NL East

When Mets fans think about the St. Louis Cardinals, the first flashback is to Game Seven of the 2006 National League Championship Series.  Yadier Molina has given the Cardinals a lead.  Adam Wainwright is on the mound throwing un-hittable curveballs in the ninth inning, and Carlos Beltran is frozen at the plate as strike three is called.

fixThe Cardinals went on to defeat the heavily-favored Detroit Tigers, while Mets fans saw their season end sooner than they thought.

According to WFAN in New York, the New York Mets will place OF Carlos Beltran on the 15 Day DL. Beltran went in for a MRI today on his right knee, and apparently there was something serious enough to warrant a DL stint for Beltran.

The Mets handling of injuries the last two years have been comical at best, so the explanation of why Beltran is going on the DL should be one for the ages.

Former Major League pitcher Shawn Estes has retired today.

Estes was acquired in 2001 from the San Francisco Giants for outfielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo and infielder Desi Relaford. In one season with the Mets, Estes went 4-9 with a 4.55 ERA. His best year came in 1997 when he won 19 games with the Giants while pitching his way to a 3.18 ERA. Although Estes never regained that great form in his career again, he went on to win 101 games.

This season the Phillies have recorded two series wins at home. Both have come against the Washington Nationals. This weekend they hope to pick their third home series win, and perhaps get their home schedule turned around, when they welcome the Baltimore Orioles to Citizens Bank Park.

Team Has Come Close Only Three Times in Its History

The New York Mets are now in their 48th season of existence and although they've had some great moments and great players, they still have never had a pitcher throw a no-hitter in their uniform. That is a well-known fact.

There is one other fact that is not so well known, though: They still have never had one of their players named the National League's Most Valuable Player.

With everything else going on with the Mets and their injuries, one positive is coming as we near the end of this first half.

David Wright leads NL third basemen in votes, and Beltran is ranked high enough in the outfield category to have a good chance at making the team as well. 

Johan Santana and Francisco Rodriguez may be joining Wright and Beltran in St Louis next month.