ICYMI: The Week In Review

Ronny Cedeno was activated from the disabled list. Elvin Ramirez was demoted.

Tim Byrdak is looking for a home...for his chicken. Byrdak bought a chicken before Friday's game against the Yankees after Frank Francisco called the team, "chickens."

Tony LaRussa told Fox Sports that he is definitely considering R.A. Dickey to start next months' All-Star game.

Johan Santana received a key to the city from Mayor Bloomberg on Friday for throwing the Mets first no-hitter.

The Mets announced the top Mets players in franchise history Thursday night, and it wasn't without drama. In response to Darryl Strawberry saying he would love to have a chance to hit off Tom Seaver, Seaver responded with, "You don't have any handcuffs on your hands, do you?" Whatever Seaver was trying to say there, it made for an awkward moment.

Here is the complete list of the top Mets:
Mike Piazza, C
Keith Hernandez, 1b
Edgardo Alfonzo, 2b
David Wright, 3b
Jose Reyes, SS
Cleon Jones, LF
Carlos Beltran, CF
Darryl Strawberry, RF
Tom Seaver, RHS
Jerry Koosman, LHS
Roger McDowell, RHR
Tug McGraw, LHR
Davey Johnson, Manager 

Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores were picked to participate in the Futures Game as part of the All-Star festivities in Kansas City.

After striking out a career-high 13 batters and beating the Orioles 5-0 on Monday, R.A. Dickey became the first major league player in 24 years to throw back-to-back no-hitters.   

On the injury front...

Frank Francisco had to sit out of Friday night's game against the Yankees with stiffness in his left oblique.

Sandy Alderson told reporters he expects Ruben Tejada to return from the disabled list next week.

Jason Bay claims to be symptom free a little over a week after suffering a concussion. He has yet to begin any physical activity.

Bullpen Leaves A Lot To Be Desired

Frank Francisco is awful. Manny Acosta is even worse.

Francisco can blame the umpire all he wants, but at the end of the day, he blew it. He blew Sunday's game against the Marlins, as well as Friday's game, and blew the Mets' chance to sweep Miami.

The ump didn't give up a triple to Emilio Bonifacio and a single to Greg Dobbs.

When Francisco argued with the home plate umpire, and eventually got himself ejected, SNY announcer Gary Cohen wondered if Francisco would land himself a suspension.

I doubt it, but may I suggest a 128 game suspension?

I have zero confidence in Francisco when he enters a game. I haven't felt this way since the days of Armando Benitez.

The fact that Terry Collins told reporters after Sunday's game that he would address the closer situation on Monday suggests to me that he is about done with Francisco's nonsense.

As for Acosta, I don't even know where to start. Someone explain to me why he is even on this team. I can't figure it out.

Give this team their props. They fight back day after day and put themselves in positions to win. What's the point of all that though if you go to the bullpen and they ruin it?

At this point, I'm not sure who would be the ideal choice to take over as closer. We may be seeing a closer by committee situation taking place soon.

Mets Morning News: Carter Remembered, Francisco Likes A Challenge, AndMets Skeptical Of Braun

Hundreds of friends, family, and former teammates gathered at Chris Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. Friday night to remember Gary Carter. Read more about the service in The Times.

Mike Puma of the New York Post sat down with new Mats closer Frank Francisco. Francisco said he is up for a challenge.

"I got excited, because it’s a young team with a lot of potential," Francisco said yesterday. "Everybody has their eyes on the Mets to see what’s going to happen, and I like that. I like challenges — that’s me. I like people watching me."

According to Andy Martino of the Daily News, there was plenty of skepticism in the Mets clubhouse after Ryan Braun won his appeal.

"Ryan Braun is out there saying this shows he is innocent," one Met said. "Does that mean O.J. Simpson is innocent, too?"

"Oh, wow," a Mets player said on Friday, after hearing of Braun's chain-of-custody explanation. "That was his defense? Now every positive test is going to be challenged. That could be a mess."

Added a third player: "What a joke."

Another Met said: "Seems like he's guilty."

A few Mets did go on the record about the case. David Wright, R.A. Dickey, and Jason Bay all spoke with Newsday about Braun's victory.

 "I wasn't rooting one way or the other," Wright said. "I've gotten a chance to be around Ryan a little bit -- whether it was the World Baseball Classic or the All-Star Game -- and I think he's a great guy. I've had a blast playing with him and against him. Whether you agree or disagree with the decision, I guess the process worked."

"If you're guilty, I'm hoping that you're found guilty," Wright said. "If someone knowingly tries to cheat the system or cheat the game, I hope that they're caught and I hope that they're punished. In this case, I see what everybody else sees, but that's why you have the appeals process."

"I was surprised because it set a precedent," Dickey said. "I totally expected for them to find that it was legitimate. The fact that, through a technicality, they found that it wasn't, that is a surprise.

"I think that people still have doubt, like, 'Oh, here's another way to get away with it,' that type of mentality. But we've also seen a high number of people caught by it. The fact that Ryan Braun, the NL MVP, is not beyond the arm of what's going on, that's encouraging, too."

Mets Officially Sign Francisco

Frank Francisco is officially a Met. Poor guy (I kid, sort of...).

The right-hander signed a two-year deal with the Mets. The 32-year-old was 1-4 with 17 saves and a 3.55 ERA with the Toronto Blue Jays last season.

Here's a fun fact: According to the Mets press release, "He ranks fifth among American League relievers with 302 strikeouts over the last five years (2007-2011)."