Paul Hagen: It's still early: Mets-Phillies interesting, but not critical
IT SEEMS to have become an article of faith at the upper end of the New Jersey Turnpike that the sky is falling. And that as a result, the Mets' next three games, against the Phillies starting tonight at The Bank, will be a make-or-break series for the team many picked to topple the defending world champions this summer.
Now, that sort of thinking is certainly understandable. New York has been crippled by injuries that have landed Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, J.J. Putz, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Billy Wagner and Angel Pagan on the disabled list. That's $67.4 million worth of contracts right there.
They've managed to stay close, mostly because nobody else in the division has been playing that well, either. So in the sense that getting swept would make their uphill climb a little steeper, yeah, this weekend has a certain amount of significance for a team still fighting the stigma of disappearing the last two Septembers.
Two things, though:
There really is no such thing as a crucial series before the All-Star break. Too much can happen. We've all seen it too many times.
And, second, these games are every bit as important to the Phillies as to the Mets.
Think about it. Sure, the Phillies should be a better team once Raul Ibanez comes back from the strained left groin that has kept him out the last couple of weeks.
Now apply that same logic to New York. How much better will they be when their core players start being activated? That apparently could start happening by the end of the month. Even Wagner could be back by August. And imagine Jerry Manuel having Billy the Kid and Putz to cover the seventh and eighth to get the game to closer Francisco Rodriguez.
Plus, Mike Pelfrey is pitching really well. Johan Santana, despite some recent struggles, is still Johan Santana, giving the Mets a potential 1-2 hammer at the top of their rotation.
As bleak as things look for the crew from Queens at the moment, they're far from out of it.
That makes these next three games just as important to the home team as the visitors.
It would be a mistake for the Phillies to overlook the Mets.
Heck, the way they've played lately, it would be a mistake for the Phillies to overlook anybody.
The hot corner
* The trade market is still developing, but early indications are that the Indians would have to be overwhelmed to consider dealing Cliff Lee and that the Diamondbacks are also extremely unlikely to let Dan Haren go. Meanwhile, the Pirates and Nationals appear to be in full fire-sale mode, with the Royals considering making most of their roster available as well.
* If a pitcher making his major league debut is facing the Brewers, bet on the opponent. Milwaukee is 0-4 this season against pitchers facing big-league hitters for the first time in a game that counts.
* The Braves appear to be running out of patience with talented-but-inconsistent shortstop Yunel Escobar. It wouldn't surprise anybody if he ended up being traded.
Around the bases
