Mets release three

Tony Armas Jr., Junior Spivey and Jose "The Stache" Valentin have all been released by the Mets.

Stache will be missed the most. He still wants to play, but it won't be long until Valentin is coaching a team at some level.

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 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.

The Stache presses pause

Jose Valentin, slowly "making progress" on the rehab trail, has suspended his season.

He's not retiring, but he will no longer play this season.

Why he's not just up and quitting, I don't know. Maybe he thinks next year it will work out, I guess. Good luck, Stache. You're going to need it.

Jerry Manuel profile

The new interim manager of the New York Mets, Jerry Manuel, was the subject of a New York Times back on February 24, 2007.

Ben Shpigel penned the column, and here's an excerpt:

As the manager of the White Sox, Manuel developed a reputation for being a fine communicator and motivator. “He’s one of the reasons why I signed with the Mets last year,” José Valentín said. “He knew what kind of player I was with Chicago, and he knew how to get the most out of me.”

Manuel has had baseball teachers, too. From [Felipe] Alou, he said, he learned to recognize the natural rhythms of baseball, and the importance of making correct decisions within those confines. From [Jim] Leyland, he said, he developed a feel — “a sixth sense,” he called it — on trusting his instincts and not necessarily the data from a computer.

Even now, during batting practice, Manuel will find a secluded spot on the field — usually behind second base — to watch. He will listen to the chatter and observe players, trying to pick up any nugget of information that might guide his hunches throughout a game. Manuel will also pore over pitching charts and study favorable counts to steal a base, but he will not let that define his philosophy.

For the rest of the profile, click here.

Manuel, though calm, seems to be able to relate to his players more than one would see on the surface. Good luck, Manuel. You're going to need it.

Our short tri-state area nightmare is over

Abraham Nunez has been designated for assignment.

A sign of one of two things:
1. The Mets finally realized he had absolutely no business on the New York Mets bench. Heck, if he can play, I can play.

2. It's a sign of the beginning of the end. An entire overhaul of the team, starting with the weakest link.

I'll roll the dice and say it's the first, but a man can dream.

Someone decent better get a call-up this time around. And if that "decent" person is Jose Valentin, I am going to cry.

Heres a shocker...Valentin back to the Mets

This one take me by surprise.
Jose Valentin and the Mets are close to finishing up a one year, $4 mil. contract.

...i'm assuming he will be taking the place of utility man Chris Woodward...??
but he can't play as many positions.

holy crap theres alot of recap.

Tom Glavine...ayyy! Feeling coldness in his hand/shoulder. He has had Reynauds Phenomenon since 1991. Is it a blood clot? We don't know. Its not a aneurysm.
NEWS:: The Post (ugh) says he's good to go...

Pedro is on the DL with a strained right calf. Eligible to come off DL Wed.

Castro and Valentin...both looking to come back on Tuesday.

After the near horrendous sweep by the phils. the metties recovered in the final game, and then went on to sweep the Rockies at home...

Mets got Mota. (he's a Oliver Perez-type work in progress...)

The '86 reunion was beautiful. So is Metstradamus's recap...

Bannister and Perez both pitched very good games in AAA. Perez had a no hitter thru 6. (2 WP's and a HBP to go along) And Bannister 6IP, 1 run, 6 hits, 1 walk, 5 Ks.
(so we have options...heh)

Tonight 7:10 SNY Weaver vs. Maine.

The rain for Maine falls mainly during Gary Cohen jokes...

wow...
Mets win 7-0, led by a surprise starter, Mr. John Maine.
He pitched a complete game, 4 hit shut-out. And pitched so well, apparently we dont need to trade.
He only needed 98 pitches to get it done.

Maine does have to buy steak dinners for Floyd, Beltran and Lo Duca for keeping the shutout intact in the 4th and 8th.
~Floyd went up and over the wall to bring back a possible Chris Burke homerun.
~Beltran made a fantastic throw that bounced off the pitchers mound (through Delgados legs) right to Lo Duca, who promptly tagged out Munson tagging from third.

oh yeah...and Valentin hit a Grand Slam in the second, Delgado hit a 2 run blast in the 5th, and also a sac fly in the third.

C-Del went 1-2, BB, 2 runs scored, and 3 RBI.
would the real carlos delgado please stand up? and stick around...

just a solid game ALLL around. hopefully this is the real John Maine as well. and this continues!

Game:: Mets 4 - Reds 2 (10)

Scored early...2 solo shots. Got shut down by Arroyo from there...
Glav great early allowed 2 in the 5th. struggled thru the 6th...miraculously got out without any runs..thanks to heads up throw home play by Valentin.

Chad (Houdini) Bradford worked out of a bases loaded 1 out jam in the 7th. Hes been so solid.

A great throw out at second with Valentin sliding away and yet still blocking the plate.

anyway. Finished the trip 4-2 heading home to face houston and chicago.

El Duque tonight 7:10

Doubly Grand

Carlos Beltran haters, please shut up.
I would have to say he's earning his money now.

A Grand Salami 2 games in a row. (first met since Robin Ventura in a double header against the Brewers, 1999)
Takes over the RBI lead. 27 HRs.
Hit that GS in the 7th to extend the lead from one run to 5. Added an RBI double in the 9th.

And what about Xavier Nady...solo shot in the 3rd. Guns down Royce Clayton trying to stretch that RBI single to a double in the 6th, got out of a possible disaster inning.

And we cant forget about Mike Pelfrey. Pitched "OK" getting into trouble over and over, but his sinker was working excellent, and he induced double plays to end the inning in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 5th. Two of those DP's came off Griffey Jr's bat. He went 6 giving up 7 hits, 3 BB, and struck out 3.

Its good to have Reyes back. He went 0-4 with a walk and a FC, but scored 2 runs. He also forced Delgado to come off the bag twice with errant throws to first. But delgado still managed to get them out, and even joked about where his arm angle should be when throwing.

~Delgado is 5 for his last 33. in a major slump. thank god everyone else keeps hitting. Once were running on all pistons...ohh boy
~Cliff Floyd was finally quited going 0-4 on the day.
~Jose Valentin hit a solo HR in the 5th, extending his hitting streak to 6.
~Pedro is eating normal again.

== 7:10 tonight Traxx vs. Harang.