Lefthander pitcher Michael Dunn, the promising prospect who was in the Yankees bullpen plans was also shipped to Atlanta along with right hand pitching prospect Arodys Vizcain, along with that always other part in a deal, $500,000 of Yankees money that never seems to be an issue

So Yankee fans may be critical of the deal. They lose Cabrera who seemed to come along during their championship season of 2009.  And they regain Vasquez who finished fourth in the NL CY Young Award balloting with a 15-10 record and 2.87 ERA in 2009. The 33-year old came to the Yankees the first time in 2003 and finished with a 10-5 record in 2004 pitching with an ailing sore shoulder.

Not a very good first stint in New York for Vasquez, and General Manager Brian Cashman believes Vasquez is a different pitcher that will help the backend of a Yankees rotation. “The second half of 2004,” commented Cashman in a conference call, “which was poor cannot erase the long success that he’s had in both the American and National League.”

Most of the problems for Vasquez when he previously wore pinstripes came in the second half of that 2004 season.  He does rank second to Livan Hernandez in starts with 327 and innings with 2,163 among active big league pitchers since 2000.  And his 2,001 strikeouts are second to Randy Johnson since the 2000 season.

Cabrera will get the start for the Braves. The Yankees lose a good arm in the outfield and for the moment will find a way to deal without his career highs in doubles, 28 and the 13 home runs he hit in 2009.  The Braves wanted Cabrera and more so, the youngster Vizcaino in the deal.

“We had to have him in the deal,” said Braves GM Frank Wren about Vizcaino, the 19-year old who was 2-4 with a 2.13 ERA in Single-A. “He is a special young pitcher,” added Wren who acquired veteran relief pitchers Billy Wagner and Takashi Saito earlier this month.

Cashman continues to pull the strings, though the Yankees appear to have less punch int heir lineup with the departures of Hideki Matsui to the Angels. The future of Johnny Damon is uncertain and it appears the Yankees have no interest in bringing the outfielder back

Be certain that Vasquez is not the last move.  Dunn is gone, so is pitcher Phil Coke who went to Arizona in the three team trade that brought outfielder Curtis Granderson to the Bronx.  Where will Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain be before the winter is over?

That is something that Cashman may still need to address. And something Yankees fans await before the start of the 2010 campaign,

Every Mets fans knows this has not been an amazing season, so a little reminiscing and offering appreciation was a welcome addition for fans who were around when that team overcame all obstacles. “The Miracle Mets” as they were known, and two Hall of Fame pitchers Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan got the loudest ovations in pre game ceremonies.

“Awesome tribute and also important that players of this era see these type of players,” commented Mets manager Jerry Manuel after his team lost another ballgame, 4-1 to the first place Phillies.

That magic of 1969, when it seemed every pitch and hit went their way in the month of August unfortunately would not follow for the August 2009 Mets.

Starter Tim Redding was not expected to throw more than 70 pitches.  He is now in the back end of a rotation because Livan Hernandez was released earlier this week. Redding, who was 3-1 against the Phillies in his last seven starts dating back to April 2, 2008, in his five shutout innings of work at one point resembled Gary Gentry, one of those Miracle Mets then who was in the back end of the rotation put together by .anager Gil Hodges.

“I was taxed,” said Redding. “I haven’t thrown more than 50 pitches in a month.” He threw 81 pitches and did his best to keep his team in the ballgame. Redding was lifted and for the second time this season Manuel used seven pitchers in a game.

“Could I have gone one more?” asked Redding. “Probably,” he said, also adding it may or may not have been the right choice. But that has been the story of the 2009 Mets. Decisions with an inconsistent pitching staff, and a make ship lineup that Manuel puts on the field, are more difficult than the ones that Hodges made during that miracle championship season.

Redding, perhaps had a solid and limited outing after talking to Ryan prior to throwing his first pitch. “He said go after them and relax and I did,” commented Redding about his brief talk with Ryan who is the current president of the Texas Rangers. Redding (1-4) did not figure in the decision and would limit the Phillies to 1- hit, striking out four.

Omir Santos extended his hitting streak to five games with an RBI single in the second inning, Angle Pagan went 2-for-4 and Daniel Murphy with a hit extended his hitting streak to eight games. That was the extent of it for the Mets at the plate on an evening of nostalgia that went for another loss.

MORE METS:  Outside the press VIP area after the game, Jerry Koosman, an instrumental pitcher during that 1969 season patiently signed autographs for fans. “What made us so good was the chemistry we had and Gil (Hodges) the manager,” he said.  Koosman now retired in Osceloa Wisconsin offered his views about the current state of this Mets team and the fans.

“Every team will have their struggles,” he said.  “The thing is, we went a season without major injuries and had the guys who could do it, the unexpected.  These fans are the best in baseball and they were a part of the championship as much as we were. Look at this 40 years later, and we are still remembered and in time I am sure the same will happen again here…”

Pedro Martinez will be on the mound for Philadelphia Sunday afternoon in the third game of the four game series that concludes Monday afternoon. Martinez makes his third start since being signed by the Phillies opposing (3-3) Oliver Perez of the Mets. It will be interesting to see how the Citi Field fans will react to Pedro pitching in another uniform.

’They’re going to get a chance to see me as a different way, healthier,” said Martinez.  The Mets decided to not offer him a contract after sitting out most of last season with Rotator cuff surgery to his pitching arm. After pitching well for the Dominican Republic team in the World Baseball Classic, he hoped to get another contract offer from the Mets that never came.

Does he hold any animosity towards the Mets organization for not giving him a call?  “Some teams showed interest after the classic,” he said, “Just didn’t think the Mets wanted to do it and they didn’t.  Though Martinez did say that waiting for the Mets to give him a call “cost me half a season” and the biggest motivation to coming back was his health.

“They didn’t feel they could trust how healthy I was and how I was feeling,” said Martinez who will have the awkward feeling of starting against his former team. The last time he faced the Mets, Martinez was with Boston and pitched seven innings and did not figure in the decision on July 13, 2000.

As for his start Sunday Martinez said, “Since I came over to the Phillies I said I would enjoy every single moment in baseball. Someone who respects the game and enjoys what he does.”  He hopes the fans can understand this is business and will appreciate what he did during his tenure in New York.

“I enjoyed every moment I was here and have great memories,’ he said.  And if Pedro pitches like he did in his debut with the Phillies on August 12^th, five innings and getting the win, well Mets fans will have to wonder. Why didn’t he get at least a one-year deal?

e-mail Rich Mancuso:  Ring786@aol.com

It did not matter that the Mets lost another game Thursday evening at Citi Field, 3-2 to the Atlanta Braves. It did not matter that they lost two of three games to Atlanta. What once was a great divisional rivalry between the two teams is no more. The Braves are in contention and the Mets are not, losing their 65^th game of the season.

Sheffield was dressed and out of the ballpark moments after the last pitch. Manuel would not refer to the contract dispute, but it is known Sheffield is not a part of the Mets long range plans. Manuel would not elaborate and said, “He had some issues to take care of and asked to be removed form the lineup.”

Nothing more than another bit of quiet turmoil that has surrounded the New York Mets as they quietly play out the string with 43 games remaining.  Besides Sheffield causing some turmoil, pitcher Livan Hernandez was released before the game to make room for the season debut of Billy Wagner. Hernandez was not happy and quickly left the clubhouse looking for another job after going 7-8 with a 5.47 ERA in 23 games.

Wagner would pitch a perfect eighth inning and got a rousing ovation from the Citi Field crowd, his first appearance in a game since August 2, 2008 at Houston after elbow ligament replacement surgery. “I guess you are always worried about how you are going to be perceived,” said Wagner about the ovation.

Wagner reportedly said he would waive his no trade clause and go to a contender if it can be worked out. Whether or not Wagner is being showcased, he looked good. He threw 14 pitches in the inning, nine for strikes. His fastball was clocked at 96 and struck out Reid Gorecki, got Chipper Jones to fly to right and struck out Brian McCann.

“To come back after eleven months and face these, caliber of hitters makes it better,” commented Wagner. Manuel said about his performance, “Really a big plus going forward not only for us but for his career. I would have to say he is back but be careful.”

So the game and another loss for the Mets was not the story. Neither was the otherwise seven good strong innings pitched by Johan Santana who threw 77 pitches and got the loss. Obvious that Santana, (13-9) was moved to showcase Wagner a free agent who could be traded before the August 31 waiver deadline.

“Overall I thought I had good stuff,” said Santana avoiding the issue of leaving a close game with a low pitch count. The decision was up to Manuel for Wagner to make his season debut and Santana, the professional he is, just evaluated his outing. “I was just trying to do my job,” he said.

“Johan competed and gave us a chance to win,” said Manuel. “We’re very happy with the performance he gives us all the time.” Santana has been that hard luck pitcher in this dismal Mets season. He has given up three runs in four of his last six starts and the Mets have failed to score more than two runs for him in nine of his starts this season.

Sheffield will be at Citi Field Friday evening when the Mets begin a four-game series with first place Philadelphia. But a source said the Mets will do everything they can to try Sheffield who was claimed by the Giants on waivers last week according to SI.com. That means the Mets only can release him or put him on waivers again, which means either a team claims him or he will be released.

Wagner will continue to be showcased, or there could be a change of thought about a trade if he continues to throw hard and effective like he did.

More drama to come as Pedro Martinez gets the start for the Phillies against his former team Sunday afternoon.  And with Wagner back and Sheffield unhappy, are the Mets waiving the white flag or maximizing their assets for the future?

E-mail Rich Mancuso: Ring786@aol.com