IT'S MOOKS, BACK FROM THE DEAD (OF OFFICE CENSORSHIP) - RE: THE CASTILLO TRADE

MY QUESTION TO MOOKS -

What was up with that trade? I don't care about what the Mets gave away, but come on, Castillo is hitting .300 with 18 RBIs???? I need to know what his average is with RISP, but I can tell you that it went down after last night. I don't know why they don't give Gotay a chance, he can't be that awful in the field. Put Castillo in in the late innings for a defensive replacement if they have to. I will admit that Castillo made two great plays last night, well, one great one, one good one, that Gotay may or may not have made, but still. He hit like crap. Gotay has more RBIs and has probably 100 less at-bats, at least. And I bet dollars to donuts that Gotay would have gotten a hit with the bases loaded last night. I know Catillo has a WS ring and blah blah blah, but come on, there are enough "leaders" on the team. And Marlon Anderson? He is just like Julio Franco except he is like, 3 years younger. What a waste. Beltran is being a p ussy. Willie and his old men, I don't understand it. I don't know man, I'm worried. They need to step it up, and the Red Sox just seem to be getting better. Although, I don't know why I'm worried about the Red Sox, because at this rate the Mets may not make the WS. The f'ing Braves got a lot better with their trade pick ups. And the Cubs are doing well as of late. Email me when you have time, beat it.

MOOKS INTELLIGENT RESPONSE, ALLAYING MY FEARS ...

Gotay would have gotten the job if he hadn't cost them two games last week (one against the PI-Rats w/a botched DP & one against the Nats with another botched DP) w/his shoddy defense. He can hit which means he will get some playing time but I actually like the trade. Castillo was a leadoff hitter with Minny so he wasn't getting many RBI opps but he isn't that great a hitter so I have to give you that one...I'm hoping for a platoon there or at least a situation where Reuben plays like 1/3rd of the games. I think it was a good pick up if not for any other reason than his defense. Castillo also is a fiery kind of guy and besides Paulie, Jose and David everyone else on the Mets (oh and Lastings who is more wacky than fiery) plays like every game is a Sunday softball beer league for charity.

I wouldn't give the Braves much kudos for their trades...They got a guy in Texeira who is hitting .300 with 13 dingers and 49 RBI's...he played in a bandbox in Texas, in the worst division (pitching & defense wise) in baseball with one of the the most prolific players in all of baseball in Michael Young (and the beleaguered Kenny Lofton). Now, I'm not saying he isn't good but he isn't Fred McGriff and that is what people are acting like they got (remember McGriff was a part of the only World Championship team in the entire history of Georgia/Atlanta professional sports...in 136 years of baseball, basketball, football and hockey, they have one title.) Tex ain't saving the Braves with 13 homers and 50 RBI's especially since he won't get half of his at bats in the place that made Sammy Sosa, Luis Gonzalez, et al famous HR hitters. He's good but I certainly wouldn't have given away my top 3 prospects & Jarrod Saltalamacchia (the longest name in baseball history, who from what I understand will be in the top five catchers in baseball by next year). A good trade but certainly not better than the Castillo trade in my opinion (the Mets didn't give up anybody) and Luis is a winner...not some guy who has played in the deflated bubble that is Arlington, Texas.

As for Dotel and Ring...Ring first; go and look what the Mets did to Ring already this year. He sucks, the Mets gave up on him because he sucks, and the Mets like to hit against him because he sucks. Enough about Ring...Dotel can be a good player but basically he has never been good let alone great. The Braves needed "great" to save their bullpen woes.You never know with relievers but this guy gets injured all the time, he's been on like ten teams in his career because no one wants to rely on him, and while he put together a good season for La Royals this year...well that's just it. Dotel did it for La Royals. I'll think he's good when he puts up some big numbers on a team that needs big numbers which he has never done consistently (especially without injury)...which is why the Mets, Yankees, Astros, and others all gave up on him...and now the Royals are just one more team added to the list. The Royals got a major league starter in Kyle Davies for an oft injured mediocre middle reliever.

The Braves still think they can close out games with the round mound of unsound pounds in Bob Wickman (just an aside but was Wikerman the worst movie you've ever seen??? How do they keep giving Cage work?). If I wanted someone to finish my supper for me I'd get a dog or I'd make friends with Wickman who honestly has never met a meal he didn't save room for...unfortunately for the Braves, all Wickman saves is room in his increasingly fat stomach and bloated ERA (he has the most blown games of any closer in the league and his stuff is ordinary at best). The Braves do have the best one-two punch with Smoltz & Hudson in the NL East which would be great if the season was over and they were in the playoffs but it is not, plus for all their hype John Maine has better numbers than either of them...Three out of every five to six games they have to go with Jo Jo Reyes, Buddy Carlyle, Chuck James, & Kyle Davie...Oh wait, they don't even have Davies anymore. They traded him to get Dotel and Ring! Their starting rotation is suspect, their bullpen is bad (until Dotel can prove himself), and their lineup is still not as good as the Mets. Go position for position...I know Andruw Jones is better than .216 but basically that is what they have to work with...

I'm not worried about the Braves or the NL East...We've been in first place since mid-April, so until the Phils or the Braves take it from us it is our division to lose. Let the baseball people write what they want...here is how I see it.

Mets signing - Luis Castillo is a good little player not great but good...but he's a winner.
Braves Signing - Mark Texeira has been good in the past but basically just good not great either...and for a bad team.
Braves Signing - Octavio Dotel has been injured or bad more than he has ever been good.
Braves Signing - Royce Ring is a joke. I'd rather have Doug Sisk.
Phillie Signings - who cares what their names are...you know they're not good.
Red Sox Signings - who cares also...I mean, let them beat the AL because if we ever do play meaningful games against them, we'll take our chances.

PS- The Mets got robbed last night. If that bald freak in RF doesn't snag D.Wright's blast, the Metsies win the game. Plus, who is coaching third base? Stevie Wonder? Has Alomar ever seen Carlos run before...that was as bad as it gets. The only way Delgado scores from first is if the ball goes over the wall. I hope Willie puts that one in Delgado's little black book..."Dear Carlos, never, never, never & I repeat never try to score from first on a hit unless it is a dinger or all three outfielders die of cardiac arrest simultaneously...I repeat never!"

PSS - Did you see that some guy in NYC killed his mother because Willie doesn't know how to manage his bench. "her blood is on your hands dude" See Link Below

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,291499,00.html