Pedro looks to end Mets’ skid as trade deadline arrives
Pedro Martinez needs to save his team from falling any further as he makes his return to the mound Friday following a brief absence due to his father’s death. The Mets fell out of first on Wednesday, losing to the Florida Marlins, 7-5. On the other hand, the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Nationals 8-5 to regain sole possession of first place in the NL East, thanks to a five-run inning.
In other news, the trade deadline’s frenzy is alive and well, as each club hopes to improve their team before entering the playoff race. The Yankees have done their share of wheeling and dealing, acquiring Xavier Nady from Pittsburgh, while sending reliever Kyle Farnsworth to the Tigers in another deal that brought 14-time All-Star catcher Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez to New York.
During the Mets’ loss to the Marlins on Wednesday night, talks were brewing and rumors were swirling that Manny Ramirez was on the verge of landing in Miami. The Marlins have young talent to trade away, that’s for sure, but we’ll see how that situation plays out.
In the current NL East Standings, the Mets follow the Philadelphia Phillies by only a half game, while the Mets hold a full game lead over the third-place Florida Marlins. The Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals are sitting deep in the basement of the NL East, with the Braves nine games back, while the Nationals are an abysmal twenty games out.
For all of your up-to-date and latest information leading up to the trade deadline, head on over to MLB Trade Rumors .
Giants training camp begins as Shockey moves to New Orleans
The defending Super Bowl Champion Giants reported to training camp in Albany yesterday, just days following a key trade. The Giants ended the ongoing feud with Shockey by trading him to the Saints for multiple draft picks in next year’s draft.
This morning was the first practice of the 2008-09 season for Big Blue.
Mets take sole possession of first place as Perez fans twelve
When the Mets fired Willie Randolph as Manager, they were dead. They had no pulse. They eventually started coming back… they were closing in on the division lead… they were finally starting to string together a few wins… but nobody believed they could continue to do such a thing.
But they did, and now own sole possession of first place in the NL East following their win over the Philadelphia Phillies today at Shea Stadium.
Carlos Delgado, a very streaky hitter, gave the Mets the lead with a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth inning. Oliver Perez, ironically also streaky, soared through the seventh and into the eighth, giving up only one run and striking out twelve.
Two streaky players guiding a streaky team to victory. Let’s hope that turns into consistency.
Out of town
I will not be posting until Thursday because I will be out of town.
Pagan tears labrum in Oneonta
Following his two rehab assignment at-bats for single-a Brooklyn, Mets starting left-fielder Angel Pagan left the game against the Oneonta Tigers in Oneonta, NY on Wednesday with a torn labrum.
According to the New York Mets, the injury could possibly knock him out for the season. Pagan left Oneonta and immediately headed for Manhattan, where he was examined.
Ouch. Pagan had shoulder problems prior to this, and this is the whole reason why he was playing rehab games before coming back to the big league club. However, the injury turned for the worse as he played in Oneonta.