Mets Morning News: One Last Present for Chipper

Meet the Mets

The Mets wrapped up their 2012 slate at Turner Field as one might expect, with a slog of a loss to the Atlanta Braves. The Mets now head to the Lisa Frank Trapper Keeper of baseball stadiums in Miami to wrap up their 2012 campaign. Jeurys Familia toes the rubber tonight, making his first major league start.

Familia's Buffalo rotation mate, Jenrry Mejia, wrapped up his 2012 season with a rather mediocre start yesterday. Mike Kerwick takes a look at what the future might hold for Mejia. At this point it's hard to even squint and see a scenario where Mejia is in the rotation long term, but stranger things have happened. Henderson Alvarez is a starter for the Blue Jays after all.

Lucas Duda gets the ol' "vote of confidence" from Terry Collins. The Post continues to beat the "Traid Ike Davis" drum, but I just don't see that happening unless the Mets ownership is seriously broke, so... yeah... nevermind.

Yesterday at AA

Joe Sokolowski reviewed the potent quotables from the last week.

Keith Hernandez had his mustache shaved for charity last week. You can check out the video here. As I said to Ted on Thursday, he has the weirdest job in the world.

And the picture on this piece pretty much sums it all up.

Around the NL East

Cole Hamels notched his seventeenth win of the season, a 4-1 victory over the Marlins. Seventeen wins? Psshaw. Dickey laughs at that number.

And the Nationals continue to limp towards October a bit, while the Cardinals move closer to clinching the second wild card. Ross Detwiler, who would likely pitch in the playoffs if the Nationals need a fourth starter, got lit up by the Cards. Should of kept Strasburg.

Around MLB

Texas salvaged a much-needed split with the Angels in their day-night doubleheader. Now they just need to win one of the next three in Oakland to clinch the AL West. The A's used eighth inning home runs from Yoenis Cespedes and Josh Reddick to beat the Mariners and move closer to clinching their own playoff berth.

The Orioles and Yankees both held serve as we move into the final series of the season. I guess we have to stop making fun of Dan Duquette now.The Yanks will take on the Sawx, while the Orioles have to deal with Tampa, and the Rays are certainly not to be trifled with. They've now won ten out of their last eleven off a 6-2 drubbing of the fading White Sox. The win was David Price's twentieth and makes the AL Cy Young race a bit more interesting. Also, Fernando Rodney matched a rather impressive record yesterday.

The White Sox loss, coupled with the Tigers win over the Twins, means Detroit needs just one win against the Royals this week to clinch the AL Central. Somehow I don't see Kansas City playing spoiler here.

And finally, I raise a contemplative glass of bourbon to the poor, poor Pirates. Well metaphorically speaking, it's still a bit early for that.