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Howe Done

According to Adam Rubin, the Mets have already made a decision regarding Art Howe's role with the team beyond this season -- none. Lou Piniella is the top choice to replace Howe, but remains a longshot at best because of the perceived demands by Tampa Bay to let Sweet Lou out of his contract.

Tony LaRussa's contract in St. Louis expires after this season, and you can file the likelihood of him coming to the Mets under "None and None".

Art Stapleton of the Bergen Record gives us another example of Tom Glavine, wonderful teammate:

After the game, Glavine overlooked his mediocrity and basically placed blame elsewhere, telling reporters: "I thought I pitched actually pretty well, and it should've been better than the line score was."

Glavine, whose 3.39 ERA is good for 11th in the NL, should thank his stars (and his defense) his ERA is that low. His DIPS ERA (dERA, or his ERA based on defense-independent pitching statistics K, BB, and HR) is 4.04, 19% worse than his real ERA. His 1.19 DIPS% is 11th worst in the National League.

It's interesting to note that three highly-touted free-agents-to-be are among the NL leaders (aka not good) in DIPS%: Odalis Perez is 2nd in the league with a 1.32 DIPS%, or 32% worse than his real ERA; Russ Ortiz is 8th in the league with a 1.21 DIPS%; and Carl Pavano is 9th with a 1.20 DIPS%.

Our very own Al Leiter is pacing the senior circuit with an unfathomable 1.54 DIPS%, or 54% worse than his real ERA. Steve Trachsel is 12th with a 1.17 DIPS%. Kris Benson is actually 43rd out of 44 qualifying pitchers in the NL with a 0.88 DIPS%, or 12% BETTER than his actual ERA.