While the 1969 Mets gathered steam and rolled late in the second half, the 1986 team steamrolled the National League from start to finish as that team dominated as manager Davey Johnson projected. On this date in 1986, Sid Fernandez and Roger McDowell combined to stuff the Montreal Expos, 5-2, at Shea Stadium. While Doc Gooden was the headliner, the 86 staff was solid with Ron Darling, Bob Ojeda, Fernandez and Rick Aguilera. All but [...]

ESPN reports that the Washington Nationals will name Davey Johnson as their new manager, according to a source familiar with the situation. Johnson, 68, will manage the team for the rest of the season and next season, subject to league approval. He has been a senior adviser for that ballclub since 2006, and last managed in 2000 with the Los Angeles Dodgers. I wonder why Johnson was never considered by the Mets when they were interviewing candidates? [...]

Buffalo Bisons 4 – Norfolk Tides 2 Pat Misch had arguably his best start of the year even though he didn’t get the victory. His only main trouble was in the 4th inning when the Tides pieced together three singles to get the inning started and load the bases. A sac fly scored one batter, but then Misch recorded one of his seven strikeouts in a huge situation to help him out. He would get [...]

Mike Pelfrey was hit hard early, but stabilized and Manny Acosta made sure the game was out of reach in the Mets 8-1 loss to the Rangers Game Notes Mike Pelfrey went six innings, allowing four runs on eight hits, walking two and striking out three. Big Pelf gave up three of those runs in the first inning, and after that seemed to get his bearings and keep the Rangers to one run over the [...]

Last night, after the Mets win over the A’s, closer Francisco Rodriguez picked up his 20th save of the season while passing the half-way mark of 55 games finished that triggers the $17.5 million dollar option on his contract. After the game, K-Rod told Kristie Ackert of the Daily News that he would consider accepting a trade to a contending team and mentioned the Yankees. “If I am going to be traded, obviously I want the opportunity to close out games, [...]

In a companion piece to yesterdays look at potential hitters who could be on the trade block, Jon Heyman of SI.com lists the top 40 potential pitchers who could switch uniforms by the trade deadline. Here are his first ten, check out the other 30 pitchers on the list here.  1. Heath Bell, Padres RP. Word seems to be that Bell, who will be a free-agent at year’s end, is willing to give the Padres [...]

It is no secret that the Mets starting pitching has been outstanding this season.  The starting pitching has been one of the main reasons why the team continues to hover around .500.  As Johan continues on his road to recovery, if and when he does return sometime in the next month or so, Sandy and Terry will be faced with a very tough decision.  Who do you remove from a starting rotation that is pitching [...]

Jon Heyman of SI.com gives us some food for thought as he puts together a list of this season’s potential hitters that could be moved at the trade deadline. “The biggest everyday star with a chance to hit the trade market” Heyman says, ”is the Mets’ great shortstop Jose Reyes”. Here is an early look at the potential trade market for the everyday players. These are just the top ten, you could read the full list at [...]

It’s hard to believe that Derek Jeter is not playing today – or, for that matter – for a couple of weeks. He’s on the 15 day DL and will return a couple of days before the Yankees play at Citi Field over the Fourth of July weekend. We all know that Derek often plays hurt because he can. This time, he can’t. In fact he will have another birthday on June 26th which will [...]