“You guys won’t be able to knock the smile off my face.” — A smiling Bobby Bonilla told a gathering of reporters after the Mets made him the highest paid player in baseball in 1992. As a matter of fact, it didn’t take long for Bobby-Bo’s smile to disappear back then, but things are looking up again for Bonilla as the clock strikes midnight tonight. Beginning in 2011, Bobby Bonilla will be back on the Mets [...]

There always seems to be a lot of controversy around this time each year over the Hall of Fame voting process. Most of the grief stems from the two-dozen or so undeserving writers who seemingly go out of their way each year to mock the institution with their unworthy ballots. Some of them go out of their way to thwart the inclusion of those players who deserve to be enshrined in Cooperstown, while others tarnish the grandeur of [...]

Despite the gripes of Mets fans, Luis Castillo will at the very least be in spring training this season vying for the starting second base job that he once possessed. He no longer has the range of his younger self and has also lost a step or two on the basepaths. But the one thing about Castillo to keep in mind is that he is owed a ton of money in the final year of [...]

As we enter into the last remaining hours of 2010, let’s take a quick look at where the Mets are this offseason and what still remains to be done. To begin, the Mets have yet to fulfill their three most pressing needs and they are: Acquiring a starting pitcher for the rotation. Acquiring a left-handed reliever to replace Pedro Feliciano in the bullpen. Acquiring a fourth outfielder. Regarding the starting pitcher, the Mets had shown some interest [...]

As the clock winds down on 2010, a disappointing, yet transitional season for the New York Mets, let’s take a moment to look back at the significant moments, games and issues of the season. Spring training began with a myriad of issues and questions that never dissipated during the long and tumultuous summer. Among the more intriguing moments and issues were: The Turnover: Sandy Alderson in for Omar Minaya as general manager and Terry Collins [...]

I wanted to make a special post in remembrance of those we lost this past year. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, however these are immeasurable as I’m sure you will all agree. Sparky Anderson 1934 – 2010 Jim Bibby 1944 – 2010 Phil Cavarretta 1916 – 2010 Mike Cuellar 1937 – 2010 Willie Davis 1940 – 2010 Walt Dropo 1923 – 2010 Bob Feller 1918 – 2010 Ernie Harwell 1918 - 2010 [...]

David Wright has his fans. Those are the ones who say he’s the face of the franchise and can tell you without giving it much thought how many seasons he’s had with a .300+ batting average (five, in case you were wondering) and 100+ RBI (also five). He also has his haters. Those people will point to his declining batting average and his rising strikeout totals, as well as his “aw, shucks” attitude that doesn’t [...]

New Years’ Resolutions —   Isn’t that a scary phrase?    Do you ever make them?    Or, I should say, if you do, do you keep them?     I wonder if the Mets do….   I wonder which players spend their winter making plans for the summer….   I’d like to think that Sandy Alderson has a plan, and is working hard on putting all the ideas and suggestions together – at least he [...]

According to Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com, sources have told him that Wally Backman, who was a finalist for the Mets managers job, is expected to be named the manager of the Binghamton Mets.  After Terry Collins was named manager, Wally Backman told The Bergen Record that he was “disappointed and devastated” that he wasn’t named manager. With this move, former Met Tim Teufel is now expected to be named manager of the Buffalo Bisons, according to [...]

Oliver Perez is no stranger to days off.  As we all know, the Mets would not use Oliver Perez out of the bullpen a lot during the season, thus giving him plenty of time off to ponder his predicament.   It appears the Los Tomateros de Culiacan are taking the same approach with Oliver Perez, as the Amazin’s did. Adam Rubin of ESPNNewYork.com reports that after a “12-day layoff”, Oliver Perez finally got a chance to pitch.  Last [...]

I think there has to come a time when the critics of our new front office executives need to relax. I’m trying to think back at a time when I can remember such hostility towards newly hired executives who are hired to clean up a mess over the long-term.  Are there really Mets fans out there that thought whoever was hired to be the new GM of this franchise was going to instantly snap their [...]