All about Alou returning, 1B and Bartman.....

I know there are many in the blogger community that hate talk radio and have almost an adversarial or competitor role with our media sibling. I am at times shocked at how much more informed bloggers are then those on the radio, I don't mean that in a derogatory manner in the least. But for example, I just recently listened to a host for over an hour discuss how Gotay was part of the Bannister trade and another wasn't sure if the Mets opened the season home or away. With that said I do find them entertaining and some of their ideas interesting (whether I agree or not), I just think some who aren't fans of a particular team don't do their homework. Last week I brought up a discussion about David Wright moving to firstbase next year, I was surprised that the hosts were so matter-of-fact, that at some point Wright will be at first more of when then if.

So for the last two days the mid-morning show has had a very interesting idea in regards to the dilemma at firstbase. They've been suggesting moving Moises Alou into a platoon situation with Carlos Delgado. This would allow the hot hitting Angel Pagan to remain in the line-up, Pagan is also a much better defensive player then Alou. With the argument being that many outfielders have successfully moved to first to preserve their health and how much of a down-grade could Alou be to Delgado. Furthermore, the offense with Alou and Pagan could make up for any costly grounders that get by him due to lack of range. As the saying goes, you can't teach an old dog new tricks, while It's an innovative idea I just think it would be Piazza all over again.

I do know the sharks are in the water around firstbase and if Delgado doesn't start to show signs of life there won't be a rescue boat coming for him.

Moises Alou should return this weekend when the Mets face their division rival Atlanta Braves. The Braves, despite being decimated by injuries have been surging lately, so the Mets who lost two straight to the Braves when Atlanta was struggling will need all the they can get. Alou is reportedly feeling no ill effects from his hernia surgery but he needs to build leg strength after sitting around for almost a month.

Finally, it seems only fitting that with the Mets in Chicago and this being the 100th anniversary since the Cubbies last WS championship, that the Bartman incident would come up. Remember the best chance the Cubs have had of making the World Series was in 2003 against the Florida Marlins. In game six at Wrigley field, the then left fielder for the Cubs was Moises Alou who ranged over to the stands to make what appeared to be the third out of the inning. But a fan by the name of Steve Bartman reached up and knocked the foul ball away from Alou. Bartman was clearly in the stands and not reaching over but it did appear that Alou had a play on the ball. Who was at the plate, none other then Luis Castillo who ended up walking and keeping a game winning rally going. Bartman a life long Cubs fan has, dealt with quite a bit a ridicule over the incident. This week Alou was asked about the play and said he would have never caught the ball......

``Everywhere I play, even now, people still yell, `Bartman! Bartman!' I feel really bad for the kid," he told Associated Press columnist Jim Litke, who ran into Alou at a Macy's department store in New York.

``You know what the funny thing is?" he continued, perhaps as he passed the leather glove department. ``I wouldn't have caught it, anyway.''source Chicago Sun Times