Mets set for an amazin' finish

General Manager Omar Minaya was trying to recall the last time the Mets had such an important stretch of games at this juncture of the season, the last time the team was playing "meaningful games" - yes, he called them that without provocation - as September neared.
He considered 2001, when Mike Piazza had that magical homer against the Braves in the first game back at Shea after the terrorist attacks, but concluded that was different, based more on patriotism and emotion than the reality of the Mets catching Atlanta - even though they got within three games with nine to play.
So Minaya concluded it must have been the previous year, when the Mets rode the wild card to the National League pennant and a Subway Series matchup with the Yankees. Makes sense. When the Mets started their just-completed road trip to Arizona and San Francisco with five straight wins, they moved eight games over .500 for the first time since that season.
And even that 2000 chase, Minaya said, didn't have the same feel as now.
"We had a little run there, but it was different," said Minaya, a deputy to Steve Phillips in Flushing five years ago. "I think this team is so much younger than those teams. It's different. A different excitement."
The Mets make a cameo appearance at Shea for three games beginning today to face the Phillies, the NL wild card leader whom they trail by 1-1/2 games. They then travel to complete a span of 17 of 20 games on the road, with crucial series at Florida, Atlanta and St. Louis. The Mets don't face another sub-.500 team until they conclude the season with a four-game series against the Rockies in Flushing.
"Hopefully this is our run - a whole month run, really," Minaya said. "We've been .500 throughout the year and I'm hoping September will be the month that we can be well over .500."
Minaya didn't write off the Mets' playoff chances when Carlos Beltran and Mike Cameron collided Aug. 11 in San Diego, sending both players to the hospital with concussions and fractures that likely ended Cameron's season. But things didn't look good at that point, not after the Mets lost that game to the Padres, 2-1. However, since that road trip ended with Pedro Martinez losing a no-hit bid and the game to the Dodgers, the Mets have gone 9-4. They've done it without significant contributions from Beltran - relying heavily on Ramon Castro, Mike Jacobs, Miguel Cairo and Victor Diaz.
"Right now, you look where we are, the right half of our field is made up of bench players between Castro, first base, second base and right field," Minaya said. "If you say half your team is going to be your bench, you say to yourself, 'Wow.'"
Yet Minaya said the Mets aren't patting themselves on the back. Of course during spring training, after finishing fifth, fifth and fourth the past three seasons, a record over .500 would have been viewed as a success. But the Mets and their fans are entitled to get a little greedy now.
"I always believe if you don't win the World Series, the season is a disappointment," Minaya said. "That's how you go into it. But I like to say we've been in transition since Day 1, meaning we have a new manager, we've shaken up the roster and tried to get younger.
"I think where we are today, the experience some of our young players are going through, that's a win in the bigger picture. To see David (Wright) come into his own. Jose (Reyes) is not even the player he's going to be. I just imagine Jose hitting .320, what impact he's going to have on the team at some point. If Jose hits .300, imagine that. That's a .350 on-base percentage. What does that mean? Diaz, I think, is going to be a player, an offensive player.
"I still feel there's a lot of improvement we need to do after this year as a team. Like Willie (Randolph), to me eight games over .500 is not our goal. We want to be well over .500. That being said, it takes time. It took a little time to build Rome, somebody said to me once."

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/

Wright's a star, rest assured

David Wright says he needs nine hours of sleep, preferably 10, and the Mets' third baseman probably is in bed as you read this.It's an exhausting task, carrying the future of a franchise, and the responsibility doesn't leave him time for much else. When the Mets returned from San Francisco early yesterday morning, Wright had two things on his mind: how soon he could make it to bed in his Manhattan apartment, and what time his new puppy, an 11-week-old boxer named Homer, would be dropped off at his doorstep.

"He sleeps more than I do," Wright said. "I have to wake him up."The dog's moniker is not so much a name as it is a job description, and Wright, a 22-year-old who already is one of the game's most dangerous hitters, is very good at his job.During the Mets' just-completed road trip, Wright hit three home runs in seven games, and two had to be seen to be believed. Wednesday night at Bank One Ballpark in Arizona, Wright belted a 436-foot shot that rattled around the elevated patio dining area in right-centerfield. On Friday, he turned on a pitch from the Giants' Kevin Correia and came within three rows of hitting it entirely out of SBC Park, almost clearing the leftfield bleachers.Giants manager Felipe Alou said Wright's homer traveled so far that the fans needed a cutoff man to throw the baseball back onto the field. Mets manager Willie Randolph, not usually one for hyperbole, had to agree."The ball looked like a pea coming from way back there," Randolph said the next morning. "I don't say 'Wow' too often, but that one, man, when he gets on it, he's got some thunder."To opposing pitchers these days, seeing Wright in the on-deck circle is like the feeling right before a storm hits. Since July 14, Wright is batting .382 (58-for-152) with 10 home runs, 39 RBIs and 36 runs scored, making him one of the game's most productive offensive players during that stretch.Wright was named the National League player for the week of Aug. 22-28.In the days leading up to the All-Star break, however, Wright looked as if he needed an extended nap. He stumbled into a 5-for-27 funk during the first half's final road trip through Washington and Pittsburgh, dropping his average to .281, and teammates could tell he was trying too hard.Hitting coach Rick Down noticed that Wright's pitch recognition - the trigger to his lethal swing - was slipping. That's the first sign that a player is wearing down, both physically and mentally. But Wright refused to surrender, and he even stood up to the manager when Randolph called him in for a chat."Willie talked to me," Wright said, recalling that conversation. "He wanted me to be more honest with him as far as how I'm feeling and stuff. But I told Willie that I don't think I can ever voluntarily take myself out of the lineup. If he thinks it's best for the team to rest me, then it's his decision. I don't like being out of the lineup."But Wright's presence on the Mets goes beyond his impact at the plate. His teammates have noticed that Wright is the first one to congratulate them when they go deep. Wright asks questions, listens to the answers and rarely makes the same mistake twice.Unless that involves messing with Jose Reyes, the other youthful face of the franchise, who never lets Wright forget his golden aura doesn't protect him in the clubhouse. Reyes is always needling Wright, and vice versa, whether the subject is shoes, shirts or stolen bases.Saturday morning in the SBC visitors' clubhouse, Wright told Reyes that he would come and live with him in the Dominican Republic during the offseason and play on his winter ball team. Reyes, stretching on the floor, started howling with laughter. A few moments later, Wright picked up one of Reyes' new shoes - a stretchy black number - and actually complimented his taste on the purchase.It's that easy demeanor and lack of pretense that have earned Wright the respect of his teammates outside the lines as well."His potential is unlimited," Mike Piazza said. "He's going to be a superstar in New York City, but he's taking care of business first, which I think is great. Obviously, he's young; he's got to stay healthy and keep doing what he's doing. But he's one of those guys that doesn't get derailed."The distractions are coming, though, and in his adopted home of Manhattan, there's no sanctuary for a charismatic, gifted young athlete.Piazza knows how demanding life away from the stadium can be, and for Wright, who's usually one of the first to arrive every day, he already seems to have a good grasp of what's most important."In New York, you could be out all night; you could be out all day," Wright said. "It doesn't matter what time of night, what time of day; there's always something going on. You just have to realize that baseball comes first. Because if anything interferes with baseball at all, it's a no. You just have to learn to say no."

Source: http://www.newsday.com/

Honor is all Wright

David Wright led the NL in hits, slugging percentage, on-base percentage, total bases and tied for the league lead in runs scored this past week. And after hitting .481 with three homers and scoring 10 runs during the Mets' 5-2 trip to Arizona and San Francisco, Wright took home his first NL Player of the Week honor.
"I think it's cool," Wright said. "It will be nice to tell my kids and grandkids one day that with guys like Albert Pujols and the rest of the All-Star players in the National League that there was one week where I won player of the week."

LIDLE LAID UP: Ex-Met Cory Lidle landed on the disabled list after straining his left oblique muscle while swinging a bat in San Francisco last week, so the Mets will face Robinson Tejeda instead in today's series opener. Tejeda, whom Philadelphia had intended to skip, is 0-1 with a 2.70 ERA against the Mets this season. Outfielder Michael Tucker, obtained from the Giants, took Lidle's roster spot. Also for the Phillies, closer Billy Wagner has been automatic, having not blown a save since May 24, converting 21 straight. He's looking for a three-year, $27 million extension from the Phillies, who prefer two years and an option at a lower amount.
STILL WORKING: Doug Mientkiewicz's rehab assignment continued with Single-A St. Lucie last night. The first baseman went 1-for-5 with a walk in a 6-2, 11-inning win at Jupiter, and his average now stands at .300 (6-for-20) through six games.
COMMITTED: Willie Randolph indicated the Mets have pledged to bring back Danny Graves from Triple-A Norfolk as early as Sept. 5. The reliever allowed eight runs in his first two innings with the Tides.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/

Getting a shot at redemption

No sooner had the ink on their contracts dried up, so did all the fuss, because Randy Johnson and Carlos Beltran pulled the quickest disappearing acts of any two major arrivals in recent New York sports history. You can look it up.Last winter the Yankees and Mets paid $167 million to plug their lineup with a pair of big names. Unfortunately, they were "Copperfield" and "Houdini." Therefore, for five months, ballparks in the Bronx and Queens have been nagged by two very persistent and tired questions: "Where's our No. 1 starting pitcher?" "Where's our five-tool outfielder?"

How about: Where's the truth in advertising? These guys have looked pretty false. From what we've seen so far, Johnson hasn't thrown anything except a fit whenever someone asks what's up. And Beltran hasn't hit for power or average or in the clutch, not even when Pedro Martinez pitches anymore.What's worse, they've been handed an excuse for every dollar they've stolen (excuse my typo, earned) from their teams by their over-protective managers and general managers trying to justify their decision to invest heavily in them.As if they don't have enough already, Johnson and Beltran will be lavished with another luxurious and valuable perk that sparkles and radiates and can't be bought by just anyone who happens to be rich.They're about to get a second chance to make a first impression.As the baseball regular-season calendar prepares for one final flip, the Mets and Yankees are locked in playoff races that could go either way. It's that close. It's that unpredictable. It's that fragile. Every three-game series will be more important than the previous one, but not more than the next. The humidity of summer will be replaced by the tension and drama that only autumn can offer. And as you size up their chances, it becomes clear the needs of New York's baseball teams are exactly what they were last winter, when they went shopping for help - a No. 1 starter for the Yankees and a dependable bat for the Mets.With four or five impressive pitching efforts, and a few dozen solid swings, Johnson and Beltran can erase five months of disappointment and failure. They can earn the trust of their teammates.They can win the hearts of fans. They can make themselves reappear.Luckily for these two, not only is the baseball season long, it is forgiving. It allows for one more day, or in the case of two players in particular, one last month to get it right.Believe this: If Johnson finally shows the Yankees something they haven't seen yet, forget the wild card; the Yankees will steal the AL East from the Red Sox. And if Beltran starts producing some pop in the middle of the order, the Mets will generate enough offense to give themselves the edge over the posse of teams chasing the NL wild card.Of course, there's a catch: Neither Beltran nor Johnson have done it yet, so why should anyone believe they can snap their fingers and turn themselves on? Johnson better hope he has another 1998 in him. He spent the first half of that season in Seattle being a grump in the clubhouse and a lump on the mound. He and the Mariners were fighting over money and Johnson, clearly distracted, went 9-10 with a fluffy 4.33 ERA. Then the Mariners traded the Big Headache to the Astros and Johnson enjoyed the finest finish of his life, winning 10 of 11 with four shutouts and a 1.28 ERA. Obviously, he was seven years younger then and able to bend over and tie his shoes without missing his next start.Yankees fans have largely given Johnson a pass because they believe in his recent history of producing when it counts. At this point, that's all Johnson has left. With the Yankees' powerful batting lineup, he doesn't need to be the Cy Young Randy Johnson, just someone who stops giving up homers and starts leaving games with the lead.Hell, just be Shawn Chacon.The Mets have the pitching to compete with Florida and Houston and more quality arms than the Phillies, who play at Shea tonight. But as they showed last weekend in San Francisco, their offense doesn't always suit up. They can only rely so much on David Wright. A nasty outfield collision with Mike Cameron gave Beltran another out, much the way his earlier leg injuries bought him time, but he must do better than .263 in the No. 3 spot."It'll come," Beltran said recently. "I'm not going to get down on myself or become frustrated."There's no time for that anymore. Johnson and Beltran used up their grace period. Now it's time these missing players start showing what they were given last winter: Money.

Source: http://www.newsday.com/

Waiting for Beltran

At what point does a slow transition to a new team and city become simply a bad season?
That line may already have passed for Carlos Beltran.
With only 32 games left in the season for the Mets, it's too late for Beltran to hit 30 homers or drive in 100 runs, the kind of statistics expected when the team signed him to a $119 million deal in January.
But with the Mets serious contenders for a playoff bid, there is still time for Beltran to live up to the hype that accompanied him to New York.
"Everybody knows what the guy can do," third baseman David Wright said. "If he gets hot, he can put us on his back."
But so far it has been Wright and the other Mets who have carried Beltran. The center fielder was 4 for 25 during the recent road trip to Arizona and San Francisco, dropping his batting average to .263. He has only 13 home runs, 60 RBI, 64 runs scored and 15 stolen bases.
It's a significant slide for a player who over the previous four seasons had hit .288 and averaged 29 homers, 103 RBI, 111 runs and 37 steals.
Further, there are no signs he's improving. Beltran has one RBI in the last 16 games, one extra-base hit in his last 46 at-bats and has gone since Aug. 4 without hitting a home run.
"Those are not the numbers he's accustomed to," general manager Omar Minaya said. "But he's had some things along the way that hurt his production."
Beltran played most of the first three months of the season with a torn muscle in his thigh, an injury that limited his ability to run the bases and hit with power. He sat out six games in May recovering but didn't feel fully healthy until late June.
"A lot of my game comes from my legs," Beltran said. "I probably had 10 hits that would have been doubles or triples, but I couldn't run."
Beltran also missed four games earlier this month after a horrific outfield collision with teammate Mike Cameron in San Diego that left him with a fractured cheekbone and a concussion. He has hit just .214 since.
Beltran decided against having surgery on his cheekbone, and kept playing. He hopes the fracture will mend on its own.
"I had to keep playing," he said. "We have a chance to get in the playoffs and I want to be a part of that. It wouldn't feel right not to be with the team."
While the statistics don't show it, Minaya said the Mets weren't the same team when Beltran was out.
"When we don't have him, it's a big difference," he said. "When he gets on, things happen for us."
Beyond the injuries, Beltran had to adjust to New York and the expectations his contract created.
"I've seen players come into the city and struggle time and time again," manager Willie Randolph said. "But Carlos has a lot of character and he obviously has the talent. He's going to come around. It takes some time."
The 68-62 Mets remind Beltran of his time with Houston last season. The Astros went into September 69-63, but earned the National League wild card and came within a game of the World Series.
"Now I'm starting to look at the scoreboard to see how the other teams did," Beltran said. "It is fun. When you're playing a game that means something, it's fun."
Beltran hit .435 and drove in 14 runs in 12 playoff games, a performance that made him the hottest free agent on the market last winter.
"We knew he wasn't going to be the player he was in the playoffs. That was inhuman," Minaya said. "But the potential is there."
Minaya isn't going to concern himself with five sub-par months, not with Beltran signed to a seven-year deal.
"After seven years, he's going to be 34 years old. We signed him with the thinking that David Wright, Jose Reyes and Carlos being the nucleus," he said. "Then we add a guy or two."
The Mets start an important three-game series with Philadelphia, the NL wild-card leader, tonight at Shea Stadium.
"This is what you want, a chance at the playoffs," Beltran said. "If we get to the playoffs, then we've all had a good season."

Source: http://www.thejournalnews.com/

Foulke will be activated on Thursday

Manager Terry Francona confirmed that Keith Foulke will make his third and final rehab appearance today for Single A Lowell and be activated Thursday, when rosters expand.

Foulke, back in the Sox clubhouse yesterday, sounded less than enamored of his two appearances in Lowell.
''Velocity was down, command wasn't as sharp as I want it to be," he said. ''I'm not out there to fool myself. Saturday didn't go very well. I wasn't happy with that at all. [Sunday] I went out and made some major adjustments, and was a lot closer to where I want to be."
Foulke said his body feels better, his surgically repaired left knee stronger.
''The problem is now I have to go back and correct a lot of bad habits that I formed," Foulke said. ''I'm definitely capable of doing more now than two months ago."
Foulke doesn't know if he'll close immediately. ''That ain't my decision," he said.
Francona yesterday said that issue was unresolved. ''I'm not going to give him the ball if he's not ready," the skipper said.
Foulke believes mechanical adjustments should produce an uptick in his velocity, but he sounded somewhat perplexed about the fact that he's thrown in the mid 80s this year.
''Maybe I'm just getting old," Foulke said. ''I don't know what the deal is. A few years back I was a 90-93 guy, consistently. That's when I was dominating. That's where I want to be. Hopefully, over the next month or so we can get back there and keep working toward next year."
''I got plenty to prove. ''The day I have nothing left to prove you will never see me again."
But, the pitcher gave this warning: ''I'm not a savior. I'm just a part of the puzzle."
Tracking TrachselThe Sox inquired about Mets pitcher Steve Trachsel over the weekend but were told he was not available, according to league sources. There was a published report yesterday that a deal might be in the works, but sources said it was highly unlikely. ''The Mets would be crazy to move Trachsel," said one league source. Trachsel, who had missed most of the season with a back injury, shut out the Giants on two hits in eight innings last Friday in San Francisco . . . The Sox claimed reliever Chad Harville on waivers from Houston. Harville was 0-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 37 games for the Astros, and the fact that a playoff contender would let him go raises questions about his effectiveness, although in his last 13 appearances dating to July 17, he had allowed just two earned runs in 15 1/3 innings for a 1.17 ERA. He was not at the game last night.
Hurricane vigilJonathan Papelbon stayed up until 3 or 4 a.m. yesterday, watching TV reports on Hurricane Katrina. Papelbon, who was born in Baton Rouge, has family in Mississippi and Louisiana. ''They're riding it out," he said. ''They should be safe." His fiancee, Ashley Jefferies, managed to fly out of Jackson, Miss., Sunday evening and make it to Boston. The two have a wedding planned in early November at the Ritz in New Orleans. ''Hopefully, everything is still intact," Papelbon said . . . For those wondering why Johnny Damon was called out after he was struck in the left hand while swinging and missing at a two-strike pitch from Trever Miller, a reading from the rulebook: ''Rule 6.05 A batter is out when (f) he attempts to hit a third strike and the ball touches him."

Source: http://www.boston.com/

Trachsel on radar

The Red Sox continued to make changes to their beleaguered pitching staff in anticipation of the September stretch yesterday by claiming right-handed reliever Chad Harville off waivers from the Houston Astros. Another significant move could be coming today with the addition of Steve Trachsel.

Sources from multiple teams said the Sox and New York Mets were involved in serious discussions last night about a deal that would bring veteran right-hander Trachsel to Boston for one or two minor leaguers.

Trachsel returned to the mound for the first time in five months (following surgery to repair a herniated disc in his back) Friday and allowed only two hits in eight scoreless innings against the San Francisco Giants, but he learned shortly thereafter that he was being skipped the next time through the Mets' rotation.
Trachsel and New York GM Omar Minaya denied Sunday that a trade was being mulled, but that apparently changed yesterday. One source said that the Sox and Mets were close enough to a deal that they were simply settling on the minor leaguer(s), but another said that the sides weren't close but were still talking.
Trachsel, 34, has cleared waivers, which facilitates a deal. Players need to be in an organization by the end of August to qualify for inclusion on postseason rosters.
The acquisition of Trachsel would solve the problem of who is going to start in place of suspended David Wells Friday in the series opener vs. Baltimore. If Trachsel's not around, the Sox will probably opt for calling up Lenny DiNardo for the fifth time from Triple-A Pawtucket. Jonathan Papelbon appears to be an unlikely candidate to start because the Sox are leery of overtaxing the rookie's arm by moving him back and forth between the rotation and bullpen. Harville, 28, was 0-2 with a 4.46 ERA in 37 games for the Astros this season but he had a 1.17 ERA in his last 13 appearances dating back to July 17. He is scheduled to be in uniform today.
Mueller on a roll Bill Mueller extended his hitting streak to 12 games (19-for-50, .380) in last night's 10-6 win with a fifth-inning double off the Green Monster off Tim Corcoran.

Source: http://redsox.bostonherald.com/

Trachsel may go to Bosox

With the Boston Red Sox in the market to improve their starting pitching before tomorrow's deadline for postseason eligibility, the world champions have reportedly contacted the Mets about unhappy pitcher Steve Trachsel.
But a member of the Mets front office said last night that "there was really nothing going on." The executive also said that doesn't mean there might not be something happening between the teams later on.
Trachsel, who missed the first five months of the season following back surgery, pitched eight scoreless innings and allowed just two hits in a 1-0 victory in San Francisco on Friday night.

But when the Mets announced their starting pitching plans through next weekend Trachsel was not in the rotation. Manager Willie Randolph said he didn't know when Trachsel would pitch again.
Despite his unhappiness with his present situation, the pitcher said he wants to remain with the Mets and had not asked to be traded. His agents, Sam and Seth Levinson, could not be reached for comment last night. The Mets hold a $2.5 million option on Trachsel's contract for next season.
"A bargain," Trachsel has called it.
The Mets, who are weak in middle relief, are also looking for first- base help, despite the auspicious debut of rookie Mike Jacobs. Doug Mientkiewicz, who has struggled at the plate all season, remains on the disabled list with a bruised lower back but could be back this week.
With ex-Met John Olerud, Kevin Millar and Roberto Petagine, the Red Sox currently have three first basemen on their roster.

Source: http://www.nj.com/

A new role for Trach: gone?

With two days remaining for teams to shape their potential postseason rosters, the Mets are exploring a trade of Steve Trachsel.A National League official said that of contending teams, the Boston Red Sox and San Diego Padres have expressed the most interest in the righthander.

Neither club possesses many intriguing players who have cleared waivers, though, making it quite possible that Trachsel will remain a Met for the duration of the season.Trachsel, 34, has become the odd man out in the Mets' starting rotation, as manager Willie Randolph relegated him to the bullpen Sunday.The news came as a mild surprise, given that Trachsel excelled in his first start of the season Friday night, allowing two hits in eight innings in a 1-0 victory over the Giants. After surgery to repair a herniated disc in his lower back, Trachsel had been on the disabled list since the beginning of the season.Given the Mets' needs for more offense (particularly at first base and second base) and bullpen depth, the team is gauging the market to see whether it can deal Trachsel to fill a hole. If there isn't a suitable match, however, the Mets can simply keep Trachsel and either deploy him as a reliever or use him to replace an injured or ineffective starter.It wouldn't behoove the Mets, currently involved in their first playoff race in four years, to swap Trachsel for prospects.Trachsel cleared waivers last week, meaning he can be dealt to any club. He has a reasonable $2.5-million team option for 2006, making him more attractive to suitors.Teams have until midnight tomorrow to acquire players who will be eligible for their playoff rosters.

Source: http://www.newsday.com/

Red Sox have eyes for Trachsel

The Red Sox have approached the Mets about obtaining Steve Trachsel, but Omar Minaya is in the driver's seat. Talks yesterday were described only as exploratory.
Minaya has expressed little desire to trade Trachsel, even though the righthander has been bypassed in the rotation for now. The Mets hold a team option on Trachsel with a base salary of a modest $2.5 million for 2006, and there's no burning desire to trade him, considering competition for Trachsel figures to expand over the winter even if he doesn't fit into the plans in Flushing.
The Red Sox have several highly regarded prospects, and might need to part with that caliber of player to land Trachsel, the best starting pitcher to clear waivers by far.
The Mets passed him through waivers before he tossed eight scoreless innings - and took a no-hitter into the sixth - at San Francisco on Friday in his first start this season. Trachsel had not pitched in the big leagues since March 19 back surgery, so he went unclaimed.
Tomorrow is the deadline for players who cleared waivers to be traded and be eligible for postseason rosters.
"As far as I know there's nothing imminent regarding Steve with anybody," said Trachsel's agent, Seth Levinson. "But I want to make it clear he has never asked for a trade and will not ask for a trade with his team in the middle of the pennant race. He is not about to put himself ahead of the team, so whatever happens, happens."
Trachsel, 34, has the second most seniority behind Mike Piazza on the Mets and a 51-47 with a 3.86 ERA with the team. Yet Willie Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson decided to go with a five-man staff at least through next week, with Jae Seo, Pedro Martinez and Tom Glavine facing the Phillies at Shea beginning today and Victor Zambrano, Kris Benson and Seo starting in Florida this weekend.
Randolph doesn't intend to use Trachsel in relief unless it's an "extreme emergency," the manager said, so for now he's in limbo. Trachsel indicated he may throw a simulated game to stay fresh for whenever the Mets call upon him again.
Minaya indicated this weekend that he didn't foresee the Mets making a trade in general and that he didn't intend to deal Trachsel.
"I'm counting on this being the team," he said. "There's things out there, but I'm not going to count on them. I think we're going to go with what we have right now."

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/

A Reason for Fans to Keep the Faith

OMAR MINAYA will always be known for becoming general manager of the Mets and immediately spending $172 million of Fred Wilpon's money to sign Pedro Martínez and Carlos Beltran. With the few dollars he had left, though, he also signed a platoon of bench players: Marlon Anderson, Miguel Cairo, Chris Woodward and Ramon Castro.

Sometimes a team is only as good as its bench, and Minaya's bench platoon has been outstanding this season.
"Mr. Minaya," a fan said last night after the Mets' electrifying 6-4 victory over the Phillies, "you put a good team together."
The victory was electrifying because the Phillies led from the second batter of the game until Castro hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning.
The turnaround was huge for the Mets because they had squandered numerous scoring opportunities, most recently when Cliff Floyd, their most productive hitter, struck out with runners on second and third for the final out in the seventh inning. It was also huge because this was the start of the final phase of the season, in which the Mets are battling three teams in their division, among others, for the wild card.
The Phillies are one of those teams, and they began the night as the wild-card leader. But now they are tied with the Marlins, and the Mets are only a half-game behind them. Castro's swing against Ugueth Urbina did that.
"Everybody talks about Martínez and Beltran," Minaya said. "Those were easy decisions. Getting the bench is what separates teams."
Anderson, Cairo, Woodward and Castro have all made contributions to Mets victories this season. So has Jose Offerman, whom the Mets added during the season. Last night was Castro's turn in his 40th start of the season. The Mets have a 25-15 record in games Castro has started. He is playing now because Mike Piazza is on the disabled list with a broken left wrist. He is not expected back until mid-September.
Castro, meanwhile, is filling in nicely. In his last six starts, he has 7 hits in 21 at-bats (.333), with 6 runs scored and 10 runs batted in. The 29-year-old Castro spent the last three seasons with the Marlins and signed with the Mets in December as a minor-league free agent.
"Our pro scouts identified him," Minaya said. "We made a list of players we wanted. Even though we had three catchers with Mike, Vance Wilson and Jason Phillips, we felt we needed a young guy. The idea was to bring him in, send him to Triple-A and develop him for next year. He was headed that way, but he played well in spring training, and when we traded Phillips, we felt comfortable that he could be the backup guy."
The Mets also traded Wilson, and suddenly Castro was Piazza's backup.
"He's really been a catch-and-throw guy," Minaya said, "but we've seen him as having the potential to hit."
Minaya felt that way despite Castro's .135 batting average in 32 games last season.
"We thought he'd be good insurance in Triple-A," Minaya said.
In his earlier years, Castro did not make much progress while catching behind Brad Ausmus, Charles Johnson and Ivan Rodriguez. This year he was behind Piazza, but he has been able to play enough to show that he could help the Mets win, at least on a part-time basis.
Castro contributed in the seventh inning, and in the eighth. He led off the seventh with a double to left field and scored on a wild pitch, narrowing the Phillies' lead to 4-3. But after the wild pitch also put runners at second and third, Floyd struck out.
To win this game, the Mets needed another rally, and they produced it in the eighth. Two walks preceded Castro's home run.
It was a blow that might have saved the Mets' season. They are a team that probably doesn't belong in the wild-card race, but they have forced their way in. Last night, as they squandered one scoring opportunity after another, they threatened to play their way out.
But the Phillies have been a cooperative team. The Mets' 9-4 record against them is their best against any of the National League East teams. It matches the Braves' record against the Mets as the best in play among East teams.
What the Mets have going for them now is the pitching matchups for the rest of the three-game series. Martínez is scheduled to pitch tonight and Tom Glavine tomorrow.
They got away with Jae Seo's most ineffective start of the month, and now they can play behind their best pitchers. They have 31 games left in their season, and, incredibly, they are still in position to extend their season in October.

Source: http://www.nytimes.com/

Yankees' Sheffield serves one-game suspension

New York Yankees right fielder Gary Sheffield missed Tuesday night's game against the Seattle Mariners because he was serving a one-game suspension for throwing his helmet after a call at first base. Sheffield was ejected from a June 26 game against the Mets by first base umpire CB Bucknor. He originally was suspended for two games by Major League Baseball, but had it reduced after an appeal. Sheffield was told by manager Joe Torre to stay at the team hotel and rest. Torre used Sheffield as the designated hitter on Monday night in New York's 7-4 victory.

Source: http://channels.netscape.com/

Yankees bring Bellhorn aboard

SEATTLE -- Mark Bellhorn looked in the mirror in the visiting clubhouse at Safeco Field on Tuesday and saw something that struck him as strange. He was wearing a Yankees hat.
Just hours after signing a contract with the Yankees for the remainder of the season, Bellhorn was in the lineup for his new team, batting eighth and playing third base in place of the banged-up Alex Rodriguez.
"It was kind of weird looking in the mirror the first time I tried my hat on," Bellhorn said. "It looks pretty good."
Bellhorn chose to sign with the Yankees despite interest from a number of teams, as he felt that New York showed more interest in him than any other club. With several former teammates in the Yankees' clubhouse, from Alan Embree to Jason Giambi, this seemed like the right move for Bellhorn.
"He plays hard," Giambi said. "I know he's had some hitting troubles this year, but maybe Donnie [hitting coach Don Mattingly] can help him. He's had good years before, so the potential is there."
That he'll get a shot at striking back against Boston, the team which released him this month, is merely icing on the cake.
"I don't think you want to make your decision on that," Bellhorn said. "It's unfortunate what happened to me this year in Boston, but I have to turn the page to the next chapter. There are no hard feelings, but this is my team now, so whatever it takes. If we have to beat them, we'll have to beat them. It would be nice."
Bellhorn, a switch-hitter, will serve as a utility infielder for the Yankees, giving second baseman Robinson Cano an occasional day off against a left-handed pitcher. He plays every infield position and has even played some outfield during his career.
"He certainly gives us a guy with experience that handled the pressure. I think it helps our depth," said manager Joe Torre. "I think we're going to see what happens. We'll be able to plug him in wherever we need him and play it by ear right now."
"It's no secret how much all of us in here, from Theo [Epstein] to me to the players, respect Bellhorn," said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. "That being said, I hope he never gets a hit against us."
Bellhorn struggled offensively this season, hitting .216 with seven homers and 28 RBIs in 85 games for the Red Sox. He landed on the disabled list with a thumb injury in mid-July, and after the Red Sox acquired Tony Graffanino, they decided to cut Bellhorn loose.
"I didn't start off too great, so I started pressing too much," Bellhorn said. "I let outside stuff get in my mind, and I wasn't in the right place, focused on baseball. I put too much pressure on myself. It's always good to have a change of scenery, a fresh start."
Some of that pressure came from fans, who were frustrated with Bellhorn's 109 strikeouts in 283 at-bats. But after his solid 2004 season in Boston (.264-17-82) and his huge postseason (homers in Games 6 and 7 of the American League Championship Series and a game-winning homer in Game 1 of the World Series), Bellhorn was surprised how fast the fans turned on him.
"I know in sports, it's all about 'What have you done for me lately?'" Bellhorn said. "I wish they would have given me a little more cushion, but at the same time, I have to go out there and produce."
"When he's played against us, he's always been pretty good," Torre said. "Yeah, he strikes out, but he takes a lot of pitches, too. He proved last year that he's got power to all fields, hitting that opposite-field home run against [Jon] Lieber. I've always liked him as a player."
Bellhorn will get his first crack at the Red Sox next weekend, when New York and Boston square off in a three-game set at Yankee Stadium. The two teams also close the season with three games at Fenway Park, which Bellhorn admits will be very bizarre for him.
"I'm looking forward to it," he said. "I still have a lot of friends on that team, and it's going to be weird sitting on the other side of that field. It's going to be a little different, especially after what happened last year."

Source: http://newyork.yankees.mlb.com/

Rookie lifts Nats to win over Braves

ATLANTA (AP) — Rookie Jason Bergman earned his first major league win, leading a Washington bullpen that pitched 6 1-3 shutout innings in the Nationals' 3-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves last night.
Jose Guillen homered to help the Nationals move back above .500 in one-run games — a season-long gauge of the team's success.
After Washington starter John Patterson was limited to 2 2-3 innings by stomach cramps, Bergman pitched two shutout innings in his second major league appearance to lead a strong effort by the Washington bullpen. He also scored the tying run in the fifth.
Hector Carrasco also pitched two shutout innings and Gary Majewski gave up two hits but no runs in 1 1-3 innings. Chad Cordero worked the ninth for his 42nd save in 46 opportunities.
Cubs 6, Dodgers 3
CHICAGO (AP) — Nomar Garciaparra hit a solo home run and drove in two runs to back Mark Prior and help the Chicago Cubs beat the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Henry Blanco hit a tiebreaking two-run single in the sixth inning and had three RBIs for the Cubs, who won just for the third time in 10 games.
Prior (10-5) allowed three runs and eight hits in six innings, struck out seven and walked none. Ryan Dempster pitched the ninth for his 20th save in 22 chances, retiring pinch-hitter Olmedo Saenz on a game-ending flyout with runners at the corners.
Jeff Kent and Mike Edwards hit solo homers for the Dodgers, who had won their previous three games. Brad Penny (6-9) gave up five runs and eight hits in 5 2-3 innings.
Pirates 6, Brewers 0
MILWAUKEE (AP) — Paul Maholm pitched eight shutout innings in his major league debut and the Pittsburgh Pirates had a five-run first inning in a victory over the Milwaukee Brewers that snapped a five-game losing streak.
The Pirates' first-round draft choice in 2003, Maholm (1-0) replaced Zach Duke in the rotation when the team's rookie phenom went on the disabled list. The left-hander gave up four hits and three walks while striking out five and keeping the Brewers 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
Milwaukee's Doug Davis (9-10) has failed to win in 13 starts dating to June 22. The left-hander walked four and gave up two hits in the five-run first inning.
The Brewers have lost three consecutive games since ace Ben Sheets tore a back muscle, a season-ending injury.
Davis, who leads the NL with 82 walks, had trouble with his control in the first. He retired the first two batters, but walked Jason Bay and Craig Wilson.
Marlins 7, Cardinals 6
MIAMI (AP) — Carlos Delgado hit a two-run triple in the eighth inning and the Florida Marlins recovered after blowing an early lead to beat the St. Louis Cardinals.
The Marlins (70-62) tied Philadelphia for the NL wild-card lead after the Phillies' 6-4 loss to the New York Mets.
Florida opened an early four-run lead after Miguel Cabrera's three-run homer in the third, but fell behind for the first time when Mark Grudzielanek's run-scoring groundout gave the Cardinals a 5-4 lead in the eighth. Luis Castillo bunted for a leadoff single to begin the bottom of the inning, the first Marlins' first hit off Matt Morris (14-6) since Cabrera's 28th homer with nobody out in the third.
Astros 5, Reds 2
HOUSTON (AP) — Morgan Ensberg hit a three-run homer in a five-run fifth inning that rallied Houston past the Cincinnati Reds and closed the Astros within a half-game of the NL wild-card lead.
Wandy Rodriguez (9-6) won for the fifth time in his last seven decisions, allowing one run and four hits in five innings and dropping his ERA from a team-high 6.16 to 5.94. The Astros have backed him with an average of 7.78 runs a game, more than double the team-low 3.61 given Roger Clemens.
Mets 6, Phillies 4
NEW YORK (AP) — The New York Mets returned home with a dramatic victory that made the National League wild-card race even tighter.
Ramon Castro capped a comeback with a three-run homer in the eighth inning Tuesday night, and the Mets beat the Philadelphia Phillies 6-4.
The Phillies (70-62) fell into a tie with the Florida Marlins, who beat St. Louis 7-6. The Mets and Houston Astros (both 69-62) are a half-game back.
The Mets had trailed from the start after Kenny Lofton hit his first home run since opening day and Pat Burrell added a two-run shot in the first inning against Mets starter Jae Seo.

Source: http://berkshireeagle.com/

Gridlock Sam

We've quickly approached the unofficial close of the summer season, and chaotic Katrina is making this more difficult throughout most parts of the country. Despite dismal forecasts that the storm's remnants are expected to sweep past New York on Wednesday, the Mets remain ready for that day's crucial matchup against the Phillies. With more than the usual number of attendees for this significant game, Shea is sure to sparkle for the 7 p.m. pitch and for an afternoon game Thursday at 1 p.m. Thursday's game will end just as the peak traffic period begins in Queens. With many people trying to start their Labor Day vacations early, we can expect the Grand Central Parkway to be near standstill from LaGuardia Airport to the Long Island Expressway in both directions.
Just across Roosevelt Ave., at the USTA National Tennis Center, tennis stars continue their best. The matches start at 11 a.m. and continue through 10 p.m. Both baseball and tennis fans are advised totake the Long Island Rail Road or the No. 7 train; the Grand Central Parkway and the Whitestone Expressway are not recommended. Youcan expect the Long Island Expressway, Brooklyn-Queens Expressway and Northern Blvd. to also be heavily congested.
Over on the Jersey side, Green Day will perform Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Meadowlands. This will affect Route 3 and Route 17, as well as the Lincoln Tunnel. FYI: Jimmy Eat World has been announced as an opening act.
Also, keep in mind that all westbound upper-level expressway lanes of the George Washington Bridge (under the apartments) will be closed from 11 p.m. Wednesday to 5a.m. Thursday. Drivers are advised to follow the detour, or consider alternate routes.
The Goethals Bridge would not be a good alternate for late-nighters, as both westbound lanes of the bridge will be closed from 9:30 p.m. Wednesday to 5:30 a.m. Thursday.
In Williamsburg, Flushing Ave. between Broadway and Franklin Ave. has been made one-way westbound for sewer work. It is already one-way westbound between Cypress Ave. and Broadway. This pattern will continue for nine months, when two-way operation will be restored.
One tube is closed in each direction in the Battery Tunnel on Wednesday and Thursday from 9 p.m. to 5a.m. the next day. On the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway, the eastbound exit ramp to Cadman Plaza is closed. Use the Atlantic Ave. or Tillary St. exits.

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/

Scranton's Victorino is league MVP

Shane Victorino, Scranton/Wilkes-Barre's switch-hitting centerfielder, was named the International League's most valuable player yesterday.
The award was voted on by league managers, coaches, club officials and media members.

Victorino, 24, entered yesterday leading the league in runs (93) and triples (16). He was tied for the top spot with 59 extra-base hits. He was in the top 10 in batting average (.310), hits (153), and slugging percentage (.534).
The Phillies acquired Victorino from the Los Angeles Dodgers in last winter's Rule 5 draft. He failed to make the club in spring training.
The Dodgers didn't want Victorino back. He cleared waivers and signed a minor-league contract with the Phils.
Victorino is not on the Phillies' 40-man roster, but he is expected to join the big-league club when rosters expand tomorrow.
Catcher A.J. Hinch, infielder/outfielder Matt Kata, and pitchers Geoff Geary and Pedro Liriano also could be called up from triple A.
Gavin Floyd remains iffy for a promotion. He did not help his cause by allowing eight runs in 41/3 innings in Scranton's loss to Syracuse yesterday. Floyd is 6-9 with a 6.16 earned run average.
New York, New York. Closer Billy Wagner reported no new developments in his contract negotiations. He initially had set tomorrow as a deadline, saying he would become a free agent at season's end if no deal was done by then, but recently softened the deadline as talks progressed.
If Wagner gets to free agency, he will be one of the most coveted pitchers on the market.
The deep-pocketed Mets are likely to go shopping for a closer. Would Wagner consider the Mets?
"I'd consider anything - if they're going to win," he said.
Extra bases. The Mets shuffled their rotation, sent Steve Trachsel to the bullpen, and will have Tom Glavine pitch tomorrow afternoon against Jon Lieber... . It looks as if Phillies lefthander Eude Brito will start Saturday in Washington... . Columnist George Will hung around the batting cage before last night's game. He spent most of his time on the Mets' side of the field, in case you care.

Source: http://sports.yahoo.com/