-Not a good night for either local baseball team. The Mets dropped their third straight in Philadelphia 3-0- shutout for the second time in three games to the suddenly wild card contending Phillies. At least Tom Glavine gave them seven solid innings. The difference: Philly catcher Chris Coste was a perfect 3-for-3 with a second inning two-run home run which was all ex-Yankee Jon Lieber would need. In a game which took only two hours and three minutes, he tossed just 101 pitches (72 strikes) for a five-hit shutout to pickup his fifth win this year. Less than two weeks ago, the crafty righthander was pitching a similar game before his own throwing error turned it into a Met comeback victory. So Lieber atoned. After struggling most of the season, he’s pitched better of late and is one of the reasons the Phillies are one under .500 and remained 2.5 behind the wild card-leading Reds who prevailed over NL Central leader St. Louis 7-2 to pull within 1.5.

-For the Amazin’s, it’s been a disappointing first three games in the City of Brotherly Love. They’ve now been outscored 27-4. Outside of Jose Reyes’ sparkling three homer performance the other night, they’ve gotten nothing from slumping 3-4-5 hitters Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado and David Wright. Sometimes, you’re going to hit lulls. You have to figure it’s just a matter of time before the productive trio gets untracked. It’s amazing to this writer that there are panic-driven Mets fans calling up WFAN’s Steve Somers about changing the batting order to snap out of it. They’re still 12 clear of second place Philly and still possess the NL’s best record at 71-48- eight games better than both the fading Cards and sizzling Dodgers who were finally cooled off by Florida yesterday afternoon 15-4 thanks to two Miguel Cabrera homers. There was even one delusional fan who proposed batting Reyes cleanup. Say what?!?!?!?!?! Thankfully Mets skipper Willie Randolph doesn’t listen to these meatballs and is sensible. He probably also understands that his ballclub is in a great position and is just going through a tough few days. This hasn’t been the norm for the Kings of Queens. Expect them to turn it around soon and clinch the NL East by the first week of September.

-One thought on 21 year-old Mets right fielder Lastings Milledge. The kid has a lot of raw ability but he just doesn’t seem ready for primetime. He has misjudged enough fly balls in the past couple of weeks since his recall to have a seat on the bench. How many times do you have to see him dive for a ball and have it land just in front or pop out of the club. Or what about the poor jumps he gets on other line drives which actually could’ve been tracked down? As Mets’ SNY analyst Keith Hernandez astutely noted the other night during a recent telecast, “he just doesn’t look comfortable out there.” And we have to agree. If he were producing at the plate enough, then you could still justify having his bat in there. But the fact is that the former New York 2003 first round selection isn’t getting it done at present:

http://sports.yahoo.com/mlb/players/7706

We got to admit he’s got one of the coolest names in baseball. But at this point, any Mets fan can see that the kid is struggling. Randolph gave him a night off last night in favor of supersub Endy Chavez. There are still seven weeks until October. So we’re certain Randolph will get Milledge back out for more at bats. But if he continues not to progress, maybe it would be better if the Mets went out and got another right fielder who can platoon with the very capable Chavez. Preston Wilson just cleared waivers with Houston. It might not be a bad option.

-Just throwing this out there: Melky Cabrera was just as overmatched in his brief stint last year as a 20 year-old last year and has done just fine subbing for injured Hideki Matsui in left field a year later. With three more hits in last night’s 3-2 loss along with an RBI double, he raised his average to .291 with seven dingers, 18 doubles and 38 RBI’s. He’s also chipped in nine stolen bases, a respectable .359 OBP (35 BB) and an arm which has now thrown out 12 runners after he picked up yet another assist by nailing Baltimore’s Ramon Hernandez at second. That kind of improvement is a good indication that it could take another year before Milledge becomes the player Mets brass think he’ll be. Sometimes, patience pays dividends.

-It also wasn’t a good night for the Yanks, who fell to Baltimore 3-2 and saw their AL East lead dwindle to two games thanks to Boston’s 6-4 triumph over Detroit at Fenway. Returning from just a four inning stint due to stomach cramps in a loss, Cory Lidle gave up a run in the first three frames before settling down to pitch into the seventh and take the hardluck defeat. The difference: a bases loaded walk to still Yankee killer Kevin Millar (Millaaaaaaaaaahhh). Sorry, we got a little carried away. Though they battled back from three down to cut it to one on a Robinson Cano runscoring single in the sixth, ultimately they fell short and just couldn’t come up with the big hit which could’ve put them over the top. In particular, they left runners on first and second in the eighth with no one out. Manager Joe Torre opted not to have Cano sacrifice the runners over. He eventually flew out to left. Let the second guessing begin. The inning ended when Bernie Williams lined into a 4-6 double play. A few innings earlier, the popular elder statesman passed Don Mattingly for second on the all-time Yankee list in doubles to the usual deserved reception from the Stadium faithful. His 443 trail only the legendary Ironhorse Lou Gehrig, who finished his distinguished Hall of Fame career with 535. Orioles’ skipper Sam Perlozzo (Bugs Bunny) opted to have closer Chris Ray toss the final two innings for a classic save (28th of season). Nice to see that even the popular cartoon figure would let his closer go the last two. And why not? The Orioles are where they usually are. Out of contention and hanging on to star shortstop Miguel Tejada when they could’ve had a very good package which included Angels’ young hurler Ervin Santana. But who needs more pitching on a team that hits but can’t always pitch deep into games? Ah. Owner Peter Angelos strikes out again!

-Though the Yankees fell short, it had to be somewhat encouraging to finally see reliever Octavio Dotel make his major league return over a year removed from reconstructive elbow ligament surgery. The former A’s closer faced just three batters in the eighth, fanning Melvin Mora on a fastball which topped 96 MPH. But he gave up a hit to Tejada and walked Jay Gibbons on four pitches before giving way to Yankee workhorse Scott Proctor, who got a 6-6-3 double play to get out of the jam. The 32 year-old Dotel threw 13 pitches (6 strikes) and was just happy to finally be back on a big league mound:

“I’m happy to be back. Finally, I made it.“

Who could blame him? It was a long road to recovery and he showed the velocity on his fastball which had to be a plus. Certainly, the Yankees will be very cautious with Dotel’s pitch count in future outings and watch over him very closely. This is a project the rest of the way which might turn out beneficial if they see the postseason two months from now. But it’s still a long way away. One day at a time.

-With two walks, Yankee right fielder Bobby Abreu reached 100 for the season- making it the eighth consecutive year he’s done that to match both Max Bishop (1926-33) and The Big Hurt (1991-98) for the major league record according to Elias Sports Bureau. It certainly demonstrates how much plate discipline the ex-Phillie has. Those kind of at bats can wear down pitchers and help teammates see everything in their repertoire. Definitely beneficial.

-If we have to see anymore of this ridiculous Yankee “groundbreaking” ceremony of the New Stadium which took place yesterday, we’re going to vomit. How over the top a production could they have made it? Geez. Nobody needs to see all these hypocritical politicians and other people who no one gives a bleep about. It’s embarrassing hearing Mayor Bloomberg and Governor Pataki talk about beating the Red Sox once again and still having their number outside of one miraculous comeback. Just shut up! Nobody cares about that. I don’t understand why such a ceremony needs to become about that or about so many other things which aren’t traditional no matter what those nimrods proclaimed. And some of them were still stuttering the words even after their PR person probably hand wrote what to say in prepping them. I hate that. If you can’t speak from the heart, then you have no business being up there wasting everyone’s time.

To be honest, as nice as this New Stadium idea sounds in making it look like the Old Yankee Stadium, it still sickens me to no end. All they talked about was upgrading everything and making it modernized. And you know what that means. Screwing more average Joe’s like yourself out of ever stepping foot in that pricey ballpark. That’s the one thing about new stadiums that I can’t stand. And especially the Yankees, who already charge astronomical prices for tickets and especially concessions. Who exactly is going to these games in the future? The worst part is you continue to tune into UPN when they televise games and have to hear Michael Kay give a cheap plug for some second-rate star’s show that’s debuting in the Fall. Ugh. And the sad part is you know those losers got in for free while the general public waited in line. The whole thing is sickening. As sad as it is to say, things are heading downhill fast in America. This is what’s become the norm. I remember a time when it was much easier just to be a fan and go to a game or watch one on TV without being annoyed by an obnoxious selfserving ‘caster or silly promos which had zero value. Unfortunately, those days are long gone. I know I’m not the only one who feels this way. There just isn’t that much that’s pure anymore in sports.
-Make me care about TO’s first Cowboys’ practice after missing the first 14 with a sore hamstring. How soon before Coach Parcells gets tired of his act? Over/under: Week Six

-According to Browns running back Lee Suggs, he’s never felt healthier after failing a medical test with the Jets that would’ve completed a deal for corner Derrick Strait:

“I was shocked. I practiced throughout training camp and all of the spring. I did all the workouts, passed the physicals here and everything was fine. Then I went up to New York, and I failed. So, yes I was shocked…No coach told me, no GM told me. Things happen for a reason. I feel as healthy as I have ever been. I just think the Jets have their reasons...I honestly don’t know. I was just told I failed. I feel great and I will show it on the football field when I get the chance.”

If it weren’t so funny, we’d cry. Now watch Suggs go on to a productive 2006 season! Only in the crazy world of the Jets. So who’s betting he tops 1,000 yards? We know Paul Lo Duca is!
-Vikings’ receiver Koren Robinson was charged with DWI Wednesday. An excerpt from an AP story about the details:

Robinson’s blue BMW sedan was caught on radar going more than 100 mph in a 55 mph zone at 10:45 p.m., and he refused to stop, St. Peter police chief Matt Peters said Wednesday. Robinson was arrested by police about 10 miles away in Mankato, where the Vikings hold their training camp.

On Wednesday, Robinson, who made the Pro Bowl last season after alcohol problems derailed his career in Seattle, was charged in Nicollet County with fleeing from police, a felony, along with two DWI charges and three other misdemeanors. A criminal complaint said a field test measured Robinson’s blood-alcohol content at 0.11 percent.

The 26 year-old former Seahawk was supposed to have a promising future only a couple of years ago. Now, he seems headed in a downward spiral where who knows where the maligned receiver could wind up. Oh. He’s already been suspended four games for violating the NFL’s drug policy a second time two years ago. But according to his attorney Joe Tamburino, “he’s a fine individual.” Oh, we agree with his assessment if his definition is to continue screwing up. Here’s the best part. Minnesota was convinced his problems were in the past and gave him a new three-year deal worth $12.7 million, including $5.5 of which was guaranteed. Is Mike Tice still running the Vikes? Just wondering.

-In a bit of a surprise, Roger Federer lost to Andy Murray in straight sets, 7-5, 6-4 in Cincinnati yesterday afternoon. It snapped a remarkable 55-match win streak in North America which included the last two U.S. Opens. Even when the eight-time Grand Slam 25 year-old winner loses, it makes big headlines. Of course, the Scottish Murray is no slouch. At Wimbledon, he took out Andy Roddick early with some splendid tennis. He recently hired former ESPN tennis analyst Brad Gilbert to coach him. Having reached a final a couple of weeks ago and now becoming only the second player to beat Federer outside of Rafael Nadal (4-1 this year), it looks like Gilbert is already starting to pay dividends for Murray. It won’t be long before Murray cracks the top 10. He’s got an excellent all around game which includes an underrated serve, a lethal backhand and a nice touch at the net. So, even though this was a huge second round win over the world’s No.1 player, it wasn’t as big a surprise because he had been playing well coming in and Federer had played a ton of tennis lately. It was bound to happen some time. As for Federer, he was far from crushed:

“The streaks? I don’t care about those now that they’re over. It’s going to be a relief for everybody, and now we can move on…Two Masters series back-to-back — 12 matches in 13 days — it’s something of the impossible…I’m not disappointed. There’s no reason to be. It was an incredible run. You always expect a loss once in a while, so when it happens, why be disappointed?“

Of course, the incomparable champion is right. He had a great run. Can’t win them all. I’m sure he’ll come back even stronger in trying to successfully defend his U.S. Open title for the third year in a row starting less than two weeks from now. The guy’s the best for a reason.