Something Special

The Mets are a very good team playing in a very bad division and a mediocre league. Only two National League teams crack the top twelve according to Baseball Prospectus' hit list and the Mets are the only one in the top seven. I do not care if anyone thinks the Mets success this season is because they play in a weaker division, this team is can hold it's own with any team. I thought the Mets were one pitcher away from truly hanging with the beasts of the AL, but with the emergence of John Maine, this team has that one pitcher they were missing and can hang.

The Mets capitalize on the errors of other teams and that is a mark of a top tier team. In the fifth inning of yesterday's game, Jose Reyes made it to first on a Chris Duncan fielding error. Then later with the bases loaded, Carlos Beltran grounded into what could have been a double play, but Weaver did not come hard to home and Yadier Molina decided to not go for the double play to nab Beltran at first. You had to know what was coming with the bases loaded as Delgado has owned Weaver over the years. Predictably Willie had called the grand slam play and Delgado knocked a grand slam to bring the game to Pujols 7 - Delgado 5.

The Mets go for the jugular and have the tremendous players to do so. Carlos Beltran has been so big for this team this year and his two run walk off homer last night was one of the most exciting things I've ever heard. When the Mets were down 7-1, I thought they were still in it with Weaver on the mound. They closed the gap to make it a one run game and LoDuca got on with one out in the ninth and with Carlos y Carlos coming up, it was hard to not feel confident. It never made it to the second Carlos and Beltran hit a bomb to win it and Howie Rose's call was a memorable one.

The Mets may not play a flawless game every time out, but they are as sound of any team I have seen this year. They are defensively tight, their bullpen has been coming up big all year, their offense has been clutch to say the least and their lineup just got deeper with the addition of Shawn Green, and their rotation, though they have had their ups and downs, will hopefully come into their own with a healthy stable of arms in September. After watching this team play all year and their ability to capitalize off other teams mistakes as well as their ability to come from behind, it is hard not envisioning them doing great things in the playoffs.

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Shawn Green and $6.3 million for Evan MacLane? Omar you magnificent bastard, you have done it again.

"I'm definitely excited for the opportunity," said Green, who waived his no-trade clause and - according to Omar Minaya - expressed a genuine interest in coming here. "I really like the Mets' chances to go to the postseason and have a chance at the World Series."

A lineup of Reyes-LoDuca-Beltran-Delgado-Wright-Floyd-Green-Valentin is a right handed pitcher's nightmare. You talk about a lineup of all tough outs and that is one right there. It also is a boon for the Mets as they are deeper on the bench with Milledge and possibly Green when a lefty does start. They can also throw nine very good hitters into the lineup come DH time. I love the move and Omar has proved this year and he can get the small deals done that win championships. Fucking swell indeed.

Eric Gagne is willing to take less to stay with the Dodgers next season.

SAN DIEGO - Dodgers closer Eric Gagne, who is out for the season with a back injury and clearly headed for free agency in the fall, said Tuesday he wants to remain with the club.

He also is willing to take less money than he might get from another team in order to do so.

"I'm a Dodger," Gagne said. "I want to be here. I think we have a really good relationship. But that's out of my control. I have to get healthy, and then I will go wherever someone wants me. But I think they want me here, so I don't think it will be a problem."

Will he take a lesser role? The Dodgers have a few guys capable of closing very well and at bargain prices. However, it is big of him to want to make good on lot of wasted money over the last two years and it is refreshing to see that.

First Zito and now Carlos Lee?

Rangers outfielder Carlos Lee owns a 100-acre ranch outside of Houston, but his expected change of agents from Adam Katz to Scott Boras, confirmed by a source with knowledge of his situation, could hinder his chances of signing with the Astros as a free agent.

Not good news for teams that plan to look at Lee as a big off season acquisition. Expect a lot of holding out and jerking teams around while asking for silly dollar amounts while shoving large books filled with a lot of Carlos Lee facts in teams faces.

You cannot make this stuff up.

Apparently, the National League's best team isn't exciting enough to keep a former president awake.

One inning before Carlos Beltran's walk off homer in last night's 8-7 win, Bill Clinton was caught by television cameras napping in the front row behind home plate, with the Mets staging a rally no less.

Alay Soler picked up the loss for Brooklyn and threw 4.1 innings and gave up two hits, three earned runs, one homer, and two walks while striking out nine.

Thanks to everyone who joined the contest. There were a lot of similar line scores so it should be interesting and I'll be shooting emails out this afternoon with everyone's picks. Sorry about the confusion yesterday too, but I'm sure no one cared much since Maine got jacked up.