Carlos Delgado’s two run double propelled the New York Mets to a 3-1 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. Less than a month after being left for dead, the Metropolitans seized sole possession of first place in the National League East.

It just felt really good to type that. This is the team I know, love and have missed for a year. The division is far from decided at this stage and the Phillies are still a very dangerous team, but the past three games have made a clear statement to the rest of the league: the Mets not a team to be taken lightly.

What a difference a Month Makes

June 24:
Record: 37-39 .487 Third place 4 games back
Last game: L SEA 11-0
Lonestar Met quote: “I hate baseball”

July 24:
Record55-47 .539 First place +1
Last game: W PHI 3-1
Lonestar Met quote: “I love baseball”

Game ball to Ollie P. Another big performance in another big game.

What in the world has gotten into Carlos Delgado? I’m sure I wasn’t alone a month ago thinking he was done and eyeing a deadline deal for Mark Teixeira. It would be delusional to think Delgado is going to keep this up all year, but proving he is capable to produce at this level makes him dangerous.

Speaking of Delusional:
From MLB.com

As the injuries continue to mount and his schizophrenic team continues to provide at least enough reason to keep playoff hopes alive, there’s reason to wonder if Frank Wren truly is going through a prolonged hazing process that precedes his initiation back into the fraternity of general managers.

While accepting the unenviable task of succeeding the ever-successful John Schuerholz, Wren has been forced to call more audibles than Matt Ryan will ever have to in Atlanta. The list of projected starting pitchers that he carried into this season looks similar to the list of disabled players that seemingly only gets longer and more distinguished as the season progresses. [ed note: so is my Johnson]

With this in mind, would it have been too much for the Braves to at least assume some type of identity by now? One week before the July 31 Trade Deadline, Wren doesn’t know if he’ll be a buyer or a seller.

A lot depends on how the Braves fare while playing a three-game series against the Phillies in Philadelphia this weekend. With Chipper Jones questionable with a strained left hamstring, a much-needed series sweep seems unlikely.

But the fact that such a sweep would drastically change where the Braves stand in the postseason hunt prevents Wren from definitively knowing whether he’ll be selling Mark Teixeira or buying a player like Pirates outfielder Jason Bay with the intention of matching his power bat with Teixeira’s during the season’s final two months.

Dear Frank Wren,

You’re a seller. You are six and a half back and in fourth place. It’s unlikely you will leapfrog 3 teams in your own division. You are 10 games out of the Wild Card. You are under .500 for cripes sake. You are not one player away. Trade Teixeira and bring back some pitching. If you think you are raising the price with this, you’re fooling no one. The 90s are over. You had a good run. Time to rebuild.

Hugs and Kisses,

Lonestar Mets

p.s. Chipper smells

Crazy people aside, I remember Tex’s Ranger years and all the discussion of moving him to a corner outfield slot and find myself wondering it that is actually feasible. Tex is a wonderful defensive first baseman and it would be a shame to play a less capable player in that position, but let’s face it, the odds are Delgado’s production falls off or at least declines. It would be nice to have that option. Let’s face reality; if they’re thinking they’re on the fence, they likely overvalue Tex. He’ll cost a fortune for a two month rental. Honestly, if the Mets have to dip into the farm system, a smarter pick up would be Xavier Nady.

As a side note, Tex has a clubhouse reputation ranging anywhere from uptight to difficult to a real douche. I can’t believe there hasn’t been an incident over the past year involving him and some combination of Chipper and Smoltz.

Now lets go whip LaRussa.

Posted under Post Game