While You Were Out: Amazin' Avenue Week In Review (7/26-8/1)

Here are this week's posts to divert your attention from GKR's non-stop criticism of the Pirates organization:

• Jon Niese's Release Point(s) - Sam notices something fishy about Jon Niese's curveball release point.
  
• Mets Triple Their Fun - Eric comes up with an excuse to mention Ryan Thompson, Kelly Stinnett and Kevin McReynolds.
  
• Jeff Francoeur Is Just What The Mets Needed? - Sam disagrees with another Mets blog's post about Jeff Francoeur, with good reason.
  
• Omar Minaya Attacks Adam Rubin Of The NY Daily News - Transcription of the Omar Minaya/Adam Rubin press conference.  Lots of lobby going on here.
  
• Adam Rubin Trying To Have It Both Ways - I take issue with Adam Rubin's discussions with Jeff Wilpon.  Jon Heyman, Tom Jolly, Murray Chass and Phil Mushnick agree.  Not sure if that's a good or bad thing.
  
• Gary, Keith & Ron Drinking Game Update - Ralph Kiner and Kevin Burkhardt make cameos in the GKR Drinking Game.
  
• Swag Contest Scoreboard Updated - Eric updates the July swag leaderboard.
  
• Brian Schneider's T-Shirt Design - Joe shows us a Mets Players Choice t-shirt design that didn't make the cut.
  
• Rain Day Filler: Search Engine Fun - Someone has to own up to searching for "Turk Wendell Pornography" on Google.
  
• Carlos Beltran Could Return In August - Take the rest of the year off, 'Tron.
  
• Mythbusters 2: The AAA Lineup - My favorite post of the week, debunking some of the myths surrounding our Mets.
  
• Rumor: Mets Talking 3-Way Deal With Cleveland And Tampa - "Anonymous sources" say that "persons familiar with the negotiations" are involved with "league officials" who have no credible information to provide.  Great, thanks.
  
• Who Is The Real Angel Pagan - Despite Angel's grand slam last night, his role on the team after this season is, at best, as a reserve outfielder.
  
• Mets Top Prospects: #23 Francisco Pena - Sam and Mark look at the toothy catcher.
  
• Trade Deadline Open Thread - 690 comments discussing mostly b.s. rumors, unfortunately.
  
• My Favorite At Bat Of The Season - Good plate discipline is awesome.