Following the Mets’ 7-3 dispatch of Surfin’ Barry and the Giants this afternoon — New York’s 6th consecutive victory — GM Omar Minaya followed Jerry Manuel’s press conference by announcing OF Moises Alou is likely to miss the remainder of the 2008 season after suffering a right hamstring tear during an Eastern League rehab stint.   “It’s a good day for Fernando Tatis to have a good day,” smirked Minaya, who chose to make the announcement shortly after the veteran utility man (above) clobbered a 2-run HR to give the Mets a 5-3 lead in the 6th. The assembled press corps were far too polite to pull a Wally Matthews and ask Minaya how he could’ve expected any other outcome, instead quizzing the GM about the possibility of adding another outfielder. Amidst vague talk of the existing roster “stepping it up”, Minaya helpfully mentioned Angel Pagan might be ready after the All-Star Break.  So there’s the NL East title all sorted, then.

The only other baseball news this Thursday nearly as easy to see coming down the pike?  Seattle’s release of Richie Sexson.

San Francisco collected a grand total of 9 hits from Mets pitching over the last 3 days. Never mind Barry Bonds, perhaps the Giants oughta reactivate F.P. Santangelo.  And on the matter of guys who might not be wearing a big league uniform anytime soon, former Mets IF Edgardo Alfonso was two for three last night in the Long Island Ducks’ 9-8 win over Newark.   This would’ve been a tough game for me to have a rooting interest in — the home team features such fan favorites as Jurassic Carl Everett and Pete Rose Jr., while the visiting Bears include former Division III Player Of The Year (and client of the sports blogosphere’s most unrepentant tool) Gerard Haran . The only other player in organized ball named “Gerard” that I’ve been able to find is former Phillies farm hand Gerard “Don’t Call Me Gerry” Breslin, while Baseball Reference turns up at least 5 guys named Argenis. But god bless the Long Island Ducks, anything to keep Alay Soler’s name in circulation (or Buddy Harrelson from managing a meaningful baseball game).