Last Week Forgotten and a New Hero

So all is not lost.

Fresh off a tough series with the Bank$$$, what do my boys of the Cuyahoga do? They crush them 19-1. Many of you know, the Tribe are my #2 in the game. I was always a C Blake, Big Play Benny, and Jake Westbrook guy, but who can't love big Pronk, Handsome Grady and my newest drinking buddy at Warriors basketball games, CC Sabathia?


The tribe have struggled this year, but they really took it to last year's #2 hero, Shawn Chacon, who along with Aaron Small were supposed to be the solid back to the Yankees rotation (oh, how quickly those Yankees change their minds).

Last year, it was 22-0.

This year 19-1.

Even in the midst of a crappy season, the Tribe came through for me. They knew we needed to get those annoying Yankee egos out of our faces and they took it to them. Thanks, boys. See you in October.

As for the New Mets, well, things have looked good for the last 11 or so innings. We have won two in a row and have looked impressive in doing so.

One big reason for this mini-streak? El Duque.

El Duque was the lone bright spot of last week's misery. He gave up 2 earned over 7 in a loss to the Yankees this past weekend. He pitched a great start in a big return back to Yankee stadium.


This guy has always been a big game pitcher, and he proved it over the weekend.

Last night, he continued his hot piching. He dominated the Bucs over 7 innings going deep into a game where we needed to rest our pen.

Since acquiring El Duque there have been ups and a few downs, but all in all, he has been an outstanding acquisition. From the #4 hole in the rotation you can't ask for anything else. He can get you 5-7 innings and 4 times out of 5, he will keep you in the game.

Since coming to the Mets he is 3-4, 4.14 ERA. He has avg'd a tad under 6 innings a start. He's had only one really bad start in Toronto and has otherwise been pretty solid in his 8 starts for the Mets.

In addition to what El Duque has done, I'm excited to see what John Maine will do over the next couple of weeks.


A couple of years ago, as J Schubes constantly points out, this guy was the #3 pitcher in the Orioles organization, between big time arms Erik Bedard and Danny Cabrera. In his last start he looked pretty solid unti a rough 5th inning. But from TV, he looked like he was throwing a very heavy fastball.

As the scout in the Freddy Prinze smash Summer Catch once said, "A heavy ball don't find many bats."


We will see. Maybe Ryan Dunn is the option. After all, some called Summer Catch, "The catch of the Summer 2001.'

I'm definitely curious to see what Wheel and Deal Minaya has in his bag of tricks. I can't imagine there not being another move for a starter. I'm just curious to see how much we have to give up.

The last two days have been good ones. I'd love to see us keep it up until the break.

VCD,

SM