213 Miles From Shea

This three game series is big for both sides tonight. For the Mets, it means cushion going into Phillidelphia and Atlanta after these three games. For the Dodgers, its their current hot streak on the line as they still hang on to hopes to get the Division and the wild card.

There is more to this story than just hopes for October. Penny, who was dominent last time he played the Mets has become inconsistant, tripling his losses to the season (going from one loss to three losses over his last 6 starts). On that same note, Ollie's ERA has shot up about half a run since the last time these two teams meet.

Other story lines this weekend:

Will Wagner Correct himself?
Will Mota get anyone out?
Will Green start hitting again (13-30 agaisnt Penny lifetime)?
Will Delgado actually make contact and stop striking out?

On another note completely, since extending his contract thru 2008, the Orioles are 0-3, and they have given up 44 runs and scored 12 runs, over those three games.

After a lot of research, finally using Baseball Digest, I found the top 35 SB leaders in a single season since 1900 (before 1900, there were a ton of people that hit the centruy mark, and marks in the 90's that really throw off the data). Number 35 on that list (well really 34), is both Ty Cobb, and Marquis Grissom with 76 Stolen Bases. (There could be more people with 76 as well)

Reyes has to steal only 8 more bases then to join the top 34.

On the all time list, Jose Reyes has jumped to 275. He recently passed D Strawberry, Dave Winfield, and Scott Podsenick.

Last week, in the MLB.com Fab 15,  the Mets dropped from 3 to 6. Well this week, they went up to position 5, switching with the Mariners. The Phillies and Braves each dropped a position to be at 10 and 11 respectivily.

After a lot of research, finally using Baseball Digest, I found the top 35 SB leaders in a single season since 1900 (before 1900, there were a ton of people that hit the centruy mark, and marks in the 90's that really throw off the data). Number 35 on that list (well really 34), is both Ty Cobb, and Marquis Grissom with 76 Stolen Bases. (There could be more people with 76 as well)

Reyes has to steal only 8 more bases then to join the top 34.

On the all time list, Jose Reyes has jumped to 275. He recently passed D Strawberry, Dave Winfield, and Scott Podsenick.

Last week, in the MLB.com Fab 15,  the Mets dropped from 3 to 6. Well this week, they went up to position 5, switching with the Mariners. The Phillies and Braves each dropped a position to be at 10 and 11 respectivily.

To think that 24 hours ago, Reyes didnt break the record yet, no team in 110 years scored 30 runs, There was a 41 inning scoreless streak that was still alive, the Phillies were leading the wild card, the cubs were in second place and pujols had 6 consecutive 30 homer seasons.

Reyes is the all time Mets SB leader in a single season. The Rangers scored 30 runs. Webb's streak came to an end. The Padres regained the Wild Card. The Cubs took over the division again. And Pujols became the first player to have 30 homers in the first 7 seasons of play.

Out of all of this I am still baffled by the Orioles giving up 30 runs. They were all earned runs, and they were all to actual pitchers. Why there wasnt and Infielder pitching in the ninth inning was just beyond me. The O's had a game facing them right after that, and they needed their pitchers. Who knows what effect the 9 runs will have on Shuey who couldnt get any one out but was forced to keep pitching.

When rosters expand in September, we can expect a lot of Postseason roster position battles to start. Main fight will be in the bullpenn. I feel its safe to say that only Heilman, Wagner, and Feliciano can really be sure that they are going to be on the postseason roster in the pen (Sosa will be on the roster and hopefully in the pen.)

Then it comes down to Schowenwies, Mota, and Sele who will have to fight for their current spots agaisnt whoever comes up during the expansion. We can expect consideration for Burgos, possibly Pelfry, who is good the first time thru the order. Lawerence, who will hopefully be out of the rotation by that time could also be fighting for a long relief spot.

Then there is also the battle of the bench. Milledge got the snub last year to Anderson Hernandez, who I think was a pinch runner in one game. It seems pretty obvious at this point that Milledge this year will make it in over Hernandez. The rest of the bench will be determined based on how people are healing. Conine was practically brought to the team for the postseason, so he has his part.

My opinion about the Bench is that it will remain the same it is now, unless when rosters expand, one of the people that come up just start a tear in September. The bullpen will be under a lot of watch, which is not a surprise.

The baseball Gods must feel bad about all of the injuries to the Mets because on the night that they lose, the braves lose and the Phillies get crushed. Although, they did play with our hearts for a little bit with the almost come back in the ninth inning.

Now the Oriole fan in me has to speak out. I know the Orioles are bad, but how do you lose 30-3 to a team. Ex-Brave, Salty, was 4-6 with 2 homers and 7 RBI. On that note, how do u allow a teams 8th and 9th batters, in the NL cases 7th and 8th, to have a combined 14 RBI's, thats just ridiculous. That entire game was ridicilous (and to think I was almost going to go to that game).

I do know that part of the reason is that after D-Cab gave up 7 runs, Trembly did not want to use up his bullpen in a “lost” game, due to the second game coming up

You also know that your pitching is bad when you give up 15 runs to the dodgers.

I say that now, and then this weekend, Mota will give up 15 runs to the dodgers.

There are other high scoring games tonight as well. Right now the Pirates have scored 8 so far and their game isnt over. The Indians have scored 11 so far and broke it open vs the Padres. Texas just took the lead 5-3 agaisnt the Orioles, and now we can see what will happen next.

The good thing about the Padres winning tongiht is that they take out the Phillies in the wildcard, but I rather the Mets win.

The Mets have a tall order tommorw as Lawerence will take on Jake Peavy, one of the best pitchers in baseball, but what about the other teams, what our their chances today

The Braves will take on the struggling ace of the Reds today, Bronson Arroyo, who has had a below average year this year going 6-13 with a 5.68 ERA. The Braves will send Cormier to the mound with his 9.90 ERA. So far this year, he has allowed 10 homers 20 IP, or one homer every two innings and we all know that the Reds do like to slug it out.

The Phillies will be sending Durbin and his 5.36 ERA agaisnt Derek Lowe and the Dodgers. Despite his losing record this year (9-11), Lowe has a 3.45 ERA. When the Phillies play the Padres at the end of the week, they will have to deal with Maddox, and it is TBA about who they will deal with on Sunday.

Like they say at Rutges, lets just keep choppin

We all know Beltran has been on a tear, but how does it compare to pre DL 2007, 2006 and 2005 Beltran.

Like any time I do this, the first step is to break each stat down to Hits per Game, Runs Per Game, etc.

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2007 Pre DL Beltran

2006 Beltran

2005 Beltran

2007 Post DL Beltran Line:

13 H, 10 R, 18 RBI, 6 HR, 6 BB, 9 SO

When looking at all of this, the first thing I notice is how bad 2005 was for Beltran. His strikeouts were the lowest out of all the stats, but his homers were way down, his walks were way down, his RBI’s were way down and his runs were way down.

Another note about strikouts, the 9 beltran has in the last 10, they all came in the first 7 games, and the majority in the first few games, His first night back, he was 1-4 with a 2-R HR and 3 SO’s.

This is some hotstreak, but more than showing how much of a streak this is, these tables really show progression in his carear in NY, maybe I might do one of these comparing his 2004 October HotStreak with his 2007 streak numbers.

I am putting the final touches on the Numbers Daily Entry for tommorow. It is a look at Beltran over the last 10 days, plus looking at 10 Games of teh 2007 Beltran before DL, the 2006, and 2005 Beltran.

Their might be other entries tommorow, or def on Thursday, regarding bullpen splits and the Mets last 7 games (team stats as a whole).

Does anyone else watch the Bronx is Burning? Being a Mets fan, and growing up in Baltimore, I was raised to really dislike the Yankees. That being said, it is an amazing show that really combines gamefootage, acting, polictical events (acting and real footage) in a really viewable way. If you watch it, I would love to know what you think.

If you would like to watch it, on Saturday starting at 1:00 there will be a marathon of the first 7 episodes, with the final episode being aired next week during its tinmeslot.

Also, I have the link list set up now on the side of the page, if you would like Your blog added, please comment or shoot me an email at eteich@umd.edu and I will put you in

So far, in 122 games,Wright has 30 2B, 22 HR, 79 RBI, 67 BB, 144 H, and 25 SB

If he plays 154 games this season, like last year, He will end with 37.869 2B, 27.770 HR, 99.721 RBI, 84.573 BB, 181.770 H, and 31.557 SB.

So his doubles will decreas from last year, his homers will slightly increase, hits RBI's will decrease about 16, his walks will be way up from 66 last year, his hits will be just about the same (had 181 last year) and he will have abour 11/12 more stolen bases this year.

Imagine his numbers if it wasnt for his slow start, for that matter imagine his numbers last year if it was for his slow second half of the year.

Also, I was thinking about Conine. Ive seen him play a lot, I like him, and I saw him hit his 200 HR as an Oriole.

Lets Go Mets