My prediction: Mets will move for Casey Blake for one reason only

Update 2: Casey Blake is the newest LA Dodger. Too bad.
Update: This post is going to be absolutely worthless in the next few hours, it seems.

I have a crazy theory as to why the Mets are looking to add Casey Blake above anyone else: He has a beautiful beard.

Since Jerry Manuel has taken the helm, the rules on facial hair have been relaxed, and the team has started to grow facial hair like it never went out of style. We've even had a guest post about the power of the beard. And a long time ago yours truly had to shave his off for the benefit of the team. Well I grew mine back, and so have the Mets.

Well personally, I think Blake has one of the best beards in baseball. The Mets are looking to harness that power, to align the greatest showing of facial hair in baseball, something the world has never seen before.

For this reason, and his baseball abilities too, I guess, the Mets are looking to land Blake over those clean-shaven fools Raul Ibanez and Jason Bay.

Behold the power of Blake's beard:

It is truly a beard to be reckoned with.

TSTDIA: Mets 7 -- Cardinals 2

Another stellar start from Mike Pelfrey, who allowed only one run over seven innings, and Carlos Delgado and Argenis Reyes homer (Reyes' first career HR) to put the Mets over the Cards in game one of their series.

The Mets look to be up by two games in the NL East by the time the night is over.

X-man to the Yankees

Rumors have it that Xavier Nady and Demaso Marte have been traded to the Yankees.

Looks like Ross Ohlendorf, Phil Coke, and what seems like two other players are heading to the Pirates in return for the ex-Met.

Update: For any Yankee fans who happen upon this site, the deal has changed. Yankees get Nady and Marte, but the Pirates get Dan McCutchen, Jeff Karstens, Jose Tabata and Ross Ohlendorf.

Brian Fuentes for Aaron Heilman: Stupid trade idea

This makes no sense to me.

From Jon Heyman:

It is believed the Mets could nab Fuentes if they were willing to part with the talented but frustrating Aaron Heilman. Says one scout, "Fuentes is throwing really great. He'd help someone, if the Rockies trade him.''

Why bother?

From the forum: Racism lives

Over in the Mets Lounge, we're discussing this image of David Wright from yesterday's game: Mets Lounge member "metsfan08" bring us this comment:
Notice how no one is talking about David's reaction but everyone was all over Jose the night before...

User "peachymet" responded with:
My sentiments exactly. Sorry to say, but racism still lives, and rears it's ugly head again.

It is sad but true. As noted before when Jose Reyes didn't want to leave the game, it was called a "tantrum." When Troy Percival wanted to stay in, he was dubbed a "fighter."

When Jose Reyes lifts his one finger in the air after putting his team up by three runs, it's called "showboating" and Philly announcers want someone to "put a ball in his neck." When Wright jumps up, pumps his fist and screams, no one even mentions it.

Peachy had it right, racism rears it's ugly head once more.
(AP Photo/Julie Jacobson)

Oliver Perez's day

Lost in the shuffle of Carlos Delgado's clutch hit, the Mets beating the Phillies, and the team taking over sole position of first place, is the performance from Oliver Perez yesterday.

Perez threw 7 2-3 innings. He scattered six hits, one of which went for a solo home run, the only run he allowed all day. Perez walked only one batter, and it was an intentional walk. Perez also struck out 12 batters yesterday, fooling Chase Utley and Ryan Howard three times apiece.

Perez has absolutely turned it on the last few starts. Since June 29th against the New York Yankees, Perez has thrown 33 2-3 innings, allowing 21 hits, and allowing only five earned runs to score. He has walked 12 in that span, while striking out 39.

All this time I thought that if Rick Peterson left the team (fired, quit, signed elsewhere) and Oliver Perez was still around, he would fall flat on his face without the Jacket looking over him. I couldn't have been more wrong. Perez and Peterson come from two different school's of thought.

Peterson wanted to analyze everything about Perez, break him down piece by piece and reconstruct him. Now, Dan Warthen seems to let Ollie be Ollie, and just throw the ball. If there are errors or hitches in his delivery, Warthen will say something, but for the most part, it's Oliver Perez on the mound, by himself.

Let's hope Perez can keep this up, and maybe we'll be seeing him in the orange and blue for many years to come.

Thanks are in order

I must send out a huge thank you to 'Duk from Big League Stew.

Yesterday, he linked to a story on his blog. That blog got promoted to Yahoo.com, and that all helped the site have it's biggest day ever.

And thank you all for reading over the past two years. I don't plan on stopping or slowing down anytime soon. This has been an amazing experience. I couldn't have done it without all the support from the readers.

Thanks!

Early Morning Madness: Brandon Knight is having a pretty good couple of months edition

Brandon Knight was playing baseball this season with the Somerset Patriots. Then, he got picked up by the Mets, and moved into their farm system. A pretty good day.

Recently, he was named to the US Olympic baseball team, and will travel to China to compete for a gold medal. An awesome day.

Now, Knight might get another shot at the bigs.

With Pedro Martinez home after his father's death, the Mets need a starter for Saturday's game against the St. Louis Cardinals. It looks like Knight might be that guy.

Knight has tasted the show before, pitching in 11 games with the Yankees, amassing an ERA of 10.71. But at AAA New Orleans this year, through 11 games, he is 5-1 with an ERA of 1.60. In 39 1-3 innings for the Zephyrs, has surrendered 23 hits and seven earned runs. He's walked 10, but struck out 49 batters.

Here's the quandary in my mind: Where would you rather be? Experiencing a once in a lifetime opportunity, going to China for the Olympics and participating in something so grand? Or getting possibly just one shot at showing the Mets what you have to offer in a spot start in Major League Baseball?

Honestly, that is a tough choice. This could all be moot if the Mets tab Brian Stokes or someone else as their starter. I'm just glad I don't have to make this decision for the Mets.

Hey, whatever happened to Nelson Figueroa?

Welcome to first place, Mets fans

All by their lonesome...

How beautiful is that image?

TSTDIA: Mets 3 -- Phillies 1

Carlos Delgado backed up a dominating effort from Oliver Perez with two RBI's in the bottom of the eighth inning to put the Mets over the Phillies and into first place all by their lonesome.

Welcome to first place, Mets fans.