Your Friday morning dose of New York Mets and Major League Baseball news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
Bartolo Colon recovered from a poor start, but New York's offense never got going against Atlanta starter Aaron Harang, and the Braves defeated the Mets 3-1.
Recap Parade: Amazin' Avenue short, long, MLB.com, ESPN NY, New York Times, Post, Daily News, Newsday, Star-Ledger
Colon continues to look like a solid trade chip with his ability to work deep into games, but keeping him could be the Mets' best shot to make the playoffs, writes the Post's George Willis.
Over at ESPN (subscription required), former big league general manager Jim Bowden lists three teams that could be interested in trading for Colon, along with the prospects that the Mets could reap in such a deal.
Earlier on Thursday, the Mets finally forged a deal with first-round draft pick Michael Conforto. Hooray!
Rising Apple's Miss Met had a lovely time at the Women's Baseball Clinic that the Mets held at Citi Field recently.
SNY aired its "Battle of the Broadcasters" game show last night, and team GKR defeated the WOR radio crew to earn ultimate trivia bragging rights.
Around the NL East
One minute it looked like the Phillies were going to get no-hit by Matt Garza. The next, they were crushing Milwaukee and getting out of town with a series sweep.
Now the Phils are going to see how Grady Sizemore works out for them.
Not even Kate Upton could get Justin Upton into the All-Star Game. As Keith says, maybe the Atlanta outfielder should try hustling more often.
Michael Jong addresses the areas the Marlins could improve in if they are buyers at the trade deadline.
The Nationals fell to the Orioles at Camden Yards, but they remain one loss ahead of the Braves in the division standings.
Around the Majors
Clayton Kershaw's scoreless innings streak was halted at 41 last night when Chase Headley hit a home run off of him in the sixth inning of Los Angeles's game against San Diego. The Dodgers won 2-1.
Aroldis Chapman got a little too aggressive with his fastball yesterday, and Anthony Rizzo's displeasure caused a bench-clearing incident between the Reds and the Cubs.
Those poor Yankees have seen nothing go their way this season. Now star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka has been diagnosed with a partially torn ligament in his elbow. He'll try to rehab the injury... just like Matt Harvey did.
More bad news for the Bombers: Carlos Beltran has been placed on the seven-day concussion DL after his bizarre batting practice injury forced him out of Wednesday's game in Cleveland.
Better news for the Yanks: The Indians gave Derek Jeter an awesome LEGO gift!
The Cardinals have seen their playoffs hopes grow brighter as the Brewers continue to swoon, but now St. Louis has to deal with the loss of Yadier Molina to a torn thumb ligament.
Chris Sale and Anthony Rizzo were voted into the All-Star Game by fans. The Home Run Derby lineup will be rounded out by Justin Morneau and Josh Donaldson.
Marc Normandin is thinking that trade season would be more fun if the market had more sellers. Of course, if everyone is buying, that should raise the incentive for selling.
Are the small-market A's taking over the Bay Area? Wendy Thurm writes about a new era of baseball over at Sports on Earth.
Yesterday at AA
Dan Lewis uses satire to explain why the Mets would be wise to part with some prospects in exchange for a veteran star.
Matt Harvey turned out to be a cheese snob.
On this date in 1986, Gary Carter smacked two home runs, Sid Fernandez pitched a shutout, and the Mets slammed the Braves 11-0.