Kevin Collazo at 7-Train thinks the Stokes signing won't be half bad.

*******************************************************************************

Chicago Mets Fan found a video showing Tony La Russa's sobriety test....wow

*******************************************************************************

Y2K chimes in on Johan Santana.
 
*******************************************************************************

Courtesy of Andrew at the 'Ropolitans, David Lennon reports back on his visit to Citi Field.

*******************************************************************************

The Ballclub continues their recap of the 1999 postseason.

*******************************************************************************
Mike's Mets scoffs at all the ridiculous rumors around MLB these days. I agree Mike.

*******************************************************************************

BMF thinks that that Dan Haren is the way to go, while Mets Fever wants Joe Blanton. The A's rumors will never die.

According to Mets.com, the team acquired relief pitcher Brian Stokes today from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for cash.

The 28-year-old right-hander was 2-7 with a 7.07 ERA in 59 games for Tampa Bay last season, allowing 49 runs and 90 hits in 62 1-3 innings.

Is anyone else tired of hearing rumors about Johan Santana? Well, I am that's for sure. Just for the record, I don't think the Mets will do what is required to acquire Johan which is probably a good thing.  Lately, I've heard it quite a bit that he's a lock to join the Yankees. Now, certain writers say the Mets are once again in the hunt.

To be honest, I think it's a lack of originality that forces these writers to keep revisiting this "dead-horse" topic.  But overall, rumors are just that, rumors, until someone actually makes them fact.  Then, once that happens we shall see which writers were right, and which ones were just bored.

Look, there's no other pitcher I would rather have join the team (without giving up too much), but let's not get in a tizzy about something that may not even happen until at least the winter meetings start. And that goes for you too Yankee fans.

Go to Mets.com to see their new 2008 schedule.

The last game ever at Shea will be on Sunday, September 28, against the Marlins.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution is reporting that former Mets pitcher and current Atlanta Brave Mike Hampton, is hurt again.

MLB.com notes what each postseason participant will receive from the players' pool which is formed from 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first three games of the Division Series and 60 percent of the gate receipts from the first four games of the League Championship series and the World Series. 

A portion of this was awarded to the four regular season second-place clubs that were not Wild Card participants, which includes the Mets.

Share of Players' Pool: $524,593.91; value of each full share: $9,411.28 - The Mets were awarded 41 full shares, 14.63 partial shares and two cash awards.

Confused? Yeah, me too, but Matthew Cerrone at Metsblog breaks it down.

The AP is reporting that Kerry Wood and the Cubs agreed to a 1-year deal today.  Terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Wood was used exclusively in relief last season for the first time in his career. He was 1-1 with a 3.33 ERA in 22 appearances after making his season debut Aug. 5 vs. the Mets.

I was at that game, which was also Tom Glavine's 300th win. When Wood came into the game, the crowd reacted as if Cy Young himself had run in from the bullpen.

In other Cubs news, the club may be on the verge of losing RHP Mark Prior.  The Cubs could make the oft-injured Prior a non-tender free agent if he does not agree to a deal that gives them an option for 2009.

In an announcement entitled "The Value of Loyalty" posted to his website (www.chanhopark61.com) on Monday, the 34-year-old pitcher Chan Ho Park declared his decision to give up a contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers to stay with the Korean national team for Olympic preliminary games.

"After giving long and deep thought to the matter, I concluded that I should respect loyalty," Park wrote.

I think it was based more on the fact that he's washed up here in the states but hey, that's just me.