Mike McCann's Field of Fotos

The clubs that met in last October's National League Championship Series both needed offensive upgrades -- and have new rightfielders today. (Above) Hunter Pence will become even more familiar with the view from the Citizens Bank Park batters box - the Astros sent him to the Phillies for a collection of top prospects. (Below) Carlos Beltran leaves one big ballpark for another -- the Mets swapped him to the Giants for highly rated minor leaguer Zack Wheeler.

Pondering what would be my next post, I opened a folder of pictures taken during the Mets' last season at Shea Stadium. So much changed since 2008 -- starting with the ballpark, of course. (Above) Carlos Delgado was the Mets 1st baseman. (Below) Jose Reyes is one of the constants -- but notice, no flowing dreadlocks. And the under-appreciated Willie Randolph (making a pitching change below) was the manager.

Bert Blyleven and Robbie Alomar, inducted yesterday into Baseball's Hall of Fame, were among the celebrities participating in last winter's Pinstripe Passion collectibles show in New Jersey.

When Sergio Mitre went on the disabled list this week, the Yankees tapped into their farm system, promoting lefthander Steve Garrison from their double-A club in Trenton. I caught him in action against Altoona back in June.

A little more than 90 minutes before gametime on this warm Sunday in July. No batting practice before the finale of the Mets/Phillies series. But the pitchers from both teams are out stretching and running. Chris Capuano of the Mets has his own routine in addition to what his teammates were doing. Same story a few moments later on the other side of the field. Even aces such as Cole Hamels and Roy Oswalt take part in the drill.

Michael Martinez first caught my attention in spring training. Sure, one always pulls for somebody who shares your first name, but this rookie utilityman impressed for plenty of other reasons. Back in March, I watched him lay down a beautiful bunt that set up the winning rally in a game the Phillies on in the bottom of the 9th. He fielded several positions well. Clearly Charlie Manuel and Ruben Amaro Jr also liked what they saw from the Rule-5 draftee. In a year the Phils have overcome numerous key injuries, Martinez has played several positions. Today, he started at 3rd base for the ailing Placido Polanco. Top of the 5th inning, he batted with two men on and the Phils up 1-0. Facing Mike Pelfrey, he picked the right time for his first major league home run! Rounding 3rd and heading home, Martinez follows Kyle Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins as the Phillies boost the lead to 4 - 0. Notice the symmetrical beauty of all three players on the 3rd base line, as Kendrick's foot touches home p...

I had a couple of chances during June to watch Austin Romine, one of the Yankees highly touted catching prospects. Emblematic of his being the best hitter on the Trenton ballclub, Romine normally bats third. While this initially appeared to be an ordinary infield grounder, he ran hard to 1st base and when the throw went astray, Romine was safe. Good effort! A couple of images of him behind the plate. The batter below is Starling Marte, the Altoona centerfielder considered the Pirates top prospect at the Double-A level.

Traveling through New Jersey yesterday, I had a half-hour wait between trains at Newark's Broad Street Station. I couldn't help but notice the city's independent league ballpark from the platform. You can guess what I did with my spare time. It turns out the Newark Bears (of the Can-Am League) had played at home that morning, but by 4:30 the park was closed. Luckily, the phone cam was able to reach through the gates. Nicely located adjacent to the rail station, I can now place Riverfront Stadium alongside Atlanta's now-demolished Fulton County Stadium as ballparks I've seen on the outside only! If you're into independent league ball, you might want to check out the Bears, who share the name and honor the legacy of the great Yankee farm club of the 1930s and '40s, where such future major league stars as Yogi Berra, Joe Gordon and Charlie Keller refined their skills. http://www.newarkbears.com/index.html

Besides the National League's 5-1 victory, the biggest news coming from the All Star Game was the Mets trading closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Brewers. Eager to move "K-Rod" before an ultra-expensive contract extension would likely have kicked in, the Mets get "future considerations," while Milwaukee goes for it all right now. With slugger Prince Fielder likely leaving as a free agent this winter, they get a bullpen leader who could help land them in the World Series this fall.

Congratulations to Derek Jeter, on becoming the 28th major leaguer -- and first who spent his entire career as a Yankee -- to reach 3000 hits. (For trivia buffs, 11 of the 28 members of Club 3000 played for just one club.) He did it in style! The first player to reach 3000 going 5-for-5, Jeter is just the second player (onetime teammate Wade Boggs was the first) whose 3000th hit was a home run. Only fitting for the man wearing #2, Yankee television voice Michael Kay noted that Jeter's historic blast came exactly as the Stadium clock struck 2:00. And, of course for a player who built his reputation on being clutch, his final hit of the game drove home the go-ahead run!

Hard to precisely translate into text the homegrown cheer fans at Citizens Bank Park have come up with for left fielder Raul Ibanez (seen here back in April). But you can bet it was loud and long after the veteran lefty swinger's 10th inning homer gave the Phils a 3-2 win in Friday's opener of a weekend series with the 2nd place Braves. And below, congratulations to Charlie Manuel -- the win was his 600th as Phillies manager. Just 46 more victories (a total he could reach by season's end) and he'll pass the much maligned Gene Mauch as the winningest Phillies manager ever.

There's been plenty of recent attention given to the Yankees farm club the Trenton Thunder where Phil Hughes and Derek Jeter played rehab games. But another member of the club -- one who never "suits up" -- deserves his props. Chase is the team's "batdog," noted for his work during the 1st inning of home games.

Good to see Cole Hamels back in peak form after having to leave last Thursday's game against the Red Sox when he took a line drive off his fielding hand. Hamels dominated the Marlins tonight for 8 innings, joining the 10-victory club.

Though a Yankee bullpen meltdown kept this from being the winning run in Sunday's Subway Series finale, you've got to appreciate Brett Gardner's form in touching home plate.

Some random images on the field before Friday night's Subway Series game at Citi Field.