An Optimistic Look at Getting to .500

The Mets are coming home 7 games under .500 - but fret not Mets faithful!!!

They're starting a 7 game homestand against the two worst teams in the league.  All they need to do is sweep the Rockies and Astros and they're back to mediocrity!

Wait - what happened when the Cubs came to town?

Cheap Yankees Red Sox Tickets

Gotta love the 8pm ESPN games if you're on the east coast.  Tickets can be had for less than $10 on Stubhub.  Granted, after fees you're paying face value - but still...

Upcoming Hats and Bobbleheads

Orioles - Sept 30 - JJ Hardy

Yankees - Sept 19 - Snoopy

Rays - Sept 23 - Matt Joyce

Blue Jays - Aug 19 - Ricky Romero

White Sox - Sept 7 - Green Hat

Tigers - Aug 21 - Prince Fielder

Royals - Sept 15 - Camo Hat

Rangers - Aug 25 - Ron Washington

Marlins - Aug 29 - Giancarlo Stanton
               Sept 19 - Jose Reyes

Mets - Aug 25 - Mike Piazza

Phillies - Aug 21 - Hunter Pence

Nationals - Sept 8 - Ryan Zimmerman

Cubs - Aug 24 - Truckers Cap
            Aug 27 - Runners Cap

Astros - Sept 1 - Jeff Kent
              Sept 2 - Milo Hamilton
              Sept 26 - JR Richard

Brewers - Sept 16 - Aramis Ramirez

Diamondbacks - Sept 15 - Matt Williams

Dodgers - Aug 12 - Fernando Valenzuela
                 Aug 30 - Vin Scully

Giants - Aug 26 - Pablo Sandoval

If the Astros

Run the table, they'll eek out a .500 record.

The Quest for .500

At 7 games under .500 - it's going to take a strong last 6 weeks to finish the season at .500

Trading Bad Contracts? Bay for Figgins?

I hate these stupid "how about this trade proposal" talks that will never happen, but how about this one...

The Mets have an albatross of a contract Jason Bay.  He's owed a little over $18 million for next season.

The Mariners have a bust in a contract in Chone Figgins.  He's also in the last year of his contract for next season and is owed $8.5 million.

Jason Bay has stunk up the joint and looks like he's washed up.

Chone Figgins hasn't crossed the Mendoza Line since 2010 and looks like he's washed up.

Why not swap two players who both look like they're washed up and need a change of scenery?  What's the worst that would happen?

Sure, Bay's contract is for $10 million more than Figgins.  How about trading Bay for Figgins with the Mets making up the $10 million difference in the contracts? 

If each team is just going to eat the respective contracts - why not trade bad contract for bad contract and see if one can catch a little lightning in a bottle?  Figgins can play in left, and if he can't - cut him.  

The Mariners aren't getting anything out of anyone in the lineup, so if they get anything out of Bay, it's an upgrade.  It's not like Figgins is even playing right now.  

It's not much of a risk for either team at this point.