Git –r-done

The Mets were not truly competative since 2000 up until last year because they have been desperate. They have made some moves that reeked of desperation and some moves that were seemingly solid like acquiring Roberto Alomar, but just did not work out. More times than not though, they have just not been smart. One sentence highlights it all for me. They traded Kazmir for Zambrano. If one move is more short sighted and desperate than that one, I don't know what it is. They sadly misjudged their chances in regards to making the playoffs in 2004 and 2005 and made mistakes because of that. That truly underlies a big problem for the Mets over the years, which has been a sense of desperation and a win now mentality. You cannot operate with as much desperation as the Mets have had over the years and win. You need to build a winner.

That is the problem with not only being a big market team, but being a big market team in New York playing in the shadow of the winningest sports franchise in the history of sports. The perception of the Mets has been one of negative one and the Mets were caught up with trying to get as good as they can as fast as they can. The truth is, it was not as bad as the media had made the situation out to be. The Mets might have thinned out their system over the years, but they managed to hang onto some promising players and have had quite a few of them contribute from their system. Now, this team stacks up with any team in the Majors Leagues and is better all around than the last two Mets teams to make the playoffs. The Mets managed to build a winner despite some irrational moves as David Wright and Jose Reyes have blossumed into huge parts of this team.

For the first time since 1988, the Mets are the favorites and the team to beat in the National League. Not just by one media outlet either, but by mulitple outlets and the teams across the league. When you are the favorite and especially when you are the favorite in New York, there is a lot to live up to. The Mets had hype surrounding them prior to the season and they have done nothing but perform in spite of the pressure. With the Mets poised to have a winning team and one that should be competeing for the playoffs for years, the only thing left is actually win the entire thing. Anything less will be a dissapoiontment.

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If you are interested in meeting up at a Mets game, Benny is heading it up and would appreciate an email from any interested people.

The next extreme sport? Maybe not.

Oregon State beat North Carolina 3-2 to win the College World Series two games to one. They became the first team in the North to win since Ohio State won back in the '60s.

Endy Chavez is quite the celebrity in Venezuela and wants to play everday again eventually.

"You do not dream of being a fourth outfielder or not playing everyday when you are a child," said the six-foot, 165-pound Chavez. "You want to play every day, and it was difficult to make the change to that role in the beginning. I took it hard, but I've adjusted. You have to be mentally prepared. I am mentally prepared now and will do my job when I get the chance."

With the way he has been playing it would not be a big surprise if someone gave him a chance.

The Mets have signed eight more draft picks and have signed 32 of their 49 picks.

Jason Bay is getting some much deserved love from the fans. He is now the leading vote getter in the National League among outfielders and second overall to only Albert Pujols. David Wright and Paul LoDuca still own comfortable leads, but Jack Wilson has closed to winthin less than 100,000 votes of Jose Reyes.

Cliffy has began on his road back to New York.

Cliff Floyd went 1-for-2 with a home run and a walk in his first rehabilitation game Monday for the rookie-level Gulf Coast Mets against the Marlins affiliate in Port St. Lucie.

The Tigers are looking for left-handed pop.

If the Tigers can't add Abreu, perhaps they should consider finding a left-handed platoon partner for first baseman Chris Shelton — or better yet, a player like the Devil Rays' Aubrey Huff, who could fill both roles.

Shelton hit his 10th homer on April 28. Since then, he is batting .240 with four homers in 179 at-bats. His on-base/slugging percentage, however, is higher against right-handers than it is against left-handers.

Given the shortage in the market, it will be interesting to see whether the Mets would consider trading left fielder Cliff Floyd, who currently is on the disabled list with a sprained left ankle.

I wonder if the Mets could possibly get Humberto Sanchez for Floyd. That might be giving too much up by the Tigers, but if they decide to go for it while their options are limited, who knows? They certainly have the pitching depth to lose Sanchez and not really sweat it.

Jose Reyes became the first Met to win the NL Player of the Week Award in back to back weeks in 23 years.

There should be no reason for Boston fans boo Pedro Martinez.

The Mets are #3 on Baseball Prospectus' Hit List.

The Mets increase their NL East lead into double digits, finishing the week 11.5 up on the Phillies. Jose Reyes reels off 19 hits for the week, including three four-hit games, one of them a cycle. He's riding a 13-game hitting streak during which he's batting .561/.583/.912, and his 31.9 VORP ranks 14th in the majors. But the Mets' bullpen--tops in the majors in Reliever Expected Wins Added (7.634)--hits some snags. Billy Wagner squanders Reyes' cycle by blowing a save; he's walked 17 in 36.2 innings this year, compared to 20 in 78.2 frames last year. Duaner Sanchez suffers a stinger in his neck; the NL's #4 man in WXRL is day-to-day, just like the rest of us.

Reyes 14th in VORP? IN THE MAJORS?????

Wimbledon threatens to crackdown on cleavage.

Wimbledon officials have reportedly cautioned competitors that they need to comply with the tournament's strict and conservative dress code, or risk being disqualified.

According to a report in the London Times, the 2006 Wimbledon players' guide includes these new words of warning: "Any competitor who appears on court dressed in a manner which is deemed unsuitable by the committee will be liable to be defaulted."

Way to attack the issues.