Scott Kazmir dealt

A few random thoughts:

1) The Rays made a deal here that could never have been done in New York. From MLBtraderumors:

Rob Neyer at ESPN says the Rays' rotation shuffle from Kazmir to Wade Davis cuts their playoff chances from 10 percent to 8 percent and opines, "Giving up two percent in exchange for three talented young players ... well, on paper that's a move you'd be thrilled to make, every day of the week."

Think New York fans would have accepted the logic of trading a front line starter, not getting a big-ready player in return, while you were still in the hunt for the postseason? The downside to a two-team city is the competition to win "now" prevents this kind of long-term thinnking.

2) It takes some of the sting out of giving Kazmir away that the Rays are willing to give up on him already. Of course, if we'd have had him in '06-08, who knows where that would have landed us.

3) In unrelated news, I've been trying to figure out what team to root for the rest of the way that still has meaningful baseball to be played. Truth be told, it could easily be the Jankees, b/c I have lots of respect for the core of their team: Jeter, Posada, Mo, Tex, CC-- all guys who are great and play the game the right way. And I always liked Girardi from his playing days to his Marlins days. However, they are the Jankees, have the biggest d-bag of them all (A-Rod) vaccuuming up cash, the Steinbrenners, and one of the most obnoxious fan bases of all time. That's enough, on it's face, to prevent me from actually pulling for them, despite the fact they have some good guys.

The BlowSox? Can't do it to SHK. He's got to live with their s.

Cardinals and Cubbies would always be good options. But nothing compelling there. Sweet Lou is great, but Soriano? The Cards are easy to root for, but there's just no juice there for me right now.

But then I came across this last issue of SI. It had an in-depth on Lincecum and Cain. And how a team with two great pitchers, both completely different characters, has a shot at the playoffs despite one of the worst lineups ever. An all-pitching team, right up my alley. Oh, and they just happen to also be my legacy team. The team I should've been rooting for my whole life. If only.

So I'll root for the long shot Giants the rest of the way. And try to forget that it would put a smile on Russo's face. My Grandmother would've approved, anyway.

Odds

What do you suppose Vegas would have put the odds at to start the season that ALL of the following Mets players would be on the DL at the same time for extended periods this season?

Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Johan Santana, J.J. Putz, John Maine, and Oliver Perez?

As you all know I'm not a fan of Omar's and I think he blew his shot to help us by not making big trades of our core in the offseason. That said, this injury list is completely incomprehensible to me. It just defies logic.

Mets for sale?

If only this theory turns out to be true...

Shocking

Have you heard the "good news?" The inept Mets ownership that is the Wilpons declared that Omar will be back next year, and therefore so will Jerry.

And therefore this fan will not.

Mr. Blutarski and the Mets

0.0

which is the Mets chance of making the playoffs, according to AccuScore.

Parnell gives me something to get excited about...

From MLB.com:

In his second Major League start, Parnell tossed six shutout innings, allowing just three hits while walking none and striking out seven in the Mets' 3-0 win over the Giants at Citi Field.

Parnell (3-4), who threw 68 pitches in 2 1/3 innings in his first start in San Diego last Saturday, was far more economical and effective this time. He scattered those three hits, not allowing a runner to reach scoring position. Although manager Jerry Manuel said before the game that he wanted to see more offspeed pitches from his starter, Parnell threw mostly fastballs. He mixed in his slider rarely but successfully, getting three of his seven strikeouts on the pitch.

Cora: David is the Wright kind of leader

From the Post:

"It's very easy for us as ballplayers to deviate from our plan, our preparation, and he doesn't do that. And he's showing everybody around here that, hey, for whatever is going on around us, we've still got to show up and do our thing because there's always a chance. And I think showing guys like that, he's showing a lot of leadership."

I can't say it's the strongest statement in the world, but I certainly agree with the sentiment. Wright is the kind of guy you build a club around.

Just one more week...

...until the NFL preseason starts and I can put yet another miserable Mutts season behind me.

And so the cycle continues.

The 80's Are Back, Baby!

How do you not love a pitcher that looks like this:



And it's even better when he gives up a slam to Pagan...