31.8.06

Momentary Kings Of The Major Leagues

It was 5-0 after an inning, 8-0 after two and 10-1 after three.

After Jose Reyes' ground out to first in the first, Lo Duca's single and a pair of walks to Beltran and Delgado to load the bases, David Wright strolled up to the plate prepared to declare a full cessation of an annoyingly lengthy slump and put to rest one of the more lasting post-All Star themes for the Mets as in: What's wrong with David Wright?

A few nights removed from being handed a break by an ump who saw his hit get knocked foul by third base, David Wright, I believe we can say with certainty, is finally back. And with him, the Mets, who won again by a convincing margin in the thin air, this time 11-3.


Sweet swing back in form...

Ah yes, nothing like a first-inning grand slam to ease the worries. Nothing like breaking a homerless slump that has lasted since 28th July in Atlanta. Nothing like knocking in FIVE runs to push your season total over 100 to declare a cessation of slumping. And all of this of course coming on the heels of a 3 for 4 performance the night before. The slump is over and now David Wright renews his chase on his potential MVP season. He has a little over a month to redeem himself.


Williams, in mere mortal's clothes, pre-Mets

Hey, how about this? The Mets throw Dave Williams on the mound making only his third start for them this season after a debilitating run with the Reds and he tosses 7 fully eaten innings and allows only three runs within them whilst getting a pair of hits at the plate on his own and scoring twice once after a base-running gaffe, (like uh, missing third base when coming home)prevented him from almost scoring more runs than he allowed.

In part, this is the story of the success of the Mets' season. Really - how many of you were very chuffed back in May when the Mets announced they acquired Williams from the Reds for Robert Manuel, a 22-year-old right-hander? How many stifled a yawn and thought perhaps we've strengthen the Norfolk rotation a modicum?

Williams has pitched 3 games for the Mets now and has won two of them cruising along with a 3.79 ERA. A poor man's Steve Trachsel, if you like.

In the meantime, Manuel continues to struggle down in the bowels of the Reds farm system, 0-3 by last count filling in as a reliever. A masterful trade by Omar.

Lost in all this was Jose Valentin's two homers and Roberto Hernandez and Mr Mota's scoreless bullpen outings.

So after winning 11 times in their last dozen games the Mets have finally pulled ahead for a day anyway, of the Detroit Tigers for best record in baseball. It ent the World Championship but it's certainly a sign that the Mets, seemingly growing stronger in spite of the absence of Pedro and Glavine, the lions of the starting rotation, are moving steadily in the right direction.

The Fall of The Diaz

Adios, Víctor Díaz.

After hitting .224 with 99 strikeouts in 103 games with Norfolk and after being designated for assignment on 22nd August, the Mets traded the former future star to the Texas Rangers for minor-league catcher Mike Nickeas. In 39 games for Double AA Frisco, he hit .248 with two home runs and 15 RBI.

Seems like a trade of one man's rubbish for another's but then again, so did the trade for Dave Williams. Who knows?

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