Mets Crush Giants Lincecum 7-0

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Video Highlights

Mike Pelfrey was nearly perfect over seven innings tonight against the San Francisco Giants. He only gave up three hits and no walks with five strikeouts. Pelfrey was throwing a curveball tonight that he’s rarely thrown in the past. It was working too. He was in complete control tonight.

Carlos Beltran got the offense started with a three run homer in the first inning off Tim Lincecum. Beltran was 3 for 4 with 4 RBI’s. Carlos Delgado added a solo shot in the sixth inning. Fernando Tatis also hit a solo homer in the eighth.

The Mets have won four in a row and go to two games over .500. The Phillies lost tonight to move the Mets to 1.5 games behind.

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Cubs Trade For A’s Rich Harden

Photo by Justin Lafferty 16:41, 23 August 2006...Image via Wikipedia

The Chicago Cubs acquired pitcher Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Oakland A’s for pitcher Sean Gallagher, outfielders Matt Murton and Eric Patterson, minor leaguer John Donaldson. Harden is signed through 2009 and has number one starter stuff. His problem is that he’s frequently on the disabled list. He spent a month on the DL earlier this season for a shoulder strain. It was his sixth time on the DL in his six year career.

After the Brewers traded for C.C. Sabathia from the Indians on Sunday, the Cubs obviously felt like they had to make a counter move. The NL Central is really heating up to get the trade season started.

Harden is 5-1 with a 2.34 ERA in 13 starts this season.

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Mets Roster Moves July 7- Church To DL, Evans Called Up

DENVER - MAY 24: Nick Evans #6 of the New Yor...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

Mets outfielder Ryan Church is going back on the disabled list for the second time due to post concussion symptoms. Nick Evans is being called up from Double-A Binghamton to replace him on the roster.

Church left the team in Philadelphia to be examined for what was termed as a migraine. Apparently, that wasn’t the case or the team is being cautious this time.

The Mets caught lightning in a bottle with Evans the last time he was called up. He hit three doubles in his Major League debut in Colorado. But his success was short lived as he appeared over matched by big league pitchers.

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On Deck: July 8- Giants At Mets

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San Francisco Giants (39-50 Road: 22-22) at New York Mets (45-44 Home: 22-18) 7:10pm

Tim Lincecum (10-1 2.49) vs. Mike Pelfrey (6-6 4.23)

TV: SNY Radio: WFAN

What to watch: The Mets are riding high after taking three straight games in Philly. But the Mets go up against boy wonder Lincecum tonight who hasn’t lost a game since April 29. The Giants moved him up so he could get two starts in before the All-Star break so he’s going on short rest tonight and coming off a cross country flight yesterday. Pelfrey hasn’t lost a game since May 26. He’s won four straight starts now. This should be a good one.

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Video: July 7 Post Game- Manuel, Wright, And Wagner

Here’s the SNY video from the post game wrap of the Mets 10-9 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. I’m disappointed that they didn’t include the video of Carlos Beltran telling MLB.com’s reporter that he’s not a baseball player. That was the best! I think it was Jon Blau but it was hard to tell from the video. I like that Carlos is starting to show some emotion this season. Anyway, here are the videos:

Mets Minaya Not Ruling Out Barry Bonds

SAN FRANCISCO - JULY 10: National League All-...Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The New York Mets outfield has been decimated by injuries this season. Two thirds of the starting outfield that the Mets aniticipated would be there, hasn’t been there. Moises Alou was sidelined early in the season after hernia surgery. Now he’s on the shelf witha calf strain.

Ryan Church has suffered two concussions this season and a three week long stint on the disabled list. Now he’s back in New York being evaluated by neurologists for migraine problems.

Bart Hubbuch of the NY Post reports that Mets GM Omar Minaya was asked about signing free agent Barry Bonds last night in Philadelphia. Minaya didn’t say that they wouldn’t try to sign Bonds. He did say:

I would say that I’m going to focus on our guys and our guys hopefully will be OK.

Barry Bonds isn’t a perfect fit for the Mets. But he does add some needed depth to the outfield rotation. If the Mets aren’t able to secure a right-handed hitting corner outfielder/first baseman before the July 31 trade deadline, they should pursue Bonds. He isn’t facing charges of perjury until next year. Although he brings as much baggage as possible, Bonds isn’t suspended from playing Major League Baseball. He’s fair game to sign.

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New Reader Poll: Have The Mets Turned The Corner?

I added a new poll to the site coming off the series victory in Philadelphia. Clearly, the Mets are playing a different brand of baseball over the last few weeks. But have the Mets turned the corner from the malaise that permeated the first two months of the season? Or is this a temporary success story?

Baseball Prospectus now has the Mets odds of making the postseason at 37.5%. That’s up 17.1% in the last seven days.