As far as the rest of the rotation goes, Happ seems like he is going to settle into a nice 3-4 starter for the team, and I can live with Blanton and Moyer as 4th and 5th starters for the time being, granted that we can acquire a solid 1-2 starter.

If Moyer’s struggles continue, and I suspect they will, I would give Bastardo a shot. He has clearly been our best minor league pitcher this year, and has the kind of stuff that could fool guys who haven’t seen him before.

We don’t need another run-around with Kendrick. Kendrick success was largely due to the fact that we averaged over 6 runs a game in his starts. At best, he is a pitcher that will have an era of around 5.50, and a whip of around 1.50, and that won’t translate into many victories during his starts.

” With two months still left before the July 31 trade deadline, Amaro said few teams have declared themselves sellers. “We feel we have a good enough club that in July we’re going to be a buyer,” Amaro said. “We’re certainly in that mode. We’re not sure about other clubs. The pool of talent and the type of player we’d pursue may not be available for another several weeks. You can’t say, ‘Pretty please, trade this player to us.’ That’s not how it works. It takes two and sometimes three teams to tango.”

So patience is needed to get a better idea of the situation with the rotation that includes probable addition of Kyle Kendrick. In the weeks that follow, the risk of losing our best prospects may become moot if Kendrick can repeat the success of 2007.

I am going to be honest, I think the Mets won’t keep it up and I think the Braves are also in the same boat. I think this will be a three-way race until August where the Mets will dive (unless THEY trade) and the Braves will be steady, but not excel. Having watched all three teams this year (I like to know how the competition is) I think we can be competitive, and I also think NOW is the time to explore. Remember last year we DOVE after June 13 and came back. I fully agree, if this does not work, we MUST act in early July and we can be OK.

As with you, I could be wrong, but I have been wrong before and will be happy to apologize here if I am. It is just a feeling. I do believe we will do it in the end, I also am just not sure how.

My fear is that we will fall out of contention by July if we don’t have another quality sp. Maybe I am wrong and we could band aid this with guys from the farm. It is a chance that I don’t want to take. This team is built to contend for the next 3 years. I don’t want to waster one of those years.

Neither is a bona fide #2. That is what this team needs right now. After you (haha), all we have is a bunch of 4′s and 5′s. It is too early to tell if Happ can be a 2 over the long haul. They need to make a deal.

This is a July 15 discussion – but a very good discussion though!