NL East Rundown

BY MICHAEL GANCI
UPDATE! Writer

As of 8 a.m. on August 9, 2008, the Mets are currently sitting in second place in the NL East with a 61-54 record. The Marlins are breathing right down the Mets’ necks with a 61-55 record, which places them only a half of game back of the Mets for second. The Phillies, on the other hand, are trying to stay atop the division, but they only lead the Mets by one game, with a record of 62-53. In this post, I will show a breakdown of the remaining schedules for each of those teams, and I will explain how it all rests in the Mets’ favor.

Teams the Mets Face

1. Marlins (2) 61-55

2. Pirates (1) 53-62

3. Nationals (3) 44-72

4. Pirates (4) 53-62

5. Braves (3) 54-62

6. Astros (4) 56-59

7. Phillies (2) 62-53

8. Marlins (3) 61-55

9. Brewers (3)65-51

10. Phillies (3) 62-53

11. Nationals (2) 44-72

12. Braves (3) 54-62

13. Nationals (4) 44-72

14. Braves (3) 54-62

15. Cubs (4) 70-46

16. Florida (3) 61-55

47 Games Left

27 Games Against Teams Under .500

13 Games Against Teams Less than 10 Games over .500

7 Games Against Teams More than 10 games over .500

Teams the Phillies Face

1. Pirates (2) 53-62

2. Dodgers (4) 58-57

3. Padres (3) 44-72

4. Nationals (3) 44-72

5. Dodgers (4) 58-57

6. Mets (2) 61-54

7. Cubs (4) 70-46

8. Nationals (3) 44-72

9. Mets (3) 61-54

10. Marlins (3) 61-55

11. Brewers (4) 65-51

12. Braves (3)54-62

13. Marlins (3)61-55

14. Braves (3) 54-62

15. Nationals (3) 44-72

47 Games Left

20 Games Against Teams under .500

19 Games Against Teams Less Than 10 Games Over .500

8 Games Against Teams More than 10 Games Over .500

Teams the Marlins Face

1. Mets (2) 61-54

2. Cardinals (4) 64-54

3. Cubs (3) 70-46

4. Giants (3) 48-66

5. Diamondbacks (3) 59-57

6. Braves (3) 54-62

7. Mets (3) 61-54

8. Braves (3) 54-62

9. Cardinals (3) 64-54

10. Phillies (3) 62-53

11. Nationals (3) 44-72

12. Astros (3) 56-59

13. Phillies (3) 62-53

14. Reds (1) 52-65

15. Nationals (3) 44-72

16. Mets (3) 61-54

46 Games Remaining

19 Games Against Teams Under .500

17 Games Against Teams Less than 10 Games over .500

10 Games Against Teams More than 10 Games over .500

ADVANTAGE: METS

As you can see, the Mets have the easiest remaining schedule of all three teams. They get to face off with teams that have less than a .500 record 27 times in their last 47 games, and those are the kind of games that need to be won if they want to win the division. The Marlins play 10 games against teams that are ten games or more over .500, and the Mets only play seven. Those three games can really make a major difference. The bottom line is this. There is no need to worry. Billy Wagner will be back soon . Ryan Church may be back sooner than we think. John Maine should be back next week, and Daniel Murphy is a beast. The Daily Stache says that the Mets are still the favorites in the NL East. This is the Daily Stache, reminding you that until next time, let the truth be told!

For more of Michael’s posts, check out www.dailystache.com.

‘Stache Housed

It’s over. Jason Giambi has finally shaved his infamous mustache after going 0-for-3 and slumping in July. Giambi’s reasoning: “There’s no more hits in it.” But if one goes deeper into this story, a difference of opinions may be the real culprit behind the shave.
 
Giambi’s ‘stache had developed into a cult icon of its own, prompting Yankee fans and mustache aficionado’s everywhere to embrace the sweaty facial accessory. In fact, there were even whispers that the ‘stache was in talks to start marketing and advertising a slew of new products, including pi-Stache-io nuts and ‘Stache potatoes. There were even rumored discussions of a new superhero film entitled “Stache Gordon.” All of this seemingly created a friction between Giambi and his lip brush, one that seemed destined to lead to a split.
 
Sources close to Giambi reported that he resented the ‘stache, claiming its rampant partying, non-stop womanizing and inflated ego had been wearing down on the quiet Yankee first baseman. A separation clearly was necessary, so Giambi took the necessary steps to rid himself of the follicled foe.
 
So what’s next for the ‘stache? Nothing good it seems. Once word got out that it would no longer get the exposure of being a part of the New York Yankees, interest waned as folks began to realize, “Wait, it’s just a moustache.” Apparently, its career (much like itself) has gone down the drains.
 
As for Giambi, only time will tell what he will turn to in order to kick up another hit streak. Will it be the flame-emblazoned golden thong?  Perhaps a new-fangled no-shower policy?  We’ll just have to stay tuned.

 

–CHRIS STARBONELL

Trade Deadline: 1 Hour Remains

So far, a couple of trades have come out of nowhere. Ken Griffey Jr. has accepted a trade to the White Sox, and the Reds got two prospects. Pudge Rodriguez is now a Yankee, and he will do a nice job filling the void left by the injured Jorge Posada. Arthur Rhodes is now in the Marlins bullpen, and that’s good news for the well-being of Renyel Pinto. Here are some other guys rumored to be traded in the next hour.

1. Brian Fuentes- Teams will have to up the ante big time if he is going to be dealt. Odds have him staying in Colorado until the end of the season.

2. Manny Ramirez-The rumored three way deal between the Marlins, Red Sox and Pirates is reportedly dead, but the Dodgers are apparently back in it, although they are no longer offering Matt Kemp. They would rather deal Andre Eithier. The Red Sox probably won’t settle for that. Look for Manny to remain where he is.

3. Jason Bay- Since the rumored deal to Boston for Bay died down, the Rays have emerged as the primary suitor. With the Pirates’ willingness to deal him, and the Rays’ need for a power right handed bat, I think this trade may be worked out. Keep a close eye.

4. Greg Maddux- The professor has made it clear that he would only be willing to accept a deal to a contending West Coast team. That pretty much means the Dodgers, but it doesn’t look like anything will be happening before 4 p.m. today.

5. Raul Ibanez/Jarrod Washburn-These are two guys who the Mariners should cash in on before the deadline, but their asking price is ridiculous. For example, they asked the Mets for two of Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell for Ibanez. IF they don’t lower the asking price, these two will remain where they are.

Dead Deadline?

In years past, it always seemed that there were plenty of big names out there on the trading block as the trade deadline neared, but this year seems rather anti-climatic. There are a couple of reasons for this.

First, a lot of big name players that were thought to be dealt have already switched teams. CC Sabathia and Mark Teixeira, the two guys most expected to be moved mid-season when the 2008 campaign got underway, have new homes.

Second, a lot of teams have remained competitive all season and thus are not in selling mode. The Cardinals, Marlins, Tigers and Dodgers all have players teams may want, but because of their place in the standings, these clubs are not in a position to just blow up their roster and prepare for next season.

Third, teams with some attractive trade pieces are delusional, believing that there is no need to trade away their players as they still have an outside shot at the post-season. Sorry Toronto, Houston and Colorado, this is just wishful thinking.

This year, the biggest names that will be moved on deadline day will likely be relievers. Brian Fuentes, George Sherrill and Huston Street could all be on the move, but as trade deadlines go, this one will have few fireworks. Unless of course Manny Ramirez is traded, but we all know that ain’t happening.

Manny Being Manny

If Manny Ramirez doesn’t be careful, he could be on the “Barry Bonds list.” By that I mean teams will look to avoid him due to the negative distraction that follows him wherever he goes.

The latest saga in the world of Manny involves a potential trade away from the Red Sox. Manny came out on Sunday and said that he would waive his no-trade clause if the Red Sox wanted to move him. Is it me? Or does this same exact thing happen every time the trade deadline rolls around?

It hasn’t exactly been a vintage Manny year to this point. He is currently batting .302 with 19 homers and 65 RBI on the season. Many teams would love to have his bat in the middle of their lineup, but they wouldn’t like the baggage that comes with him.

Earlier this season, Manny pushed the traveling secretary on the ground because she didn’t have enough seats for his family and friends. This woman was over 60-years-old. Manny has also brought a cell phone into the outfield with him, and he has made calls in between innings. What the heck is wrong with this guy?

Does he not take the game seriously? His career numbers would indicate that he does take it seriously. He’s a lock for the hall of fame, and he has one of the sweetest home run swings anyone has ever seen. People can not hold this guy to different standards than everyone else. Whether it is Manny being Manny, or Manny being stupid, someone needs to send this guy a message, and that is exactly what Theo Epstein is trying to do by talking trade. I expect him to remain in Boston, because his bat is not so easy to replace.

 

–MICHAEL GANCI

Athletes and Their Celebrations

Recently in New York, there has been a lot of talk about Jose Reyes and his hand gesture when he hit a three-run home run on Wednesday night against the Phillies. Feelings are mixed around New York. Why is Reyes under the microscope? What about Robinson Cano and Melky Cabrera’s celebrations? I think they are all fine, and people overreact.

The key to playing any sport is playing with emotion. Jose Reyes pours his heart and soul on the field, and many people don’t like the fire he plays with. A perfect example of someone who people accept is Troy Percival of the Tampa Bay Rays. He acts like a nut on the mount sometimes, but yet, people are always saying that he plays with fire and passion. In my mind, there is no difference between that and what Reyes does. Both are ok.

Another thing people have to take into consideration is the intensity of the rivalry. The Phillies came back and gave the Mets a huge punch in the stomach with their come from behind victory on Tuesday, and Shane Victorino showboated even worse than Reyes did. There was a play in which he scored, and he stood on the plate, pounded his chest and pointed towards the Mets’ dugout. Why didn’t anyone make a big deal about that?

The bottom line is that people need to look at all of these players on an even field. Just because Jose Reyes is the most talented, that doesn’t make it justified to hold him to different standards than the rest of the league. He can sing, dance and jump if he wants to, because he is the engine that keeps the Mets running.

–MICHAEL GANCI

Chipper’s .400 Chase

Atlanta Braves’ third basemen Chipper Jones is trying to be the first player in quite some time to hit over .400. He is currently sitting at .369, and he left Wednesday’s game with a strained hamstring. I don’t think it is going to happen, but if anyone in today’s game could do it, it’s Chipper Jones.

Chipper plays in just enough games to qualify and misses just enough to keep the average up. If Chipper gets scorching hot soon, and then tweaks something again, he could reach .400. For me, I just don’t see it. Last season was his career high in average at .337. he hasn’t played over 140 games since 20003.

The Braves fans have to hope for Chipper to be their savior, because Jeff Francoeur is doing nothing, and their pitching staff is doing nothing. The most likely scenario for Chipper is to hit somewhere around .340, which would still qualify as an excellent season.

 

–MICHAEL GANCI

Trade Deadline Looming

The MLB trade deadline is only eight days away, and there are several guys who may be wearing new uniforms once that time comes. In this blog, I will pick the five most likely guys to get traded, and where I think they will end up.

1. Xavier Nady, Pirates
Destination: Rays

The Rays are in need of a good hitting right-handed hitter, and Nady would seem to be the guy who would fit the bill best. The Rays have a plethora of young pitching in which they could trade, so it seems like these two teams could be a match. Nady has said that he wants to stay in Pittsburgh, but the decision is out of his hands.

2. Brian Fuentes, Rockies
Destination: Marlins

Florida management is known to be fans of Fuentes, and he would come in and threaten Kevin Gregg to take over as closer. They have been pursuing him very aggressively. The Marlins have plenty of young talent to get the deal done. It’s just a matter of whether or not they want to go for it this year. This seems like a match for all parties involved.

3. Casey Blake, Indians
Destination: Mets

This trade makes too much sense for it not to happen. Omar Minaya is known to be a huge fan of Blake, and Blake fits the big hole that the Mets have. They need a right handed hitting outfielder who can also occasionally spell Delgado against a lefty at first base. Blake fits the bill. I think it would only cost the Mets a mid-level prospect if they are willing to eat Blake’s contract.

4. Jarrod Washburn, Mariners
Destination: Yankees

The Yankees are in need of a starting pitcher. Mussina and Pettite are the only two guys that they can consistently count on right now, although Wang should be entering the picture pretty soon. Washburn, although caught up in the horror of Seattle, is still a quality pitcher. The Yankees and Mariners are known to be in discussions, and the Yankees want Seattle to take Kei Igawa, but the best course of action would be for the Yankees to trade a mid-level minor leaguer and eat Washburn’s contract.

5. Huston Street, Athletics
Destination: Brewers

The Brewers have proven to everyone that they are ready to go for it now. The acquisition of CC Sabathia was a huge splash for them and they don’t seem to be done. Eric Gagne could be a headache, so the Brewers entered the market for a late inning reliever, and Street would feet the bill. The Athletics are looking to reload their minor league system, and the Brewers have a nice group of prospects. This one is an easy match.

 

–MICHAEL GANCI

Home Run Derby Preview

In some years, it has been easier than others to predict the winner of the Home Run Derby. This year, our contestants are Evan Longoria, Josh Hamilton, Justin Morneau, Grady Sizemore, Lance Berkman, Dan Uggla, Chase Utley and Ryan Braun. Five of the eight will be batting from the left side of the plate, and with the short porch in right field, the advantage is clear.

I think the four to advance to the second round will be Evan Longoria, Chase Utley, Josh Hamilton and Grady Sizemore. Then, I expect the finals to come down to two young studs, Chase Utley and Evan Longoria. One from the right side and one from the left. Utley will be the victor because of his short and compact swing, which I think fits perfectly for the event, and especially the location. Look for the players to put on one heck of a show in this year’s home run derby, which airs Monday at 8 p.m. Don’t miss it.

HOME RUN DERBY ODDS (Courtesy of TheSpread.com)

Josh Hamilton 25/1
Lance Berkman 35/1
Justin Morneau 40/1
Chase Utley 40/1
Grady Sizemore 50/1
Dan Uggla 55/1
Ryan Bruan 55/1
Evan Longoria 70/1

–MICHAEL GANCI

All Star Snubs

No matter who gets nominated to the All-Star game, every year there are bound to be cries for which players deserve to be there (and which don’t).  But I’ll spare you the debatable rants and get right down two obvious switches that should be made to the American League All Star Team.

Jason Varitek?  Let’s take a look at his season line: .218 AVG, .300 OBP, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 18 R, 0 SB.  Pretty awful.  His defense behind the plate has been good, but not good enough to ignore his offensive woes this season.  So who should be playing at Yankee Stadium in his place?  Why not A.J. Pierzynski?  Pierzynski has hit .296 heading into Monday’s games with 7 HR, 33 RBI, 39 runs and 1 stolen bag. His numbers are very similar to his first half totals in 2002 and 2005, both seasons he made the All-Star team.

Another hard-to-ignore snub is Evan Longoria.  Let’s stack his numbers up with Joe Crede:

Longoria: .281 AVG, 16 HR, 52 RBI, 44 R, 6 SB

Crede: .261 AVG, 15 HR, 47 RBI, 36 R, 0 SB

Besides the obvious advantage in offensive stats that Longoria possesses, he’s also playing a Gold Glove caliber third base.  Sure the Tampa third baseman is on the final fan ballot, but it should not have even come down to that.  Crede should be home watching this game.

–CHRIS STARBONELL

The Hometown Advantage

Many people often agree that the argument of the fans playing a huge part in the game is a myth. Well, I am usually not one who believes in myths. I believe in evidence, or facts. And, I also believe that the fans play a bigger role in the game than people give them credit for.

Let’s take baseball as the example. As of July 3, only four teams have an above .500 record on the road. Those teams are the Yankees, Angels, Phillies and Cardinals. Now, let’s take a look at how that corresponds with their places in the standings. The Yankees currently stand four games out in the wild card, and 7.5 in the division. It’s a long season, and they will definitely be contenders. The Angels lead the west by 5.5 over Oakland. The Yankees are probably praying that the Angels have a letdown, because in recent years, the Yankees haven’t been able to beat the Angels in the playoffs. The Phillies lead the NL east by 1.5 games over the Marlins. The defending NL east champions looked poised to repeat for the second straight year. If they do so, that means that they are only 12 more years away from tying the Braves streak. The Cardinals are leading the wild card at the moment, and they should stick around in contention, especially when they get their injured pitchers back.

Now, what does this have to do with the fans? Well, since only four teams have above .500 records on the road, that means 26 teams don’t. I guess you can call the fans the 26 th man, or woman. Or would it be the 10 th man, or woman? Either way, when a visiting team goes into another team’s stadium, the odds are already stacked very much against them.

–MICHAEL GANCI

Subway Series Hangover

Well, going into this four-game series, I was like every other Mets fan that is irrational. I wanted to behead the Yankees, so to speak. The Phillies were on a downward spiral, and the Mets had the chance to close in, and the most important thing about this weekend is that the Mets did indeed gain ground on first place. The Phillies are in a downward spiral, as they have now lost 9 of their last 11 games. Utley and Howard have seemingly gone on vacation, and they are doing the Mets a favor by allowing them to get back in it. That’s the key at this point of the season. You need to be within a couple of games, and when you finally go on a hot streak, first place will be all but yours.

The Subway Series started off with a slugfest. The story was Carlos Delgado, who turned back the clock by crushing two bombs and knocking in 9 RBI on the day. The Mets cruised to a 15-6 victory to start their day on a high note.

The evening wasn’t as glorious for the Mets as the day-game was. Pedro Martinez started off well, and then he imploded. The Mets got pounded by the Yankees by the score of 9-0. The funny thing about Friday is that if you combine the scores, the total was 15-15.

Game three belonged to the Yankees, although the Mets had every chance to win it. Johan Santana allowed three walks, and they all came around to score. The Mets got homers from Castro and Wright, but Jose Reyes may have cost him the game when he got picked off with two on and David Wright coming up to end an inning.

The Sunday finale was the Oliver Perez show. He went seven innings without a walk and struck out eight. The only blemish on the day was a Wilson Betemit homer that hasn’t landed yet. The Mets got RBI from Luis Castillo, David Wright. Carlos Delgado hit his third homer of the series and that was all the Mets needed. The Yankees almost mounted a combeack in the ninth, but after a Jeter single, Wagner got A-Rod to fly out to the track on a ball he just missed, and then cruised from there.

Next for the Mets will be the St. Louis Cardinals and Albert Pujols. The Wild Card leaders should be a tough matchup for the Mets, but this is what it is all about. This is the Daily Stache, reminding you that until next time, let the truth be told!

–MICHAEL GANCI

To read more of Michael’s blogs, check out www.DailyStache.com.

Major Changes Looming

Jerry Manuel said that there are going to be major changes looming with the New York Mets. His roles in the bullpen have been defined. Duaner Sanchez is the setup man. Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano are the situational relievers, and of course, Billy Wagner is his closer. I don’t think that’s what Jerry meant by major changes. He decided to sit David Wright in the second game of the series versus the Mariners, in which the Mets lost 11-0. Wright wasn’t happy with the move, but rather than whine and complain, Wright answered the way all hitters should strive to–with his bat. He cranked two homers in two innings to help lift the Mets to an easy 8-2 win.

‘Willie Watch’ Concludes

Griffey Hits No. 600

In the early days of Griffey, when he was roaming the fields with guys like Edgar Martinez, Jay Buhner and company, the sky seemed to be the limit. Griffey was the guy who was finally going to break Hank Aaron’s home run record. The first couple of seasons in his career seemed to justify that assumption. But, after he landed in Cincinnati, the injury bug struck. Griffey has been hurt for several long time-periods in his storied career, and many wonder where he would be on the all time home run list if he weren’t hurt.

Personally, I think he would be going toe to toe with Bonds, and would have already passed him, but we can’t go back in the past. If we could, we probably would’ve embraced guys like Griffey more, and we would’ve busted Barry bonds for steroids a long time ago.

–MICHAEL GANCI