The month of June will undoubtedly break or make the Mets season.  25 games against teams with winning records.  Six of them against their rival Yankees.  Coming off a great May that ended with them losing 2 out of 3 to the Phillies.  The Mets needed to make a quick statement.  Well with Johans No-Hitter, they got that and more.

June 1st, 2012 will never ever be forgotten by any living Mets fan.  All these years without a no-hitter or perfect game.  Trading away Nolan Ryan who became Mr. No No.  It was a curse that seemed like it would live forever.  But on a Friday night in June, Santana broke the curse and made history.  He also possibly delivered a brighter future for the Mets and their fans.

So far, this June, the Mets are 2-0.  Early? sure, but if they can take this 4 game series from the Cardinals and win 2 out of 3 from the Nationals.  They would go into the weekend series with the Yankees as the better team and quite possibly in first place.  No Mets fan could of predicted this, no expert saw this and even the Wilpons probably can’t believe it.

Johan not only delivered a no hitter to the Mets, he made a statement.  A statement R.A. Dickey remade today with his 9 inning shutout of the Cardinals.  That is, the Mets are for real.  They have two legit aces, they have a legit star in David Wright, they have legit hitters in Murphy, Davis(will come around) and Thole.  They have the role players that every winning team needs, especially a guy Like Mike Baxter, who was diagnosed with a displacement of his right collarbone on his no hitter saving catch Friday night.

This team will play hard all year, but if they can continue to make statements this June, especially to their crosstown rivals, the Mets won’t just be playing hard all year, they will be in contention all year.  Their pitching staff can only get better with two top prospects itching to come up.  With another prospect ready to take a bullpen role.  Hey, maybe they will find a way to get Bay to produce.

There is something going on with this team.  They think they are good.  They don’t quit, they don’t pout and they just keep fighting.  No matter what the score, they give you good at bats, their pitching tries even if being blown out.  If they can go 15-13 or better this June, there is absolutely no reason to think that this team will fold at any time.

One thing Santana did, he brought back the statement Mets fans have lived on for years.

Ya Gotta Believe!

St. Louis Cardinals : 0

@

New York Mets : 8

Mets Take: There is only one subject line for this game and that is Johan Santana. In game number 8,020 in Mets history the franchise finally records its first no hitter. Santana threw an incredible 134 pitches, but went all nine with out allowing a hit. He did give up 5 walks, but that won’t prevent him from grasping his place in Mets history. When you consider what he has done as a Met and how he has rebounded from this most recent shoulder injury, he may be one of the best Met signings ever.

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In this installment of NL East Lifers we take a look at the 2nd tier of guys who perpetually enjoy the luxurious lifestyle that the NL East provides.

Gold Standard Lifers

(Current players, 6+ years of service, multiple teams)

-Brian Schneider (Nats, Mets, Phillies)– A light-hitting backstop with a smokin hot wife.  Google “Brian Schneider Wife” you won’t be disappointed.  Brian is somehow currently hitting bombs for the Phils against the Mets on Carlos Ruiz’s days off.  When Ruiz plays or pinch-hits he also hits bombs against the Mets.  Catch-22.  Pun intended.

-Pete Orr (Braves, Nats, Phillies)- Who? Yeah, that guy.  Pete Orr was recently mistaken for Chase Utley by Gary Cohen on a Mets/Phillies broadcast, that’s all we have to say about that.

-Dan Uggla (Marlins, Braves)- Power hitting second baseman that can’t field.  Dan holds the record for most errors in an All-Star Game with three.  Boo this man, BOOOO!  But don’t boo too hard because he could change the game with one swing.  #homerunorstirkeout

-Manny Acosta (Braves, Mets)- Ho hum reliever, ERA currently sitting at 10.97.  If you’re gonna bring him in it’s gonna A’CostYA, basically the worst joke ever…but seriously he’s gonna give up a homer if you bring him in.  So he got DFA, designated for assignment.

Wednesday the NL East featured big blasts and late inning rallies. Let’s go around the east and see what happened.

Philladelphia Phillies : 10

New York Mets : 6

Mets take: Despite losing two out of three against the rival Phillies the Mets can take solace in their offensive production in this series. The team continues to find ways to produce runs and everyone seems to contribute. Lucas Duda hit a pair of homers for the Mets tonight, the first of which being a 2-run shot off of Cliff Lee, giving the Mets a three run lead in the sixth. The Mets do need to find a solution to their bullpen woes, the Phillies scored 8 of their 10 runs in the 7th, 8th and 9th off Mets bullpen pitchers.

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We’ve always been fascinated by players that seem to only play on teams in the NL East. That got us thinking– What current players can actually be considered NL East Lifers? You know what we mean…the guys that always pop up against your favorite NLE team, guys you feel like you are always facing, and before you know it they end up logging a stint with your team. In doing a little research we came up with a list of recent guys that are either mainstays of one NLE squad or perpetually resurface within the division. Enjoy this first post in a series of three…

Platinum Grade Lifers
(Current players, 6+ years of service, same team)

You may recognize some of these guys…

-David Wright (Mets)- May not be on this list for much longer, but he better be! The Wilpons might need to find another lucrative ponzi scheme or Flushing could be without their unofficial captain after 2013.

-Mike Pelfrey (Mets)- Now 7 years deep, the Wichita State boy had the best mouthpiece in the bigs, now he’s relegated to the DL with Tommy John. Lick that elbow Mike, it couldn’t hurt.

-Larry “Chipper” Jones (Braves)- ATL legend. 48 career dongs against the Mets, so he named his son Shea. Sigh. We’re sure “LAAAARRRRRY” chants will abound as his video tribute is reluctantly played at Citi Field this year. Hopefully it’s followed by a cordial, but subdued, applause for one of the NL East’s best players. Stay classy Queens…

-Brian McCann (Braves)- He can’t see too well, but doesn’t seem to have a problem hitting. This homegrown talent can’t be denied recognition.

-Martin Prado (Braves)- Super-utility man has logged 8 years for the Bravos. Searching for a position stunted his growth as an everyday player but when he’s in there, he’s dangerous.

-Ricky Nolasco (Marlins)- The all time wins leader in Marlins history. Wait, WHAT!?!? Not a typo, nuff said…

-Josh Johnson (Marlins)- Ace-like stuff, body like Tinman. No one wants to face this gunslinger when he’s 100%

-Annibal Sanchez (Marlins)- The Floridian version of “The Sanchize” has more no-hitters to his credit than anyone in a Mets jersey…ONE! (can you tell what team we root for yet?)

-Jimmy Rollins (Phillies)- JRoll, originator of the skull cap and perpetual Met nemesis has etched his legacy as the NL East’s most consistent SS in the past decade.

-Ryan Howard (Phillies)- The Pedro Cerrano of Philly. An improbable achilles injury during his last AB of 2011 has shelved this power threat for the beginning of 2012. If he comes back healthy, watch out NLE leaderboard.

-Chase Utley (Phillies)- If he gets two artificial knees, he might just be able to play again. Once a 2b fantasy god, because of his power, Chase is looking to resurrect his career in the second half of 2012.

-Cole Hamels (Phillies)- “Fake” tough dude. Plunking phenom Bryce Harper didn’t garner many popularity votes for the Philadelphia lefty, but he’s on pace for a stellar season.

-Kyle Kendrick (Phillies)- Seemingly traded to Japan, but somehow manages to make the list…in our opinion, he won’t make the next one.

-Ryan Zimmerman (Nats)- David Wright’s former AAU teammate has superstar potential and numbers, when he’s healthy. Caveat being when he’s healthy, which is rare. If he stays on the field he could live up to his contract in ways that current NL-Easters Jayson Werth and Jason Bay can’t.

This is just one installment of the NL East for Life series, we dig deeper and get dirtier in the next two…stay tuned.

Feel free to respond with your suggestions.

In the meantime, enjoy the the most competitive division in the majors.

-Brothers verDorn

On Twitter: @peteverdorn and @jbiz2033

Before I start, Let me Say, I am a Mets fan.  I bleed blue and orange.  And unless David Wright is asking for north of 180 million, I believe the New York Mets have to sign him to a long term deal.  The fans have gone through the tough loss to the Cardinals, the collapses to the Phillies, the Madoff scandal and just total lost years.  But there has always been one constant for the Met fans.  They always had homegrown STAR David Wright.  I capitalize star because even though I love David and want him long term on the Mets, he is not a superstar by any means.

Yes David is hitting around .375 and that is amazing.  But that doesn’t make him a superstar.  He also has 5 home runs, five less than J.J. Hardy, tied with Chipper Jones and Scott Hairston.. both who have at least 60 less at bats than David.  Now its not about home runs, its also about driving the runs in, well David is at 18th in the league which is average for all stars at the moment.

Wrights career totals are 300 batting average with 20 home runs and 83 rbi a year.  I am sorry, but that is not close to super star numbers.  While yes he has played in a big ballpark his entire career and then Citi Field didn’t help for three years, he should still be better if he is truly a Superstar.

Average is great, but do you know who is in second with batting average right now?  Melky Cabrera.  He is certainly not a superstar just because he has a high average, and neither should Wright.  Wright has only hit above .315 once in his career, so its hard to believe he will finish above .330.

But the Mets need David Wright.  The Mets fans need David Wright.  As fans we hope Wilpon Alderson and Wright come to fair terms.  He is more valuable to the organization and the fans then Jose Reyes ever will be.  Reyes still might be the better overall player, but David Wright is what the Mets want to be.  Classy, positive and never say die attitude.  That is what Wright is all about, that is what Alderson is all about and that is what Collins is all about.  It’s what Wilpon needs to understand and be all about.

Hopefully David will sign a longterm deal near Mark Texiera money, that seems fair on both accounts to me.

Except for very brief moments in New York Baseball history, the New York Met have always been the loveable losers.  And going into this season, surrounded by the ownerships problems, losing Jose Reyes and the possibility of David Wright starting his last season as Met, this season had little hope.  But something has changed with this team.  Their is a personality to the club that all baseball lovers can sense.  They are winning.

Now I know, it is not even June, but if I told you the New York Mets would be 2 games out of first with a 26 and 21 record on May 26th, you would of told me I was homer and out of my mind.  But they are and with a couple of moves, they might not be going anywhere.

Now the NL East is actually is actually the toughest division at the moment.  The Nationals, who are in first, hold only a 4 game lead over the last place Phillies.  That’s right, the Nationals are in first, the Mets and Braves are in second and in both wild card spots, and the two paper favorites, Phillies and Marlins, are in last.

If the New York Mets stay as is, they might win 80-85 games.  The heart they show and the solid pitching they have had, could get them to that mark.  David Wright is on his way to a possible MVP season if he can continue and the Mets can continue to show they can play with the big boys.

Sure, a 85 win season would be awesome, and a great step into the future, but why stop there.  The Mets need a righty bat in the outfield with some pop.  Now I know fans don’t want to hear this, but Jason Bay can be that guy.  Not the Bay from Pittsburgh or Boston, but one who can platoon with Kirk and Torres.  One who can pop some home runs for this team and be a leader for the younger guys on the bench.

Other than just one bat, the Mets need another starting pitcher.  The loss of Pelfrey has hurt this club, but in reality, they need a bonafide number two or three starter.  If the Wilpons can give Alderson any money, and let him make a trade, this Mets team could have one of the top pitching staffs in their league.

And lastly, the Mets need a dominant bullpen arm.  Someone who can take those 7th and 8th innings and just shut them down.  I am okay with Francisco closing, and Rauch and Parnell in the pen.  But need that one arm who is just unhittable.  I am not sure they can find that or its available, but they need to get someone in that pen to help if they want to compete all year.

Even without those moves, the Mets will make this season an exciting one.  They are taking on the personality of their never say die manager.  If they could ever get Ike Davis hitting, and then get Bay back and another starter, they would be a very dangerous team to contend with.

Much like the rest of the MLB this year, the NL East has been rather unpredictable. With the Mets over achieving, the Nationals’ impeccable pitching and the Phillies’ lack luster start, there is a lot to think about after the first 40 plus games. Let’s run down the division and give a look at where the teams stand and where they might end up.

Atlanta Braves: The Braves started the season sluggishly. They began by getting swept by the Mets and finished the first week of the season 2-4. After that, they were able to rebound and work their way to 6 games over .500,  where they currently sit one game in back of the division leading Nationals.

Pleasant Surprise: At age 40 and after announcing his plans to retire at the end of the season, the expectations for  Chipper Jones were probably a little lower than they have been in the past. After 101 at bats Jones is the owner of a solid .307 BA with 5 HR and 24 RBIs. If he can keep this up all year there may not be a need to retire come seasons end.

Solid Starters: Brandon Beachy and Tommy Hanson both have five wins in the season’s early going. While the rest of the rotation has had its ups and downs Beachy and Hanson have been as good as advertised, between the two of them they have pitched 118.2 innings with a 2.42 ERA. Tim Hudson also deserves an honorable mention for his stellar start as well, garnering a 3-1 record with a 3.03 ERA.

Where they finish: As of right now I see the Braves ending the year at 84-78 and competing for the final NL Wildcard spot.

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Sorry everyone for the redundancy and for the lack of content.  I am having a lot of trouble finding new things to write about and do them first to put content up, and obviously more importantly…needing writers.  Again, were still looking for writers, or creators of blogs for all NL East teams.  Please contact me at mrose@nleastchatter.com and we will consider anyone!  One thing I must warn though, unfortunately this is not a paid job.  I am fine with people using this as a springboard, but although we have some advertising $$, I can’t pay. Obviously if we can really turn this around, that can change.

thanks for the support!

MRose

Hello all, still trying to figure things out over here.

My last chance is  I do have some advertising $$ I haven’t used and have from 3 years of running this site, so any recommendations are great.  As always, if you’d like to write for us… contact info is below!

Thanks and if you are interested again in writing for NLEC or about any of the blogs involved, please email me mrose@nleastchatter.com or find me on twitter @nleastchatter Thanks