The Mets defeated the Diamondbacks by the score of 5-4 tonight at Citi Field.

For a full recap and box score, check out SNY.tv here.

The Least You Should Know:

• Hisanori Takahashi started for the Mets tonight and pitched very well, allowing just a run in six innings, throwing 112 pitches.
• With the Mets ahead 2-1 in the seventh, the Diamondbacks plated three runs after loading the bases with nobody out against Bobby Parnell, and took a two run lead.
• In the bottom of the seventh, David Wright, who went 2 for 4 with three RBI, tied the game at 4-4 with a two run double.
• The Mets won in their final turn at bat when Jesus Feliciano led off the ninth inning with a triple, and after Jose Reyes flew out, the Diamondbacks walked the bases loaded intentionally to face Carlos Beltran, who drove Feliciano in with a deep flyball to right field.
• Tonight was the Mets fourth walk off win of the year.

Game Ball:

Goes to David Wright for his three RBI.

Up Next:

The Mets will induct Davey Johnson, Frank Cashen, Darryl Strawberry and Dwight Gooden into the Mets Hall of Fame tomorrow at 12:30 pm at Citi Field, and then the Mets will go for the series victory against the Diamondbacks, with Jon Niese facing Daniel Hudson.

The Mets will look to even their series tonight against the Diamondbacks at Citi Field. Game time is 7:10 pm.

The lineup is as follows:

1. Jose Reyes SS
2. Angel Pagan RF
3. David Wright 3B
4. Carlos Beltran CF
5. Ike Davis 1B
6. Chris Carter LF
7. Josh Thole C
8. Luis Castillo 2B

Hisanori Takahashi (7-5, 4.47 ERA) will start for the Mets. Takahashi pitched in relief earlier this week against the Cardinals, and is making just his second start since the All-Star Break. having just one win since his June 18 masterpiece against the Yankees. His last start came last weekend against the Dodgers when he allowed one run in seven innings but took the loss in a 2-0 shutout.

Barry Enright (2-2, 2.73 ERA) will start for the Diamondbacks. Enright has proven to be a solid addition to the Diamondbacks rotation since joining a month ago, as he hasn’t given up more than three earned runs in any of his five starts. He earned the win against the Mets last week in Phoenix when he hurled eight innings and allowed just one run.

According to reports this week…

• The Astros wanted Jon Niese for Roy Oswalt;
• The Mariners wanted Ike Davis for Cliff Lee;
• The Astros wanted Josh Thole and Brett Myers;
• The Cubs wanted Thole for Ted Lilly;
• The Pirates wanted Double-A LHP Robert Carson for Octavio Dotel;
• The Pirates wanted Kirk Nieuwenhuis for Scott Downs.

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Yes, I’m disappointed the Mets didn’t make a deal before today’s Trade Deadline.

Emotionally it hurts, because I want them to be good NOW.

However, intellectually, I know they did they right thing today, especially when considering the future of the NL East and the overall economics in baseball.

I mean, how did the Phillies get in to a position to be able to trade 12 of their best 15 prospects for Roy Oswalt, Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay?  It started a few years ago, when they clearly decided to let ALL of those prospects develop.

The Mets are in a tough spot…

They know changes must be made to the roster and to the coaching staff, not just for this season but for beyond.  However, while they are six games back of the Wild Card, they still have debt to pay, they still need to sell tickets for a new ballpark and they still need to sell ads on TV, not to mention deliver on what they’ve already sold… meanwhile, there is pressure from fans and media to win now, which would cost them prospects today, all while the NL East gets younger and better, and all while less and less high-quality free agents become available on the open market.

Assuming they do not make the playoffs, I have been told the Mets will attempt to make serious changes to the roster and coaching staff this winter.

I will not lie, that makes me very excited… because it’s about time.

It wouldn’t surprise me to see them find new homes for players like Carlos Beltran, Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo, even if it means paying a portion of their contracts.

It wouldn’t shock me to see Wally Backman as the new manager, who would choose a totally new coaching staff, as this team keeps working to get younger, more aggressive and with a focus on pitching.

However, to do this, they need to create time and space for old contracts to go away, or become affordable enough to move, i.e. Castillo.  Also, they have to keep ALL of their prospects.  This is not to say each and every minor leaguer will be a superstar.  Not at all.  However, in order to trade 12 of your best 15 prospects for three different aces within one year, you have to have mature, valueable prospects to trade.

Basically, I think the Mets are running out the clock, and hoping this current 25–man roster turns it around enough to make September intriguing.  Maybe they get hot, and get in to the playoffs… maybe they do not.

In either case, by doing nothing today, I hope the Mets took yet another subtle, quiet, unexciting step in the right direction, getting closer to when they will have prospects to trade and money for new and better talent.

The big-time trades that went down this summer were not about money, they were about prospects.

So, whether or not the Mets are ‘broke,’ or being ‘cheap,’ as people keep saying on WFAN, is irrelevant.

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The Red Sox traded RHP Ramon Ramirez to the Giants, says WEEI.

According to SI.com, “the Mets missed out on Ramirez, after trying at end.”

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The Braves acquired RHP Kyle Farnsworth and OF Rick Ankiel from the Royals, in exchange for Jesse Chavez, Gregor Blanco and Tim Collins, according to AOL FanHouse and CBS Sports.

Meanwhile, the Marlins acquired LHP Wil Ohman from the Orioles for Rick Vandenhurk, tweets Jayson Stark from ESPN.com.

The Dodgers have acquired closer Octavio Dotel from the Pirates in exchange for prospects James McDonald and Andrew Lambo, according to multiple reports.

Earlier today, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Pirates asked the Mets for Double-A LHP Robert Carson in exchange for Dotel, ‘but the Mets like Carson and said, ‘No.’’

…click here to read more about carson

The Mets are essentially lowering expectations, regarding today’s 4 pm Trade Deadline, as they talk to reporters from Citi Field.

Original Post at 3:15 pm:

The word in Houston now suggests the Astros will keep Bret Myers and instead discuss a multi-year contract extension with him.

Updated at 2:44 pm:

The Astros do not expect to trade Myers, according to FoxSports.com.

Earlier today, Jon Heyman of SI.com said the Astros asked the Mets for C Josh Thole and RHP Bobby Parnell in exchange for Myers.

…read the rest of this post…