Twitter Poll: What part would you like to see the Mets deal for?

Bat? Arm? Or nothing at all?

That’s the simple question I asked my Twitter followers.  Here are their responses…

BAT

metsjetsgirl said: depends on who we're giving up, but I'd say bat if the price isn't too steep.

TheRealSoxy said: Bat (Dye?) or nothing.

FMauceri said: The #Mets need bats in the worst way! How can they do nothing at all?

swirlywand said: A BAT! A Bat not named Adam Dunn. I repeat- NO ADAM DUNN. Which means, I'm not sure who...but I'm sure who not!

tyronem said: get a bat for the interim. Trade the medical staff.

IvanCTorres said: we need offense desperately but it's gotta be at the right price!

eagold2001 said: We definitely need a bat!

ClareLafferty said: a bat - we can't score any runs so once the opposition scores twice, we have already lost the game...

dtmfr said: Definitely need a bat! Pitching isn't as much of a concern for this team. They've done a better job holding their own.

chrisbirckhead said: Im in the Rios camp myself he's 28 plays good D and the contract is bad so the prospects going back won't be much

tonigo said: Put me down for Rios as well. #Mets can afford him, especially after next year with Delgado and Wagner off the books.

ARM

tegoldstein said: I only want them to make a deal they would have made with Reyes, Delgado, Beltran, Maine etc. all healthy. So an arm.

harrycalat said: an arm, but I don't think anybody's giving up anyone that good for Parnell/F-Mart, might have to throw Church in there.

kdoster said: I think we need another arm.... The bats are currently residing on the DL list and would hope they return with the bat soon!

NOTHING

TLA_Quinn said: Nothing at all.

metsfan said: Do nothing at all.

NYmetbev said: GET BACK PLAYERS ON DL

GermanMetsFan said: do nothing and concentrate on 2010

andy79 said: do nothing at all. a bat or arm won't make up for a lack of fundamentally sound baseball.

OTHER / PEANUT GALLERY

Macho_Row said: I think they are fine just the way they are! But seriously, they clearly need offense.

chrisocallahan2 said: Trade Sheffield. Gotta be an AL team that'll take him. Let Beltran and Reyes rest until they're ready. Admit season is a wash

sanjayraman said: would rather they trade away any saleable parts. Church, Sheff, Livan, Feliciano come to mind

monkonfire said: I'd rather they trade me to a winner.

Not on Twitter?  Hit the comments to discuss what you would rather see the Mets land.

Follow me on Twitter (@TheRopolitans) to
participate in the next Twitter Poll!

Sobering statistics

Innings played: 27

Mets hits: 18

Mets runs: 3

Mets walks: 10

Mets XBH: 3

Mets HR: 0

Mets GIDP: 3

Mets LOB: 18

Mets strikeouts: 20

Mets wins: 0

Mets losses: 3

Manuel’s Musing for July 5

“We haven't been able to put anything together offensively.”

-Jerry Manuel as Captain Obvious

Wright, Beltran, Rodriguez and Santana selected to All-Star Game

David Wright and Carlos Beltran have been named starters for the 2009 All-Star Game in St. Louis.

Beltran, due to his bone bruise in his knee, likely will not participate in the game.

Update – 2:54 p.m.: Joining Wright and Beltran, Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez have been named to the All-Star roster.

The starting NL roster:

• Yadier Molina – C - STL
• Albert Pujols – 1B - STL
• Chase Utley – 2B - PHI
• Hanley Ramirez – SS - FLA
• David Wright – 3B - NYM
• Carlos Beltran – OF - NYM
• Ryan Braun – OF - MIL
• Raul Ibanez – OF – PHI

So of the starting eight players for the NL, they come from only five teams.  Not surprising, if you really think about it.

Here are the AL and NL starting rosters.

Congrats to Beltran and Wright.

Lineup for Game 81

Trying to stave off a sweep, the Mets will attempt to win the finale of this series in CBP.

1. Alex Cora – SS
2. Daniel Murphy – 1B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Ryan Church – RF
5. Nick Evans – LF
6. Jeremy Reed – CF
7. Brian Schneider – C
8. Luis Castillo – 2B
9. Johan Santana - LHP

Franco apologizes to Wright for leadership comments

In a fitting end to the John Franco leadership interview from Sirius XM earlier this week, Franco has apologized to David Wright via voicemail.

Ed Eagle writes:

Wright, who had publicly dismissed the comments earlier this week, said he received an apology from Franco via voicemail.

"Johnny and I have a great relationship," Wright told the New York Times. "I'm glad he called and apologized. I've always respected his opinion. But he's not in here on a day-to-day basis, so he can't really know what's going on."

Wright said that he was unaffected by Franco's criticisms because they came from outside the clubhouse.

And that’s that.

Manuel’s Musing for July 4

“I just see the struggles, and say, 'Hey, OK. We still got a shot.’”

-Jerry Manuel on the Phillies

Oliver Perez to start Wednesday; F-Mart out with knee pain

The Mets have announced that Oliver Perez will start on Wednesday against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

No word on what the fate is of Tim Redding, the pitcher he replaced in the rotation.

My guess: Elmer Dessens is sent down and Redding slides into the bullpen.

** *** **

Also, Fernando Martinez is “out” according to Steve Popper.  Popper writes that he will be examined by team doctors in New York on Monday.

A similar injury cost him six weeks a few years ago, says Popper.

Lineup for Game 80

Here are the lineups for today’s Mets / Phillies matchup.  No game chat today.  Get outside and enjoy the nice weather with the Mets on WFAN!

1. Luis Castillo - 2B
2. Alex Cora - SS
3. David Wright - 3B
4. Gary Sheffield - RF
5. Fernando Tatis - 1B
6. Ryan Church - CF
7. Nick Evans - LF
8. Omir Santos - C
9. Fernando Nieve - RHP

David Wright vs. team strikeouts [Chart]

David Wright leads the team with 80 strikeouts.  In second place, Carlos Beltran has 34 and Ryan Church has K’d 33 times in third place.

Obviously, most of the team has been on the disabled list, outside of Wright.  There is a correlation that he has had by far the most plate appearances (341), giving him more chances to strike out.

Still, this chart is amazing to look at.