Hawpe is an underrated veteran.

BY GREG BARRA
STACHE WRITER

Mets are looking for a big bat to solidify their line-up and Brad Hawpe could be that guy. The Denver Post reports that Hawpe could be on the block to be traded and I don’t believe it would take much to bring Hawpe to the Big Apple. The only negative to bringing in Mr. Hawpe is that he is a lefty and the Mets have many lefthanded bats but does that sway you from picking up a bat like Hawpe’s?

This season the Rockies’ right fielder is putting up stellar numbers with a .338 batting average to go along with 8 home runs and 43 RBI. Against right-handers this year Brad is hitting .313 with 5 homers and away from Coors field he’s hitting .273, which isn’t bad at all. With the gaps that Citi Field possess I believe that Hawpe and have a field day.

This is also a better deal finically for the Mets because if they bring in Matt Holliday, who has been rumored to be on the block as well, they’s have to pay him 13.5 million as appose to Hawpe’s 5.5 million. To make the argument even better for Brad, he’s had a better start to the season then his former Colorado counterpart.

I believe that this is the best option so far for the Mets because Hawpe is a solid player and the Mets won’t have to give up as much to get him. Not only that but, Holliday would be a 2 month rental unless they planned on signing him to a long term deal. I don’t think it’s a good idea to bring him in.

On another note, if the Mets trade for Adam Dunn I will no longer be a Met fan. It’s great that the guy can launch the baseball 800 feet but that’s all he does. His fielding is god awful and he strikes out like a pro. That would be a terrible move by Minaya but hey, what do I know I’m just a blogger.

Cole Hamels is having another good year for the Phillies.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Last night was about as grueling a game as you can play, and considering the offensive show that the Phillies put on, the Mets were fortunate to pull the game out. Johan Santana was not at his best, but he kept the team in the game, and a Ryan Church homer in the seventh made the difference.

Tonight is a new story. The Mets will go to battle with the Phillies’ cream of the crop, Cole Hamels. Hamels is coming off his best start of the season when he five-hit the Mannyless Dodgers in a complete game shutout. The start before that was atrocious, as he gave up six runs in six innings against the Nationals. The Mets are hoping that the Cole Hamels from the Nationals game shows up.

This is not Hamels’ first go around against the Mets, as he has had six career starts against them. While Hamels is just 1-3 in that span, he has pitched much better than the numbers would indicate. Plus, those were the days when the Mets had Carlos Delgado and Jose Reyes were in the lineup every day. Now it is up to the new Mets to make a statement.

Personally, I would love to see Daniel Murphy get a shot at Hamels tonight. I know he has been in a rut this season, but it looks like he is coming out of it, and Jerry Manuel owes the kid the chances to see how he does against left handed pitching. I also expect Sheffield to be in there again, although that may mean he would be out from tomorrow’s season finale. One game at a time.

Also, as always, expect to see Pedro Feliciano in a big spot, unless Mike Pelfrey is the same guy who pitched last time out against the Pirates.

We shall soon see. I will be there, with my 4-0 record this season on the line. LET’S GO METS!

Jimmy Rollins broke up a potential double play in the ninth, but it wasn't enough as the Mets prevailed in game one.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Tonight, I was lucky enough to be there in person to witness the Mets taking game one of their series with the Phillies. Citifield did its best Yankee Stadium impression as the teams combined for a whopping seven homers in the game. Even though four of the homers were by the Phillies, the Mets and Johan Santana were able to limit the damage and prevail by the score of 6-5.

Throughout the game, I sat in the Modell’s Suite which is located next to the bullpen gate. Even though I am on a diet, I had to throw caution into the wind because there was unlimited food and drinks. I must’ve had three hot dogs, two orders of popcorn chicken and a beer. I know what you are all thinking. I need to take a chill pill. I know. I know.

The set-up was nice, and I want to thank Modell’s for giving me the chance to witness a game from that sight.

Back to the game. It was nice to see the big boys step up. It was beginning to look like tonight wasn’t our night when Gary Sheffield hit a missile that I was sure was a homer. Surely enough, the ball ricocheted off of the wall, and Sheffield was thrown out at second base. That was a killer. Later, Fernando Tatis similarly hit a ball deep, and it also hit off of the wall. Tatis settled for the double, and he later scored on a Johan Santana double.

Yes. You read that right.

Santana has been in a rut recently. He gave up four homers, and yet, he still gave the team the chance to win, and for that, he was rewarded with his eighth win of the season which ties himself with Jason Marquis of Colorado for the National League Lead.

Well done boys. Keep it up against a tough lefty in Cole Hamels tomorrow.