The Mets currently have two players listed as backup first baseman behind incumbent Carlos Delgado; Nick Evans and Marlon Anderson. Because Anderson has a guaranteed contract, it’s expected that he will be a lock to make the team, but I don’t believe that’s the case at all. Anderson is not owed that much, and if Nick Evans can prove his value to the team with a strong spring, the Mets won’t hesitate to bring him [...]

Coming into Spring Training, everybody has pointed out someone who has something to prove to the organization and to the fan base. Luis Castillo has been the number one player mentioned followed closely by Ryan Church and Daniel Murphy. For awhile, even I had to agree. I wrote endless blogs about how Castillo had better get his act together or he should be shipped out. No questions asked! Then I started to really think about what [...]

The Mets wasted no time in putting away the Baltimore Orioles in impressive fashion to begin the Exhibition Season. Surprisingly, it was Luis Castillo who led the charge with two big hits and four RBI’s. The game started off with a scare when Mets starting pitcher Sean Green left the game after getting just two outs in the first inning with a hand injury that was later diagnosed as a cut finger. He was followed by Pedro Feliciano and [...]

As the last bit of Shea Stadium rubble turned melted into what will be a parking lot for Citi Field last week, I couldn’t stop the memories of Shea that came flooding back to me, and in particular one of our greatest eras as Mets’ fans–the mid ’80′s.  We were just a few years removed from that ridiculous ad campaign, “The Magic Is Back,” only now the magic really was back.  And much of it [...]

Joel Sherman of the NY Post reports that Mets reliever Duaner Sanchez came to camp in good shape. Those of us who follow the team day in and day out, know just how good that news is in the case of Sanchez. Only two springs ago, Sanchez was sent home after reporting to spring training out of shape and unmotivated. And while it’s nice to see him show up and be ready to compete, Sherman believes that [...]

Just read a fantastic article by Tom Verducci (yes, that Ton Verducci) on SI.com about Carlos Delgado. Verducci does a great job of pointing out Delgado’s accomplishments in the tainted era we all now refer to as the steroids era. He establishes this era as being from 1996 through 2003. I define the heart of the Steroid Era as beginning in 1996, when Ken Caminiti won the MVP on steroids and the first full season [...]

Baseball America released it’s 2009 Top 100 Prospects list only moments ago. Four Mets made the list and here is where they placed… 30 FERNANDO MARTINEZ OF, METS 0: Players in Double-A younger than Martinez last season. Opening Day Age: 20 ETA: 2010 47 WILMER FLORES SS, METS 0: Players younger than Flores (who turned 17 on Aug. 6) in full-season ball last season. Opening Day Age: 17 ETA: 2012 77 JONATHON NIESE LHP, METS 178: [...]

You may say I’m a dreamer, but I’m not the only one… Many baseball folk have opined that the Mets look pretty good in terms of pitching, but that hitting remains a question mark, since we are supposedly missing that crucial power-hitting corner OFer, and it’s foolish to rely on Delgado to repeat last year’s performance. (Because CDOG is so inconsistent from year to year???!!!) Despite the talk of batting orders and the surging confidence [...]

It must be great to be down in St. Lucie watching the Mets play baseball in the sun while most of us freeze out tushes in the tri-state. I envy Matt Cerrone from MetsBlog who seems to be having the time of his life at Tradition Field during the day, and then at hot spots like Duffy’s at night. You should read his daily updates if you can as he documents not only all the action [...]