Link: Coutinho toots own horn, explains Beltran

Head on over to Hot Foot to read an oddly self-serving quote from Rich Coutinho on Carlos Beltran and his path back to the playing field.

Um, thanks Rich.  You can hop down off that high horse now.

Link: How to use Twitter if you’re a Mets fan

Head over to MetsGrrl.com to take a long, extensive and wonderful look at a guide to Twitter for Mets fans or MLB fans in general.

These are guidelines I wish we all could adhere to.  Yes, I might commit some of the sins that Caryn outlines, but hey, not everyone’s perfect.

Follow MetsGrrl on Twitter.

Oh, and me too.

Link: Who is wearing what number in spring training

Because a lot of people care and might want to know who they are looking at during trips to spring training games, Adam Rubin has posted a list of players numbers.

Enjoy.

Also enjoy figuring out who has little to no chance on making the team based on the number assigned to him.

Link: A BravesBlast tribute to Mets fans

Just click this link and…um…listen to what they have to say.

It’s a mock-commercial styled after the “Real Men of Genius” ads that are oh-so-catchy.

This one is, well, a little rough.

And let the commenting and name calling begin…

Link: Costa on 25-man roster outlook

Head over to NJ.com to check out Brian Costa’s roster outlook for who will land on the Mets 25-man roster.

It looks like a sound team, with chance to be good (not great).  If everyone plays to their maximum potential, they could be very good, but it’s too much to ask for.

Link: Photos from Port St. Lucie

Adam Rubin passes along photos from unofficial spring training in Port St. Lucie.

Yes, baseball is back!

But no, Sandy Koufax is not an option for fifth-starter.

Links: Mets mini-camp reports today

The Mets are holding a voluntary three-day mini-camp in Port St. Lucie, starting today.

Adam Rubin is there and providing some awesome details.  Not to steal from his page views, here are the links to what he’s written so far:

Ollie says he’s ready to go

More from St. Lucie (photos)

Johan on the field (photo)

Back in PSL

Baseball, for the most part, is back!

Link: Interview with the ‘I Hate the Mets the Most’ dudes

The other day I posted a video entitled “I Hate the Mets the Most” by two guys from down south.

Will Sommer contacted the two men, known as the Tomahawk Dudes and conducted a little Q&A.

Here’s the gem…

Sommer: Why so much hate on the Mets? Why not the Phillies? After all they are the best team in the East.

Tomahawk Dudes: There is a pretty simple reason as to why we chose the Mets. The Mets have always been the biggest rival for the Braves and it is a given that if you are a Braves fan, you hate the Mets, period. As you may know, there are some of the best rivalries in the South. It’s just like if you are a Georgia Bulldog fan, you are going to hate the Florida Gators. We do not like the Phillies, Marlins, or Nationals either but as the song illustrates, we just hate the Mets the Most. We think a lot of the hatred between these two ball clubs spawns from their history. From all the close games, to playoff battles, controversy on the diamond is no stranger between these two teams. We know that every time the Braves travel to Citi Field that #10 for the Braves will step into the batter box and the “Larry Chant” will soon follow. Also, when the Mets take the trip to Turner Field, it is a given that the stadium will be filled to capacity with die-hard Braves fans.  We just know as loyal Braves fans that if someone asks a “true Braves fan” who is the Braves’ biggest rival; it is going to be the Mets nine times out of ten.

For the rest of the interview, head over to Mets Fans Forever.

Link: Sherman’s notes on the Bay signing

NY Post: Notes, thoughts on Mets signing of Bay

I suggest you read through these.  Some of them make me shake my head.  Not that I didn’t think they were true, but that they’re already creating a fallback if this (or many other things) fails.

Why say these out loud, to a reporter?  I don’t get it.

(Hat tip to Will Davidian for the link)

Link: Mets should trade Johan Santana

Here’s an idea: Mets should trade Santana
By Bob Klapisch

I wholeheartedly disagree.  Have at it in the comments to explain your opinion.

Link: As the Mets go, so does SNY

In one of those articles where you scratch your head and wonder, was there nothing else to write?, Bob Raissman penned this.

The gist of the article is that when the Mets lost, less people watched Mets games, meaning SNY struggled with commercials and sponsors.

Thanks, Bob.  Couldn’t get that one on my own!

Link: The Mets and Latin players

This is an absolute must-read for Mets fans.

James Kannengieser from Amazin’ Avenue takes those that think the Mets “only sign Latin players” to task.

Please, for the love of all Mets fans’ sanity, read this and keep this in mind anytime someone else brings up this insane argument.

Thank you, James.  You’ve done quite a service to fans everywhere.

Link: Francoeur as Santa [Video]

Go here to watch some video from today’s holiday party, hosted by the Mets.

Jeff Francoeur played Santa and Jon Niese (feeling much better), Jose Reyes (also feeling much better), Bobby Parnell and Angel Pagan played the elves.

I guess Reyes missed the striped shirt memo.

Francoeur is front a center.  The Mets really like this guy, don’t they?

Links: Pineiro, Chapman, Igarashi

-According to Buster Olney, via MLBTR, free agent Joel Pineiro is likely seeking a four-year deal. Pineiro is looking at Randy Wolf’s deal from the Brewers and believe he is worth more than that.

He probably is, but how much will he suffer when he’s not under the watchful eye of Dave Duncan in St. Louis? Teams should be wary, though I like him over Jason Marquis.

-Aroldis Chapman threw a side session for teams today, but the Mets were not in attendance.

-Jon Morosi tweeted that the Mets are showing “some interest in hard-throwing reliever Ryota Igarashi.”

Here’s Igarashi’s player profile from NPB Tracker.

Link: David Wright’s path to the pros

Take a break from Winter Meetings rumors and read this profile of David Wright’s  path from the minor leagues to being the All-Star third baseman of the New York Mets.

Best quote…

"I thought he was going to be real good. I thought he would be an All-Star, an impact player at the MLB level. And that's what he became," said Ken Oberkfell, who first worked with Wright in 2003 as manager of Class A Advanced St. Lucie. "He just stood out, he was a very good player."

Link: Omar interview in Indy

Head over to Surfing the Mets to read the transcript of a quick interview with Omar Minaya in Indianapolis for the start of the winter meetings.

Best part…

Is there pressure on you to pull the trigger on something and satisfy the fans?

There’s no doubt because of last year—I don’t want to say you feel pressure to do something—but there’s no doubt we have to find a way to improve our club if possible. -snip- But as far as the pressure, I don’t feel like I have to do something.

Is this good or bad for the Mets? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Link: Part V of blogger roundtable

Head over to NJ.com to check out the fifth and final portion of the blogger roundtable.

Today we answered, “If the Mets do not sign John Lackey, which other free-agent pitcher do you think would be the best fit for them?”

My answer is kind of a mess, but you’ll get the point.

Thanks to Brian Costa for setting this up.

Link: Roundtable Part IV

Head over to NJ.com for Part IV of the blogger roundtable.

Today we answered, “Could you live with Daniel Murphy starting at first base if the Mets sign Matt Holliday or Jason Bay to play left field? If not, what should the Mets do at first base?”

Thoughts?

Link: Part III of blogger roundtable

Head over to NJ.com to read Part III of the Mets blogger roundtable.

Today we answered, “If the Mets spend big on one free agent this winter -- and, obviously, there are only three high-priced options here: Matt Holliday, John Lackey or Jason Bay -- who do you think it should be and why?”

Click here to read Greg and Jason’s answers from Faith and Fear in Flushing, Eric’s from Amazin’ Avenue and mine from here.

Links: Mets roundtable discussion, parts I and II

Brian Costa, the Mets beat reporter for NJ.com, asked Greg and Jason from Faith and Fear in Flushing, Eric from Amazin’ Avenue and myself to participate in a roundtable discussion about the Mets offseason.

Here’s Part I, where we answer “What would it take for you to go into next season feeling optimistic about the overall direction of the Mets?”

And Part II, where we answer “Are you convinced that both Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel need to go, or could one or both of them still earn your confidence between now and the end of the 2010 season?”

Thoughts?