Ken Davidoff's baseball insider

So we're all done, and the trading deadline turned out not to be as quiet as anticipated _ yet still nothing compared to as recent as 2004.

In today's Newsday, you'll find my Winners and Losers. I didn't take many contrarian viewpoints here _ good moves by the Braves and Red Sox, and the Yankees still have a bullpen problem, unless they start hitting eight homers every game. In that case, Kyle Farnsworth can keep pitching with 11-run leads.

In Tuesday's blog entry, I accurately predicted just one trade, Scott Proctor for Wilson Betemit (thanks for the praise, Dad...err, I mean "Steve from South Amboy"). I didn't think the Red Sox would wind up making such an aggressive bid for Eric Gagne, nor did I think the White Sox would hold strong on their Jermaine Dye demands. It sounds like Dye, who can become a free agent this winter, is open to signing an extension with the White Sox, so maybe that will happen.

Chris, you commented, "...remember that there are actually people who dream about doing what you do for a living." I absolutely appreciate that fact, and I very much enjoy my job. I just thought I'd share with you that this can be a stressful time of year, just like each job contains its peaks and valleys. The trade deadline is quite exciting for reporters, but also draining. We're like general managers, only less intelligent (well, maybe not in all cases), worse dressed and worse compensated.

There has been an increase in comments since this blog turned into "Trade Patrol," and I hope you'll hang around now that we move into the next phase of the season _ and perhaps we'll rev "Trade Patrol" back up as we approach August 31. Thanks very much for all of the support.

It was about a year ago right now, as I type this, that Duaner Sanchez climbed into a Miami taxi cab. When he exited, he was done for the year, having severely injured his pitching shoulder in a crash.

The Mets, who had been hoping to land Houston's Roy Oswalt in a trade, shifted focus to their bullpen and took Roberto Hernandez and a young, flat-lining left-hander from the Pirates in return for Xavier Nady.

It's a dramatic example, but it does show: We can try to dig up every trade discussion as we approach today's non-waivers trading deadline, and yet the terrain is always changing. Different factors are constantly coming into play.

Now, with that being said, let's make some updated guesses:

Got a flight to catch in a few minutes (this is SFO, for those of you who don't travel much), but I wanted to check in now. I land at 6:21 a.m. Monday morning in Newark, and my hunch is that at the time, I won't be making much sense.

It certainly looks like we're going to have one big trade by Tuesday, with Mark Teixeira going to either Atlanta or Arizona. The Braves seemed like a certainty to get Teixeira, but as Kat O'Brien's mentor T.R. Sullivan reported Sunday night, Braves pitching prospect Matt Harrison _ one of the discussed pieces _ has shoulder problems.

UPDATE: The Braves are indeed getting Teixeira. Bold move by savvy Atlanta general manager John Schuerholz.

The Yankees and Mets are going hard after Eric Gagne, along with the Red Sox, and it's apparent that Texas GM Jon Daniels will have to decide whether he'll deal Gagne for second-tier talent _ he's not getting Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain, or Lastings MIlledge, or Clay Buchholz _ or hold onto him and try to re-sign him or simply accept the compensatory draft picks if Gagne bolts over the winter.

Otherwise, it appears, we're talking about smaller pieces. And, as I wrote in my Sunday Insider, you can expect August to be busy, as well. In that column, I mentioned that more players should pass through waivers than in past years. I neglected a more obvious reason: More teams will fall out of contention and will be willing to deal with the future in mind.

All right, gonna get on the plane now, then land, take my son to day camp, maybe take a short nap and then hit the phones.

I saw this story last night, and it prompted me to fire off an e-mail to a major-league official who would most certainly have interest in Dontrelle Willis _ as would the Mets.

"I still have not heard that Dontrelle is available," the official wrote back.

I hate to pick on this one story. Consider it more an attack on a perception, not completely unlike the Mets fans who keep pining for Roy Oswalt.

Dontrelle's case is a little different. As Fox Sports baseball guru Ken Rosenthal notes here, if the Marlins dealt Willis now, they would be selling low, given the lefty's poor 2007. Better to hang onto Willis and see if he rights himelf in the final two months, which would also help the Marlins' (very) longshot chance at a playoff berth.

It continues to appear as though no top-flight starting pitchers will change hands. As Rosenthal reports, the Braves appear to lead the chase for Mark Teixeira. Perhaps the Mets will jump in the Jermaine Dye hunt more seriously if Carlos Beltran doesn't rebound over the weekend. And on the relief hunt, the only guy guaranteed to be traded, it seems, is Octavio Dotel.

Four and a half shopping days left. But Mets fans should cancel those Dontrelle fantasies right now.

Have you noticed how similar our two baseball franchises are becoming? Both are opening new ballparks in 2009. Both spent last winter eschewing huge investments, looking to rely more on their own farm systems. Heck, they even split their season series, 3-3. It's a little freaky.

And now, as the non-waivers trade deadline approaches on Tuesday, it appears that the Mets and Yankees share the same focus. Both have prioritized relief help, according to people familiar with the respective situations. Anthony Rieber and Kat O'Brien reported so in today's Newsday.

The primary relievers available are Kansas City's Octavio Dotel and Texas' Eric Gagne. Since Houston has control of Brad Lidge, Chad Qualls and Dan Wheeler beyond this season, the Astros don't feel compelled to trade any of those guys. The Yankees talked about San Diego's Scott Linebrink, but that's not happening now.

The Mets have kicked the tires on second-base options like Kansas City's Mark Grudzielanek and Houston's Mark Loretta, but they actually like their current mix of Marlon Anderson, Damion Easley and Ruben Gotay. In the outfield, they still have faith that Moises Alou will be put back together again, and that Endy Chavez can help, as well.

Lastings Milledge would be a prime trading chip for a reliever, but he's probably playing too well right now, despite generating yet more controversy, to give away.

On the Yankees' side, you can pretty much forget any other position player joining the mix, even a part-time guy like Jeff Conine or Ty Wigginton. They're understandably satisfied with their offense at the moment. The reason you keep seeing the Yankees linked to Mark Teixeira is because general manager Brian Cashman always likes to stay in the loop on such big-time players.

Both clubs' bullpens could use some help, and the Yankees would gladly use one or more of their current relievers _ besides Mariano Rivera, obviously, and Luis Vizcaino, you'd have to think _ as trading chips. If the Yankees can't get a deal done, they could very well promote young stud Joba Chamberlain from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and try him as a setup man. And the Mets would hope that the eventual return of Pedro Martinez would strengthen the bullpen by putting Jorge Sosa there.

Strange things happen in the final days before July 31, and priorities could change. But these are the two teams' mindsets at the moment.

The Mets have now won four of five and five of seven, and this homestand (two more against Pittsburgh, four against Washington) provides them ample opportunity to build up a nice streak.

But the idea of "acquiring" Moises Alou and Pedro Martinez as midseason reinforcements is seeming less inspired by the day. Alou experienced yet another setback on Tuesday, just as he was finally ready to join the team. And Martinez isn't yet ready to start his 30-day rehabilitation clock.

So with July 31 so close, what do you think the Mets should do? As you know, the market isn't bursting with wonderful possibilities. But there are starting pitchers in Jose Contreras and Matt Morris (who pitched well for the Giants, in the game I covered), relievers in Octavio Dotel and Eric Gagne and bats in Jermaine Dye and Mark Teixeira.

The Mets could use some help at second base, with Jose Valentin out for a while. Their bench can't be scaring anyone. Their starting pitching is pretty consistent, and their bullpen has pitched better lately.

Whom should the Mets target? Houston's Mark Loretta at second base? Cincinnati's Jeff Conine for the bench? Contreras for the rotation? Or do you think they're good enough as is to make a run for the title?

One National League official predicted to me yesterday that we'd see "a flurry" of trades as we run right up to the July 31 non-waivers trading deadline. There are typically a lot of deals right on the 31st, although there's usually more chatter leading up to those trades than there has been this year.

It makes sense, because as long as you do your preparation _ as long as you know what players oppsing general managers want in return for their players _ you should be able to pick up the phone on the 31st and quickly execute a deal. And for whatever you want to say about our local GMs, neither Brian Cashman nor Omar Minaya has ever been accused of laziness.

Both Cashman and Minaya exhibited restraint last offseason, as many of their colleagues spent liberally. So far, the two men are being equally disciplined, not entertaining the possibility of giving up any high-level prospects. But what happens if the Yankees keep narrowing the gap on the Indians in the AL wild-card race? And if the Mets lose ground on the Braves and Phillies during what should be an easy homestand?

My prediction, here on Barry Bonds' 43rd birthday: Cashman won't make another move, after filling his biggest need of backup catcher. He'll even stick with his guy Kyle Farnsworth, refusing to pay his freight out of town. Whereas Minaya will acquire some bullpen help, although not a high-profile guy like Kansas City's Octavio Dotel or Texas' Eric Gagne.

If Mark Teixeira, Jermaine Dye and Mike Piazza get traded, then it won't have been such a horrible trade deadline, after all. We'll try and keep on top of this flurry forecast.

Arrived in San Fran at about 11:30 local time Sunday night, prepared for more Barry Bonds coverage. At the same time, I'll continue to monitor trade discussions around the industry, tame as they seem.

I'm in the middle of a new book from the Baseball Prospectus folks, titled, "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over." Gotta deduct points for the Yogi-esque title, but it's another great effort, anyway. One essay covers the most lopsided trade-deadline deals, and it gives the all-time nod to the 1964 Cardinals, whose acquisition of Lou Brock (and Jack Spring and Paul Toth) from the Cubs for Ernie Broglio (and Bobby Shantz and Doug Clemens) paid huge dividends both in the short term and the long term.

What deadline trade do you remember the most? Perhaps it gave your club the edge it needed, or perhaps it killed your team. Personally, I'd have to go with the Yankees' swap of Jay Buhner (and Rich Balabon and Troy Evers) to Seattle for Ken Phelps on July 21, 1988. At the time, EVERYONE agreed it was a horrible deal for the Yankees. And it has been immortalized, thanks to "Seinfeld."

So what comes to mind for you? Kazmir for Zambrano? Doyle Alexander for John Smoltz? Whatever it is, it's looking like it won't be surpassed this year.

An unprecedented second entry in one day (whereas Neil Best often blogs eight times in seven minutes while eating a corned beef sandwich), but I wanted to share the tiniest of news nuggets.

Bud Selig will be at tonight's Giants-Brewers game at Miller Park, according to Pat Courtney, Major League Baseball's tireless vice president of public relations.

This doesn't mean Bud is officially blessing Barry Bonds' home-run chase; the commissioner still hasn't committed to witnessing number 756 (although I think Jon Heyman's report will prove accurate, unless Bonds sets the mark during Hall of Famw weekend). It's just that Selig lives in Miwaukee, and this is a big event, so what the heck?

Thanks to Brew Cityzen for the Milwaukee love.

I'm off to Milwaukee this morning to join _ and help create, I suppose _ the Barry Bonds Circus. I think this is a terrific story, one that touches so many themes, from greed to pride to race to groupthink, from journalistic ethics to medicine to law. Looking forward to it, although admittedly hoping it doesn't drag.

But in the spirit of the trading season, let's narrow our focus and discuss Bonds the player. Let's say, just for kicks, the Giants resolved to trade him as soon as number 756 left the park. And Bonds, in the hopes of getting his first World Series ring, signed off on it.

I can't stress enough that this is a hypothetical; Bonds is going nowhere. But if you could have him for your team, would you want him? Would his on-base skills and occasional power be worth the media influx and clubhouse negativity?

P.S. Any restaurant recommendations in Milwaukee? I haven't been there since 1997, when I watched Dwight Gooden, Hideki Irabu, Andy Pettitte and David Wells (who recorded his 100th career victory) start games for the Yankees and met a young Brewers left-hander named Ron Villone. Also, this happened.

It had to have been no more than 48 hours after the Yankees' 2006 season ended. I was chatting with a stunned Yankees official (there was no other kind of Yankees official, at the time), and the person lamented, "Why did both Sheffield and Matsui have to get healthy in time?"

For when Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui both returned from wrist injuries last September, the Yankees had such excess that they shifted Sheffield to first base and benched Melky Cabrera. The lineup chemistry that had developed the prior two months vanished, and while you could label the pitching as the top culprit in that AL Division Series loss to Detroit, the offense underachieved, as well. And Sheffield was awful at first base, to boot.

There's a lesson to be learned there. As teams search for help outside the organization, particularly when it comes to everyday players, they must make sure "the pieces of the puzzle fit," as an NL talent evaluator put it yesterday in a phone conversation.

The Milwaukee Brewers are missing their centerfielder Bill Hall, for instance, and they expressed some interest in Texas' Kenny Lofton. But what would happen to Joe Torre's nemesis Lofton upon Hall's return? The team considers such consequences.

It's a fine line. After all, the Yankees felt they needed to acquire Bobby Abreu last summer because they weren't sure whether Matsui and Sheffield would return at all last season. And Abreu provided a huge spark, helping to lead the way as the Yankees leapt over and buried the Red Sox.

The trade-off, however, was that short-lived October (and yes, to reiterate, these details wouldn't have mattered if Mike Mussina, Randy Johnson and Jaret Wright had pitched better). So it's something to contemplate.

Back in July 2004, the Yankees desperately tried to acquire Randy Johnson from the Diamondbacks. The Yankees told Arizona officials that absolutely no one in their farm system was untouchable. But the D-Backs, having been burned by the Curt Schilling trade just a few months prior, opted to hold onto Johnson _ crushing the Yankees, who perhaps wouldn't have been embarrassed that October. Arizona, meanwhile, underestimated a couple of interesting, talented players.

Fast forward to three years later, and the Yankees could land pretty much any available player out there, thanks to their vastly improved farm system. An impressive group of pitchers, featuring Joba Chamberlain, Ian Kennedy and Alan Horne, not to mention Phil Hughes, has the industry buzzing.

So what should the Yankees do with their well-earned stash of pitchers? Should they utilize some of the youngsters to acquire Akinori Otsuka and Mark Teixeira from the Rangers? Or should they pocket the arms and see how many thrive in the Bronx, consequently saving untold millions down the line by not having to rely on untrustworthy outsiders?

It's not an easy call, given the Yankees' distance from a playoff spot and the way their needs have been a moving target. Don't think for a moment that Brian Cashman will let his supposed job instability influence his thinking. The bet here is that Cashman (pictured here from a New York magazine story that same '04 sesaon) will absolutely be back in 2008, no matter whether the Yankees make the playoffs.

What would you do if you were Cashman?

Mike Piazza used to joke that, for his Hall of Fame plaque, he wanted to wear a Marlins hat. It was, after all, a memorable run in Miami: five games, no homers _ but hey, a triple! Just one of six for his career.

It's looking like his stay with the A's will be about as memorable.

The Most Popular Person in Flushing has been out since May 3 with a right shoulder injury, and by the end of the month, he could very well be wearing his sixth big-league uniform. The A's quickly replaced Piazza at designated hitter with Jack Cust, who has finally displayed his long-discussed potential. That caused the A's to ask Piazza to rehabilitate as a catcher, to help the offensively lagging Jason Kendall. But the slumping A's traded Kendall to the Cubs yesterday, a move signalling Oakland's philosophical shift toward 2008.

Kendall didn't leave, in other words, to get Piazza more reps behind the plate. Piazza is far better off as a DH, and he could help an AL contender like the Twins. How about a stint in the Bronx? Do you think Piazza could play first base? (Kidding).

Given this trade market, the A's will have to pay most of Piazza's salary (he's making $8.5 million this year) to get anything of value in return. The A's surely would rather have a Grade B prospect to show for Piazza, rather than trying to shoehorn him into the lineup. So here's hoping he is in a relevant place come August and September, adding some memories for that plaque _ perhaps even his first World Series title.

The mere words "Jose Conteras" evoke strong reactions everywhere, whether it's Cuba (fist-shaking), the Bronx (more fist-shaking), the South Side of Chicago (gratitude) or Boston (gratitude - that they never signed him). When you look at his career numbers, you confirm that the likeable righthander has only occasionally approached the hype that accompanied him into the big leagues.

Contreras lost his 11th game on Sunday, and his ERA jumped to 5.32. His velocity has dropped, and an industry source said that Contreras has experienced discomfort in the back of his shoulder. This discomfort is preventing him from full extension and therefore impacting his arm speed.

So. You want him, Mets fans?

The White Sox, having locked up Mark Buehrle, are open to trading Contreras, the pitching star of their 2005 World Series title winners. Contreras is signed through 2009; he's not a rental, which is what disinclined the Mets from making a heavy bid for Buehrle. I bet a reunion with Orlando Hernandez, his former teammate with the Yankees and White Sox, would help, and Rick Peterson makes nearly everyone better (although White Sox pitching coach Don Cooper is pretty good, too). And he would surely improve, like most, by facing National League lineups.

Drawbacks? A potentially serious injury, for starters. His career-long inconsistency. Is he afraid of New York? I'm not sure about that one. In his disappointing Yankees tenure, Contreras was dealing with a new country, a new language, the knowledge that his wife and daughters were still in Cuba (they're not anymore) and the Joe Torre-George Steinbrenner feud of 2003, nastiest of them all, in which Contreras was an essential pawn. That's a lot beyond your typical adjustment to the Yankees. He might be better equipped now to handle Shea Stadium's passion and scrutiny.

I think the Mets should seriously consider it, although they'd have to perform a physical examination of Contreras before signing off on the deal. Contreras has shown that, when right, he can carry a staff. And the Mets need someone to fill that role.

What do you think?

We pre-empt the usual Friday fare, Weekend Predictions, to honor the spirit of the season. From today through August 1, I'm going to include at least one daily element about the July 31 non-waivers trading deadline - be it original reporting, an opinion, a question posed to you or an attempt to clean up some of the more ridiculous stuff being floated out there.

I'm going to start with something out of the last category today, because it's a buzz that hasn't gone away and has been perpetuated by the player in question, of all people. Roy Oswalt, the Astros' ace, recently told the Houston Chronicle that he'd be open to waiving his no-trade clause.

What prompted Oswalt to say such a thing;, I don't know. Perhaps he's simply annoyed by the Astros' subpar season. But to think for a moment that Houston would be looking to give away Oswalt is intellectually dishonest.

The guy is a great pitcher, and he's in the first season of a five-year, $73-million contract, a deal that became a supreme bargain the moment Barry Zito finished signing his name on the seven-year, $126-million contract with the Giants. And the Astros certainly don't need to trim payroll, not with their nice, modern stadium, The Ballpark Formerly Known as Enron Field.

Just because team stinks in a particular season (as is the case with this year's Astros), that doesn't mean the team detonates its roster. The Astros will be looking to compete next year, and they'll have a far better chance to do so if Oswalt is taking the ball for them every fifth day.

So, Mets fans and anyone else engaging in Oswalt fantasies, give it a rest. The package that it would actually take to get Oswalt is unfathomable; figure something like John Maine plus multiple prospects, and maybe another established big-leaguer, too. It's simply not happening. Let's discuss other names, but let's leave Oswalt out of it.

A surprising move by the Mets, who notified Rick Down Wednesday night that he was being replaced by Rickey Henderson as hitting coach. Down oversaw the Mets' dominant offense last year, and then this year's disappointing version, so who knows? Hitting coaches, Down among them, are accustomed to serving as convenient scapegoats.

But the real story here is not Rick, but Rickey, who becomes the most high-profile coach in all of baseball.

Joe Torre often tells how Reggie Jackson wanted to join the St. Louis coaching staff back when Torre managed the Cardinals. Torre declined, because he thought that Reggie's larger-than-life personality worked better in small doses; that's how Mr. October still works with the Yankees, parachuting in and out.

Rickey isn't an exactly replica of Reggie, but he, too, takes over a room when he enters it. Will he be able to pace himself through the grind of the next 75 games and (possibly) beyond? Will he learn all of his hitters' names? As a player, Rickey was notorious for being oblivious to most of his teammates and coaches.

The Mets obviously thought they needed a fresh voice. They took a risk, going with such a famous voice. We'll see if it pays off.

UPDATE: Well, as it turns out, Rickey is going to be the first-base coach, with Howard Johnson shifting to hitting coach. I take full accountability for Newsday's original story, which ultimately erred in reporting that Henderson would be the hitting coach. That's what Willie Randolph told Rick Down upon firing him Wednesday night, and two other people in the loop confirmed that for myself and David Lennon. Alas, the Mets had a change of heart in the interim. I think the question of how Rickey will fare as an everyday coach is still relevant.

Did you watch the All-Star Game Tuesday night? An inside-the-park homer by Ichiro. Junior throwing out A-Rod at home. Three hits for Jose Reyes.

And a hell of a bottom of the ninth inning, as the NL scared the wits out of the AL by scoring two runs and loading the bases. You could feel the tension at AT&T Park. And you had to wonder, "Why didn't Tony La Russa pinch hit Albert Pujols for either Orlando Hudson or Aaron Rowand?"

It's my contention that in a game like this, Major League Baseball's "This Time It Counts" promotion comes to life. Both dugouts were full of superstar players, anxiously watching the action. There was certainly something at stake. That homefield advantage for the World Series has clear value.

I realize that all logic points against this proces _ or at least begs for consistency. If it's going to decide homefield advantage, in other words, shouldn't you have all of your best players? Shouldn't they take away the fan baloting and void the rule that every team must have a representative?

Well, sure. But I think we can have it all for this event - the fans' influence, the representation from each club and the homefield advantage at stake. Because, even if they don't add up to a technically sensible formula, they combine make the All-Star Game more accessible, and more entertaining.

Remember, it's not as though baseball had an ingenious plan in place for World Series homefield advantage and blew it up for this. The old system switched off years for homefield - the AL one year, the NL the next. It was that simple. (And since I know you'll ask, baseball officials swear they couldn't do the "team with best record" tactic, that they need more time to set up the logistics of the host cities).

So in return for a less rational system regarding World Series homefield advantage, we have a far more entertaining All-Star team. It's a deal I'm happy to make, and in this specific instance, I urge you to join me on the Bud Selig Gravy Train.

Another eventful day here, concluding with a party at which none other than DJ Jazzy Jeff (that's him on the left) spun some tunes. I kid you not. No sign of the Fresh Prince.

Alas, I wasn't invited to Barry Bonds' big Monday night party with Jay-Z. It's all right. I saw Barry plenty on Monday, and I'll see him more today, and I'll be seeing him again shortly, once he reaches 753 career homers.

I've come to a point where I don't mind the whole Bonds-homer thing. I'm amused at how so many other people view him as some sort of demonic figure, when of course, we all played a role in creating him. He is us, and we are him. The day of judgment will come when Bonds is up for the Hall of Fame, and I don't intend to vote for him. And that day, once again, will be a condemnation of all of us.

For now, however, I'll enjoy the show. Barry will get the biggest hand at the All-Star Game tonight, deservedly so. From all we know, the overwhelming majority of baseball fans haven't been deterred by the steroids scandal. And as I wrote in a blog entry last week, the customer is always right.

So I went to the hotel gift shop Sunday morning and purchased a tube of toothpaste, a razor and two packets of Tylenol. The total came to $7.55. So much for ignoring Barry Bonds, even when he wasn't here yet.

But there are indeed other people and items worth noticing in this great city, at this great event. Sunday brought the All-Star Futures Game and Celebrity Softball game, and while the latter is a harmless cheesefest, the Futures Game provides an opportunity to meet and watch people who will someday perform in Tuesday night's main event.

I'm no professional scout, but it's nonetheless fun to see who stands out in my commoner's eye. I thought the best player on the field was Arizona's Justin Upton, the shortstop-turned-centerfielder and brother of Tampa Bay's B.J. Upton, who showed off a strong arm and crushed a homer. Seattle outfielder Michael Saunders displayed impressive speed on the basepaths. Tampa Bay's Jeff Niemann didn't pitch very well, yet he stands out just because of his 6-foot-9, 280-pound frame.

Today brings the managers' and starting pitchers' news conference, then the player availability and finally the home run derby. Do you like the home run derby? In person, it's generally a real snoozer. It would be more fun if, yes, Bonds, were participating.

So my NL MVP is Milwaukee's Prince Fielder, with honorable mention to Colorado's Matt Holliday and the Phillies' Chase Utley, and my NL LVP is the Braves' Andruw Jones, with the Mets' Carlos Delgado in the conversation, as well.

1. The Mets will close out an up-and-down first half by taking two of three from the Astros, winning the Minute Maid Park series by a 3-1 count. They'll be even more encouraged when the Braves and Phillies, neither of whom capitalized enough on the Mets' recent struggles, withdraw from the National League East race.

2. While Alex Rodriguez rests his ailing left hamstring, the Yankees will not only take two of three from the Angels, but they'll also whip up a delicious creme brulee and develop a solution to global warming _ raising further suspicions that they're a better team without A-Rod.

3. Sunday's Futures Game at AT&T Park will be disrupted when A's prospect "Hickey Renderson," not listed on the official roster, turns out to be young-at-heart-but-actually-48-year-old Rickey Henderson, trying one more comeback.

4. To appease Mets fans, Major League Baseball will invite the snubbed John Maine to participate in this. Maine will strike out Rob Schneider but will serve up gopher balls to Alyssa Milano and San Francisco mayor Gavin Newsom.

5. As part of a new policy instituted by Denver mayor John Hickenlooper (yes, that's his real name), all New Yorkers arriving at Denver International Airport will be summarily punched in the gut. "If it ain't broke," Hickenlooper will say, "don't fix it."

In the bottom of the eighth inning Wednesday night, Keith Hernandez exclaimed, "Lord, have mercy!" on SNY, and that pretty much nailed the Mets' three-day visit to Coors Field.

At the moment, it appears that Omar Minaya's initial hunch was correct: The Mets need starting pitching most of all, even if they can outlast weak Atlanta and Philadelphia for the NL East title. Because as much as one can respect and admire Pedro Martinez, the truth is that he is rehabilitating from a very serious surgical procedure, one regarded as far more challenging from which to come back than Tommy John surgery.

Furthermore, there's not much of a market for hitters or relievers right now, whereas there could be one very good starting pitcher available right now, for the right price. The White Sox and Mark Buehrle appear to be at an impasse regarding a contract extension. If neither side bends on the no-trade clause, then the White Sox, previously frustrated by the paltry offers for the impending free agent Buehrle, will give clubs another shot at the left-hander.

Which brings us to Flushing. In the last week, the Mets have lost Oliver Perez and Jorge Sosa to injuries, and Mike Pelfrey and Jason Vargas haven't inspired with their fill-in performances. So would you give up on Lastings Milledge in return for a half-season of Buehrle? Because that would probably get the deal done.

I would. Perhaps Milledge will turn out to be great. But this guy has set off more red flags under Mets employ than did Sid "Isn't Cancer Hilarious?" Rosenberg on WFAN.

With all that the Mets have accomplished the last two and a half seasons, missing the playoffs would be diastrous, while going out in the first round would be regression. Buehrle would serve as a great neutralizer of both of those fates.

What would you do, if you were Omar, regarding Buehrle and MIllege?

We're not even at the All-Star break yet, and already, we're looking at three teams _ the Orioles, the Mariners and the Reds _ with likely managerial openings come the offseason. There figure to be plenty more, with possibilities including the Yankees, Blue Jays, Phillies, Astros and Cardinals.

Will Bobby Valentine find a place in this upcoming game of managerial musical chairs?

Valentine, who led the Mets to their last World Series appearance in 2000, is currently managing the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan's Pacific League, his fourth season in his second time on the job. Bobby V has done great things there, leading the Marines to the 2005 Japan Series title - pretty much the equivalent of taking the Devil Rays to the World Series crown.

The Devil Rays themselves and the Dodgers both contacted Valentine following that championship season, but Valentine opted to return to the Marines, citing a desire to build on what he had accomplished. The Marines might very well win another title this year.

But at some point, Bobby has hinted in the past, he'd like to return to Major League Baseball, where he won 1,117 games with the Rangers and Mets.

So who will give him a shot? How about the Mariners, whose icon Ichiro Suzuki can be a free agent and has to respect Valetine for his involvement in Japanese baseball?

How about the Reds? Owner Bob Castellini seems like a guy willing to think out of the box and spend for a big-name skipper, and the Reds could certainly use that sort of energy burst. And Castellini was a Rangers partner during part of Valentine's tenure in Texas, so the two men know each other. How much fun would it be to see Valentine go up against Lou Piniella's Cubs and Tony La Russa's Cardinals (assuming La Russa, in the last year of his deal, comes back) some 18 times a year?

The Yankees? GM Brian Cashman is a fan, although Don Mattingly and Joe Girardi have to be considered the favorites to succeed Joe Torre.

The Orioles? They would benefit from that kind of shake-up.

The Cardinals, if La Russa doesn't come back? Doesn't seem like a fit on the surface, but keep in mind that St. Louis owner Bill DeWitt is a huge supporter of our President George W. Bush _ who established a very strong relationship with Valentine when Bush owned the Rangers.

In any case, I'll bet Bobby is in the mix for some of these openings, and that he'll be tempted to come back to the States, now that five years have passed since the Mets fired him. He's not perfect _ no one is, except perhaps Tom Hanks _ but he is too good a manager not to be in the major leagues, if that's where he desires to be.

When I was 16, I got my first real, "fill out your tax forms" job, at the Shop Rite in Edison, NJ. In addition to learning how to bag groceries and gather shopping carts in a parking lot, I was taught this mantra: "The customer is always right."

I've never forgotten that, and I find it especially applicable when it comes to baseball's All-Star Game.

What do I think about the starting All-Star teams? I think the customer is always right.

It's a silly notion, to me, that the MId-Summer Classic should feature the best players of that particular season. You shouldn't have to study the stats before filling out your ballot, unless you want to. You should vote for whom you'd like to see in the game.

I think it's great when all of the legends are present. Are Barry Bonds and Ken Griffey, Jr. two of the three best outfielders in the National League? Probably not. But it'll be a blast, seeing them occupy the corners at AT&T Park on July 10.

Furthermore, I like that players now have a say in the roster, as well. Let them vote on Manny Ramirez, even if Manny is experiencing a subpar season. Who doesn't want to see Manny hit? Of course, it's all moot, since Manny will find some excuse to take the break off.

And what the heck, let Tony La Russa pick his guy Albert Pujols, and I like the Internet vote for the final player, as well.

It's all good. If a youngster like, well, Chris Young gets robbed this year, then maybe he'll get the benefit of the doubt later in his career, as is the case now with John Smoltz.

So you all go argue who should and shouldn't have made the team; that reflects your passion. But for me, I'll offer the same feedback as always, the same even if you had written in Carl Pavano for all 16 starting slots: Great job. You couldn't have voted any better.