Dogers Defeat Mets 11-2 / Yankees sweep Twins, Keep Rolling

7/09--Flushing,NY. Just as it looked like the Mets might be heading in the right direction, they get blown out again. Livan Hernandez gave up 4 runs before the Mets even got up to bat. You could predict the Mets impending doom from watching that alone. Now, I understand that the Mets are depleted due to injury but this is just embarrassing. The players on the field are still pro players and should take pride in going out there. I just do not see that desire right now.

Matthew Cerrone from metsblog.com predicts a change in the starting rotation after the All-Star break for the Mets. He predicts Santana, Perez, Pelfrey,Jon Neise and Nelson Figueroa to be the starting 5 after the break.

The Mets are 2-8 in Livan's last 10 starts and his ERA is 30.00 in his last 3. Since the Mets need excellent starting pitching in the absence of Beltran, Delgado and Reyes, outings like this are just not acceptable. Period.

Mets fans might be looking towards 2010 if things do not shape up soon after the All-Star break. I'd give it until he first week of August has concluded. If things do not shape up by then it may be time to look forward to football, hockey and basketball. We will see...

Minneapolis,MN. The Yankees completed a sweep of the Twins with a 6-4 victory at the Metrodome. The won behind Alfredo Aceves, who was making a spot start in place of Chien Ming Wang, and 5 relievers. Aceves allowed 4 runs, only 2 earned, in 3.1 innings pitched.Cody Ransom and Brett Gardner had 2 RBIs each and Mark Taxiera added s solo home run.

Phil Hughes seems to have really found his niche in the bullpen recently as he has become the 8yh inning guy setting up Mariano Rivera. The move has bumped Brian Bruney out of that spot for now. Hughes went 1.1 innings and struck out 2 batters. After a poor start to his season, Hughes has lowered his season ERA to 4.01.

The only thing in the Yankees way right now is the fact that Boston keeps winning to stay 1 game ahead.

The Yankees face the Angels in the last series before the All-Star Break. LA has given the Yankees a lot of problems in the past so let's see how this series plays out. Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero are on the DL so that should give the Yankees some more confidence going into the series.

Boston's last series before the break is with the bottom-dwelling Kansas City Royals. Brain Bannister (KC) and Jon Lester (BOS) open that series on the mound.