Buyers? I Think Not

The Mets have slipped back to .500.  They should not be buyers at this time.  There will not be another Zambrano for Kazmir trade.

Back to .500

Panic time for Mets fans has set in.   Not like this comes as a surprise.

Now Johan is on the DL.  Dickey has come back to Earth.

We're back to where we were expecting.

Upcoming Hats and Bobbles in the Majors

For the rest of July and through August...

Orioles - July 27 - floppy hat

Yankees - August 4 - hat

Rays - July 22 - Matt Moore
           Aug 5 - DJ Kitty

Blue Jays - Aug 12 - hat
                   Aug 19 - Ricky Romero

White Sox - Aug 4 - Beer Vendor bobblehead

Indians - Aug 12 - Gaylord Perry

Tigers - Aug 21 - Prince Fielder

Royals - July 21 - Buck O'Neil
              Aug 18 - Eric Hosmer

Angels - July 24 - cadet hat

A's - Aug 18 - Scott Hatteberg

Mariners - July 28 - Randy Johnson & Dan Wilson

Texas Rangers - Aug 12 - Ian Kinsler
                           Aug 25 - Ron Washington

Braves - Aug 16 - Chipper Jones

Marlins - Aug 29 - Giancarlo Stanton

Mets - July 21 - Alfonso Soriano
           Aug 25 - Mike Piazza

Phillies - Aug 21 - Hunter Pence

Nationals - Aug 5 - Michael Morse
                 Aug 17 - Hat

Cubs - Aug 14 - hat
            Aug 24 - trucker hat
            Aug 27 - runner cap

Reds - Aug 4 - Johnny Cueto
           Aug 18 - hat

Astros - July 27 - hat
             July 28 - Chris Burke
             Aug 17 - hat
              Aug 18 - Jeff Bagwell

Brewers - July 26 - camo hat
                July 29 - Bob Uecker

Cardinals - Aug 3 - Bruce Sutter

Diamondbacks - July 21 - hat
                          July 28 - Justin Upton
                        Aug 11 - Gerardo Parra

Dodgers - July 31 - Kirk Gibson
                 Aug 5 - hat
                 Aug 7 - Sandy Koufax
                 Aug 21 - Fernando Valenzuela
                 Aug 30 - Vin Scully

Giants - Aug 26 - Pablo Sandoval

How Close are the Mets to the Dead List?

Now that we're in the 2nd half of the season and time is getting shorter... the Dead List candidates qualify from being 10 games out to 8.   8 games means you're more than 1 full week of games out.

So where do the Mets stand?

They're 4.5 out of the Wildcard and 7 out in the division.  They're 3.5 games from oblivion.   That's half a week potentially.

So who is on the Dead List?

American League:

Royals
Mariners
Twins

National League:

Phillies
Padres
Cubs
Rockies
Astros

The official list is 8.  The Brewers and Marlins are on the brink.

Mets Got Chopped

It's that time of year again!  Pretty soon Craig Carton will be opening the Church of Mets Fans for Yankees.  He'll probably be talking about it on WFAN tomorrow.

But now they're only 3 over .500 - it's after the All-Star break.  Their next 9 games are against the Nationals and Dodgers.  3-6 over this stretch puts them right back at .500 before an 11 game western road trip.

I don't think they're going to be buyers.  We're going to see Bautista down the stretch and now that Schwinden was re-acquired, maybe we'll see him back on the 40 man roster and in the rotation in September.  If they're out of race, no reason to push Harvey this year (even though he'll probably be pitching on Saturday).

Has the Swoon Begun?

After another terrible loss today - any Mets fan worth their salt is asking this question.... is this the beginning of the end?

They're now 6 games back in the division.  While even while they were playing well, the division was never really anything that was realistically in sight.  The thought was really the wonder if this team could be one of the two wildcards.

But now they're beginning to make a slide in the wildcard standings as well.  With today's loss, they're 2.5 out of the 2nd wildcard.  They're tied with St. Louis and still have San Francisco ahead of them.  The surprising Pirates hold one of the spots, and if they lose again to the Braves, they'll be further back of that one as well.

People may start giving away more tickets come the end of next month...

AA Bobbles - Eastern League

Akron Aeros - Aug 19 - Don Plusquellic

Bowie Baysox - July 19 - Al Bumbry
                           August 15 - Matt Wieters

Harrisburg Senators - July 21 - Bryce Harper

New Hampshire Fisher Cats - Aug 19 - Carlton Fisk

Portland SeaDogs - July 2 - Dustin Pedroia

Reading Phillies - July 23 - Jimmie Rollins
                             Aug 27 - Harry Kalas

Richmond Flying Squirrels - July 31 - Justin Verlander

Trenton Thunder - July 6 - David Robertson
                              July 27 - Ivan Nova
                              Aug 17 - Robinson Cano
                              Aug 29 - Andy Pettitte
                              May 11 - Manny Banuelos
                              May 21 - Francisco Cervelli
                              May 22 - Jesus Montero
                              May 23 - Austin Romine

Phillies Make the Dead List

Happy Day Indeed!

The Phillies have become the 6th team on the Dead List.  Heading into the All-Star break, they are 10 games out of the closest playoff spot - making them part of the Walking Dead for the second half.

Will they stay?  Will they be like Jason and Freddie Kruger and keep on coming back?

But for now, they're on the List, which is good enough for me.

FU Philly!  Craig Carton will be proud.

Dead List - July 7th Edition

Last weekend before the All-Star break.  Non-Waiver trading deadline later this month.  What teams are on the Dead List?

In the American League - there's only 1 - the Seattle Mariners.  (Although the Twins are knocking on Death's Door and are 9 games out of the Wildcard.  One more, and they can be back on the list).

In the National League - there are 4:

San Diego Padres

Colorado Rockies

Chicago Cubs

Houston Astros

The Philadelphia Phillies are close - they can be on the list shortly, just like the Twins.  They're also 9 out of the Wildcard.  

More Minor League Bobblehead Dates

Pacific Coast League

Albuquerque Isotopes - Aug 19th - Green Chile Pepper Bobblehead

Colorado Springs Sky Sox - July 21 - Jim Thome
                                             July 28 - Carlos Gonzalez
                                             Aug 11 - Charlie Manuel
                                             June 9 - Todd Helton

Fresno Grizzlies - Sept 1 - Brandon Belt

Iowa Cubs - Aug 18th - Andy Garman

Las Vegas 51s - July 21st - Cosmo

Memphis Redbirds - Aug 10th - Elvis

Nashville Sounds - July 24 - Corey Hart
                               July 19 - Richard Sterban

New Orleans Zephyrs - July 21st - Bobble TBD

Oklahoma City Redhawks - August 17 - Bobble TBD

Reno Aces - July 14 - Bobble TBD

Tucson Padres - Aug 10th - Trevor Hoffman

Minor League Bobblehead Dates

International League

Buffalo Bisons - Aug 23rd - Earl of Bud

Charlotte Knights - July 6 - Dayan Vicedio

Columbus Clippers - June 10 - Jack Hanna
                                 July 8 - James "Buster" Douglas
                                 July 29 - Jesse Owens
                                 Aug 12 - Woody Hayes

Lehigh Valley Ironpigs - June 26 - John Mayberry, Jr
                                       April 23 - Rich Thompson
                                       May 1 - Vance Worley
                                       May 15 - Jamie Moyer

Pawtucket Red Sox - July 28 - Daniel Bard

Toledo Mudhens - Aug 3 - Casey Stengel
                              Aug 10 - Jamie Farr

Upcoming Bobbleheads and Hats

Orioles - July 15 - hat
              July 27 - floppy hat

Yankees - July 13 - hat

Rays - July 1 - James Shields
           July 22 - Matt Moore

White Sox - July 7 - Alexi Ramirez

Indians - July 4 - Sandy Alomar, Jr.

Tigers - July 4 - Hat

Royals - July 21 - Buck O'Neil

Twins - July 15 - hat

Angels - July 24 - Hat

A's - July 4 - hat
         July 8 - hat

Mariners - July 28 - Randy Johnson & Dan Wilson

Marlins - June 27 - Josh Johnson

Mets - July 21 - Edgardo Alfonzo

Cubs - July 14 - Hat

Reds - July 18 - Jay Bruce

Astros - July 7 - Mike Scott
            July 27 - Orange retro hat
            July 28 - Chris Burke

Brewers - July 1 - Sausage Bobble
                July 26 - camo hat
               July 29 - Bob Eucker

Diamondbacks - July 21 - hat
                          July 28 - Justin Upton

Dodgers - June 28 - Eric Karros
                July 3 - Hat
                July 14 - Tommy Lasorda & Walter Alston
                July 31 - Kirk Gibson

Giants - June 30 - 1 of 5 random bobbleheads
              July 15 - Madison Bumbgarner

Johan No-Hitter Reprint Replica Tickets

The Mets are doing a bad job by re-selling no-hitter reprint tickets.  What it really should be is a promotional giveaway for next June 1st on the anniversary of the game (provided the Mets are home that game next year).  Other teams have given replica tickets away as part of a promotion.  The Mets should, too.

They'll make more money from people buying tickets to the game to get a reprint ticket than they will from selling reprints themselves.  Would you buy a replica for $50/pop?  I wouldn't.  Would you buy a $50 ticket to a game so you can get that same replica ticket?  I bet there are more people that would do that instead.  And you get people in the park to buy other things along with it.

The Next Gregg Jefferies?

Now I'm feeling old.  Gregg Jefferies son was drafted by the Nationals.  I remember when the elder Jefferies was in the minor leagues at the border crossing going into Canada.  He was in his electric blue Camaro that was being driven by his Dad and he had a license place with a NY Mets holder that said "4FOR4GJ".

We rolled down the window and asked him if he was Gregg Jefferies, and it was.

The Good is Good. The Bad is Bad

As of today, 9 of the 14 American League teams are .500 or better
In the National League, 10 of 16 are.

19 of the 30 teams are at least .500.  That's nearly 2/3 of the teams.  That number should be between 14-16, statistically speaking.

That means that the bad teams are getting beat up.

That also means that there are a few pretenders that will fall by the wayside as they start playing better teams.

Will the Mets be one of those teams?

I sure hope not.

ESPN Screwing Things Up Again

Not only did ESPN screw up the game time tonight, but they've robbed Mets fans from being able to see the Hall of Fame ceremony on TV.

A Celebratory Injury

I just heard that Ramon Hernandez hurt himself running in from the bullpen to celebrate Johan's no-hitter.

Looks like he'll end up on the DL.  That's almost as bad as ending up on the DL from sneezing.

Lucas Duda's Statistics

I was just looking at Lucas Duda's career stat line.  This is his first full season in the bigs - so up until now, he's had only 555 at bats, or the equivalent of one full time season.

Here's his line:

.268  22 HR  93 RBI.  32 Doubles, .346 OBP.  .456 slugging.  555 at bats, 60 BB, 70 runs, 149 hits.

That's quite respectable.

He's been proving me wrong.  At this time last year, I didn't think he'd amount to much.  I think he's got a shot at having a good major league career and may even be a big time power guy as he matures.

Updated Dead List

Now there are three.

Twins
Cubs
Padres

27 contenders left for 10 spots.

Missed Johan Santana's No Hitter

I was at work yesterday when I got a call at 5:50 offering me tickets to last night's Mets game.

I wanted to go - however, there was no way I'd be able to get to the park in any reasonable amount of time.  I was still at work, and if I had gotten the call about two hours earlier - I could have left work early and made it to the game.

Unfortunately, I had to pass.

By the time I got home from work, Johan had just gotten the third out in the top of the 8th - so I caught the end.  I've already watched the end of the game 4 times today.

Way to go Johan!

We're now 1/3 of the way through the season, and they're hanging tough.

May they end up surprising everyone?  We shall see.