Kentucky Fried Rally Chicken Applesauce

Meet the Mets

Before we get started with the Applesauce this morning, a word with all of you. There are a lot of stories out there right now about R.A. Dickey coming back to Earth or about how the Yanks solved R.A. Dickey. I will not be linking to that stuff. You can find it on your own if you are so inclined.

But there was an actual game last night, and R.A. didn't pitch so good. The Mets rallied to get him off the hook, but then, you know, Miguel Batista. Well, at least Terry knows what he did wrong. That makes it all better. The Mets lost 6-5 in the rubber game, and now thankfully we can all move on with out lives. As can Little Jerry Seinfeld. I think we all know what the next T-Shirt Tuesday is going to be.

Frank Frank's oblique has sent him to the DL, so until he returns, Bobby Parnell is your closer. And in closing the gate long after somebody left it open news, the Mets have called up Justin Hampson to be the second lefty in their pen. Vinny Rottino was designated for assignment to clear the roster spot. That should make Rob Castellano happy at least, as he has been beating the "Free Justin Hampson" drum since last season.

If you were wondering if Jenrry Mejia might soon be up and able to help out in the pen. Toby Hyde has some cold water to splash on you.

Carson Cistulli is probably the first writer to use the phrase "macho literary firepower" in a piece about Dickey without meaning it to refer to Dickey. so there's that.

R.A. Dickey will ride again, you guys.

Around the NL East

The Mets just completed what will likely be the toughest part of their schedule this season and are still only 3 and 1/2 back of the Nationals, who lost to the Orioles Sunday. So there's that. And if that doesn't fulfill your required schadenfreude quota, there's always the Phillies. The Good Phight is taking it pretty well, all things considered. Charlie Manuel on the other hand...

Hey, remember when the Braves pitching staff was supposed to be like ten deep?

Unfortunately the Marlins did beat the Blue Jays. And they wore the dayglo jerseys to do it. Double bummer.

Around MLB

The White Sox acquired Kevin Youkilis from Boston for Brent Lillibridge and Zach Stewart. Frankly, while I would expect Youkilis to not be quite as bad going forward, his days as an above average regular are probably done. Youk did get a nice sendoff at least. Meanwhile, the pale hose won in walk off fashion against Milwaukee to move back into first in the AL Central.

Justin Verlander: Pretty good at baseball. Granted, it was against the Pirates line-up.

Catcher Daniel Norris picked a spiffy time to hit his first major league home run. As a Mets fan, I've kind of forgotten what home runs looks like, but good for him!

The Dodgers have cooled off since their hot start and now find themselves looking over their shoulder at the Giants.

Looks like Trevor Bauer is going to make his major league debut on Thursday against the Braves. Bauer, the Dbacks first round pick last year, has not exactly dominated the high minors and has some pitch efficiency issues. I wouldn't be shocked by a 5.2 3 3 5 3 6, 107 pitch line or something like that.

Finally, Arizona won the first game of the College World Series over South Carolina. They can wrap up the title with a win tonight.