Much of what dominates Mets talk and is bandied about is whether the Mets will have a successful season in ’10. Can Big Pelf live up to his “potential”? (Don’t you just love that word?) Will Reyes be his old self or even better? Can the #3 through #5 pitchers keep us in games consistently? So many questions, so much time. I am opting to look outside of these norms and explore another route. Numbers [...]

Update 2:25 pm Adam Rubin reports that Jose Reyes has been cleared to resume playing after a second visit for bloodwork. Reyes is likely to just take batting practice today, then enter the lineup tomorrow. Original Post 10:58 am Jose Reyes has been scratched from today’s game against the Cardinals to go see a doctor for a follow-up to his physical. According to Adam Rubin, Reyes said that the initial physical raised a small concern with [...]

I’ve always been a Mets fan.  Well, since around 1970 or so…that’s as far back as I can remember.  So even though many of you have read my work on there the last six-eight months about how frustrated and annoyed I am with the way the team has played and the direction they have gone in with personnel, a new season is upon us and optimism reigns supreme. Let’s face it, every baseball fan loves [...]

I am trying really hard to focus on Spring Training as we get a chance to see what will eventually develop into our 2010 squad, with a few pluses and minuses. The glutton for punishment that I am, I decided to watch the Mike and Mike simulcast on ESPN 2 this morning to hear them do their “triple play” featuring our Amazins. Guys, please just pretend like we’re unbiased and that you will address this [...]

In his recent “discussion” with Mike Francesca on WFAN, Jerry Manuel discussed his “predictions” for the upcoming season.  He is always very candid and forthcoming in his interviews, this was no different.   Among other things, Jerry admitted that Jon Niese and Daniel Murphy were the leaders to start the season at their respective starting roles.  This kind of openness is not really the norm in professional sports, and it should be a breath of [...]

Spring officially is still about three weeks away. However, baseball fans have their own calendar. And today images of the glorious green and brown baseball diamond were beamed into our homes and the Mets delivered a win, the unofficial start of spring has begun. Finally, the embers of the hot stove have been extinguished. Talk supplanted by action. What happens on the field matters again. Trade rumors take a seat in the bleachers. Real live players [...]

There’s something weird going on in Port St. Lucie… I can’t put my finger on it, but it’s starting to spread like wild fire… It’s one thing when loony Jerry Manuel starts hallucinating about Jenrry “Wild Thing” Mejia being the next Mariano Rivera. After all, we’ve all become accustomed to way-out comments like that from Manuel who in addition to being a manager, gives the Mets some additional shock and entertainment value for their dollar. And getting bang for [...]

With the onset of actual baseball games being played in Florida and Arizona this week, we can all enjoy a sigh of relief that spring training has finally arrived. To those of us in the northeast, there’s a major streak of envy at the comparably better weather both Arizona and Florida are having right now. Just a few days ago I was digging my car, yet again, out of 18 inches of snow. Where’s Al [...]

One sign that its time for baseball once again is the annual photo day for the players who have shown up to camp down in Florida. Its also a great opportunity to create some new graphics for our collection. There are many new faces and some familiar as well. Unfortunately a couple of my personal favorite players were missing from the photo shoot. Hopefully they will report soon and get into the swing of things. [...]

If you’re as geographically fortunate as me and spend 5-6 months annually battling numb fingertips, sub-zero temperatures and a deprivation of sports involving grass, this is an adrenaline inducing time of year.  Signs of spring are bountiful, undeniably so;  It’s time to put your hockey sticks and snowboards away and yank out that decrepit, oil stained ball bag so deeply imbedded with red clay that moving it slightly sends a poof of dust spores in [...]

The last 2 weeks I wrote about how the pitchers and the players who patrol the infield must step up for the Mets to have success in 2010.  This week concludes with how the outfielders must step up. Angel Pagan: For the first 2 months of the 2010 season it looks like Angel Pagan will be the everyday Center Fielder for the Mets due to Carlos Beltran’s surgery.  Pagan had a good year last year, [...]