Honestly, I don’t expect the Mets to do anything major at the trading deadline. With Dontrell Willes and Barry Zito going nowhere, it seems to me that any trade for a pitcher does not make sense because what the Mets would get in return would not be any better than what they already have. I also can’t see them going after a second baseman either. What more could any team ask than what Jose Valentin has delivered. And I admit early in the season I called for his release. I guess that’s why I don’t make a living evaluating player talent. Valentin has performed brilliantly defensively and offensively since taking over second from Matsui (is he still at triple A?).
The one prediction I will make is that Aaron Heilman will be gone one week from today. I don’t want to see him traded. I think he is a good pitcher. But for whatever reason, he doesn’t seem to fit with the Mets plans. Yesterday’s mind cramp when Heilman did not get over to first in time just shows that his head is elsewhere. He has not been effective since the Yankee series. How many starting assignments must be given to everyone else including two rounds of Jose Lima before Aaron realized that he would never get another chance to be a starting pitcher with the Mets? News flash, he has already come to this conclusion. He went to spring training wanting a chance to prove he could be the fifth starter the Mets were looking for. The Mets gave him that chance and then Heilman showed he could do the job. However, he was put back in the pen anyway as the Mets coaching staff handed the starting job to Banister.
Then the injuries to Banister and Zambrano occurred.
For one, I don’t think the Mets brain trust including “the jacket” like Heilman. I’ve read that Rick Peterson thinks he needs a third pitch to be effect as a starter. But we have seen Heilman be effective as a starter in the past. Could it be the same thinking that led to the trade of Scott Kazmir? That’s the thinking where an arm angle will eventually lead to the blow out of a shoulder or elbow. You know I actually think that Rick Peterson is a good pitching coach but on the other hand, I think he relies way too much on his computer models. I do not necessarily fault the coaching staff in regards of their usage of Heilman, I just find it puzzling. For some reason, they just do not want to give Heilman a shot in the rotation.
Who will the Mets get for Heilman? I have no idea, I really do not even know if a trade will happen. All I know is that even though Heilman has pitched better lately, his performance yesterday kind of shows that he would rather be some place else. However, be careful what you wish for. Heilman may just find himself in another team’s bullpen.
Extra Innings: After three consecutive inspiring wins by the Mets, yesterday’s game was a real clunker. Too bad considering that Delgado got the Mets going with a three run shot in the first inning. Oh well, just chalk it up to one of those days.
The Mets finally have gotten to twenty games over .500. Keep piling it on. The Mets have not lost a series since they played the Yankees. They must keep winning series with an occasional sweep. They play the Cubs three times starting tonight before heading to
