NEWS ITEM-SUBWAY SERIES ROUND TWO THIS WEEKEND IN FLUSHING

Our summertime warriors face off once again, this time at Citi field. The Yankees try for a sweep again and the Mets strive for consistency after an up and down couple of weeks since the last subway series.

The Bronx Bombers continue to be on a huge roll winning 20 of their last 25 games, mostly against the NL East. The Mets have alternated sweeps and being swept it seems since they lost 3 straight at the Stadium.

Oddly enough the most consistent element of Yankee baseball so far has been its pitching -- starting AND relieving. When one considers that the Yankees have been without Mariano Rivera, Joba Chamberlain and David Robertson for large parts of the season so far, it is quite remarkable that the team still resides in first place in the AL East. Equally surprising is the fact that the team has continued to struggle greatly with men in scoring position. Robinson Cano, among others, is 9 for 61 with runners in scoring position.

The Mets have not been consistent all year, yet they remain in contention for a playoff berth. Since getting slapped around in the Bronx, Johan Santana has had two mediocre outings and the Mets offense has largely been David Wright and the Nobodys scoring runs. The best thing about the Mets has been knuckleballer R.A. Dickey, who has 11 wins at press time and is coming off consecutive one hitters, a rarity in baseball.

As usual, it figures to be an action packed, drama filled 3 days at Citi, culminating in a great pitching matchup on Sunday night as C.C. Sabathia opposes R.A. Dickey.

NEWS ITEM-ROGER CLEMENS FOUND NOT GUILTY OF PERJURY

Now we will see if the court of public opinion agrees. Ex-Yankee Roger Clemens was found to be not guilty of perjury in a three-year proceeding about the use or lack of use of steroids. He is eligible to be elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in less than two years.

Most people in baseball have indicated they feel Clemens has used sterioids so it will be interesting to see (A) the press votes on Clemens for the Hall of Fame, yes or no and (B) equally important to see how the court of public opinion votes. I suspect we may see signs of this fairly soon. 

It may be that the court of public opinion doesn't agree with the legal courts, as I remember O.J. Simpson was found not guilty although everyone knew he was guilty of murder. Right? What's your opinion?