Prof. Reyes is back

Amazing news. Jose Reyes will return as Professor Reyes, back from it's one year sabbatical. Here are a few videos I found on YouTube.




Amazing.

More on the triceps tendon

Via MensHealth.com:

What is the triceps muscle?

The triceps muscle is the one at the back of the upper arm - as shown opposite. It inserts into the back of the elbow. If you fall onto your hands you can rupture this tendon. If you over-do the weights or try to push something too heavy you can also rupture the tendon or it could become inflammed through over use.

Symptoms include:

* Pain at the tip of the elbow.
* Pain at this point when you try to straighten the arm against resistance e.g. pushing something heavy.

What can the athlete do?

* Rest. Ice the injury in the first two days.
* See a sports injury professional for advice on treatment and rehabilitation.

What can a sports injury specialist or doctor do?

* Use ultrasound or laser treatment.
* X-ray the elbow.
* Prescribe anti-inflammatory medication.
* Prescribe a full rehabilitation program.

This has nothing to do with Tommy John Surgery, as that effects the ligament in your upper arm, not the tendon.

I think this makes me breath a little easier.

Johan Santana out indefinitely

Things are going from bad to worse with Johan Santana.

First, it was just a sore elbow, likely from throwing for the first time in months. Expected to miss only one start. Then it was two starts. Now, Santana is sidelined indefinitely.

Via Amazin' Stories:

“We have 162 games for what we want to accomplish,” Santana said, the day after his expected spring training debut was cancelled. “Everything starts April 6. Whether it’s going to be me or anyone else, it’s tough to say right now.”

Santana met with manager Jerry Manuel and general manager Omar Minaya early Saturday morning and said the decision to be supremely cautious with his pitching arm is unanimous.

“I’d rather take my time,” he said. “I haven’t even faced any live hitters.”

The article goes on to explain that Santana is still slated for a bullpen session on Sunday and would like to get two or three under his belt before facing live batters.

Take your time.

Via David Lennon:

As for the worst-case scenario, Santana throws on Sunday, still feels the elbow and the Mets finally decide to send him back to New York for tests. Santana said minutes ago that the elbow still is tight -- he's been told it's the triceps tendon behind the elbow -- and he is considering the possibility that Opening Day might now be questionable for him.

I had that gut feeling when Santana missed his first "start" but I thought nothing of it. Things aren't exactly grim, but any time the ace of the staff is "out indefinitely" you start to worry.

I believe now is the time to worry.

Santana bumped again

Johan Santana will not make his Tuesday start, either, due to his sore elbow.

No news is good news, and this is definitely bad news. This is starting to feel as if the Mets know more than they are letting on.

The State of the Mets -- 2/27/09

Here is the seventh edition of The State of the Mets, albeit very late.

Topics covered: spring training, Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes and Johan Santana's elbow.

Enjoy.

Mets sign (puke) Ron Villone

According to Adam Rubin, the Mets have signed lefthanded reliever Ron Villone to a minor league deal.

Seriously?

Live Blog: STL vs. NYM

Second home game, second live blog. Join me at 1 p.m. to discuss the Mets as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals in the third (fourth if you count Italy) spring training game of 2009.

Chat away!

Adam Eaton out of Philly

The 700 Level is relaying info that the Philadelphia Phillies have released Adam Eaton.

Eaton is a career 5-1 against the Mets, with two wins coming with the Phillies in 2007.

There's another level for Jose Reyes?

Via David Lennon:

"We really think Jose [Reyes] is ready to really take it to another level," [Jerry] Manuel said. "We really feel good about where he is in his career, the maturation process. We feel very, very confident that there are a lot of things that he still could do as a player. He could be a third hitter, like I told you all he was. I really believe that he's ready to take off."

I can't even imagine "another level" for Reyes.

He's already one of the most exciting players in the league. He's supremely talented at the plate, in the field and on the base paths. But Manuel is right -- he probably hasn't even hit his prime yet -- and that makes me extremely happy.

Spark up the Manny rumors

The Dodgers offered Manny Ramirez a two-year, $45 million deal with an option to opt out after one year if he believes he can find another deal. Apparently, that wasn't good enough for Manny, as he rejected the offer last night.

That means I'm preparing to read someone's crazy idea that the Mets can still sign him -- that the team should offer $50 million to him, or something absurd like that.

I just don't want to hear it. I don't think Manny will ever be happy.

Jeremy made a prediction last night, before we learned about the deal being turned down, that Manny will not be on a team by opening day. I scoffed at him, but now he might be right.

Newsday to charge for Web site

Not good news. Not good news at all.

Via Rueters:

"Our goal was and is to use our electronic network assets and subscriber relationships to transform the way news is distributed," he [Tom Rutledge] said on a conference call with analysts.

"We plan to end the distribution of free Web content and make our news gathering capabilities a service for our customers," he added.
---
Newsday's publisher Timothy Knight said in a statement: "We are in the process of transforming Newsday's Web site into an enhanced, locally focused cable service that we believe will become an important benefit for Newsday and Cablevision customers. More particulars will be forthcoming over the next few months."

Though it may be good for a print journalism major like me in the long run, but I can see this backfiring to a major degree.

Game Recap: Mets 9 -- Marlins 0

Two games. Two wins. Nine runs in each.

On The Mound

Six pitchers combined to allow only three hits, one of which never made it out of the infield.

Oliver Perez struck out three in two innings of work, walking one. He allowed no hits. Dillon Gee followed that up with two shut out innings of his own. He allowed an infield hit to Cameron Maybin, but picked him off at first base.

Jon Switzer and Nelson Figueroa combined for three shut out innings, each tallying one strike out.

Heriberto Ruelas and Kyle Snyder finished out the game for the Mets.

At The Plate

Working with a peculiar line up which had Perez batting second and Jose Reyes batting third, the Mets got more than they bargained for.

Reyes went 2-4 on the day, both home runs. He hit a grand slam in the fourth inning and followed that up with a solo home run in the sixth inning. Six RBIs for Reyes on the day.

Carlos Beltran hit a two-run home run, picking up three RBIs total.

Beltran, Luis Castillo and Daniel Murphy each picked up a stolen base.

In The Field

As noted before, Gee picked off Maybin at first base in the third inning.

The Mets will take on the St. Louis Cardinals tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be available on the MLB Network and SNY. I will be live blogging until 2:45 p.m.

Quinnipiac sneaks into Mets spring training telecast

It's a blowout in spring training -- nothing can be more boring -- so the trio of Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling are shooting the breeze.

"...Quinnipiac..."

My ears perked up. I just heard Quinnipiac (my school) on SNY!

Putting two and two together, they're chit-chatting about schools and Howie Rose's daughter just happens to attend this university. They had some great things to say about the school, and I would only echo what they said.

Anyway, thought that was cool.

Live Blog: FLA vs. NYM -- Port St. Lucie

Here is my first attempt at a live blog this year. I have class from 2 p.m. to 3:15 p.m., but I usually get out early.

Santana bumped due to elbow discomfort

Johan Santana will not make his scheduled start on Friday against Team Italy.

According to Marty Noble, Santana was scratched with elbow discomfort, something now new to the pitcher.

Manager Jerry Manuel characterized the reason as "discomfort" and said the same sensations would not have prevented Santana from pitching.
---
Manuel said he heard from pitching coach Dan Warthen. "I don't have a problem with it," the manager said. "We're not in a hurry."

Just. Stay. Healthy.

No injury news is good news, especially if it forces a player out of a start. Hopefully all is well, as it seems to be.

This is officially the oddest line up

Here is today's starting line up for the Mets as they take on the Florida Marlins in their second spring training game of the year. The game will be televised on SNY.

Via David Lennon...

Luis Castillo -- 2B
Oliver Perez -- LHP
Jose Reyes -- SS
Carlos Delgado -- 1B
David Wright -- 3B
Carlos Beltran -- CF
Ryan Church -- RF
Daniel Murphy -- LF
Brian Schneider -- C

Do not adjust your computer screens. Reyes is batting third. Beltran is batting sixth. Perez is batting second.

Perez will likely only pitch two innings at the most, then be removed for a pinch hitter, which is why he's batting second -- I think. I can't wait to see him come up in the first inning.

Anyone else got a reasoning for Perez hitting second?

Sherman: Duaner on the bubble

Duaner Sanchez allowed two runs on one hit and two walks in yesterday's first spring training game. Before that game even began, Joel Sherman was reporting that Sanchez's days with the Mets might be numbered.

From Sherman:

Sanchez has something at stake, as well, namely a job with the Mets. He has to make a positive impression or else the Mets will seriously consider releasing him by 2 p.m. on April 1 and owing the righty just one-quarter of his $1,687,500 contract ($421,875).

Interesting thought. It's obvious he's not the same pitcher he was before the taxi accident.

The Mets seem to be very high on the players they selected in the rule V draft in Rocky Cherry and Darren O'Day, so one of them might be able to step into the role vacated if they move Sanchez.

I think it's something that is entirely plausible. I give it a 30 percent chance of happening.

Game Recap: Mets 9 -- Orioles 3

Today, the Mets took on the Baltimore Orioles in the first spring training game of the year. Luis Castillo and Ryan Church shone for the Mets, picking up seven RBIs between them.

On The Mound

Sean Green, who made the start for the Mets, only pitched 2-3 of an inning, as he has to leave the game with what turned out to be a cut on his middle finger nail. He expects to miss no time. Pedro Feliciano and Duaner Sanchez followed Green, with Sanchez allowing two runs on one hit and two walks.

Valerio De Los Santos and Matt DeSalvo combined for three innings. De Los Santos let in one run in his inning of duty.

Brian Stokes and Darren O'Day, a rule V pick, each threw one shut out inning. Elmer Dessens finished out the game with a rough inning, loading the bases, before inducing a double play ball to end the game.

At The Plate

As noted above, Church and Castillo stole the show.

Castillo went 2-4 with a double, driving in two RBIs per hit. Church has two doubles, driving in three RBIs.

Angel Pagan began his spring with a bang, going 3-4 with a walk and a run scored.

Young guns Nick Evans and Daniel Murphy each has very good games as well. Evans went 3-4 and scored three runs. Murphy went 2-3 with a walk, scoring twice and also making a nice play in the field, according to reports.

In The Field

Muprhy and Pagan each had an outfield assist. Ramon Castro also picked off Luke Scott at first base.

The Mets will take on the Florida Marlins in Port St. Lucie tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game will be available on SNY.

Want to listen to today's spring training game?

Then check here for 1057 The Fan out of Baltimore, who is broadcasting today's game between the Mets and the Orioles.

Sean Green, who started the game, left during the first inning, picking up only two outs. Seems like it's a blister or hang nail thing. Hopefully it's nothing bad.

Update from Steve Popper:

We just got the word from the clubhouse - it's a small cut on his fingernail of his middle finger - throwing hand - and he didn't get hit by the ball.

What's with all the love for Fernando Tatis?

I understand the Mets found a diamond in the rough last year with Fernando Tatis. I understand he was pretty much everything you can ask for, and much, much more for the team in 2008. But does anyone really have faith in this guy, again?

I was sour on Tatis all last season, bemoaning the signing, complaining when he was having visa troubles and downright mad when they were testing him at first base last year. When he finally got called up to the Mets on May 13, he spent the rest of the season proving me wrong.

Last night, I was lying in bed thinking about Tatis (weird, I know) and how he slumped in the second half. Boy, was I wrong.

In the second half of last year, Tatis actually hit nine points higher (.292 to .301), his OBP was 79 points higher (.323 to .402), and his slugging percentage was 90 points higher (.433 to .523).

I don't know what Tatis I was thinking about last night, but I was apparently way off.

Still, whatever Tatis did last season, I don't trust him for it again.

I think there's too much put into the stock of Fernando Tatis, exemplified in this tidbit from Ben Shpigel:

Manager Jerry Manuel plans to use Tatis in an expanded role this season, spreading him among the corner infield and outfield positions, as he ponders various and sometimes bold ways to slot Tatis’s potent right-handed bat into the order.

Is it just me? Probably. Am I hoping that doubting him through spring training will somehow make him play like 2008? A little.

Prove me wrong, Tatis.

First spring training game today

The Mets, well...some of them, are jumping on the bus to Fort Lauderdale Stadium to take on the Baltimore Orioles.

Adam Rubin relays the starting line up:

Luis Castillo -- 2B
Daniel Murphy -- LF
Angel Pagan -- CF
Ryan Church -- rf
Ramon Castro -- C
Alex Cora -- SS
Nick Evans -- 1B
Jose Valentin -- 3B
Fernando Martinez -- DH

Sean Green -- RHP

The Castillo lead off experiment continues. I like Murphy in the two-hole. Let's see what he can do.

Yes, Green is a reliever. He's just "starting" the game, and won't be pitching much more than two innings, if that.

The game begins at 1 p.m., but will not be available on radio or television. (Tomorrow's home game against the Marlins will be the first televised game -- I'll be live blogging, but I have class at 2 p.m.)

Real, meaningful baseball is tantalizingly close.

Why Carlos Delgado will make the Hall of Fame

I've made the case for him before, but Tom Verducci (one of my favorite writers) really drives the point home with his article "Appreciating Carlos Delgado, the lost slugger of the Steroid Era."

Delgado, who leads the majors in home runs by a player from Puerto Rico, was in danger of getting run out of New York only 9 months ago. Due to his historic second half, he was embraced by the team and fans, also getting his option picked up by the Mets.

Verducci writes:

Delgado has maintained a very reasoned position on what happened in the best years of his career. He doesn't want a do-over on the MVP award he didn't win. He is a happy man, content with his family, his decisions and his career. If he retired today, he would rank among the top 30 hitters all time in home runs, slugging, at-bats per home run and intentional walks. But he has plenty of baseball left in him. Last year, while turning 36, he played in 159 games, smashed 38 homers and racked up 310 total bases, his most since 2003. How much longer will he play?

"For sure, this year and another year," he said. "Then after that, I'll see where I am at. Then figure out what you want to do and take it from there."

He would like 1,700 RBIs, which would move him into the top 25. Already, he stands 50th on the RBI list. Already, he has Hall of Fame numbers.

That's just on the field. In 2000, he was award the Major League Player of the Year award and the Hank Aaron Award. He also won the Roberto Clemente Award, in 2006, given to the player who best exemplifies humanitarianism and sportsmanship.

He's a two-time All Star, and now famously came in second place in the MVP voting to Alex Rodriguez in 2003.

According to Baseball-Reference, Delgado is similar to a few big bats, two of which are already in the Hall. Here's the list...

1. Willie Stargell *
2. Jose Canseco
3. Jim Thome
4. Jeff Bagwell
5. Jason Giambi
6. Fred McGriff
7. Andres Galarraga
8. Willie McCovey *
9. Juan Gonzalez
10. Jim Edmonds
* denotes HoF

As it stands now, Delgado might not be Cooperstown bound, but with a few more strong years of baseball, I have no doubt he's heading that way.

Link: Manuel and the media

Bob Raissman has a wonderful column about Jerry Manuel and his use of the media. Click here to read the article.

Johan mentored Perez

Joel Sherman has an interesting tidbit about Johan Santana and Oliver Perez in his Hardball column today.

Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen told me that over the final two months of last season into this spring training camp that Santana has taken on Oliver Perez Oliver Perez as a "special project." According to Warthen, Santana is a tremendous asset in the continuing efforts to get Perez to a) concentrate consistently and b) deliver each pitch with conviction, purpose and accuracy.
---
"Maybe for the first time in Ollie's life he's ready to listen and Johan is there to help," Warthen said. The Met pitching coach said that Santana's stature and ability to speak to Perez in Spanish help deliver messages that Warthen might have difficulty getting Perez to fully comprehend. "We are mainly talking pitching theory and philosophy, and I think it means something coming from Johan Santana," Warthen said.

Santana becomes more and more valuable as time wears on. If Perez, a certified head case, is willing to listen to Santana (and hopefully Warthen), then the Mets may have made a great signing.

If he reverts back to fooling around and changing his delivery at will, then they're due for what they've come to know from Perez.

If Santana can impart just small traces of what he knows and how he handles pitching on Perez, then the Mets are in good shape.

Prospects dominate first intrasquad game

Though no stats are kept on these games, it's nice to see three young guys, who all have an outside chance at making the team, perform well in their first game action of the spring.

Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell and Dillon Gee each threw two innings of shut out baseball yesterday.

At this point in spring training, the pitchers are usually light years ahead of the batters, so don't read into it too much. Still, it's nice to see these guys out there and pitching well. They're likely the future of the franchise.

Ryan Church will be the Mets starting right fielder

Following up "Daniel Murphy will be the Mets starting left fielder," we have this...

Ryan Church will start in right.

Via Adam Rubin:

“I figured I’d talk to him,” Church said. “I knew all I had to do was talk to him. He’s very approachable. He’ll tell you how it is. He came up to me and said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ You’re getting prepared to be the everyday right fielder for the Mets.’ That’s what my whole goal is.”

Good.

This keeps Fernando Tatis, a right hander, on the bench, giving the Mets one player in that category. I'm very happy with Jerry Manuel, so far.

It's photo day

It's photo day for the Mets down in Port St. Lucie. Here's a shot of John Maine and Duaner Sanchez goofing off.

AP Photo / Jeff Roberson

Daniel Murphy will be the Mets starting left fielder

All off season, the Mets were touting their left field platoon of Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis. Now, before any sort of spring training game, Jerry Manuel has tabbed the young Murphy as the starter in left, for now.

Not only did Murphy get the starting nod, but it seems Ryan Church's job might not be a lock.

Via Adam Rubin:

"I kind of see Murphy being a little better hitter right now, so Tatis could go that way," Manuel said, referring to Tatis being used in right field against southpaws. "It all depends on how well they're doing. If they're not getting hits, they're not going to play."

Bottom line: Murphy will be a starter, Church might have to split time with Tatis.

Putting the left handed Murphy in the field every day will keep the right handed Tatis on the bench. Tatis would be the only righty on the bench, save for anyone making a strong push during spring training.

It's a testament to Murphy's work ethic that before even an intrasquad game (first one today), Murphy has shown that he's a pure hitter and capable enough in the field to be an everyday LF. This nod must give Murphy a ton of confidence.

On the flip side, this might set off a red light for Church, who will stick around camp with Murphy, even when everyone else has already left.

Everything is not set in stone, so if someone is not hitting, they won't be playing. Simple as that.

Joel Sherman brings up a good point in his Hardball blog.

But what this also says to me is that Fernando Martinez is on the clock from the outset of the season and if the touted prospect ever stays healthy long enough to prove he is the real deal then Church's day as a Met are going to move toward extinction.

So, for now, the Mets have Murphy in left, Church in right and Tatis back on the bench. This makes sense to me.

Sunday afternoon reading

I'm in New York City for the day with my parents, so I figured I'd dish you a little bit of my "other" writings.

I work for The Chronicle, the student-run newspaper at Quinnipiac University. I have a weekly opinion column called The Weekly Peeve, which I thoroughly enjoy writing.

Here they are, for your enjoyment...

• People suing McDonald's
• The word "diversity"
• Baby on Board
• So called "fans"
• The tomato
• "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus"

Enjoy your Sunday.

Video: Vintage Steve Somers

I can't get over these old videos of Steve Somers. I can't even begin to explain my thoughts when I watch these.

Enjoy.

Redding out indefintely

Bart Hubbuch is reporting that Tim Redding, fifth starter hopeful and long relief possibility, is out indefinitely as he recovers from a previous foot injury.

From Hubbuch:

Redding said the surgery was to repair a stress fracture in the second toe on his right foot, a problem that bothered him throughout the season in Washington.

Redding has been able to throw off flat ground from 100 feet and said he is hopeful of being able to throw off the mound by the end of next week. Manuel, on the other hand, said he did not know when Redding would be allowed to throw again. "We're taking it slow with him," the manager said.

And the Mets signed him for $2.5 million.

Did the Mets know about this before hand, because if so, $2.5 million guaranteed is a bit silly.

The team knew about the surgery. Still seems like a lot for a guy with a bum foot. We all know how that can end up.

Via Adam Rubin:

Pitching coach Dan Warthen said the Mets are taking it slowly because of the length of spring training, and Redding is on target to make his first Grapefruit League appearance March 8.

Does this scoreboard test mean anything?

Via ProSportsDaily forum member METS4LIFE1988...

(Circles are mine.)

The David Wright stats are just funny, but Daniel Murphy listed at second base?

Obviously, Johan Santana isn't going to make the start in the exhibition game, as he'll be the opening day starter. So why fill in someone that won't be there?

Hmmm...

Can someone loan Pelfrey a couple bucks?

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, Mike Pelfrey is one of a few major league players whose assets were frozen in the Stanford Financial Group Scandal.

Pelfrey told the New York Daily News that he is also having problems with cash flow.

"My stuff got frozen, too," he said.

Agent Scott Boras, who represents all three players, told FOXSports.com that his clients have no reason to worry about losing money. Damon is due $13 million this year from the Yankees, while Nady is set to earn $6.55 million.

In all seriousness, this is not a laughing matter. Hopefully everything works out for everyone involved, not just the players.

The State of the Mets -- 2/20/09

Here is the latest edition of The State of the Mets.

Today's topics: Luis Castillo, the outfield and a final goodbye to Shea Stadium.


Enjoy.

(Ed. note: Sorry about the brightness. I filmed with my window open and the clouds were obstructing the sun at points, which apparently doesn't fare well for my camera.)

The New York Mets, by the numbers

Here is a list of the active roster and non-roster invitees in spring training, and their uniform numbers. Players in bold are on the active roster.

1 -- Luis Castillo
3 -- Cory Sullivan
4 -- Robinson Cancel
5 -- David Wright
6 -- Nick Evans
7 -- Jose Reyes
9 -- Marlon Anderson
10 -- Andy Green
11 -- Ramon Castro
12 -- Alex Cora
13 -- Billy Wagner
15 -- Carlos Beltran
16 -- Angel Pagan
17 -- Fernando Tatis
18 -- Jeremy Reed
19 -- Ryan Church
21 -- Carlos Delgado
22 -- J.J. Putz
23 -- Brian Schneider
25 -- Pedro Feliciano
26 -- Rob Mackowiak
27 -- Nelson Figueroa
28 -- Daniel Murphy
29 -- Connor Robertson
30 -- Rocky Cherry
32 -- Carlos Muniz
33 -- John Maine
34 -- Mike Pelfrey
35 -- Brandon Knight
36 -- Darren O'Day
38 -- Tom Martin
39 -- Bobby Parnell
40 -- Eddie Kunz
43 -- Brian Stokes
44 -- Tim Redding
46 -- Oliver Perez
47 -- Casey Fossum
48 -- Sean Green
49 -- Jonathon Niese
50 -- Duaner Sanchez
56 -- Freddy Garcia
57 -- Johan Santana
63 -- Michel Abreu
65 -- Kyle Snyder
66 -- Matt DeSalvo
67 -- Fernando Martinez
68 -- Heriberto Ruelas
70 -- Jon Switzer
71 -- Tobi Stoner
72 -- Adam Bostick
73 -- Dillon Gee
75 -- Francisco Rodriguez
76 -- Omir Santos
77 -- Rene Rivera
78 -- Josh Thole
79 -- Jose Coronado
99 -- Jose Valentin

This list is from Mets.com, so if you have any others to fill in that you might have seen in a photo or video, please let me know.

The new patch

The Mets have put up some new merchandise in the team store, complete with a beautiful new patch for their beautiful new stadium. The players also took the field wearing caps with the patches.

Here's a picture...It seems the Mets will wear this patch on all hats this season.

Unfortunately, they will also continue to wear the ugly Inaugural Season "Domino's" patch.

Braves land Glavine, again

The Braves may have missed out on Ken Griffey Jr. as he will return to Seattle to play for his "legacy." Instead, they landed Tom Glavine, also playing for a legacy.

Glavine can earn up to $4.5 million if he hits all incentives.

I think the Braves have put together a very good team this off season. It's going to be a very tough race in the NL East this year. Every team has improved, outside of the Nationals, of course.

The NL East infields

Head over to We Should Be GM's to check out their breakdown of the five NL East teams' infields.

Here's the Reyes breakdown:

SS/Jose Reyes- .297/.358/.475, 113 r, 19 trpl, 16 hr, 56 sb. Much like Larry Jones, I hate this bastard, but there's no denying he's a fantastic player. He's cocky, and I detest that, but he's backs it up with terrific all-around play. His prime years are still ahead of him...watch out!!!

Good for them to stand up and say even though I hate him, he's good. I feel the same way about Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard, Cole Hamels and Chase Utley. I despise them, but I know they are great players and are extremely talented.

Griffey shuns Braves, heads back to Seattle

It's a good thing, because I really didn't want to have to hate him.

How Castillo shed the pounds

According to reports, Luis Castillo reported to camp yesterday 17 pounds lighter than 2008.

The 'Ropolitans has obtained a photograph of Castillo's off season workout program.

Guest post: Shea's last stand

This is from Howie Mansfield, a long time reader and friend of the blog. Enjoy...

---

The place where my boyhood dreams were played out -- the place where my heroes lived forever -- where the Mets always won and where the hope for another World Series championship lived forever, has passed away.

Shea Stadium, the old mare of a ballpark that had seen its better days, the great jewel of Flushing, is no longer.

In a pile of rubble beyond the parking lot. Snuffed out and erased from existence.

As I sat here by the computer and heard the news of Shea's demise, I just thought...

I thought about the Home Run Apple. I thought about the pennants on the outfield wall. I thought about the retired numbers...37, 14, 41, and 42. I thought about the smell of beer and hot dogs. I thought about the green grass that seemed to go on forever. I thought about my experiences there and what the place meant to me and my baseball dreams.

In April 2007, my family and I took our last trip to Shea. It was only my second time there (I went once before in 1983 when I was 7), but it was the first for my wife and my daughter. It's only fitting that the two people more important to me saw the place where all of my greatest baseball dreams were housed. We watched the Mets dominate the Rockies, and had a great time. But it was hard to leave, because of what I was leaving behind. I took many pictures that day, and I will cherish those as the years go on.

So many stories of my family going down for games -- just too many to name. My aunt and uncle that live on Long Island attended the 1969 World Series. My dad talking about his visits in the early days. My brother lived in Long Island for a while and he went to a number of games, we always talked about what Shea was like, and it was always electric. And my own experience chanting "Jose, Jose, Jose" with the rest of the Mets faithful, and of course, "Let's Go Mets, Let's Go Mets." Those images are stamped on my brain.

Maybe today would be easier had the last two seasons not ended in a 7 Train wreck on the way to the World Series. Mets fans deserved better. Shea deserved better. Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS was one of the last shining moments for Shea, a great performance, an amazing catch, but just not enough. And there really wasn't a memorable game played after that. The last game was not the way it should have been, but it was.

But there is hope. A new day is dawning just across the way, in our new Citi Field. We can only believe that this team will find a way to honor Shea and its memory by playing an amazin' inaugural season.

The old has passed away. And our hopes and dreams of a world championship starts April 13. The new hope. Our mecca and our home. May Citi Field someday hold the same memories that Shea will forever have in my mind.

You Gotta Believe.

---

Thanks, Howie. That was great.

Shea is gone

From Twitter used bluenautica...So long, old friend.

Update: Here's video of the final piece going down, thanks to Jim Baumbach.

More video...

Luis Castillo is already the scapegoat of 2009

Who knew when this happened, it would turn out the way it did? Well, maybe a few people.

Luis Castillo still has three years left on his contract. $18 million is owed to him through 2011. Today, the day he walks into spring training to start his second "full" year with the Mets, he's already the most hated player on the team.

Not by his fellow teammates, mind you, but by the fans.

Every little thing he does is scrutinized, labored over and likely criticized. I can only imagine the outcry when (not if) he gets injured this year.

Even Aaron Heilman wasn't hated like this.

I'm not claiming to be on the outside looking in. I think the Castillo signing was absurd, and as his talent and physical ability continue to decline, the albatross that is his contract just grows larger and larger.

There is no chance, either due to a trade or simply cutting him, that Castillo finishes the contract out with the Mets. The way this team is built right now, they cannot wait around for one of their starting players to magically find talent and start playing at the top of his game again.

With that said, I wish all the luck in the world to Castillo this year, but the way I see it, he's going to need a lot more than luck. Prove us all wrong.

First injury of the 'season': Brian Stokes

Update: David Lennon says Stokes will likely be back on the mound tomorrow. Whew.

Via Adam Rubin:

Brian Stokes became the first notable casualty of the spring, when the 29-year-old righthander injured his right hamstring, leaving him unable to work off a mound. "It didn't pop or anything," Stokes said, downplaying the severity.

Stokes is pretty much penciled in to the bullpen for 2009, so hopefully this isn't anything severe.

I was looking forward to seeing Stokes pitch again, hopefully solidifying the sneaking suspicions I have that he's not all the Mets expect him to be. Sure, he was OK last year, but is he ready for a full load of work for an entire season?

I still maintain the notion that the bullpen middle relief has been overvalued by the Mets, and they're expecting some players to do more than they can. I realize they tied up the eight and ninth innings, hopefully leaving only one or two innings to six guys in middle relief.

Still, a lot of game could be lost by a weak bridge to J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez. And handing them a game where the Mets are down two runs doesn't really do much for the team.

Hopefully Stokes can bounce back quickly and get into the groove of things soon. Hamstring injuries are always frightening.

Poll Results: Will you miss Shea?

In my last poll, I asked the readers "Will you miss Shea?"

With over 115 votes cast, here are the results:

• Yes! -- 64 percent (75 votes)
• Not Really -- 19 percent (23 votes)
• Citi Field, Here I Come! -- 14 percent (17 votes)
• Shea? Shea Who? -- 1 percent (2 votes)

I voted "not really." I'll miss the old park, but I won't be too upset once I get a good look at Citi Field.

Next Poll: Who will hit the first home run in Citi Field?

The orange foul pole tradition continues

I'm not sure if this was a well known fact, but Shea Stadium could lay claim to the only non-yellow foul poles in MLB. They were, as you most likely are picturing right now, a New York Met orange.

I hadn't checked StadiumPage.com in a while, so I shot the Mets an e-mail yesterday. Just a few minutes ago, I got off the phone with a representative from the team. He told me, and now I see for myself, that the foul poles in Citi Field are also orange.

"The ownership was very adamant about having the orange foul poles," Chris, the representative said.

Here's an image from StadiumPage.com, taken this past weekend...

Bright orange, just like I remember.

I love this sort of stuff. Fun little facts and trivia like this are pretty much all I remember.

The other thing I e-mailed about will have to remain a secret, for now. Hopefully the team comes through with my little proposition.

Overabundance of outfielders

Ben Shpigel has a profile of outfield hopeful Bobby Kielty, which is pretty funny as Shpigel talks to Jerry Manuel who claims, "he helped me lose my job, and now he wants me to give him a job? It don’t work like that."

According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Kielty has the largest differential — 69 points — between his career right-handed (.296) and left-handed (.227) batting averages among switch-hitters who have made their debuts since 1969 and have had more than 500 at-bats from each side of the plate.

No other active player comes close, with Houston’s Lance Berkman, who has a 42-point difference (.312 from the left side, .270 from the right), ranking second. Kielty has also pummeled some of baseball’s top left-handers, batting better than .290 against his new teammate Johan Santana, CC Sabathia, Jamie Moyer, Scott Kazmir and Buehrle.

Unfortunately for Keilty, the Mets have an absolute logjam in the outfield. With four guys (platooning Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis in left field) pretty much penciled in already, there's really only one or two spots for players that can fit in the outfield.

As it stands now, I think Jeremy Reed is the first guy that will be riding the pine in Citi. After that, in order, I have Angel Pagan, Kielty, Nick Evans and Cory Sullivan. That puts two people in front of Kielty, as I see it.

Does this set the Mets up for a spectacular triple-A team or a spring training trade? It's too early to tell. Injuries and spring play will show how the roster will fill out.

Report: Griffey signs with Braves

According to my pals over at Braves Blast, Ken Griffey Jr. is the newest member of the Atlanta Braves.

I've always loved Griffey, for no particular reason. Now, I need to learn how to despise him.

Update, via Braves Blast:

Griffey’s agent is apparently communicating via text that the deal is not yet done. Hopefully this is just a “nobody signed anything yet” concept and not a “I’m shopping the term sheet to the Dodgers” event.

Mets Fanwalk blog

I got an e-mail over the weekend asking me to post a little something about a new Mets blog that has popped up. Usually I'll add them to the blogroll and start to read them regularly, but this is something different.

Mike has started a blog in an attempt to post people's bricks they have purchased for the new fanwalk at Citi Field.

So far, only a few bricks have been posted, but this is easily my favorite.How many people are going to find that brick and stomp all over it?

Did anyone else purchase a brick? I know I wanted to, but they were just too costly.

Head over to the Mets Fanwalk blog for a look at the rest, and to submit yours, if you have one. Great idea, Mike.

No Pudge for the Mets

I guess that makes this post moot.

According to Bart Hubbuch, the Mets have no interest in Pudge Rodriguez.

A high-ranking team source said there has been no discussion about Rodriguez in recent weeks, and the Mets suspect he is simply using their name to try to drum up interest. "We've got our three catchers, and we like them," the source said, referring to Brian Schneider, Ramon Castro and Robinson Cancel.

Smart team.

The rotation, if the season started today

David Lennon relays this info, from Dan Warthen:

As of today, with everyone healthy, this is the Mets' rotation to start the season:

1. Johan Santana
2. Mike Pelfrey
3. Oliver Perez
4. John Maine
5. Tim Redding

I have a feeling, if healthy, that Freddy Garcia will be the fifth starter, and Redding will shift to long relief.

Just a hunch.

I like this order, though. Two very strong starters at the front of the rotation, and Redding/Garcia/the fifth starter won't be needed for the first two weeks or so of the season.

This works for me.

Get in line for opening day tix

Want to go to opening day? Then be ready to break out those laptops.

The New York Mets today announced the launch of an online registration for the opportunity to purchase tickets for the inaugural Opening Day at Citi Field, starting tomorrow, February 17 at 10 a.m. at Mets.com and LosMets.com. The registration for the online random drawing will run through Tuesday, February 24. The Mets open their 2009 home season Monday, April 13 against the San Diego Padres at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.

I've heard it's an absolute zoo on opening day, and I can only imagine the insanity of opening a new ballpark as well.

I'll be steering clear of opening day, but hopefully I'll get to one of the games soon after.

David Wright, captain

Though he won't be officially be wearing the "C" upon his chest, David Wright will be comfortable taking the role of captain for the New York Mets.

David Lennon quoted Wright:

I think that I can be more of a leader by what I bring to the field, not necessarily yelling and screaming. I think that if you lead by example and play the game hard and play the game the right way, guys will follow you. Those are the guys that I follow. I've said all along that leadership is earned. There's not a title or letter you can put on your chest that makes you a leader.

Just awesome.

He's 26, he's the face of the franchise, he's arguably their best player and hopefully will retire as a New York Met.

What's not to like?

Pudge-y

The rumors have been swirling that the Mets are setting up to trade away Ramon Castro.

They're trying to shed payroll, it seems, and they're confident enough in Robinson Cancel that he can serve as a competent backup. Still, though, Ivan Rodriguez continues to lobby, and find ears, with the Mets.

According to Pudge, he will sign with one of three teams: Mets, Marlins or Astros.

Pudge said, via Mets.com:

"I'm in great shape," Rodriguez said. "Whoever gets me, it's going to be a lot like hitting the lotto. I'm back in the shape I was in 2004. I'm at 195 to 200 [pounds], and I'm ready to go."

Being in great shape doesn't mean you can hit, though.

First of all, I don't quite understand the trading of Castro. He's not terrible as a backup and as long as he's healthy that's all the Mets really need him to do. We all saw last year, when the Mets were struggling to keep any catcher on the field.

Secondly, if they do trade Castro, why would they sign Pudge? He's likely going to cost more than Castro's earning ($2.5 million) and would want to start over Brian Schneider.

There are no positives to bringing Pudge in. Please pass, Omar.

K-Rod says what he needs to say

Here we go again.

In 2009, the player to step up and say the Mets are the team to beat is the new guy, Francisco Rodriguez.

Via David Lennon:

"This is a different year, a different ballclub now. We've just got to go out and compete. Like I said before, I don't want to make no controversy. But with this ballclub, the way I see it, with those guys, me and J.J. Putz and the other acquisitions in the bullpen, I think now I feel like we're the team to beat."

Good for him.

A player on every team with a fighting chance is going to come out and say those words. Everyone thinks they're the team to beat, and why shouldn't they?

If a player came out and said, "Yeah, we'll probably finish in third this year. We're just mediocre." He'd be in the managers office quicker than you can say "team chemistry."

I like that K-Rod has stepped up, being the fresh face, and taking a stand for his team already. He's been around his fellow players for 72 hours and he's already up to defending them. I hope he's a true thorn in the side for the rest of the NL East for more than just words.

I can't wait to see him pump his arm in victory on Opening Day. And then again for the first game in Citi Field.

Come on, Mets. This year, show everyone that you actually are the team to beat.

Castillo to bat leadoff?

Jerry Manuel made a pretty significant comment today, but it was buried at the end of this story.

Via Mets.com:

Changes to the lineup could also be in store for the Mets, as manager Jerry Manuel is considering batting Luis Castillo in the leadoff spot and bumping Jose Reyes down to third in the lineup.

More, from Adam Rubin:

Luis Castillo may bat leadoff for the Mets. Potentially, Carlos Beltran could bat second and Jose Reyes third. It may make more sense to bat Carlos Delgado fourth and David Wright fifth in that scenario, since otherwise the Mets would be stacking a ton of lefties at the bottom of the order.

Interesting. Both Reyes and Castillo have similar OBP numbers, with Reyes putting up a .358 last year and Castillo notching a .355. Reyes' power may suit him better later in the lineup, where runner may be on ahead of him.

If Reyes moves to third, I'm assuming that bumps Carlos Beltran up to the second spot of the order, where he seems to enjoy hitting. That, or bump him lower in the order so the bottom of the lineup won't be as weak.

I think it's an interesting scenario to toy with in spring training.

Mets sign Livan Hernandez

Jerry Manuel accidentally let slip that Livan Hernandez would be joining the Mets in camp, likely on a minor league deal.

Since then, the report has been confirmed.

Great. I'm all for stockpiling pitchers, but there is a line at which a team doesn't need to cross before it looks desperate. The Hernandez brothers, either of them, are beyond that line.

Prove me wrong, Livan. This move just rubs me the wrong way.

I guess it's time to congratulate Omar Minaya for finally getting Livan in a Mets uniform.

Hmmm...I wonder what El Duque is up to...

Here's some info, relayed by Adam Rubin:

"Inventory" is the word Minaya used. Reports are that Hernandez's velocity was just 78-83 mph in Colorado late last season. Minaya revealed that he was very close to trading for Hernandez at the '06 deadline once Duaner Sanchez had the taxi cab accident, but instead pulled the trigger and acquired Oliver Perez from the Pirates. Minaya also mentioned he wanted Triple-A Buffalo to be strong this year.

Someone really doesn't trust Luis Castillo

Because the Mets just signed another possible backup.

Ramon Martinez, the star of the last seven games of 2008, has been signed to a minor league deal and will be in spring training with the team.

With Jose Valentin also back in the fold, it seems the Mets brass is very worried about Castillo's health. Or they just like to stockpile aging, middle infielders.

The State of the Mets -- 2/13/09

Here is the fifth edition of The State of the Mets.

This week, I talk about the World Baseball Classic, some bonehead signings this off season and pitchers and catchers reporting for duty.

Enjoy.

Who is in camp [Updated]

As of Friday morning, this is what we know: Johan Santana, David Wright, Duaner Sanchez, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Mike Pelfrey (complete with helmet after he flipped his golf cart), J.J. Putz, Daniel Murphy, Nick Evans and Eddie Kunz.

Next round: Jerry Manuel, Tim Redding and Freddy Garcia.

Next: K-Rod.

Pitchers and catchers officially report today, so look for that list to grow. I will continually update it as I find out who is in camp.

Cleaning out my To Do list

Sometimes if I'm short on time, or think something is noteworthy but don't feel like writing at that very second, I file a story away in a To Do list.

Well, it's time to clean it out. I'll post the link and my two cents.

For ESPN.com, Bob Klapisch notes that Francisco Rodriguez will be the lightning rod for the Mets in 2009 and it will hurt their image.

K-Rod's celebrating profile will be layered atop Jose Reyes' customized high-fiving after scoring an important run in a big game -- outside the dugout. Such gloating, which has been part of the Mets' legacy since the '80s, has been steadily irritating opponents for the past four years.

Well...good! I still think the team needs some swagger, and I believe K-Rod will help bring that to Flushing. I like the abrasiveness he brings, and hopefully the players attitudes can shine through and fuel the team this time around.

---

The Daily News caught up with Anthony Young a while back, and I thought it was a pretty good read. I bring this up for only one reason. In researching Young's career, in the seasons he went 2-14 and 1-16, his ERA was 4.17 and 3.77 respectively.

Steve Trachsel won 15 games for the Mets in 2006. He had a 4.97 ERA.

---

Jose Reyes: The leader?

I noted before that I love Reyes' high-fiving, dancing, exciting ways. But is he the leader of the Mets? Jerry Manuel believes so. Here's a quote via The New York Times.

“Oh, I consider him becoming one — no question,” Manuel said Tuesday morning ... “I think that’s the next level for him, to add responsibility to him. That, to me, is maturation. You can be 50 years old and have no responsibility so you never mature. But if you have some responsibilities, then the maturation process takes over.”

Unfortunately, I think the language barrier will hinder Reyes from becoming a "true leader" of the team.

And yes, I believe the team needs a "leader."

---

Keith Hernandez feels baseball nowadays is "tainted." How can you not agree?

---

Carlos Delgado in the Hall of Fame? Joel Sherman brings it up, and interestingly, I actually did a project on this.

We had to compare a current HoF'er to a current player and see if the current player belongs in the hall. Eddie Murray, the most recent first baseman in the Hall was pitted up against Delgado. Through a whole series of comparisons and break downs, we came to the conclusion that if he keeps playing a few more years, Delgado will make the hall.

We also came to the conclusion that Murray shouldn't really be in the Hall. He was a compiler, and that's the only reason.

---

Daniel Murphy is obsessed about hitting.

“The guy is obsessed,” said [J.J.] Putz, who lives across from Murphy in a hotel here. “All he talks about is hitting, hitting, hitting. It’s not a stretch to say that it consumes about 90 percent of his day.”

Hopefully that other 10 percent is dedicated to learning to play left field.

---

Jon Niese and Tim Redding are battling (along with Freddy Garcia) for the 5th spot in the rotation. They're also sharing a condo.

Hey SNY, I smell a sitcom!!

No offer to Ohman

Will Ohman has received four offers from NL teams, but Cameron Smith writes, "Interestingly, none of those offers are from the Phillies or Mets"

There goes that.

Pitchers and catchers report today

A handful of players have been in camp for a few days now, but today is the official report day for all pitchers and catcher on the roster.

Because it's pitchers and catchers day, I present to you, Crazy Johan. This is from last season's spring training, but it's just too good to pass up.You crazy, man. Crazy!

It's officially spring training. I'm a happy man.

No AIDS for Alomar

A weird story just got weirder.

Roberto Alomar and his new girlfriend, Maripily Rivera (whose photos I cannot publish on this website), are claiming that he is a picture of health, and does not have "full blown AIDS" as his ex-girlfriend is claiming in a $15 million lawsuit.

Alomar has his own Web site, RobertoAlomar.com, complete with a store and a blog. He released a statement yesterday. It read:

This is a very private, personal matter and I greatly appreciate all the support I have received in the past few days from my family, friends and colleagues in baseball. I am in very good health and I ask that you respect my privacy during this time.

As for the lawsuit, it is filled with lies and I am deeply saddened that someone I cared for would make such terrible accusations and try to hurt me in this way.

According to the Daily News, Rivera called the accusation "a vile lie."

Weird stuff.

No Schneider in WBC

Scratch another Met off the list.

Brian Schneider will likely not be playing for Team USA in next month's World Baseball Classic, according to Bart Hubbuch.

Better for the Mets, I think.

Angels sign Abreu for...what??

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have signed Bobby Abreu to a one-year deal, worth $5 million plus incentives.

And the Mets couldn't match that?

• Tim Redding -- $2.25 million
• Alex Cora -- $2 million
• Fernando Tatis -- $1.7 million
• Marlon Anderson -- $1.15 million
• Jeremy Reed -- $925,000
• Cory Sullivan -- $600,000
• Angel Pagan -- $575,000

Those names right there make up over $9 million of this year's payroll for the Mets. I could even add more names to the list, but it might just make you more upset.

The Mets obviously had money to spend this off-season, and to be content with a fingers-crossed, hope he can do what he did last year pick off the scrap heap, and a young singles hitter playing out of position manning left field is just silly.

$5 million for a competent outfielder (possibly a little afraid of the wall) who hit .296/.371/.471 last season. In 156 games, he also hit 20 home runs and drove in 100 RBIs. He's knocked in over 100 RBI in seven of his 11 full seasons, including the last five years in a row.

And yet he slipped through the Mets fingers because they weren't willing to pay him a little more than double what Tim Redding will earn pitching mop-up duty this season. (Redding's career ERA is a few points shy of five.)

Omar Minaya, caught looking.

Report: Nats sign Dunn [Updated]

According to the Washington Post, the Nationals have signed Adam Dunn, possibly to a two-year deal.

As if their outfield wasn't crowded already.

Update: The deal is two-years, $20 million.

Jim Bowden makes no sense.

Thanks a lot, A-Rod

For taking the spotlight off of Citi Field.

I had it up to here reading about the naming rights for the Mets new stadium. And I'm already sick of all this Alex Rodriguez talk, but that's another story entirely.

Everyone seems to be making it out that the Mets have done something wrong or are going to be hurt by the deal with Citigroup. In no way, shape or form should the name on the outside of the stadium affect the play on the field. So don't try to skew it that way.

The Mets are built to be a pretty decent team as of now. Still, there are some question marks but one of them should not be the name brandished around the new park.

A-Rod, however bittersweetly, has shifted the glaring hot spotlight back to the Bronx. Enjoy that circus, Fletcher and JSchil.

Bizarre story no. 2 of the day

The Daily News reported a weird one about the way the Mets handled the last game of the season today. Somehow, they managed to top that with a story about Roberto Alomar and AIDS.

Baseball great Roberto Alomar has full-blown AIDS but insisted on having unprotected sex, his ex-girlfriend charged Tuesday in a bombshell lawsuit.
---
Nine days later, the couple went to see a disease specialist who discovered a mass in the retired second baseman's chest, the court papers say.

Alomar's skin had turned purple, he was foaming at the mouth and a spinal tap "showed he had full-blown AIDS," the suit says.

When I woke up this morning, I think this ranked dead last on the list of things I would read about.

The most bizarre story you will ever read

I know it's not fun to look back on 2008 with the '09 season so tantalizingly close, but you must read this story.

Let me try and summarize it in as few words as possible: Joe Smith should have come in, wasn't warmed up, hit his head, walked the first guy he faced on five pitches, given cover story, traded in off-season.

Please, go to Surfing the Mets and read the whole account.

How bizarre. And sad.

This better not happen again.

The Stache is back: Mets sign Jose Valentin

Jose Valentin is back with the New York Mets, according to Joel Sherman.

Valentin, who started his Mets tenure in the doghouse, eventually took over the second base starting job in 2006. He went on to have a renaissance season, and some considered him a good leader in the clubhouse, especially around Jose Reyes.

In '06, Valentin hit .271 and slugged 18 home runs.

In '07, Valentin appeared in only 51 games before breaking a bone in his leg. He hit .241 in 166 at-bats.

It will be great to have him back around Reyes and the rest of the team, if only for spring training. If he ends up at triple-A he'll be a competent call-up if when Luis Castillo goes down with an injury.

Happy birthday, Nails

Today, Feb. 10, is Lenny Dykstra's birthday. He is 46 years old.In 544 games with the New York Mets, from 1985 to 1989, Nails hit .278/.350/.413. In 1987, he knocked 37 doubles, tying the club record at the time.

Happy birthday, you extremely rich man.

Shea's final days

My father just sent me this photo.Not much left, eh?

David Wright, forever the sound bite

David Wright is pure class.

A quote, via David Lennon:

"I hope that anybody who cheats get caught," Wright said. "Maybe its me being naïve, but I think baseball is clean. You would have to be either very desperate or flat-out stupid to try and beat the system now."

Wright went on to say that A*Rod is a better player that he is.

Seriously, this guy is the face of the franchise, and for exactly that reason he will not (cannot?) be the leader. He is the guy to always come out and say the right things when asked, but he won't be the guy to say the right things when needed.

He's too naïve, if you will, to jump into that roll. As great of a player that Wright is, I just don't think he has that leadership capability, something the Mets have lacked.

Phillies could land Ohman with one-year deal; Why not the Mets?

According to Philly.com, the Phillies are looking at, and have had discussions with, Will Ohman as a possible addition to their bullpen.

[Page] Odle said Ohman, despite getting two- or three-year offers from other teams, was open to a one-year contract with a competitive team like the Phillies.

If the Phillies can land him on a one-year deal, why can't the Mets? I'll tell you why: He doesn't respect them.

"We've had real good positive conversation with the Phillies over the past week, and I know Will would love to pitch in Philadelphia," Ohman's agent, Page Odle, said Sunday. "He's faced them a lot being in Atlanta, and has a lot of respect for the team and the organization."

I tell ya, I get no respect. No respect at all!

Anyway, I'd like the see the Mets up the ante a little bit on Ohman. They need someone else, and I think Omar is ranking the guys he currently has on the team a little too high.

Just one more piece to the puzzle, and I'll be content.

Mets win NL East in 2009, according to PECOTA

Take a look at the 2009 PECOTA standings, with depth charts. (via Amazin' Avenue).

According to Baseball Prospectus, the Mets will finish 2009 with a 93-69 record, besting the Phillies and the Braves, both with a record of 88-74.

Where do I sign?

No Johan in the WBC

Turn in those Venezuela jerseys, Johan Santana will sit out of the World Baseball Classic, according to Adam Rubin.

Via Rubin:

Johan Santana plans to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic at the request of Mets officials and remain in camp during spring training, the Daily News has learned.

This makes me breathe a lot easier. Maybe the Mets listened to my letter.

25 random facts about my Mets fandom

The latest craze on Facebook (Facebook me!) is to post 25 random facts about yourself. I'm going to put a little spin on that and come up with 25 random facts about my Mets loving side of life.

1. I own over 10 Mets hats. (Probably not a lot compared to some, but my mom likes to make note of it.)
2. My friend Jamie Palatini will never let me forget that I fell asleep during the 2000 World Series.
3. I have a large poster of Keith Hernandez on my wall that I'm pretty sure no one else has.
4. I can trace my fandom all the way back to when I received "Metty Bear," a stuffed bear dressed in a Mets uniform. I still have him.
5. My first game at Shea was Marlins @ Mets. (The date escapes me right now.)
6. I have a lucky (unlucky?) helmet.
7. My entire mother's side are fans of the Yankees. Only my father is a Mets fan.
8. I have at least one of Mets branded article of clothing for everything you could possibly wear, save for shoes and underwear.
9. I'm an avid New York Mets fan that has a picture of the five-year-in-a-row World Series winning New York Yankees hanging in my bedroom.
10. I have received exactly one baseball from my time at Shea Stadium. It was given to me by a girl who begged a member of the Braves coaching staff for one. She already had two others.
11. I want to be Mr. Met, just for one day.
12. I wish I knew more about the history of the team.
13. During the season, most things play second fiddle to the games.
14. I actually think I prefer watching games on TV. I'm not sure if it's because it's so expensive to go to the stadium or if Gary, Keith and Ron are just that good.
15. I only owned a package of games once. Otherwise, I just haphazardly buy tickets to games.
16. I have two David Wright plaques next to my bed.
17. I have a man crush on Wright, as well. (As if you couldn't tell, considering #16.)
18. I wish my name was Razor Shines.
19. Favorite meal at Shea: Hot dog, fries, drink in 3rd inning. Pretzel in the 7th.
20. I don't know the exact number, but I'm pretty sure I've seen more losses than wins at a game.
21. I once had a Mets belt buckle, but it has since gone missing.
22. The only autograph I have (in my house), from any Mets player, is the Keith Hernandez signed ball I bought for my dad.
23. I scream "Git! Git! Git!" whenever a ball has a chance to sail over the fence. My roommates hate it.
24. I also scream "Git down! Git down!" when the other team smacks one.
25. I know I will cry like a baby if I ever get to see a World Series championship.

Let's hear yours (you don't need to do 25)!

Ex-Met: Fonzi goes to Japan

Ex-Met Edgardo Alfonzo has found a new home. I hope he likes sushi.

Fonzi is heading to Japan to play for the Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League. The one-year deal is supposedly worth $380,000.

From the Long Island Ducks to the Yomiuri Giants. Good for you, Fonzi. This now gives hope to every aging veteran hoping to still play. Except for you, Julio Franco. You already have a job.

Here's a strange one to start your day

Fletcher has been reading "The Yankee Years," and he occasionally throws up a quote or two from the latest chapter. Last night, he read this one aloud and it's too good to pass up.

It deals with the Mets, I promise.

George Steinbrenner would shovel debris out of six inches of gunky, green water while dressed in loafers and slacks if it meant winning a World Series, which is exactly what he was doing in the eighth inning of Game 4 of the 2000 World Series at Shea Stadium. A fire had started in a third-deck trash container at Shea. When firefights opened one standpipe to extinguish the fire, pressure built in another standpipe located over the Yankees' clubhouse. The pipe burst, spewing torrents of dirty water and eventually causing the clubhouse ceiling to collapse. Great waves of fetid water cascaded over the clubhouse, and headed in the direction of the Yankees' principal owner.
...

As firefighters arrived to shut off the standpipe and clean up the mess, Steinbrenner jumped in to help them. After they did the best they could to move the water out and shovel away the pieces of the demolished ceiling, Steinbrenner, soaked himself, took a wad of bills from his pocked and peeled off fifties and hundreds to give to the firefighters in appreciation of their effort.

What a peculiar story. Oh, and people said Shea wasn't a dump?

Does anyone remember this story from when it happened? I sure don't.

Because I so shamelessly stole his entire post, please go visit Scott Proctor's Arm.

Orlando Hudson for left field?

From Marty Noble's latest mailbag:

It is recognized that the Luis Castillo contract is not working out. Could the Mets possibly buy out Castillo's contract, the way the Dodgers bought out Andruw Jones', and then sign Orlando Hudson to play second base. Or how about having Hudson switch positions?
-- Andrew T., North Babylon, N.Y.

The Mets have considered the alternatives you cite. Buying out a player isn't easily done. Why would a player forfeit guaranteed money? And deferring payment doesn't necessarily reduce a club's obligation to a player. The club discussed signing Hudson and having him play a different position -- it would have to be left field. But it's thought he eventually would gravitate to second -- or be "gravitated" -- and that scenario, the Mets sensed, would undermine Castillo and create the circumstance where Hudson would play second, and Castillo would become an expensive wallflower.

Does anyone else not see a problem with this?

I understand that Castillo would be very expensive to have him be a reserve player or have his playing time diminished, but isn't winning the most important thing?

If Omar Minaya really wants this problem solved, he'll find out where Jeff Gillooly is and slip him a few bucks.

Braves out on Ohman

The Braves are no longer pursuing Will Ohman, according to Dave O'Brien of the AJC.

Did that $1 million offered to Tom Glavine put them over the top?

Ohman posted a 3.68 ERA last season with the Atlanta Braves. He appeared in 83 games, 58.7 innings, with a 1.244 WHIP. He struck out 53 and walked 22.

He made $1.6 million last season after signing a two-year, $2.5 million deal with the Chicago Cubs before the 2007 season (he was traded to Atlanta after the '07 season).

I think Omar Minaya needs to go for him.

E-mail from a fan

The following is an e-mail from a fan, sent out to a whole lot of people. For some reason, I was one of those people, and he even mentions my e-mail in the tirade.

I don't even know where to begin explaining this e-mail, but I think the word "racist" is the best fit. Here's what I read, at 8 a.m.:

While there is talk a certain Congressman wants the name Citigroup out of Citi Field, I have something to say about that. With the way the METROPOLITANS NOT METINOS have allowed Omar "I PREFER LATINO CRONIES ON MY METINOS" or "MY EMPLOYEES TAKE SIESTAS" or "MY EMPLOYEES TIRE in SEPTEMBER" or "MY ENTIRE TEAM SUCKS" to ruin this team with all his Latino bums who are on the team because they are Latino first but can't play (unlike when the Dodgers broke the color barrier; Jackie Robinson could PLAY FIRST) do not let OMORON name the stadium, or he'll call it METINO FIELD! For putting these Latino bums instead of good Latino ballplayers who won't complete another September MET DOWN, Fred COUPON EXTENDED OMORON'S CONTRACT!

In addition, Kudos to Adam Rubin for his web site and screen name to contact the website. It's called THEROPOLITANS@GMAIL.COM Note that's Ropolitans as in METROPOLITANS!

Go to www.petitiononline.com or GOOGLE "FIRE OMAR MINAYA!" for instant access, and sign the petition to FIRE OMAR MINAYA!

The answers are clear! DO NOT EXTEND OMORON'S CONTRACT! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! HIRE TONY BERNAZARD, OR BRING BACK STEVE PHILLIPS! BRING BACK DAVEY JOHNSON! LET MARTINEZ THE BUM GO (MINAYA WANTS HIM BACK)! TRADE FELICIANO THE BUM (MINAYA GOT HIM BACK)! TRADE SANCHEZ THE BUM (MINAYA WANTS HIM BACK)! TRADE PEREZ THE BUM (MINAYA GOT EL TWISTADOR BACK)! TRADE ARMAS THE BUM! TRADE GARCIA THE BUM (MINAYA DECIDED HE'S READY)! TRADE CASTILLO THE $18 MILLION BUM! TRADE CASTRO THE BIGGEST BUM OF THEM ALL! TRADE EL DUQUE THE BUM! LET AYALA THE BUM GO!

FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA! FIRE OMAR MINAYA!

Alrighty then.

I'm not quite sure why he gives kudos to Adam Rubin for having...my e-mail?

I love how in that last "The Bum" tirade, half of those players are no longer on the Mets.