Ishii trade, Mets v. Braves, etc.

So we've acquired another starting pitcher with appalling walk numbers.

In three major league seasons, Kaz Ishii's walk rate stands at 5.80 BB/9. Is this another case of Rick Peterson begging for a chance to work a miracle? Ishii's career ERA is a respectable 4.30, so it's possible that even moderate improvement would make him an asset in the rotation, but I'd hate to think that acquiring pitchers with little to no command of the strike zone has become official team policy.

The move was apparently precipitated by the injury to Trachsel and the shocking (shocking, I say!) ineffectiveness of Victor Zambrano. Matt Ginter isn't as embarrassing a 5th starter as Omar seems to think, but why not make a high-risk move if it's there to be made?

I'm not too broken up over the departure of Jason Phillips, partly because his stellar 2003 was an aberration and partly because I don't fear the prospect of giving 200 at bats to Ramon Castro. I will miss the goggles, though.

Watching the Mets take on the Braves on mlb.tv. Hudson has kept them off the board, inducing tons of groundballs, but Glavine hasn't looked bad against the Atlanta skeleton crew (only the Joneses are starting).

*** Victor Diaz 3-run Home Run ***

Mets now lead 4-2, and the chatter in the broadcast booth has turned to the possibility of trading Cameron and giving the starting RF spot to the free-swinging youngster. I don't think that's a great idea, unless Cameron could fetch a sizeable package in return. The Mets can wait for Diaz to tighten up that batting eye at Norfolk.

* Wilson Betemit Solo HR *
(His 2nd off Glavine. WTF?)

* Ryan Langerhans HR *
(6-4 Braves. Boooo.)