Batter's Box Interactive Magazine

Back from the break and there's more questions than answers.

Standings as of July 17th:

Team             W	 L	 PCT	 GB	
Washington	53	39	.576	 -	
Atlanta	        52	41	.559	1.5	
Philadelphia	48	45	.516	5.5
Florida	        45	45	.500	7.0	
NY Mets	        46	46	.500    7.0

Atlanta Braves

Overall Record: 52-41
Run Differential: +64
Record in last period: 8-4

Hudson off the DL. Hampton off the DL. Jones to be coming off the DL. Is there any doubt that the Braves are going to win the division? Are you sick of it too?

Florida Marlins

Overall Record: 45-45
Run Differential: +2
Record in last period: 3-8

Where will AJ Burnett end up? Will Mike Lowell be tagging along if he does get traded? Does trading Burnett send up the white flag?

New York Mets

Overall Record: 46-46
Run Differential: +12
Record in last period: 6-5

What's the best way for the Mets to fill their hole at 1B? Or is Chris Woodward the answer? Will Beltran start hitting in games that Pedro doesn't start? Should they have hopes for the playoffs or are there too many teams to pass?

Philadelphia Phillies

Overall Record: 48-45
Run Differential: +6
Record in last period: 7-5

The Phillies are 5.5 games back, and 4 games out of the wild card, yet there's been talk of trading Billy Wagner and Jim Thome. Should they be buyers or sellers? What would they be looking for?

Washington Nationals

Overall Record: 53-39
Run Differential: -7
Record in last period: 3-8

The Nationals are starting to fade, which has coincided for the most part with Nick Johnson's injury. Can they rely on him returning? Will it matter if he does return? Does Preston Wilson improve the team?

Posted by Pistol on Monday, July 18 2005 @ 12:30 PM EDT.

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Mick Doherty - Monday, July 18 2005 @ 02:13 PM EDT (#123074) #

1. No and only kind of.
2. Baltimore, yes and yes.
3. Cliff Floyd, no, yes, and it's New York so they better.
4. Sellers, rotation help.
5. No, yes and absolutely.

Thomas - Monday, July 18 2005 @ 03:12 PM EDT (#123083) #

At risk of sounding like Mick.

1. No and not as much as one might think.
2. Baltimore, yes and yes.
3. Erubiel Durazo (come the offseason), no, yes and not this year.
4. Sellers, young SPs.
5. No, yes and no.

BCMike - Monday, July 18 2005 @ 03:39 PM EDT (#123089) #

Where will Burnett end up? Sounds like Baltimore might be pretty close to closing a deal.

dp - Monday, July 18 2005 @ 04:14 PM EDT (#123100) #

Mick, Floyd won't play 1B. After the Mike Piazza debacle, they don't want to put anyone green there (except Woodward and Anderson, which makes no sense). The Mets have moved Vic Diaz there since sending him to AAA before the break, and he's killing the ball since his demotion- 2 HR the other night. From reports his defense has been OK. It appears they're keeping Cameron, so planning on starting next year with Diaz playing 1B. Seo is coming up to start Friday, so no more Ishii in the rotation, and Traschel is back soon. But there's no way they win the division/WC. Too many holes. Hopefully they'll stay far enough back to avoid doing something stupid.

Gitz - Monday, July 18 2005 @ 04:15 PM EDT (#123101) #

Erm, Durazo will never play first base again. The dude got hurt getting ready for the Giants series, and he's still not back yet. When was that series? February?

Mike Green - Monday, July 18 2005 @ 04:26 PM EDT (#123104) #

Could the Mets win the Wild Card? Sure. Is it worth trying to do it? Well, that depends on what they have to give up. They need a first baseman, and a couple of middle relievers of the Chulk, Speier, Frasor ilk. The relievers don't tend to cost you a top prospect, and with that in mind, I see little difficulty with the Mets patching the holes in their bullpen.

CaramonLS - Tuesday, July 19 2005 @ 01:49 AM EDT (#123160) #

I think you underestimate how much the mets need someone, and those few "Frasor, Chulk, etc etc" types are going to cost you in this market.

Look what the Giants had to give up. 2 Solid prospects for a set up man.

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