Jon Niese's Gem

August 27th was quite a night for Jon Niese. The Mets lefthander, in just his fourth start back after a long stint on the disabled list from a rotator cuff injury, enjoyed the finest night of his major league career. He fired a complete-game three hit shuout -- and drove in three runs as the Mets pounded the Phillies 5 - 0. With most of the Mets core of impressive young pitchers -- Harvey, Wheeler, Montero and Syndegard -- being righties, Niese, just two years into a five-year contract, is expected to be the Jerry Koosman or Sid Fernandez of this group.

And a Final Word on Byrd
 
Marlon Byrd ranks with baseball's most unexpected success stories of 2013. An unwanted free agent following an unproductive 2012 season that ended with a PED suspension, he was a walk-on free agent at the Mets camp in March. Playing his way onto a roster spot, he supplied surprising production, for the first time hitting more than 20 home runs. But at age 35, he's not someone you'd count on as part of the Mets future. You really can't fault Sandy Alderson for swapping him and John Buck to Pittsburgh for well-regarded prospect Dilson Herrera, who might be the Mets 2017 2nd baseman. By that time, the affable and well-liked Byrd could well be a broadcaster -- and barring an even more unexpected turn of events -- one of baseball's most productive players. Did GM Sandy Alderson, a day after losing his young ace Matt Harvey, raise the white flag? With the team a dozen games under .500, conceding to reality had already taken place.
Do you agree with Alderson's move? Was Byrd an attraction that made Mets fans more likely to visit Citi Field in September? And conversely, did the Pirates overpay for short term help during a pennant race? Click on "comment" and share your opinion.
And how ironic was it that within days of this game action at Citi Field both player in the picture -- Byrd and Michael Young of the Phillies -- would be traded to contenders?

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