Billy Wagner

He is apparently a player-manager. He's in the press making critical comments more often than Willie, about whom I never hear anything. If this continues, what does it do to the Mets clubhouse down the stretch? Get them in gear, divide the team, nothing at all?

In the meantime, the Yankees are in last place; yet, they're only a game and a half behind the Mets in the Baseball Universe (of America) standings. Should be a super series this weekend! Hooray for interleague play!

Edit: As irony would have it, I did read an article about Willie this morning after I initially posted, but it wasn't so much about his team as about interleague play.

"I think interleague play has worn out its welcome for me," Randolph said. "I think we should get back to playing in our division and playing in our league. But it's a nice change. It's six games, and it gets a little bit chaotic when it happens. But I think it's good for the fans.

"You do want to get through it so you can get back to some so-called normalcy. The hype is a little overplayed sometimes. But once the game starts, it's where you want to be because it's exciting and you can feel the buzz and the energy in the stands. It's nice to be able to compete in a different kind of game where it's like the only game in town."

The Mets have gone 25-35 against their interborough rivals since the start of interleague play in 1997, including 10-20 in the Bronx.

"Now playing center field for the New York Yankees, Mariano Rivera": I thought this was a cool little story. Apparently to keep his legs fresh, Rivera likes to go after fly balls during BP, and Peter Abraham watched him steal a hit from A-Rod with a nifty catch.