Check out this beautiful photograph of Johan Santana by Adam Rubin of the Daly News. (via The Ropolitans)  Despite all the ups and downs, and ranting and raving of this never-ending off season, you look at a photo like that and everything else almost seems to melt away. Santana after his pitching session, “This is big for me. I feel very happy I’m very excited about this season.” Adam reports that Santana threw 24 pitches and [...]

For the last 2 off seasons Met fans have been debating furiously with each other on whether or not the Mets should sign Orlando Hudson.  I believe the pro Hudson fans last season wanted him for the simple fact that Hudson is not Luis Castillo.  Whatever other skills Hudson possessed did not matter to Met fans who wanted to run Luis Castillo out of town after his horrible 2008 season which saw him become a [...]

Poking hot coals from hot stove seasons past… November 1, 1972 – The New York Mets traded RH starter Gary Gentry and RH reliever Danny Frisella to the Atlanta Braves for 2B Felix Millan and RH Pitcher George Stone. He was a hero in 1969. He came from Arizona State University.  He wore the Met uniform well and left an indelible impression on not only the fans and his teammates, but the Baltimore Orioles. Gary [...]

The Mets 3-Day Mini Camp got underway yesterday and not surprisingly it was chock full of several interesting storylines, player updates and revealing quotes. Rather than flood the blog with a dozen or so individual posts, I hope you don’t mind an extensive recap instead for each of the three days beginning with this mornings recap of Day One. Lets get started… Johan Santana – All eyes will be on Johan Santana today as he throws [...]

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported that unless the Tampa Bay Rays’ financial situation drastically improves. they could end up trading both Carl Crawford and Carlos Pena.   Cafardo puts the time-line of something happening at around the trade deadline, but maybe an enticing package can accelerate the situation. When you think of a comparable player to the powerful Carlos Pena, the first name that comes to mind is Adam Dunn. And while the comparison is [...]

The New York Mets continue to scour the pitching market and have recently been in touch with Ben Sheets ever since his throwing session last week in Louisiana. Another possible starting option for the Mets could be ex-Yankee pitcher Chien-Ming Wang who could be pitching in the majors by May 1. The Mets are among 15 teams that are expressing great interest in Wang, according to Alan Nero, who represents the former Yankee. Wang, who won 19 [...]

The always informative Adam Rubin of the Daily News, gives us an update on lefthanded starting pitcher Oliver Perez, who is one of many Mets in attendance today at the Mets Mini Camp. According to Rubin, Perez, who underwent Sept. 1 surgery to remove scar tissue from his right knee, pronounced himself fit and ready to go during today’s workouts. As for Perez’s knee, he said: “Right now I don’t feel anything. I think that’s why [...]

Mike Puma of the NY Post, opined that Fernando Tatis could be re-signed by the Mets if they decide to take a pass on Carlos Delgado. The prevailing wisdon is that Tatis would be able to platoon with the left-handed Daniel Murphy at first base. As most of you know, I’m not thrilled with the idea of bringing back Delgado for reasons that I’v already explained on numerous occasions. In an interesting post, James Kannengieser of [...]

Jayson Stark of ESPN, reported yesterday that scouts who have seen Delgado try to play first base in Puerto Rico are not impressed. He writes,   “He’s got no range at first — none,” said one scout. “He actually limps out there. He can’t play first on a day-to-day basis. I think he can still DH, because he’s still got power. But to play first for a team like the Mets? Can’t see it.” This report should probably [...]

Only Mets fans can spend 48 hours vigorously debating a trade that swapped one 25th man for another. All of a sudden Brian Stokes, who allowed 72 hits and 38 walks in just 70 innings, is likened to a budding star due to his same old and tired 95 mph fastball that has yet to accomplish anything noteworthy. His 1.56 WHIP last season already ranked in the bottom 5% of all relievers and his 3.97 [...]

It’s hard to believe that a player could hit .302, with an OBP of .387, and still be so unwanted.  But when you break down the numbers, you see why Luis Castillo is such a poor fit for the 2010 Mets.  Of course his defense is weak.  But I see his offense as an equally big problem, despite his high average and OBP. Castillo had 147 hits last year of which 12 were doubles, 3 [...]