In a somewhat underwhelming trade today the Mets sent perennial media scapegoat young outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Nationals today for two spares players; Jon Baker* impersonator Brian Schneider and Ryan Church who is completely overrated gritty. The Mets organization had been sending signals that they aren’t quite in love with Ponch Estrada and would like to find a more defensive minded catcher, a fair assessment of Schneider as the closest he has come to being an offensive threat is the time got drunk in the clubhouse and started making racially insensitive jokes at Frank Robinson’s expense; don’t worry, he went to rehab- that was a weird time.

Ryan Church is more of a question mark. The Mets are looking at one of two options. The first and most disturbing would be that Willie had some influence on this deal. Willie Randolph’s penchant for using an upturned broom over a young player as long as the broom has been in the league for a decade may be the reason Church is headed for the Big Apple to serve as everyday rightfielder. In which case, mediocrity hasn’t been combined with boringness since Kareem Garcia and Shane Spencer platooned in right. Who wants pizza?

The other non-eye-gougingly boring alternative is that Church was brought in as a trading chip to deal along with Estrada, Gomez or Martinez and Humber or Pelfrey or Mulvey. Many speculate that the Twins would want more than just talented prospects in exchange for Johan Santana and a 72 hour window. Should the Twins want a pitching prospect, an future centerfield prospect and a major league ready outfielder, Church would certainly fit the bill. (see Boring = Minnesota = Ryan Church.) Should the Mets lose the Santana sweepstakes and go to the likely option B in Oakland for either Blanton or Haren, Church may prove valuable. Of course he may not, who knows what obscure extraneous statistic the A’s evaluate talent on this week. Maybe Church hit an even amount of doubles with runners on third in the sixth inning of day games and that doesn’t mesh with the A’s Scouting system’s Department of Numbers We Pulled out of Our Asses this Week.

One can only hope this is a first step in a series of moves designed to land a front end pitcher. I really liked Lastings and hoped he would reach his potential with the Mets. If this goes no where, look for Church to get booed early and often, especially if Milledge continues to progress. Let’s wait and see…

*I hear-by pledge never to use another Chips reference on this website again.**

**The above pledge is null and void should the Mets acquire anyone name Wilcox, Grossman or Getraer. I watched too much TV as a child.

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