs on you on two pitches, the next guy gets one right in the mouth.  Frankly, after you give up one, you should always throw behind the next guy. 

Somehow, we're still two up on the Braves, with the Phillies just three behind.

This team better start turning things around, especially now that the Yanks are winning.  If, at any point, the Yanks have a better record than the Mets this season, I think I'm going to blow chunks.

And Pedro isn't the answer either...  its not the pitching... they're not hitting.  They need to get Alou back and figure out how to hit in the clutch.

PS... I played softball last Friday night and the guy on the other team looked exactly like Pedro Cerrano.   I yelled out "Hats for Bats" from the outfield, but I don't think anyone got it.

Noticed this story on how Sen. Chuck Schumer contracted Lyme upstate....   it was sent to me by one of my teammates on my softball team, which is aptly named: Four of Us Had Lyme Disease.

In fact our jersey has a tick in the O...

Just wanted to let Sen. Schumer know that he is absolutely welcome to throw out the first pitch at any of our upcoming games (or play a few innings, if he’d like).   The great thing about the acronym is that it scales...  allowing for “FIVE of us...”

Here's our schedule, Senator...

5/30    Wed    8:45pm    Col. Charles Young #3
6/5    Tues    7:45pm    Asphalt Green #2
6/17    Sun    6:30pm    CP North Medow #2
6/20    Wed    7:15pm    Riverside 107th #6
6/26    Tues    7:45pm    Asphalt Green #1
7/11    Wed    6:15pm    Col. Charles Young #3
7/18    Wed    6:45pm    Riverside Park #8*
7/26    Thurs    5:45pm    Roosevelt Island

And yes, I was one of the four.

Sah-weet.  I'll be there to see what Willie has to say.  Hey Willie, I'm faculty... get me some tix. 

The Mets are in first and the Yanks are in last.

Really, would you have it any other way?

The Yanks have already had nine different pitchers start games, including Darrel Rasner, Jeff Karstans, and Chase Wright.

haha

(Sorry.)

You know what the best part of this is?  The Yankee MVP and frankly, the MVP of the whole baseball universe was A-Rod.  He's batting .355 with 14HR and 35 RBI after 23 games.   In 1968, I think that might have qualified for the Triple Crown. 

Everyone makes such a big deal about Captain Derek Jeter, but for my money, A-Rod is the best shortstop on the team.  Captain Derek wouldn't come to A-Rod's side last year when Rodriguez was struggling and he added to preseason controversy by saying a chilly "We get along on the field" or some garbage like that.  Derek, I think it's time for you to embrace the guy who is carrying your patchwork overpaid team on his shoulders.

Jeez...  How's that Kris Benson trade looking now?  John Maine is 4-0 with a 1.35ERA.   In fact, the Mets have a team ERA of 2.74.

No Bradford?  No problem.  Submariner Joe Smith hasn't given up a run yet.

Ya gotta believe... in April.