NL East

It seems now that the Steroid Era is almost officially behind us the game of baseball has turned into a game of attrition. Much like football and hockey, only the healthy will survive.

Two of the teams that have been hit the most by injuries—the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies—got hit even harder on Monday when both teams lost their All-Star first basemen.

Finally, last night, the Mets did something positive. They didn't throw the ball around and pitch poorly; they actually played a winning style of baseball.

What that did against the first-place Braves was cut the Mets' deficit to 6.5 games in the NL East. With one more game to go against them tonight, the Mets would love to win the series and gain another game on them before heading to Philadelphia.

In order to do that, they'll hope Mike Pelfrey can finally deliver a quality outing, which he hasn't since June 25.

When the Arizona Diamondbacks returned to town to begin a four game series against the Washington Nationals, I was pretty excited. Not only had it been a week since the last Diamondbacks game I had attended, but it was the beginning of a full week of games at Chase Field.

In all my excitement I went down to the ballpark early to catch batting practice and to try and put some names with all of the new faces that were now on the roster as a result of the deals made at the trade deadline.

Buster Olney tweets that Adam Dunn has been placed on revocable waivers. He also says that Dunn won't clear waivers because numerous NL teams plan to put claims on him, and if any team does claim him, the Nationals can pull him back.

Philadelphia, PA- Just when you thought it could not get worse for the Philadelphia Phillies the injury struggles increased and, pending results, could send another Phillie to the overloaded disabled list.

What was thought as a minor sprain for Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard could turn into something more severe as Howard was sent back to Philadelphia yesterday to meet with team doctors.

When it rains in Philadelphia these days, you can bet it's going to pour.

With the Phillies' No. 3 hitter, Chase Utley, already on the DL for who knows how long, the Phillies' No. 4 hitter, Ryan Howard, could be joining him very shortly after spraining his ankle Sunday against the Nationals.

I love when fans say that there's no life on a baseball team, no sense of urgency. That a team didn't come to play.

It's baseball. You either get hits or you don't. You either make outs or you don't.

It has nothing to do with fire, or urgency, or chemistry. It's all about production.

Things just couldn't get worse for the Philadelphia Phillies.

First, after landing the best player on the trade deadline market in Roy Oswalt, he struggled in his debut against a terrible team in the Washington Nationals. It was not a good sight to see, as Washington marched to an 8-1 victory.

Then, entering a game against the Nats again, it seemed that Philly would win and shake off that loss they suffered from.

They didn't. The Nationals won again.

After being hit by a pitch, Ryan Howard made his way to second base after a single into right field by Ben Francisco. Howard thought, if just for a second, that he might be able to make it to third, and began rounding second.

He realized his mistake in time as the ball was just about to reach second base, and made an attempt to jump back to second with his left leg extended.

Breaking up is always hard to do, even when it's for the best.

You start reminiscing about all the good times you've had, the places you've traveled together.

It's even harder when you live together.  All their stuff is in your place, and everywhere you look are reminders of the good thing you had.

But sometimes it has to be done, even if you don't have another special someone waiting in the wings.

You don't stay with someone just because you've always been with them, hoping that things will get better.