Due to travel and other work-related matters, I am sorry for the one-day delay for Five-Thought Friday:
1. The Yankees have scored 220 second-half runs in opening the second half with a major league-best 21-8 record. The next highest total by any team is 174 by the Phillies.
2. Let the debate begin and last for, oh, the next decade or so: Best shortstop in the NL East: Floridaâs Hanley Ramirez vs. Jose Reyes. The advantage, to date in 2007, belongs to Ramirez. And Philadelphiaâs Jimmy Rollins and Atlantaâs Edgar Renteria at least want in on the current conversation.
3. Jorge Sosa has helped the Metsâ pen.
4. Sunday is an important day in the AL playoff hunt because A.J. Burnett (shoulder) comes off the DL. Toronto might not be able to make up the 5 1-2 games back it is in the wild card. But the Jays already have a terrific rotation trio of Roy Halladay, Shaun Marcum and Dustin McGowan, which has gone 30-14. It is possible that Burnett has better stuff then those three. If he can stay healthy and productive â a big question â the Blue Jays can really influence the race since they have six games left against Boston and seven against the Yankees.
5. The Phillies just might be a bigger threat to the Mets than the Braves, especially since Atlantaâs already shaky bullpen is now dealing with arm injuries to Bob Wickman and Octavio Dotel.
