From May 16-29

I apologize for not posting over the last 2 weeks. I have been very tied up with finals and such but I am back now... So what has been happening on Mets Planet over the last two weeks? Well let’s see... We saw Jose Lima, and Jeremi Gonzalez leave New York. We saw Jorge Julio dealt for a big time pitcher. We saw two Cuban Defectors pitch for the first time in a Mets uniform. And we saw our GM make several small moves to pamper the injuries faced by the big league team. Both Jose Lima and Jeremi Gonzalez have been pitching ineffectively since the injury to Brian Bannister and Victor Zambrano. The organization, as well as the fans grew very tired of this and in turn sent both Lima and Gonzalez back to Norfolk. Jorge Julio was traded to the D' Backs for veteran starter Orlando "El Duque" Hernandez. El Duque is one of the Cuban born pitchers to defect to America. Hernandez has won four world championships in his career. Three with the Yankees and one with the White Sox. In his career El Duque is 72 and 53 with a 4.20 ERA. Now one may wonder just how the Mets fooled the D' Backs into giving up El Duque for just Jorge Julio and the answer is simple. Before coming to the Mets El Duque was 2 and 4 with a 6.11 ERA with the D'Backs. Now the next question one would ask is "Why the hell did the Mets get this guy if he is so bad?" And that too is very simple. El Duque pitched horribly at home for the D'Backs. Their park is a hitter’s park beyond a shadow of a doubt. On the road El Duque was 2 and 1 with a 2.61 ERA. In his first start with the Mets El Duque faced the Florida Marlins and pitched well but because of his pitch count he was forced to leave after the fifth inning. The only blemish in the game was a three run home run by Marlin CF Reggie Abercrombie. El Duque is not the only Cuban Defector to join the Mets rotation. Rookie right-hander Alay Soler made his Major League debut at Shea against the Phillies on May 24th. Soler pitched very well allowing 3 runs, 2 earned, with 5 strikeouts over 6 innings. All three runs scored in the first inning. The Mets hope that Soler can step up and be the pitcher he was in Cuba. Omar Minaya has made two small moves to compliment the El Duque deal. He traded Jeremy Gonzalez to the Brewers for RHP Mike Adams. Adams is a relief pitcher and will spend the beginning of his Met career at Norfolk...until he is needed. Omar also acquired a LHP by the name of Dave Williams from the Reds for a minor leaguer and cash. Williams is diverse in the sense that he can both start and pitch out of the bullpen. He too was sent to Norfolk. During our 13-day absence the Mets are 7 and 5 and now have a season record of 30 and 19. They have a 3.5 game lead over the Braves and will now head into a series with the Arizona Diamondbacks at home. Have a nice day and LETS GO METS!!!