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Meet the Mets
Love the Mets? Love the Mets. The Metropolitan Baseball Club keep on rolling, winning their third straight against the Cardinals, and moving into a virtual tie for first in the NL East. Just like all the pundits predicted, you guys! Okay, a lot of the season left to play, but I'm gonna say it. This team is not bad. This team is not mediocre. This team...is good. I don't know if they are playoff good, but we'll cross that bridge when we come to it.
After setting a new career high with 10 strikeouts, Jon Niese had to leave last night's game with a rapid heartbeat. You might remember this happened last year against Texas. It was just a precautionary measure and Niese will undergo tests today in New York.
The Mets look like they will finally have their opening day line-up back at full strength by the end of the week. Ruben Tejada should return Friday, and Jason Bay might be ready to DH in the Yankees series as well.
If you were wondering what suckers bought the minority shares of the Mets. You know, other than the Wilpons and their associates. Well, apparently Bill Maher did. Don't worry, though, Adam Rubin has got you covered.
Before last night's game, John Franco was inducted into the Mets Hall of Fame. Franco could drive you nuts, but he was so happy to be inducted last night, I couldn't help but smile throughout his entire speech. It was cool to see Fonzy and Doc and Darryl again as well. Greg Prince remembers the Mets closer in much the same way I do.
No-Han Santana
Yes, it gets it's own section.
Johan will be on Letterman tonight to deliver the Top 10 list.
Rob Neyer wonders if Johan is all the way back. Well, if he isn't. Can't wait to see what it looks like when he is!
Terry had plans on giving Johan a couple extra days this week. Looks like Chris Young will start Tuesday, and it is possible Dickey and Santana will flip-flop this week with Dickey going on short rest.
The genius that ran onto the field in an attempt to celebrate the no-no is facing a bevy of charges. This is being reported everywhere, but the Times article has this choice Nieuwenhuis quote:
He added that it was not so much the Carter jersey that raised a red flag, but his choice of legwear: "The jean shorts gave it way."
Kirk Nieuwnhuis: Fashion Police.
The Post interviewed Santana about being all awesome and stuff.
And Patrick Flood has some belated thoughts on Johan's performance.
Around the NL East
The Braves chased Gio Gonzlaez early and Tommy Hanson quieted the Nats' bats, as Washington and Atlanta split their four game series.
Carlos Zambrano broke out the big lumber and the Marlins joined the Mets and Nats atop the NL East.
Chase Utley is headed to extended Spring Training, which is good since the Phillies could use all the help they can get.
Around MLB
Draft Day! Which, along with Opening Day and Josh Satin gets called up day, is basically a national holiday for me. Everyone's board is a mess and no one knows how the new CBA will affect strategy. The Mets pick at 12, and have been linked to, oh let's see: Dahl, Cecchini, Hawkins, McCullers, Giolito, Wacha and Fried. I might be forgetting someone, too. Personally if Giolito and Fried are off the board (likely). I'd rather see them reach a bit for Zack Eflin or Stryker Trahan. Anyway, here's mlb.com's Top 100, and their mock.
The Rangers ended a four-game skid, using an absolute bomb from Nelson Cruz to beat the Angels.
Hey, remember Phil Hughes? Well, he tossed a complete game and outpitched Justin Verlander to give the Yanks another win over the struggling Tigers.
The Yanks are still looking up at the Rays, though, who took the division lead with a sloppy 8-4 win over the Orioles.
Speaking of complete games, chalk one up for White Sox southpaw Chris Sale, who has been dominant as a starter and is showing no ill effects of getting jerked around between starting and the pen earlier in the season.
Finally, It's the 28th anniversary of ten-cent beer night. Still can't believe that is a thing that happened, since I was there last night for $8.50 beer night and was still surrounded by obnoxious drunks.