Here are the confirmed probable pitchers as relayed by Brian Costa for the start of Grapefruit League action on Monday, March 1st. I’ve marked those games which will be televised. Monday, intra-squad game Jack Egbert Clint Everts Travis Blackley Jon Niese Tobi Stoner R.A. Dickey Jenrry Mejia Tuesday, vs. Atlanta (SNY) Nelson Figueroa Hisanori Takahashi Bobby Parnell Elmer Dessens Wednesday, at Atlanta Pat Misch Pedro Feliciano Thursday, vs. St. Louis (SNY) R.A. Dickey Tobi Stoner [...]

Baseball season is back, and just as the Mets start to limber up and get loose in spring training before beginning their Grapefruit League schedule next week, so are we. Mets Merized is now looking to staff several open spots for the 2010 season, and we are on the lookout for a few passionate Mets bloggers who love to write to join our team. Currently, we need bloggers who can cover Mondays, Tuesdays, and Saturdays, and we are also in need of two game [...]

This has been the winter of discontent for Mets fans.  We have been extremely vocal and opinionated in criticizing our team and management.  We expect a lot, and rightfully so.  But now that roster moves have been completed, I’ve noticed many more Mets Merized fans excited about the upcoming season.  We are more confident that our core guys are healthy or will be healthy.  And there seems to be renewed hope for our starting pitchers.  [...]

Adam Rubin of the Daily News writes that the Mets could deal one of their surplus catchers and that teams are calling the Mets to inquire. I’m asked a lot how the Mets plan to fit six catchers with major-league experience in their system. Answer: They can’t. Barajas and Blanco clearly will be the big-league catchers, barring injury. Josh Thole is the primary catcher at Triple-A Buffalo. I’m told the Mets probably can fit three [...]

          It looks like two of baseball’s biggest stars could possibly be heading toward free agency as both Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez have ceased negotiations with their respective teams. According to a report by Marc Topkin of the St.Petersburg Times, Carl Crawford and the Tampa Bay Rays have decided to postpone all contract extension negotiations until after the season. His agent, Brian Peters, said: “We had an opportunity to exchange ideas with the club about a [...]

Last week, when Johan Santana was asked by a reporter who the best pitcher in the NL East was, without hesitation he replied, “Santana”. A couple of days later after the Phillies Jimmy Rollins caught wind of it, he disagreed and said the number one pitcher in the NL East is Roy Halladay. Take off your Mets blinders momentarily, and tell us who you think is the best pitcher in the NL East. I decided [...]

Updated Post 6:30 pm Adam Rubin of the Daily News says the Mets have designated LHP Arturo Lopez for assignment to make room for Rod Barajas on the 40-man roster. Original Post 11:55 am After passing his physical yesterday, the Mets’ projected Opening Day catcher, Rod Barajas, arrived to the Mets spring training complex this morning in Port St. Lucie. Barajas threw out 34 percent of potential base stealers last year and hit .226, while driving [...]

I was ready to accept the fact that Omar Minaya made a really horrible decision when he re-signed Oliver Perez last year to a 3-year deal worth $36 million.  I was a Perez fan back in the 2006 playoffs, especially when he did a commendable job starting Game 7 of the NLCS.  Of course, since then Ollie has battled injuries and inconsistency, mostly the latter.  And he was really pretty bad last season, ultimately finishing [...]

Jason Bay shared a funny story of when he served as Jose Reyes’ chauffeur and tour guide when they were minor-league teammates before Bay was traded to San Diego in 2002: “We were in Port St. Lucie together. Jose was like 18, and I was about 23. He didn’t speak one word of English, and I didn’t speak one word of Spanish. We both got moved up to Double-A at the same time in Binghamton, staying [...]

I wouldn’t count on Kelvim Escobar being an integral part of the New York Mets bullpen anytime soon.  Regarding Escobar, “if healthy” is just wishful thinking. Let’s review the time line in which Kelvim came to be a Met. July 2008:  Kelvim Escobar has surgery to repair his torn labrum.  The surgery was performed by Dr. David Altchek.  (Yes, that one).  It was believed that Escobar would not pitch for the Angels again until July [...]