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Oliver Perez pitched in front of Jerry Manuel and Dan Warthen, and Manuel said "He's healthy and ready to go."

Perez may be activated as soon as after tonight's game. Josh Thole is in tonight's lineup, but may be sent down after the game in Perez's place.

Perez has been on rehab, and if the Mets do reactivate him, it's not a given he'll start on Thursday. He may be used as a lefty specialist and long reliever to eat up innings.

Mets manager Jerry Manuel did say he'll advocate keeping Thole in the majors.

When we moved to Arizona in 1994, Phoenix was clearly a basketball town. The Phoenix Suns were continuously sold out and you heard stories of people spending hours on the phone the day single game tickets went on sale hoping to score tickets to a single game during the season.

New York Yankees fans first fell in love with Joba Chamberlain in Game Two of the 2007 ALDS, also known as the infamous "bug" game.

Joba was everything and more that night. It was the spirit in his young eyes that does not come around that often.

Yankees Universe went totally crazy for this kid that night, even making losing the game bearable. Joba was the future, an authentic, talented, home-grown player that Yankee fans had been waiting for since 1996.

"They expect an umpire to be perfect on Opening Day and to improve as the season goes on." - American League Umpire Nestor Chylak

Ol' Nestor was right. You know what else?

It can't be done.

Every umpire blows at LEAST one call per season. With luck, it'll be on a half-swing in June that nobody notices or cares about.

Or, if you're unlucky, (or Jim Joyce) the bang-bang call - and the attendant screwup - come on the 27th "out" of a perfect game.

Picture Mark Kotsay wearing a blue and white Royals uniform. Got that image? It's easy to imagine, right? That's because Kotsay is that caliber of player. He's not the caliber of player that should be "contributing" on a playoff caliber team such as the White Sox.

The Red Sox knew that last season, and that's why they waived him .

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Mark Kotsay should not be in the middle of the White Sox lineup .

Mike Pelfrey has never been known for his pinpoint control. Throughout the minors and majors he has only stayed under three walks per nine innings once (2.87 BB/9 in 2008).

For those who remember the old Lou Piniella, Tuesday's new conference was a sure sign that the one-time volatile skipper had mellowed.

Today, Lou Piniella, after 46 years on the baseball field as a player and manager, quietly decided to retire at the conclusion of this season.

Some fantasy baseball owners are in need of a few points in their roto league, trying to lock up one stat a week in their head to head or even looking to retool for next year.

Whatever your situation is, this will give you the low down on every National League teams' situation.

Brewers  

The St. Louis Cardinals rallied to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 5-4 Sunday, completing only their second sweep this year. 

Although the Cards won their last two games using statistically non-threatening starters in Jeff Suppan and Blake Hawksworth, they could still use some reinforcements for their injury-ridden starting rotation. 

Kyle Lohse and Brad Penny will not likely contribute much more (if at all) to the Cards' 2010 season, and wins still are not guaranteed from aces Chris Carpenter, Adam Wainwright, and rookie sensation Jaime Garcia. 

Yes, they will. Guaranteed.

If I were in Vegas, I'd place my entire savings on the odds that the Rangers will go into the playoffs as the AL West winner.

Living in the Dallas area my entire life, the talk has always been: "next year" or "They'll fade after the All-Star break." And, until now, that talk has always been true and relevant. But, not this year. And here's why: