Former Met minor leaguer Mike DiFelice has been DFA’d by Tampa. Mike only saw 20 at bats in 7 games this season, hitting .300 with 4 RBIs. The Rays normal starter, Navarro , was taken off the DL just after DiFelice was released.

Some of you, like Rob, are sitting there going, ‘Dan, why should I care that some guy who barely saw playing time as a Met is getting DFA’d? Where are the interesting Ex Met Watches, like Fonzie, or Kaz and his weird butt related injuries?"  To you I say, scroll down a few posts and whats that…hey, all our catchers are hurt. Its like they think they’re left fielders or older starting pitchers. Is he a great catcher? Noooo. But he is known as someone who calls a good game, handles pitchers well, and isn’t as bad as Carlos Delgado is right now with a bat. Don’t look for him to knock in a homer, but he might actually connect and send something into fair play once or twice a game. At the least, it gives us an option beside Cassanova, who is so good that he was the last active player in the MLB to get an at bat.  Plus everyone loves Met catchers named Mike right? If Hundley was named Mike he’d probably still be playing right now.

According to rotoworld, the Mets declined arbitration on Paul Lo Duca, Shawn Green, Mike DiFelice, Aaron Sele, Jeff Conine, Sandy Alomar Jr, and Jose Valentin. Reports from last month indicated that Jeff Conine was planning on retiring.

No surprises here. With the acquisition of Church and Schneider, that left no room for Lo Duca, Green and our pair of minor league catchers. Likewise, the Castillo deal combined with Stache’s heath problems pretty much sealed his fate. Of the list, chances are only Green and Lo Duca end up on a MLB 25 man roster next season.

Mets veteran pitcher Aaron Sele and veteran catchers Mike DiFelice and Sandy Alomar Jr. have all filed for free agency. This brings the total to nine Mets who will test the market.

Aside from the injuries to Lastings and Johnson, some might be wondering what else is going on down in the farm system.  So lets take a quick look.

Ricky Leedee, who was kind of briefly a Met last season, had a grand slam earlier in the week as part of a 4 for 5 day that helped the Zephyrs beat the Isotopes (Marlins AAA) 17 to 8.  Leedee followed this up by striking out five times Thursday and twice on Friday.  He's now batting .314, the slam was his sole homerun so far. Just remember, one bad diving catch by Alou, and he'll be in blue and orange.

Victor Diaz had four RBI's, which would be much cooler if he was still with the Met organization.  Now a Redhawk, he helped the Rangers AAA team defeat the Zephyrs 5-1. Mike DiFelice had the sole Zephyr RBI in the game, which took place yesterday.  It was his 8th RBI of the season,  he's now batting .360

Carlos Gomez went 0 for 4, this ended a 21 game streak in which he reached safely.  He's stolen 10 bases so far, getting caught 3 times.  The speedy Gomez has an OBP of .366, including 9 walks.

Robinson Cancel has been moved from the B-Mets to the Zephyrs to replace Lastings on the roster.  I…don't know anything about him.  Anyone?

Ruben Gotay has hit in seven straight, including a 4 for 7 day in Tuesdays romp. He's currently looking like the most likely option should we need second basemen (ie, Stache or Easley gets hurt).  Anderson Hernendez is..well, playing like Anderson Hernendez.

Up on the mound Chan Ho Park continues to survive thanks to the Zephyrs offense.  After Tuesdays win, he's 3-1 with a 7.29 ERA after 21 IP.  He's given up six homeruns and 17 runs total. I think the chances of us seeing Park promoted get smaller and smaller as the season goes on. We'll see Dave Williams first.  Jorge Sosa is the current cream of the crop.  3-0 with a 1.38 ERA.  He's given up just 4 earned runs, while striking out 24. 
should Pelf continue to struggle, I'm guessing Sosa will get the first shot at the 5 spot.

Mets Blog is reporting by way of Ken Rosenthal on Fox Sports that the Mets may be in talks to acquire cathcer Danny Ardoin, 32, was designated for assignment by the Rockies last Friday and jack of all trades, Luis Gonzales.

Gonzalez,
27, primarily is a second baseman, but he has played all four infield
positions in the past two seasons as well as left field and right. He
would give the Mets protection if Jose Valentin again is slowed by his
right hamstring injury. Chris Woodward is currently the Mets' only
backup infielder.

In return for Ardoin and Gonzalez, the Rockies
likely would receive Class AA right-hander Matt Lindstrom, 26, or Class
AA right-hander Henry Owens, 27.

Brian Bannister was promoted and will get the start tonight. In his last minor league start, he settled in after
allowing a solo HR in the first inning. He pitched five more scoreless innings for his second
win in a row.  He finished with five
strikeouts and one walk.

Lastings Milledge was sent down to make room for Bannister but is likely to return quickly, as rosters expand on September 1st to allow for 40 players.

Ramon Castro had surgery on his knee and was placed on the 60 day DL. Kelly Stinnett was picked up by the Mets after being released by the Yankees last month as insurance for Mike DiFelice as a third catcher option.

As expected, the Mets put Ramon Castro on the disabled
list because of a strained oblique. Mike DiFelice
was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk in his place.