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The three runs scored by the Houston Astros in the 12th inning extinguished the Chicago Cubs’ hope to take another series at home.  The Astros won the rubber game by beating the home team 4-3 in a marathon match of three hours and 46 minutes.

I guess yesterday's news involving Lou Piniella ending all doubt and saying he will not be back next year is good news for me. I won't have to write anymore "fire Lou Piniella" columns.

But why is he still in Chicago? What is to be gained by that?

The team he has managed is going nowhere. They have been lifeless all year, and now they are playing for a lame-duck manager.

What is there to inspire them to play hard the rest of the way?

Having missed out on acquiring the services of Cliff Lee, the Mets will turn to the best of the rest among potential trade targets as they look for an in-season acquisition to help boost them to their first postseason berth in four years.

We know they need pitching primarily, so let’s look at five pitchers who the Mets could target in the next few weeks.

Starting pitching is likely still the priority for the Mets, as they would love to acquire a starter so they could move Hisanori Takahashi back to the bullpen, where he’s more effective.

The numbers back that up, too.

Time to ask other Mets fans on Twitter another question. This time it was:

Hey Mets fans, what is 1 thing you want the Mets to get before the trade deadline expires?

Got quite a few responses, so lets get right into it:

@TylerFlushingBB a winning streak.

http://twitter.com/heyyoeddie

Before Rick Pitino was best known for doing dirty, awful things to mid-western restaurant patrons, he was a well-respected college basketball coach. And before that, he was the coach of the Boston Celtics.

Pitino's stay was brief (three-and-a-half seasons) and wholly ineffective (102-146 record, zero postseason berths), but he did leave behind one very famous tirade to Boston sportswriters on March 1, 2000.

After losing their past two games against the D-Backs, the Mets will try to salvage at least one game before they head to Los Angeles to face the Dodgers for a four-game series.

For the second straight series, the Mets look to try to get a win in the final game after losing the rest.

This road trip out west has not gone well so far for the Mets. Here is tonight’s lineup, with some comments from me.

1. Jose Reyes, SS - Reyes hit the ball well his last three at bats on Monday, and also got two hits yesterday.

It was a comment that received little attention during spring training, but it might have been a turning point for Mickey Mantle.

Some New York Yankees' rookies were showing off their skills at St. Petersburg in 1956. Mickey watched the hopefuls a few minutes and then the Yankees' 24-year-old veteran turned to a reporter.

"A lot of these young kids of ours are going to be good ballplayers."

This was a new Mickey Mantle.

It was back in December of 2004 that the St. Louis Cardinals first traded Danny Haren.

Now, here in the summer of 2010, the Cardinals may re—acquire the former highly touted prospect.

Ed Price of AOL Fanhouse is reporting that the Cardinals are focused on Haren and the Cleveland Indian's Jake Westbrook.

Haren is signed through 2012 with a club option for 2013. Westbrook is a free agent at the end of the season.

Those two facts alone point out whose price is the cheapest in terms of players needed.

Andy Pettitte thinks he can be back on the mound in three weeks.

After watching the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim slaughter the New York Yankees, any encouragement that the team could manage without the Southpaw went right out the window.

Phil Hughes went into the game with a 3-0 career record against the Halos. That was short and sweet after Hughes gave up nine hits, six runs and two home runs over five innings.

It was the icing on the cake on this streak of bad luck the Yankees have had since the start of the second half of the season.

The Yankees have had scouts watching the Marlins lately as the two teams have discussed a couple of players, but OF Cody Ross is one name that keeps coming up in the papers.