Transplanted ex-Mets Update

Mike Piazza fell just a double shy of hitting for the cycle for the first time in his career during the A's 8-5 win over the Chicago White Sox Thursday. Piazza also hit his first homer at McAfee Coliseum as an Athletic. He nearly got his double in the seventh inning, but was robbed by a diving catch by the Sox's Jerry Owens.

Roberto Hernandez became the 12th pitcher in major-league history to appear in 1,000 games when he entered last night's game in the ninth inning for the Dodgers.  He gave up two runs, but the Dodgers beat the Astros anyway, 6-2, backed by fellow ex-Met Jeff Kent's three doubles.

Mike Cameron hit his 15th homer of the season, a three-run shot, to kick off the Padres 11-9 win over Colorado.

Sherman: Best of The ex-Mets in 2007

In his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman runs down the five ex-Mets pitchers having the best seasons in 2007:

1. Scott Kazmir, Devil Rays. 2. Brian Bannister, Royals. 3. Jason Isringhausen, Cardinals. 4. Heath Bell, Padres. 5. David Weathers, Reds. For a last-place team in the AL, Kazmir is 9-7 with a 3.44 ERA and 168 strikeouts. And here is something easy to forget: Kazmir is 10 days younger than Mike Pelfrey.

Hat Tip to Matt Cerrone for the link

Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: ex-Mets Lead The Way

In last night's game action...

Mike Piazza broke a scoreless tie with an RBI single in the fourth inning, leading the A's past the Chicago White Sox 3-2.

Jorge Julio pitched a scoreless eighth inning and Kaz Matsui had an RBI single in the ninth during the Rockies 3-0 win in San Diego.

David Weathers pitched a scoreless ninth in the Reds 11-9 win over the Cubs, notching his 24th save in 29 opportunities.

Transplanted ex-Mets Update: Julio Franco in Minor League Action Tonight

Ex-Met Julio Franco is scheduled to join the Braves' class A club the Rome Braves tonight when the team faces the Greenville Drive at home.

Franco was released by the Mets over the All-Star break, and re-joined with the Braves.  He hit .250 and drove in seven runs in 11 games for the Braves, and was designated for assignment when the Braves aquired Mark Teixeria.

48-year-old Franco was playing in the majors before any of the Rome players were even born.

Tough Transplanted Ex-Mets

On ESPN.com, Jerry Crasnick runs down the toughest players in baseball. Toughest ex-Met on the list? Ty Wigginton, who placed #5 on the list:

If Eric Byrnes is known as the Crash Test Dummy, then Wigginton should forever be regarded as the Human Four-Car Pileup. "This guy will run into, over or through anybody or anything," said Washington Nationals reliever Ray King. Just ask catcher Koyie Hill, who suffered a broken ankle while being steamrolled by Wigginton, or Yadier Molina, whose cage was similarly rattled. Wigginton isn't the most skilled or graceful athlete. But he's a grunting, snorting, collision-inducing machine.

Meanwhile, Tom Glavine took 9th place on Crasnick's list, while David Wright, Pedro Martinez and transplanted ex-Mets Mike Cameron and Jeff Kent received honorable mentions.

Wow, what a week for Glavine, huh? First he wins his 300th, and now this? Man, what a prestigious honor!

Transplanted Ex-Mets Update - Jose Offerman

Metstradamus has a post about an embarrassing story about ex-Met Jose Offerman.

Where Have I Been?

When I first met my wife, I promised her that as long as she was with me, life would never be boring. That is one promise I've held true to. The last two months have turned everything up on it's head, but all for the positive.

The first is that I am starting a new job next month, a new job that requires a relocation which also means I'll no longer be a transplanted Mets fan! Unless you consider Central New Jersey to be out of town! Which, growing up on Long island I sure did.

The second piece of big news is that I'm going to be a dad! Scary thought, huh? And I only have months left to plan on how to ensure the kid will be a Mets fan. My dad is a huge Yankees fan and somehow I escaped his efforts to make me a Yankees fan. To make matters worse, I'll be within driving distance of Citizens Bank Park and am worried about The Phillie Phanatic influence! The strategy begins...

SO... With all the big changes I still have to figure out how this blog figures into my new life. I am open to suggestion. One thing I have been toying with is expanding the authorship of this blog to others. So, if there are any out-of-market Mets fans out there who would like to contribute to this site, please post a comment or drop me a line at michaelvcreative-blogwriter@yahoo.com and let me know you're interested. A writing sample or two wouldn't hurt either.

Other than that I still have creative energies flowing and an accompanying Mets passion that makes Mets blogging an interest. How to do it in the midst of a relocation to a new job in New Jersey while tending to a pregnant wife is still a mystery I'm trying to decode. Post your suggestions, please!