Mets Morning News: Wheeler targets August return, Conforto waits

Meet the Mets

After two setbacks in his rehab from Tommy John surgery, starter Zack Wheeler is targeting a mid-August return.

With fewer trade chips in their farm system, the Mets are hoping a run of good health in the season's second half will improve the team.

For the first time since the networks began competing against one another, SNY has drawn more viewers than the Yankees' YES Network, averaging 278,078 viewers to the AL team's 219,205.

The Mets have an interesting decision to make regarding Michael Conforto, who has been tearing up Triple-A since being sent down. If the team can avoid calling him up for 15 regular season days, they'll get another year of service out of him.

Judd Apatow, director of crowd-pleasing comedies like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, sat down with Sports Illustrated for an interview regarding his ESPN "30 for 30" documentary Doc and Darryl, about former Mets Doc Gooden and Darryl Strawberry.

I kid you not: Bartolo Colon has been baseball's best-fielding pitcher.

Around the NL East

Talking Chop examined which Braves are most likely to be dealt before the trade deadline.

Fish Stripes made predictions for the Marlins' second half.

The Good Phight lamented the Phillies' return from the All-Star break.

Here's a list of guys you'll come to hate in a few years, also known as the Nationals' top 10 minor league prospects.

Around the Majors

The Red Sox bolstered their floundering starting pitching staff by trading for Padres All-Star hurler Drew Pomeranz.

Here's Fangraphs' scouting report of 18-year-old pitcher Anderson Espinosa, the shining jewel of San Diego's Pomeranz haul.

Grant Brisbee doled out mid-season National League awards.

Yesterday at AA

The Mets are hoping to improve their bullpen via the trade market.

They also appear to be out on defected Cuban infielder Yulieski Gurriel.

Important: AA reader metsgiants3380 showed the world what a league made up of Bartolo Colon clones would look like.

Today in Mets History

In 1991, Ron Darling and minor leaguer Mike Thomas were traded for reliever Tim Burke. Darling called his time in Queens "a great run."