The Whipping, The Banks and Our Future

(Note: A piece from Nails is available immediately following this piece from Sippy Momo.)

So today is a huge day for us over here at Y2K. There are three huge stories to discuss: This past weekend in Mets baseball, the Yanks' acquisition of Bobby Abreu and today’s 4 p.m. trade deadline.

First, the weekend.

This weekend was 15 years in the making. It was the most indicative sign yet that this Mets team is the New 2006 Mets. Since really 1998, the Mets have played 2nd and sometimes 3rd, 4th or 5th fiddle to the Atlanta Braves.

They absolutely owned us. They were our momentum-killing, dream-ending, city-ripping daddies. We could do nothing against them, we couldn't touch them.

Since 1998 we didn’t stand a chance. Even if we were the better team, they would beat us. Chipper would go yard, Andruw Jones would make a great play in CF look like a can of corn, Smoltz would throw a gem and Bobby Cox would outmanage.

For some reason, though, these Mets didn’t get that memo. These Mets went into Atlanta, the house that the real Momo built, the reason that I am $175,000 poorer and about two World Series rings short and Braved them.

Three games and three wins.

And man did we pound them.

In one weekend, Carlos Beltran earned his 2005 and 2006 salaries combined.


This weekend had serious “Let down city” potential for Mets fans. Up 12 games on the Braves with 3 at their place. A sweep would be disastrous, an open ticket for them ro rejoin the dance. Lose 2 and we give them momentum.

But we couldn’t win 3. Come on, we are the Mets.

Forget all that -- as they've done repeatedly in this dream season, the New guys prevailed. They outscored the Braves 27-13. and never really gave the Bravos a chance.

Despite sub-par pitching from their starters, we got to see two games of vintage Billy Wagner. Lefties, including Y2K nemesis Adam LaRoche, simply had no shot. Righties were close behind.

Now, we are 15 up on the Braves and their NL East sails have floated away. It’s July 31st, and its officially time to start resting for the playoffs.

ABREU to the Banks.


A friend of mine who works for the Yankees shared an interesting story. Apparently, one day Jeter, A-Rod and Giambi were all hanging out in the locker room giving each other rat tails and wet willies when the OF of Damon, Sheffield and Matsui, decided they wanted to get involved.

With Wham’s “Wake Me Up Before You Go Go,” blasting in the background, the Yankees all giggled and laughed until Godzilla got a little too serious and gave Jeter a weggie.

That is when ARod stepped in to Brokeback his partner in crime.

“Hey Godzilla, “he said. “That is no way to treat one of your 3 $17 million infielders.”

Damon was dumbfounded. He tried to count to 17 on his two hands but was unable to do so. He looked at Sheffield, who was injecting an unknown substance first in to his rear and then Matsui's.

Then, the three affluent infielders laughed in the face’s of their respective teammates.

Johnny Damon was terrified. These aren’t the Yankees he signed up for.


So he stormed into Mr. Cashmen’s office. Cashmen was reading a book titled, “How To Te the Nerdiest Looking GM in the Game who is only Succesful Because he has an Unlimited Budget.” Damon was very upset. He stuttered for a few minutes and then expressed his discontent.

“All three of us outfielders are making $13 million when all the infielders are making $17 million. That’s not fair.”

Right then, Randy Johnson butted his head in, “Hey Johnny, don’t forget about Me and the Muss.”

Damon was more livid.

Cashmen didn’t know what to do. When Damon looked away he quickly skimmed through his book on GMing. There was the answer.

“Johnny, I got it,” Cashman said as Johnny’s face started to glow. “How’s this sound? We’ll trade for a 4th outfielder, one who makes $15 million per year. That way the 4 of you guys will make just as much as the infield and the rotation?”

“But Brian, 13+13+13+15 is less than the $60 million that our infield makes by like 12 million.”

“Well 1 out of 2 ain’t bad Johnny. I think for now this is the best we can do. Don't look now, but there are still a few hours before the deadline. Maybe we could pick up Soriano to be a weapon off the bench.”

Damon smiled and left the room.

The Yankees got Abreu. At $15 mil per he is the 6th highest paid Yankee. I yearn for that day when he earns his pinstripes cause that should be in the next week.

Unfortunately for the Banks, Randy Johnson is truly cursed and stinks. Unless Wang and Mussina can take them thru October, this could be yet another great offseason for them.

For now, though, they should easily coast into the playoffs with what is by far and away the greatest lineup ever assembled. That is what happens when every player in your lineup is making at least $11 million dollar, except your one kid.

FINALLY, THE DEADLINE

We have covered a lot of this over the last week or so. I’m still pretty mixed. As you all know, Nails is pushing hard to make a Milledge-for-Zito move, but this is the same kid that jerks off to Scott Kazmir and his chances of becoming the missing piece of U2 on a weekly basis.

I think we all read enough to know what our options are. To get a Zito or potentially a Jason Schmidt,


the two guys that can really make an impact, we need to move Milledge.

I’m completely torn by this. Nails is really for it. Others, are really against it.

I’ll throw some posts up throughout the course of the day if anything exciting happens. One thing for sure is this, today is a great day to be refreshing ESPN.com.

Back later and be sure to check out Nails' post below. The kid is one of Shea’s finest and is also emerging as one of the DC area’s premiere softball players.

VCD,

SM