An insane baseball brawl [Video]

Via JSchil’s Blog…

Santana is the Baryshnikov of the hands [Quote]

Watch a master at work and stand in awe. Before each start Johan Santana, the Mets' ace, struts past his teammates, smacking and fist-bumping and shimmying, as if performing a dugout Macarena, personalizing shakes for each teammate while throwing fake pitches. The innovation is ongoing (his shakes often change from week to week) and the complexity staggering—Santana is a veritable Baryshnikov of the hands, a choreographer of camaraderie.

-Chris Ballard, The Metaphysical Significance, Staggering Ubiquity
and Sheer Joy of High Fives

Read this article.  (For the lazy, the Santana part pulls from here.)

Jeff Wilpon’s video blog [Day 2]

It’s funny because it’s true.

Here’s the second installment of Jeff Wilpon’s video blog from 12 Angry Mascots…

Jose Reyes’ overactive thyroid

From the Mets…

The additional blood tests confirmed that Jose Reyes's thyroid hormone blood levels are elevated and he is hyperthyroid. Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek last night spoke with Jose and his representatives. As prescribed by the doctors and specialists, Jose’s treatment plan is to rest, refrain from athletic activity and make changes in his diet. The doctors will monitor Jose's thyroid levels through regular blood tests. Once Jose’s thyroid levels return to normal, he will be cleared to resume baseball activities.

The waiting game begins.

Reyes’ thyroid could return to normal in a few weeks (mine were out of whack after my stint in the hospital at the beginning of February and were back to normal three weeks later), or it could be a lot longer.

Andy McCullough at NJ.com says it could be two weeks, or eight.

Update: Here’s why Reyes won’t be treated with medication, which I guess is a good thing.

For Reyes and for Mets fans, this sucks.

Just when he thought he would be returning to lead the team and when fans are itching to watch him play again, he’s sidelined once more.

Strangely, Reyes will not be receiving treatment (usually, a radioactive chemical, taken orally, to knock out some of the function from the thyroid), but will rather wait and see.  The bad part about this is, if in a few weeks, nothing is changed, he’ll have to go the medicinal route, likely keeping him out even longer.

12 Angry Mascots: Jeff Wilpon’s vlog

The mad minds behind 12 Angry Mascots are launching a Jeff Wilpon video blog called The WilVlog.

Below is the first installment.

They plan to post every Tuesday and Thursday for the next few weeks.

This should be fun.

(Driving to Atlantic City for the next few days.  Might have Internet, might not.  If not, talk to you on Friday!)

My Q&A with Macho Row

I did a quick Mets and NL East Q&A with the Phillies blog Macho Row.

Here’s a quick sampling…

How hot is the water that general manager Omar Minaya is sitting in? Is the pressure on Minaya to get the team back to the playoffs at a point where this is a make-or-break season?
Sizzling. I'm not sure this is a make-or-break season, but it might be a make-or-break year. If the team stinks it up and then he doesn't go out and get some big names by 2011, he's out.
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What about manager Jerry Manuel? Will Manuel be the manager at the end of the 2010 season?
If Minaya's is sizzling, Manuel's is literally on fire. Manuel could be out in 20 games if they fall flat out of the gate. He's a dead man walking and he knows it too. A lot rides on the beginning of the season. I may as well write up his "obituary" now and just wait to post it.

For the full Q&A, where I discuss Citi Field, Jerry Manuel’s love affair with Jenrry Mejia and more, head over to Macho Row.

Manuel’s Musing

“With the question marks we have at two, three and four, each day those guys go out and throw strikes and compete is a big plus for us.”

-Jerry Manuel on the starting rotation

At least he admits they are question marks.  But no question mark at five?  Isn’t that the biggest question mark of them all?

My fantasy baseball team: Ryota’s Toyotas

Because I will be out most of the day, I’ll post my fantasy baseball team for you to enjoy/laugh at…

Ryota’s Toyotas - “Putting the pedal to the metal!”

Batters

• Victor Martinez – 1B/C
• Prince Fielder – 1B
• Brandon Phillips – 2B
• Chone Figgins – 3B
• Marco Scutaro – SS
• Carlos Beltran – OF
• Nick Markakis – OF
• David DeJesus – OF
• Corey Hart – OF
• Martin Prado – 1B/2B/3B
• Cody Ross – OF
• Chase Headley – 3B/OF

Pitchers

• Cole Hamels – SP
• Joe Saunders – SP
• J.A. Happ – SP/RP
• Scott Feldman – SP
• Ricky Romero – SP
• Johnny Cueto – SP
• Heath Bell – RP
• Matt Guerrier – RP
• Jeremy Affeldt – RP

As you can see, I have no chance of earning any saves this season.  I have tried to corner the market on holds, though.

Any questions, comments or suggestions for my team?  Leave ‘em in the comments.

Manuel’s Musing

“If we were to speak today, and not having much history with him, I would say that he would definitely be one of the 11 or 12 pitchers that we take.”

-Jerry Manuel, not on Jenrry Mejia, but on Hisanori Takahasi

Fernando Martinez!

Woah, woah, woah.

It’s been four games, everyone.  Let’s calm down a bit.

Yes, Fernando Martinez is hitting .667 / .667 / 1.333, but he’s only had 12 ABs.  Yes, he went 4-4 yesterday.  Yes, he hit two home runs.

There is no doubt in my mind that Martinez will break camp and head to Buffalo to get regular playing time.  Sure, he might have a nice spring training, but the Mets had a pretty set outfield. 

The centerfield job will be between Angel Pagan and Gary Matthews Jr., barring injury.  Left field, obviously, is Jason Bay’s.  Right field goes to Jeff Francoeur.

But, depending on the season, both the Mets and F-Mart’s, he could be up with the team later in the year.  In fact, if the team doesn’t do very well, it’s not out of the realm of possibility that Francoeur gets shipped elsewhere and F-Mart takes over in RF.

As long as he stays healthy and puts up numbers, that is.  Not a small feat for the oft-injured prospect.

I’m glad we can get excited about F-Mart (and Jenrry Mejia, Ike Davis and Josh Thole).  It feels good, doesn’t it?

Fun with a week of spring training stats

It’s (early in) spring training, where stats don’t matter and no one cares about wins, so let’s have some fun with stats from a handful of games.

• Jason Pridie and Ruben Tejada are tied at the top with 10 AB a piece.
• Luis Hernandez leads the team with 11 PA.
• Russ Adams leads the team with a 1.000 OBP.  3 singles in 3 AB in two games.
• Adams also leads the team in slugging percentage, with a 2.000.
• Four players have one home run so far: Russ Adams, Ike Davis, Gary Matthews Jr. and David Wright.
• Davis and Pridie lead the team with 4 RBI.
• Davis has notched 8 total bases, leading the team.  Matthews Jr. trails by one base.
• Pridie also leads the team in strikeouts, with 4.  Matthews Jr. has 3 and Jason Bay and Luis Hernandez each have K’d twice.
• Fernando Tatis is one of eight players to have grounded into a double play so far.
• Nelson Figueroa has tossed six innings so far, the most on the team.
• Figueroa, Sean Green, Eddie Kunz and Bobby Parnell have each walked three batters.  Kunz managed to do that while only notching one out.  Green, one more.
• Figueroa also leads the team in strikeouts, with eight.  Bobby Livingston and Jon Niese each have K’d five.
• Parnell has allowed the most total bases, with 11.
• Ryota Igarashi has posted the lowest batting average against, with a .100.

And that’s enough meaningless stats for today.  Enjoy the warm Saturday.

The Mets play tomorrow at 1:10 p.m. and the game is on WPIX.

Manuel’s Musing

“If we continue to see that, we have to have some strong conversations.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jenrry Mejia

Oh my… Just look… [Image]

The Brooklyn Cyclones will be giving this jersey away at their “Jersey? Sure!” Night on July 21…

Why, why, why must my home state have such a bad rep?

All I can do is shake my head.

TV lineup today

Here is the lineup we’ll be able to watch today as the Mets split-squad plays the Marlins in Port St. Lucie.  The other half traveled to Jupiter to play the Cardinals.

1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Jason Bay – LF
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Rod Barajas – C
7. Jesus Feliciano – RF
8. Luis Hernandez – SS
9. Kai Gronauer – DH

Slated to pitch: Jon Niese, Jenrry Mejia, Pedro Feliciano, Bobby Parnell, Ryota Igarashi, Elmer Dessens (guess his knee is OK) and Eric Niesen.

Reyes has a thyroid problem?

Jose Reyes has once again been scratched from the Mets lineup and is en route to New York for tests.

According to Adam Rubin, Reyes may have an out of balance thyroid.

It’s worrisome that Reyes has yet another problem, but if it is a thyroid issue, that is usually easily rectified.  A pill treatment can usually solve most hyper- or hypothyroid issues.

I actually just had my thyroid tested, too.  It involves some (more) bloodwork for Reyes to test the levels in his blood and an ultrasound to see if the thyroid gland is swollen or undersized.

Not encouraging news that Reyes is out once again, but if it is a thyroid issue, the Mets and their fans shouldn’t be too worried.

Mets sign Kiko Calero to minor-league deal

Enrique Nomar “Kiko: Calero, who last pitched with Florida last season, appeared in 67 games with a 1.95 ERA and a 1.100 WHIP in 60 innings.  He surrendered 36 hits and one home run, while walking 30 and striking out 69.

In 302 2-3 career innings, Calero has a 3.24 ERA and 1.196 WHIP.  He notched 3.7 BB/9 and 9.6 SO/9.

Clint Everts obviously hasn’t had his photo taken in a while [Image]

Just check the uniform he’s wearing in his MLB headshot…

Go Expos!

This is what I get [Image]

…for trying to watch an online feed of the Mets game.

A nice shot of R.A. Dickey’s butt.

The feed has been stuck on this image for about an hour now.  Fun stuff.

Lineup today

Jose Reyes was scheduled to start today, but was scratched by Jerry Manuel.  Reyes had more bloodwork done, but told reporters, “I’m fine.”

Where have we heard that before?

1. Gary Matthews Jr. – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. David Wright – 3B
4. Jason Bay – LF
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Jeff Francoeur – RF
7. Fernando Tatis – DH
8. Henry Blanco – C
9. Ruben Tejada – SS

Knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will get the start today.  Jenrry Mejia will also see time on the mound.

Manuel’s Musing

“It was a little sloppy.”

-Jerry Manuel on four errors in one inning

My praise for the Amazin’ Avenue Annual

I was lucky enough to receive a preview copy of the Amazin’ Avenue Annual, the first book foray from the good men at AmazinAvenue.com.

And legitimately, it’s a book.  All 342 pages of one.

(I’m going to be frank here: I hate reading long things on the Internet.  Did I read it all?  Hell no.  Did I skim, read parts here and there and continue scrolling?  Yes.  That doesn’t mean it’s not good.)

I’ll be going to school, finding a rarely used printer, and printing out this book (because I’m in college and money goes toward food).

I highly, highly recommend either downloading or purchasing the book when it becomes available in a day or two. (Yeah, the only thing there right now is a banner.  Don’t be alarmed.)

It contains essays on topics ranging from the business of the Mets in 2009 to the Gary, Keith and Ron drinking game.  It also has player previews and statistical breakdowns on many.  Just a thorough, thorough look at the Mets organization from minds of very well informed fans.

Pick it up.

And to the guys at Amazin’ Avenue and all that contributed to the book, awesome, awesome job.

Link: Q&A with Jason Bay

Head over to Big League Stew for a Q&A with Jason Bay.

An excerpt…

BLS: Who have you been hanging out with down here?

Bay: David (Wright), a little bit. Francoeur, of course. He gets along with everybody. Alex Cora I know from Boston and is a great guy. Shawn Bowman is also Canadian and we have an instant bond. I played on the Canadian WBC team with him and given all the hockey that's transpired lately, we've been close.

Click on over to BLS for the full interview.

Lineup @ Braves

With most major players getting a reprieve from the two-hour bus ride to ESPN’s Wide World of Sports to take on the Braves, here’s who the Mets will trot out, at least to start…

1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Alex Cora – 2B
3. Daniel Murphy – 1B
4. Fernando Tatis – 3B
5. Fernando Martinez – LF
6. Rod Barajas – C
7. Frank Catalanotto – DH
8. Russ Adams – SS
9. Kirk Nieuwnehuis – RF

Getting the start today is LHP Pat Misch.

No word on who else is supposed to pitch today.

I hope this steroid/HGH talk begins and ends this week

Dr. Anthony Galea is a name I hope I don’t hear much more.

Because a steroid scandal is the absolute last thing the Mets need.

Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes have both been questioned by the FBI in connection with their relationship and visits to Dr. Galea’s office for treatment.  Galea is being investigated by Canadian authorities for attempting to smuggle human growth hormones into the US.

Both players have met with investigators and discussed their treatment with Galea.  Both claim that HGH or steroids were not involved or discussed.

Hopefully, as this week winds down, we hear less and less of this story.  Unfortunately, steroids are too juicy of a story to overlook, so as long as it’s slightly relevant, it will be written about and discussed at length.

But please, for the sake of Mets fans minds everywhere, let’s hope we don’t hear much more of it.  I think we have enough to worry about.

Manuel’s Musing

“He was so caught up in that Canada thing that he needed a day to breathe.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jason Bay

First spring training lineup from rainy Florida

The Mets will travel to the ESPN Wide World of Sports to take on the Atlanta Braves in what will likely be a rainy and wet afternoon of baseball.  Reports are that the weather is clearing up.

The game, scheduled for 1:10 p.m., will be broadcast on SNY.

Here’s the lineup the Mets will trot out…

1. Gary Matthews Jr. – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. Jose Reyes – SS
4. David Wright – 3B
5. Jason Bay – LF
6. Mike Jacobs – DH
7. Jeff Francoeur – RF
8. Ike Davis – 1B
9. Chris Coste – C

Due to the impending weather, a lineup change was put through.  Your new lineup…

1. Jesus Feliciano – LF
2. Ruben Tejada – SS
3. Gary Matthews Jr. – CF
4. Mike Jacobs – DH
5. Mike Hessman – 3B
6. Ike Davis – 1B
7. Chris Coste – C
8. Jason Pridie – RF
9. Luis Hernandez – 2B

Nelson Figueroa will get the start.  Pedro Feliciano, Bobby Parnell and Ryota Igarashi are slated to pitch as well.

Don’t read too much into this lineup.  Yes, Reyes is batting third again, but who knows what Jerry Manuel will do tomorrow, in a week, in a month.

Baseball, with the weather cooperating, may be back on TV today.

This headline made me giggle

Matthews: I'm natural choice for Mets leadoff spot

Not that Gary Matthews Jr. can’t help the Mets (if any, not by much), but if he thinks he’ll be hitting leadoff (yes, he is today, but so what?) regularly, the Mets have much, much more to worry about.

Jose Reyes hits two-run triple in first AB [Quote]

Via NJ.com…

“To be honest with you, it felt a little weird when I stepped in the batter's box,” Reyes said. “It was a long time that I don't face a big-league pitcher. When I hit the ball, I said, ‘Oh, God, I have to run now.’”

Reyes said he never thought about stopping at second, though. He said he wasn't running quite at full speed, but with the ball rattling around the right-field corner, he didn't have to.

Sorry if you drool on yourself after reading this.

Manuel’s Musing

“Johan is that good where he’s at a stage in his career where I don’t think that much matters.”

-Jerry Manuel on Johan Santana having a personal catcher

The first lineups of the season

And because it’s an intrasquad game, we get two for the price of one.

Visiting team

1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Alex Cora – 2B
3. Jason Pridie – LF
4. Jeff Francoeur – RF
5. Mike Jacobs – 1B
6. Fernando Tatis – 3B
7. Josh Thole – C
8. Ruben Tejada – SS
9. Chris Carter – DH
   ---
10. Tobi Stoner – RHP

Home team

1. Gary Matthews Jr. – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. Jose Reyes – SS
4. David Wright – 3B
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Fernando Martinez – LF
7. Henry Blanco – C
8. Kirk Nieuwenhuis – RF
9. Frank Catalanotto – DH
   ---
10. Jon Niese – LHP

Matt Cerrone over at MetsBlog will be streaming some of the game, which begins at 11 a.m.