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2009 MLB National League East Notebook
For the sake of having a little fun, let’s look at the first installment of Atlanta’s trade with Pittsburgh for center fielder Nate McLouth.
The Braves dealt for McLouth in a very controversial move that had Pittsburgh players and fans quite upset. Still, the Pirates brought up the exciting player in Andrew McCutchen to replace McLough.
Through the first three games of a four-game series between the Braves and Pirates at Turner Field, it’s been kind of a push between the two players. McCutchen has gone 5-for-16 (.313) with two triples and one RBI. McLouth was 5-for-14 (.386) with one home run and one RBI. Ironically, McLouth’s first home run as a Brave came against his former team on June 8.
The teams were expected to complete their series June 11.
FLORIDA
The Marlins are in a stretch where they are going to face some pitchers who have been some of the best in the last two decades.
They have faced 2002 AL Cy Young Award winner Barry Zito from San Francisco. They lost to him. Then they opposed 2008 NL winner Tim Lincecum and lost. However, they defeated five-time winner Randy Johnson and then 2005 NL winner St. Louis’ Chris Carpenter and came away with a no decision.
However, the fun doesn’t stop there for the fish. With interleague play about resume they will see 2003 AL winner Roy Halladay and 1996 NL winner John Smoltz when they play at Boston next week.
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WASHINGTON
In what was such a foregone conclusion, the Nationals first pick of the draft was highly touted right-hander Stephen Strasburg.
The San Diego State hurler has consistently thrown his four-seam fastball at 100 mph and his two-seam fastball in the 90s.
Strasburg went 13-1 with a 1.32 ERA. Now, the question really looms is what will it take for the ballclub to sign him. It’s hard to know where these talks will go. The speculation is that the signing bonus could be record setting. Mark Prior had $10.5 million with the Chicago Cubs drafted him in 2001.
NEW YORK
The frustrations of the Mets offense is from the loss of Carlos Delgado to a hip injury, David Wright’s lack of power and Jose Reyes also out with a slightly torn hamstring tendon.
Delgado’s return is probably two months away, there is no discussion about when Reyes will return and Wright is sitting on only four homes.
Plus, manager Jerry Manuel has said he has been relying on Gary Sheffield more than he should have. Sheffield is now a part-time player these days. After being inserted into the starting lineup, he got off to a quick start but has since cooled into a 4-for-27 slump.
PHILADELPHIA
The one thing about the Philadelphia electronic media is that it did a good job of bating Phillies left-hander Cole Hamels into saying the Mets were known as choke artists. Hamels made the commets during a radio talk show earlier in the week of June 8.
Of course, the Mets proved that in 2007 and 2008 when they blew late-season leads and were caught and passed by the Phillies.
However, Hamels probably should have known better than to take the bait. Unfortunately, he faced the Mets on June 10 and surrendered 11 hits and four runs in five innings.
By Kevin Lonnquist
MLBcenter.com Staff Writer
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