Not that I'm waving the white flag on 2006 just yet!

CPA: I finally read Glavine’s comment about possibly playing in Atlanta – similar to what he said earlier in the year,  there is no way the Mets pick up his option, thought I don’t know how much they are willing to sign him for – I still think Zito will be their #1 target… Glavine would fit in nicely with Smoltz, Hudson, James and Hampton… Thomson is a free agent – no option I believe… Reitsma is a free agent, having completed 6 years service time…I thought Baez would be a free agent, but his bio said he debuted in the middle of ’01, which would make him a 5th year Arb Elg… I don’t know if Atlanta will be willing to keep him for arbitration money…Thomson, Giles, Reitsma and Sosa combined to make $13.55 MM this year…

I have given up on Ramirez and I don’t think Davies is ready, yet… I think they will re-sign Wickman…. With Devine (I am hoping we see him pitch every other day coming down the stretch), Boyer and McBride setting him up… take your pick on the rest of your bullpen from the current holdovers….

They will probably let Pena back-up McCann – Pena has no pop, but can put the bat on the ball…

People will gripe all season about the offense, but 5.25 runs per game this year was very good and I think it can get better next year…. You will have LaRoche playing 1B for a full season… I think they will let Giles go for salary reasons (5th year arbitration), giving his job to Aybar – he has stayed under the radar so far, but a latin player who can draw walks can be valuable to your team…Renteria and Chipper back on the left side – hopefully Chipper can stay healthy next year, but remember your offense scored this many runs with him out of the lineup so often….I don’t think they will try to bring anyone in to play LF, since they will need to spend money on Wickman, Glavine(?) and LaRoche’s arbitration, so you may see the same combination of Diaz/Langerhans/Thorman/Kelly Johnson….if they don’t work out an extension, at least you will have Andrew motivated to perform in a walk year…. The haters are still griping about Frenchy, but look at his stats over the last 30 days – the kid is getting better…

DMurphy: Interesting tonight’s game is at 7.  We have small group.  Glavine was asked about returning to the Braves next year, and he said there were only two teams he’d want to play for next year…and he’s played for both of them already.  The Mets can pick up his option, but he can meet incentives to make next year 14 million.  Last night he won number 288, and he may just want to win 12 and get out. 

I was also noticing all the starters we’ll have next year.  This morning I was updating my Braves player spreadsheet…who were the major players this year, and today I added the 2007 column.  I wondered the same about Davies…perhaps they’ll trade him or Ramirez for a LF.  I remembered Boyer, and what you’ve said, that the bullpen will be better next year.  What is the contract status of Thompson and Reitsma…and especially Baez?  He may be better pitching in LA, the north, or a dome, the way he sweats.  Guess with MM, Boyer, and Devine, they don’t need to spend money on Baez.

Will’s first game is tomorrow, but that’s all that’s on tap this weekend.  Nothing good at the Picture Show, except the Lake House.