Welcome, everybody, to our first edition of Fact or Fiction. The opinions you read will be those of Mike Peters, Jersey Dan, Abby Mudd, and Matt Regan. Anytime there is not a majority consensus on any question I will have the final say on the matter.

1. The NL East is the most disappointing division in Major League Baseball during the first half of the 2007 season.

Peters: Fiction. The Braves have played better than everyone expected, and the Mets and Phils are right where they were expected to be. Even the Fish are decent. The Nats are terrible. While I agree with JD about the AL East, the most disappointing division has got to be the NL Central. Sure the Brewers have been a big story this season, but who expected the WS champion Cardinals to be 7.5 out of first at the break? The Cubs have been struggling to stay afloat (and out of fights amongst themselves) after making a number of off-season acquisitions. Even the Astros, who have in my opinion one of the best lineups in baseball, are 10.5 out, and 11 games under .500.

JD: Fiction. That honor would go to the AL East. What was supposed to be a tight three- team race for most of the season has turned into the Red Sox dominating the underachieving Yankees and Blue Jays. There is no way that the Yankees should be 42-43 at the All Star break.

Abby: Fiction. AL East is a pathetic excuse for a division. Back in the days, when the Red Sox and Yankees were the only team in contention, they got this honor. And now that it is just pretty much the Red Sox, matters are much worse.

Regan: Fact. How can it not be? The three powerhouses of the NL East have all struggled throughout the first half of the season and continue to do so. If any one of them played a little better, they would be running away with the division. Sure you can say the AL East and the Yankees are a disappointment, but we are Mets fans; aren’t we suppose to want them to do poorly? If anything the Yankees performance has to be considered a surprise rather than a disappointment.

2. It is imperative that the Mets make a trade before August 1.

Peters: Fact. The Mets have to do something about their bullpen. The biggest difference between last year and this year is our bullpen's inability to put up zero's. Otherwise, I think the rotation and the lineup are okay once we get healthy.

JD: Fact, but not necessarily for a pitcher. I think a corner OF should be a top priority. With names like Dunn, Dye, and Griffey on the market there is no way the Mets should not have a solid corner outfielder by the deadline.

Abby: Fact. It is quite obvious that changes need to be made. I believe that a trade in the pitching department is what we need the most. I am hoping the Mets make a trade for a solid addition to our (sometimes) rocky bullpen, (see Scott Schoeneweis)

Regan: Fiction. Our starting pitching is fine and our bullpen is still one of the best in all of Major League Baseball. When Pedro comes back our bullpen is only going to get stronger for the playoffs with whomever they push to the bullpen. Who doesn’t like the sounds of a Pedro, Glavine, Maine, Perez rotation with Sele, Smith, Heilman, Wagner, and possibly Hernandez in the bullpen when it’s playoff time? I think our hitting needs work, but the proper pieces are already there. I don’t think we need to go out there and trade for someone, especially when we probably will have to give up some of our young talent to get it. Remember we have Alou coming back, and Milledge has potential to break out at some point. The only trade that would seem feasible in my eyes, would be a trade for a powerful second baseman who can score runs and can hit for average and power. Do you know anyone not named Sorriano who could do that? I don’t think so. Leave the team as it is and let them break out of their respective funks.

3. Paul Lo Duca will be a New York Met after the trade deadline.

Peters: Fact, 100%. The Mets have hinted that they are interested in Ronny Paulino of the Pirates after the season. Lo Duca isn't going anywhere

JD: Fact. Duke will be in the blue and orange until the end of the season. His future after this season is what is up in the air though.

Abby: Fact. I look forward to a long and productive post and second half of the season with Paul Lo Duca. After that we will see.

Regan: Fact. Lo Duca will be apart of this team throughout the whole season. He is a leader, from Brooklyn, and someone the young players look up too. He fits the mold of this team probably better than anyone, and you can’t take that away from him. He also happens to be one of the better clutch hitters for his position in the game, and he has shown he can continue to get it done with runners in scoring position with 2 outs. He also is clearly a better defensive catcher than Sandy Alomar Jr. and Ramon Castro. After the season, I can see the Mets not bringing him back, but their main reason will probably be to save some salary space and to get someone younger. I don’t think that someone is going to be Ronny Paulino though. That’s just media hogwash.

4. 500 home runs in a career no longer guarantees a player for the Hall of Fame

Peters: Fiction. 500 is 500, steroids or not. If you hit 500 homers you're in the hall. Now it used to be that 400 was a lock. Those days are over. See Andreas Galarraga.

JD: Fiction. If you hit 500 HR you will be a Hall Of Famer. 500 home runs shows that you are one of the great hitters of all time. McGwire will eventually get inducted. It's inevitable. So will Frank Thomas, and the others who are closing in.

Abby: Fact. There are no guarantees in life. There are no guarantees to get in the Hall of Fame, especially if you use steroids or bet on baseball.

Regan: Fiction. 500 Home Runs is a great accomplishment no matter how you look at it. Sure you can say so and so used steroids but where’s the proof? If they hit 500 they should go in, no questions asked.

5. When a great batter regresses with little or no warning (i.e. Pujols, Hafner, Delgado) you can't help but wonder if their success was chemically aided.

Peters: Fact. You can't help but wonder, but that doesn't make it true. Junior had a major regression from his run in the 90s, but most people have dismissed the idea that he has ever done steroids.

JD: Fact. While I don't think that is the case with any of these guys, you do have to wonder. Delgado I just think is an age thing. Pujols has turned it on as of late, and Hafner is only slumping in his average. His power numbers are still legit.

Abby: Fiction. There are other things that can attribute to fast decrease in productivity such as, injuries, age, and personal problems.

Regan: Fact. But this is the case for everything. If someone is doing well they must be on the juice. If they are performing poorly, it must be because they are off the juice. Other factors like age, and injuries are often times ignored when it comes to a player’s performance. This is a sad realization, but this is what all sports have come to now.