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Media-wise, have you noticed how the New York teams have changed places.
The Yankees have become the good boys of Harlem. Hardly causing a noteworthy stir.
The Mets have become the Drama Queens.
Matt Harvey and his bladder. Matt Harvey and his women. Matt Harvey and his arm.
Matt Harvey and BatMan.
Yoenis and his contract. Yoenis and his ouchies. Yoenis and his golf.
Yoenis and Yo.
Syndergaard and his fastball. Syndergaard and his Lester-like way of holding runners. Syndergaard and bone spurs.
Syndergaard and Thor.

It's all blahblah, but it makes for great press.
It's been said that the Mets can ride their pitching to many Championships.
The problem with that theory is pitchers get hurt these days.
It's tough to make it through months without injury, let alone years.
Look at the Indians and their wonderful staff.
Salazar out. Carrasco was out. Bauer and Tomlin starting to feel the effects of a long season.
It's tough!
The Mets have gotten a lot out of Syndergaard, Matz, and deGrom.
But collectively, they haven't been the 'blow away' pitchers that many expected.
Merely, darned good.

For the Mets to be the Mets of last year, they will need Cespedes to come back and put them on his back again.
Their offense is below average, even with Jay Bruce.
At the same time, they're the type of team that nobody wants to play in the playoffs.
Guaranteed that the opposing team will face a tough pitcher.
Guaranteed that they'll be playing against playoff experienced players.
During the last two years, the media focus has certainly changed.
From the Bronx Bombers to the Citi Slickers.

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While first rounders Manny Machado with three homers and seven rbi, Nolan Arenado with two homers and five rbi yesterday, and Mike Trout tearing the cover off the ball over the weekend, it got me thinking about next years drafts.
What happens to Bryce Harper?
Harper has gone from boom to bust.
Pitchers have gone from avoiding Harper to the druther of avoiding Murphy over Harper.
Sabrs still love Harper.
He has more walks than strike outs.
Sabrs LOVE THAT STUFF!
BUT, if they look closer, Harper drew 48 of his 82 base on balls during the first two months of the season.
You remember, that was when pitchers actually feared Harper.
Harper's line is .233/59/20/57/15
Thanks for the steals his owners say, but "I was really counting on the 45 homers!"
Harper will still go in the first round next year.
Afterall, he had a year to remember last year.
At the same time, drafters will remember THIS year and he will not be a top three pick in drafts this coming year.

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So, who DOES deserve to be in the top three of drafts for next year?
Mike Trout is a given.
He's done nothing to tarnish his top of the first round appeal.
I've mentioned Harper, and like Harper, Paul Goldschmidt owners are also saying, "Thanks for the steals, but WHERE'S THE POWER?"
Goldy has played his way out of the top three.
Clayton Kershaw is a question mark right now.
Reports of his back will determine where we select him in drafts. But at least for now, he won't be in the top three of many drafts.

Jose Altuve will most likely be a top three pick. Two years in a row of fantasytastic numbers with more power has made drafters slobber while saying his name next year.
He will go top five in almost every draft, top three in most.

After Trout and Altuve, I believe the rest of the draft becomes a personal preference draft.
The usual suspects at third base- Donaldson, Arenado, Machado (shortstop eligible), and Bryant.
Mookie Betts surely moves up into the higher echelon.
Rizzo will again be a first rounder.
Miggy is hitting better as the season goes along.
Best guess for first round adp at this point?
Here goes....

1. Mike Trout
2. Jose Altuve
3. Mookie Betts
4. Manny Machado
5. Clayton Kershaw
6. Josh Donaldson
7. Nolan Arenado
8. Bryce Harper
9. Paul Goldschmidt
10. Kris Bryant
11. Anthony Rizzo
12. Miguel Cabrera
13. Pitcher of choice
14. Pitcher of choice
15. Pitcher of choice

The last three being a choice of Scherzer, Strasburg, Bumgarner, Sale, Syndergaard, deGrom, Arrieta, or whoever else turns drafters on.

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Shortstops are tough.
It seems that there is a draftable shortstop on every team. This sort of deflates them as a whole.
If wanting to take Bogaerts, Lindor, or Correa highly, go for it!
But remember, they are not that much of an edge over Seager or Story.
What about one year wonders like Villar, Nunez, Diaz, and Brad Miller?
Or the fantasy category fillers like Semien and Espinoza.
Addison Russell? Brandon Crawford? Zack Cozart? Tulo?
Steady Gregorius and Mercer?

And while we can add Manny Machado to this group, we have to take away Ian Desmond.
Desmond will finally get his big free agent contract.
And somehow with that new contract and less positional eligibility, he will become less appetizing for fantasy hunger, despite his great year.

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The Rockies will HAVE to make a trade during the off season.
They have four left handed hitting outfielders who can fit on any team.
Gerardo Parra has a three year contract that is affordable. The Rockies signed him, more or less, for his defensive prowess.
That hasn't played out at Coors. Coors is a huge field and although Parra has quickness shown in other parks, he doesn't have the flat out speed that is needed.
If a trade were based solely on players talent, Parra would be dealt.
But, it doesn't work that way anymore.
Most trades are now based on contracts.

David Dahl is forcing the Rox to make that trade. He is the hitter he thought they'd be.
Health and knuckleheadedness needs to be overcome, but he could be a great hitter for a long, long time.
Charlie Blackmon can cover Coors. CarGo cannot.
CarGo also only has a year left on his contract.
He'll be going.
I wanna see CarGo's swing at Yankee Stadium, but I don't think he fits in their plans.
Most likely, CarGo will be traded to a playoff friendly team.
The Blue Jays, Cardinals, Orioles, Indians, or even the Royals would love to have him.
I just would not want to be the starting pitcher headed to Coors in return for CarGo.

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Yasiel Puig in Oklahoma City?
That's like Elvis in Poughkipsee.
Or Ichiro in Green Bay.
Or a Hagen in Iola.

Maybe middle America can give Puig some values ( correct use of the word) he so badly needs.
But, probably not.

you would think that car go would just move to 1st base