…a friend at CBS notes that the Top 10 list on Late Night with David Letterman this evening will be read by Paul Lo Duca, John Maine, Aaron Heilman, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, Tom Glavine, Lastings Milledge, Marlons Anderson, Shawn Green, and David Wright…
…naturally, my personal favorite will be the following, which will be read [...]

The Wilmington News Journal reports that Phillies 2B Chase Utley broke the fourth metacarpal bone in his right hand after getting hit by a pitch by Nationals rookie pitcher and Long Island native John Lannan.
Lannan, who was making his major league debut this afternoon, proceeded to plunk the next batter, 1B Ryan Howard, as well. [...]

At his blog for the Daily News, Filip Bondy gives a look inside the Mets clubhouse, which included a cockroach in the dirty uniform bin; an air conditioning problem; and outdated wall decorations.
…interesting, but know that i am far more concerned with whether or not, or why, the team is actually winning or losing while on the [...]

Following this afternoon’s game, RHP Joe Smith was sent down to Triple-A New Orleans.
In a third of an inning of relief this afternoon, Smith allowed three hits and an earned run. He also allowed two inherited runners to score.
RHP Jon Adkins is expected to be recalled from New Orleans. In 39 games for the Zephyrs [...]

At his blog for the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Braves beat-writer David O’Brien writes…
“It’s not a stretch to say the Braves, with Mark Teixeira at first base and a healthy Chipper Jones at third, would have the best lineup in the National League for at least the remainder of this season…Yes, better than the New York [...]

The Pirates defeated the Mets by the score of 8 to 4 this afternoon at Shea Stadium.
For a full recap and box score, check out Yahoo! Sports.
…this wasn’t the narrative i expected to write, as Oliver Perez cruised through the first five innings against his former team, striking out eight, while staked to a 1-0 [...]

The Game:
The
first-place Mets (57-43) look for the sweep against the Pirates
(41-58) this afternoon at Shea Stadium, starting at 12:10 pm EDT.
The Lineup:
Jose Reyes leads off, followed in order by Lastings Milledge, David Wright, Carlos Delgado, Damion Easley, Ramon Castro, Shawn Green, Ruben Gotay and starting pitcher Oliver Perez.The Pitchers:
LHP Oliver Perez (9-6, 3.00 ERA) starts [...]

ESPN reports that Mike Piazza was standing in the on-deck circle during yesterday afternoon’s game against the Los Angeles Angels when he was hit in the back of the helmet with a half full water bottle thrown by a fan in the stands. Piazza then turned an pointed his bat toward the stands.
“It startled the [...]

Over at his Mets Minor League Report, Toby Hyde
recaps yesterday’s Mets minor-league
action…
Among other
comments, Hyde writes of strong performances by Triple-A RHP
Adam Bostick, who allowed just one hit and
one walk while striking out four in five shutout innings in a win for
New Orleans; Binghamton’s
Brett Harper and
Caleb Stewart, who who were each 2-4
with one HR and two RBI in a win at [...]

…i was at last night’s game, and noticed some interesting and bizarre things, such as…
…CitiField is looking great…i see brick siding, and some cool looking steel arch-ways that curve along the sides of the new stadium…i’m very excited…
…every now and then, the shea’s music selection will make me laugh, such as playing Shake that Body [...]

Evan Grant at The Dallas Morning News is reporting that ‘major league sources’ have confirmed that the Braves and Rangers are ‘heavily involved in talks’ about a deal that would bring Mark Texiera to Atlanta.
Atlanta wants to expand the deal to include a reliever, targeting Eric Gagne and Ron Mahay. The Dodgers, who covet Texiera [...]

According to Mark Hale and Joel Sherman, in the New York Post, the Mets are first seeking a late-game reliever followed by a second baseman, with their eyes set on Nationals RHP Chad Cordero and 2B Ronnie Belliard, who just signed a two-year, $3.5 million contract extension with Washington.
Hale and Sherman also provide details on other [...]

…the Tip Line in this site’s sidebar is working, despite what it tells you when you submit information…for whatever reason, it seems broken, but it isn’t…so, know that any message you send is actually getting through…and, more importantly, thank you for contacting us…
…lastly, i apologize to people who have sent in general questions, comments or [...]

Praise, in defense of the Mets, comes from an unlikely source, as Paul Hagen of The Philadelphia Daily News warns those who feel the Mets are in trouble should think twice, while writing…
“So, what’s wrong with the Mets?
“Put it this way: If the teams that are chasing New York are counting
on the Mets to keep [...]

On Tuesday night, Lastings Milledge helped celebrate John Maine’s home run by doing a ‘windmill’ ahead of Maine while on the bases.  Later in the game, after his own home run, he did another dance, with a fancy slide step, with Jose Reyes on the dugout’s top step.
Last night, he was hit on the arm by [...]