Getting Used to Change

As all Met fans know, it has been 6 years since the team has made the playoffs. The last appearance was in 2000, as the Wild Card. Bobby V took an underwhelming team to the WS, where they lost to the Yankees. Since then, the team fell on hard times, pretty much out of the running every season, save for 2001 when they made a late push but missed thanks to John Franco and Armando Benitez being the anti-closers.

Change started after the 2004 season. Jim Duquette was out, Omar Minaya was in. Pedro Martinez and Carlos Beltran soon followed. Willie Randolph was hired as manager. Expectations began to rise. There was even hope that Braden Looper could fill the gap as closer. Alas, there were too many holes in the pen last season (including Looper) and in the lineup. Omar set out last season to fix them, and he did, bringing in Billy Wagner (who has been improved as of late) and trading for Filthy Sanchez and Carlos Delgado. Hopes soared, but were still tempered. After all, the Braves were still considered the class of the division, and after Beltran's first season in NY, many were not sure he was cut out for NY.

This season has exceeded the expectations of even the most optimistic Met fan. I personally hoped for the division, but never imagined this type of domination. A 12 game lead on July 21? Why, the last time that happened was 20 years ago, during the magical 1986 season. Yet there are still games (Wednesday night) that provide angst, and moves (Lima Time!) that provide ammunition for fans to wonder about players and coaches. After the West Coast 9-1 trip, hopes were even higher than in 1986 in some quarters. People were talking about running away with the division. Of course, the swing through the AL East quelled that, an gave rise to fears that this team was not ready for the WS. Since then, the team has maintained their lead, won a few series, and received some hope for rotation stability in the form of Mike Pelfrey. Things are looking better.

Now, we have the Braves, winning frequently, and now trading to beef up their pen, obtaining Bob Wickman from the Indians. The addition of Wickman should help them, assuming of course that they can get him a lead, no guarantee with the rest of their pen, and starting rotation. Before we get concerned, the Braves are on a nice run, similar to one the Mets had. Fans need to remember that the Mets run did not last long. Odds are, the Braves will not either. Not only that, they need to make up 12 games on the Mets, and 5 in the WC race. Not an easy task for a team that still has issues.

Many have noted that there are rarely rumors about trades the Braves make prior to the announcement. This is true. If only it was so for the Mets. Yesterday saw a rumor printed about the Mets acquiring Bobby Abreu from the Phillies. The Mets would reportedly send Lastings Milledge to the Phillies in return. Now, there are a number of reasons why the acquisition of Abreu makes sense (high OBP, good hitter) and many why it does not (8 HR's in a bandbox this season, afraid of outfield walls). Of course, there is the added reason why not in Lastings Milledge. You do not trade a top flight prospect for a 32 year old outfielder making $16 m, with a $18 m option that will have to be picked up to get him to waive his no trade clause. It makes no sense. My hope is that this is creative writing on the part of Jayson Stark at ESPN, or that someone is floating this out there to maybe open the eyes of someone the Mets want to trade Milledge to for a pitcher, like Oakland (Zito) or Florida (Willis).

There was another NY/Philly rumor yesterday. The Yanks would receive Pat Burrell, Bobby Abreu, Tom Gordon and David Bell. In return, the Phils would receive Melky Cabrera and A-Rod. Now, Bell of course would figure to replace A-Rod at third. He would do so quite well, as he is as much a butcher at third as A-Rod. The Yanks still have the barf bucket in the bullpen for Gordon to use prior to his entering games. Burrell and Abreu would fit in well, two overpaid guys on the far side of 30. Yankee payroll would actually go up by about $10 million. If this trade was actually true, it would take Pat Gillick about 10 seconds to say yes. He gets rid of a lot of salary, gets a good young player in Cabrera, can move A-Rod back to short where he belongs, and is able to be a player in the FA market. The Yanks hamstring their payroll again. A win win all around.

Nice game yesterday for the Mets. Floyd and Delgado had HR's, Glavine went 6.1 innings, Bradford shut the door again, and Country Time pitched a 1-2-3 10th. Edny Chavez once again had a big hit. For a player most fans did not think much of coming into the season, he has done a great job, at the plate and in the field. Every time fans worry about the "B" team lineup the Mets use in a day game after a night game, we wind up being pleasantly surprised. It is one of the ways Willie is doing a good job, keeping his bench working, and resting his vets. If only he could improve his handling of the bullpen, fans might be able to cut him a little more slack. For the manager of a team 12 games up, he takes an awful lot of heat. Some is justified, but some is left over from last season, when people thought he was a poor choice for the job, and Willie had some growing pains. He has improved, and will continue to do so.

Big weekend coming up. Houston is prepping for their annual 2nd half surge. At least the Mets don't face Roider Clemens.