The Mets are riding their longest winning streak since 2000 heading into the second half tonight in Cincinnati, and they will have their ace on the hill to try to extend it. Johan Santana is a disappointing 8-7 so far this season but still boasts a fantastic 2.84 ERA, good enough for fourth in the National League. Despite a relatively lousy second half last year (5-7, 4.04 ERA), Santana has excellent career numbers after the All-Star break. He is 50-17 in 108 starts, with a 2.79 ERA and 642 strikeouts in 606.1 innings. The Mets hope that their improved play of late will only help Santana reach those lofty second half expectations, and lead the team through a pennant race. Santana gets the start tonight against the Reds and rookie starter Johnny Cueto.
On a more general note, is it just me or does it seem like Mets fans are far too worried about the performance of the Yankees the last few years? Mets fans routinely call up New York's sports radio station, WFAN, to bash the Yankees, and one caller last night even suggested that Derek Jeter should be on the cover of the Madden video game (which is an NFL game anyway) so that he would be susceptible to the injury curse that has coincided with being placed on the cover of the game for the last several years. First of all, it is never in good taste to root for someone to get injured, but obviously this fan was only joking around. However, why should a Mets fan even care about Derek Jeter? And for that matter why should Mets fans care about the Yankees at all, other than the six games a year when they play one another? Sure, it's great that interleague play and the 2000 World Series have fueled a baseball rivalry in New York that for the most part was missing since the Dodgers and Giants moved west in 1957. But it's silly for Mets fans to be concerned with the day-to-day performance of a team outside their league. And on top of that, to try to compete in popularity or pride with the winningest team in the sport is downright foolish. When the Mets win a few more (24 more, to be exact) championships, then such competition is fair game, but until that happens let's stick to worrying about the Braves, Phillies, Marlins and Nationals.
Around The League
The Tigers have played better baseball since their awful 2-10 start, but they still find themselves at 47-47, seven games behind the White Sox for first place in the AL Central. They'll try to get on a roll in the second half, but their pitching, whose staff ERA ranks 11th in the AL at 4.41, will have to be more consistent. Joel Zumaya is finally healthy, and will add a major boost to their bullpen, but the rotation has been spotty at times. Justin Verlander has rebounded after a slow start and rookie Armando Galarraga has been excellent, but the other three spots have been questionable at best. Kenny Rogers will take the mound tonight in Baltimore, looking for his seventh win of the year. His age and injury history have contributed to his inconsistency and mediocrity over the last two years, and the Tigers will need him to step up in the second half. Dontrelle Willis is in the process of altering his mechanics in the minor leagues and is not expected back until September. His unique, deceptive pitching motion used to be a major element of his success, but he seemed to gain weight two years ago, and has subsequently been injured due to added stress on his knee, so it will be interesting to see if he slims back down and returns to the impressive pitcher he was from 2003-2006.
The Cardinals, who are contenders against all odds, will face the Padres tonight, behind surprise ace Kyle Lohse, who is 11-2 with a 3.39 ERA. Lohse was a free agent until spring training, when St. Louis signed him off the scrap heap. Anyone could have had him, and it seems that he's pitching with a chip on his shoulder, trying to prove why he should have been signed much earlier, and for much more money at that.
*Statistical information derived from www.baseballreference.com
Keywords: Armando Galarraga, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, Cincinnati Reds, Derek Jeter, Detroit Tigers, Dontrelle Willis, Florida Marlins, Joel Zumaya, Johan Santana, Johnny Cueto, Justin Verlander, Kenny Rogers, Kyle Lohse, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, San Diego Padres, San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, Washington Nationals
