Random Thoughts

It’s been a while since I actually put what’s floating around my brain out there. Well, the long wait is finally over! Let’s see:

1.The Mets have turned their season around since taking the last three from the Phillies running the table for a 6-0 homestand against NL West bottom feeders San Francisco and Colorado. While it might be true that the competition wasn’t all that great, it’s still pretty impressive how much Jerry Manuel’s suddenly resurgent ballclub dominated outscoring the two teams by a ridiculous 31-4 margin including four shutouts. Even with Pedro Martinez only going four before leaving with stiffness the other night, they still one-hit the Rockies. Then quickly improving second-year pitcher Mike Pelfrey tossed eight more shutout innings last night en route to his eighth win lowering his ERA to 3.64. He hasn’t allowed a run in 16 straight and has transformed into the team’s second best starter behind only ace Johan Santana. Amazing turnaround for the former 2005 first rounder out of Wichita State who looked lost early on with wildness.

2.The Amazin’s have gotten plenty of contributions from unsung heroes Damion Easley and Fernando Tatis but wouldn’t be a season best seven over .500 (51-44) half a game out of first if not for the turnaround of veteran first base slugger Carlos Delgado and spark plug Jose Reyes. Both have been swinging much better bats during the club’s nine-game win streak with Delgado crushing balls deep and Reyes getting base every game, stealing bases, scoring runs and driving in runs including his 10th homer off the scoreboard the other day. He’s back to wreaking havoc and might even make a run at MVP.

3.Yesterday, the Yankees were completely shutdown by A.J. Burnett until Jason Giambi took him deep for No.19 with one out in the ninth breaking the shutout. Burnett fanned eight and lowered his ERA under 5.00 which means he was having a pretty disappointing year. Though you’d never know it by the way the Yanks swing against him. They rarely ever do anything against the former Marlin. It really makes you wonder what it’s going to take for this lineup to wake up. Here they are six behind Boston and five and a half in back of the suddenly reeling Rays (swept by hapless Cleveland for seventh straight defeat). If the bats woke up, you have to figure they’d make a run. But it’s becoming increasingly clear that without leadoff man Johnny Damon and DH Hideki Matsui, this lineup isn’t that good. The only consistent run producers are Bobby Abreu, Alex Rodriguez and Giambi. Derek Jeter has been hot and cold while Jorge Posada is starting to slow down. Robinson Cano has been a colossal disappointment and Melky Cabrera has regressed. They might have something with the speedy Brett Gardner if he figures out how to reach base consistently.

4.Tell me how Joe Girardi installs Wilson Betemit into the lineup twice against one of the better pitching teams when all he ever does is strikeout? His OBP entering last night was a paltry .275. Before he got to the Yanks, he could draw walks. Now, he’s a K machine who never does. In his two years with the Pinstripes, Betemit has walked a grand total of nine times while fanning 66 times. How does he still have a job?

5.If you haven’t seen A’s pitching prospect Henry Rodriguez throw three straight heaters at 100 MPH, here’s your chance to check it out courtesy of my good Brooklyn buddy Patrick Hickey of dembrooklynbums.com.

6.So Brett Favre has changed his mind once again and wants to comeback which kind of reminds you of John Kerry. Favre is a an all-time great but he’s under contract with the Packers and shouldn’t be released. The team wants to move in another direction with Aaron Rodgers even if Packer fans want to side with No.4 in this debate. They should trade him and get what they can which is only right.

7.Does anyone really care about what silly names Brangelina gave their twins?

8.Speaking of which, the Alex Rodriguez-Cynthia Rodriguez split is getting way too much press. Sadly, that’s what this country has become obsessed with such as silly sites such as TMZ.com. Don’t they got better things to cover than a baseball star’s marriage breakup?

9.The honeymoon on Long Island for Ted Nolan sure lasted long.

10.If Larry Brooks was Ranger GM, he would immediately get rid of half the roster and somehow still find something wrong with it to complain about.

11.I still like the Home Run Derby even though A-Rod, Big Papi and Ryan Howard don’t want to participate because they might waste their arms. Pampered much?!?!?!?!?!

12.If the Knicks don’t get rid of Zach Randolph, they’re even dumber than first thought.

13.Mike Lupica said David Wright, who replaced Alfonso Soriano should’ve got in on the first ballot but is he really having a better year than Chipper Jones? Speaking of Mr. Lupica, his piece on that classic Rafael Nadal-Roger Federer Wimbledon final is a must read. Only question I have is why if he spent the first week there did he not stay for such a potential historic match?

14.Speaking of good writeups from a writer we don’t always agree with, Lupica also had a solid column on the greatness of Yankee closer Mariano Rivera who will be where he belongs on the grandest stage at the old Stadium tomorrow night for the All-Star Game. The man is amazing.

15.Is there a less deserving All-Star than Jason Varitek? I like him too but come on already. Is that really the best they can do?

16.If he played on a better team, the season Grady Sizemore (23 HR, 22 SB) is having might get a lot more attention. How did the Indians go from 3-1 up on Boston last October to falling apart and now into one of baseball’s biggest disappointments selling off C.C. Sabathia for hot shot prospect Matt Laporta? Amazing how quick it can change. Just ask the Rockies as they’ll probably be doing the same with Matt Holliday and Garrett Atkins.

17.Name the player:

Player A

.283

HR 18

RBI 54

Runs 59

Player B

.284

HR 16

RBI 57

Runs 43

Hint: Player B was traded and Player A replaced him and could’ve been signed by anyone.

18.There’s no such thing as “the perfect life” which is what Christie Brinkley, who’s been married four times said during divorce proceedings with Peter Cook.

Paula Creamer chips one out of the bunker.