With opening day less than a week away, it’s time to weigh in with a brand new edition of “3 Up & 3 Down”. Here’s what I’m looking forward to in 2012, the 50th anniversary season of New York Mets Baseball! 3 Up: The Return of Johan Santana:One word comes to mind when I think of Johan Santana; warrior. Who could forget Santana’s performance against the Marlins a few years back, with the season on [...]

As we enter the final weekend of minor league spring training, let’s see how the four long-season clubs fared on Friday. BUFFALO BISONS (AAA) Matt Harvey took the mound for the Buffalo Bisons Friday in a minor league spring training game against the Memphis Redbirds. The Bisons now have just two spring games remaining before heading north for their first workout at Coca-Cola field on Tuesday. Yesterday’s start was Harvey’s last tune-up before he takes [...]

According to David Lennon of Newsday, Terry Collins starter Mike Pelfrey into his office on the morning of March 19th and delivered a not-so-subtle message that his his place on this team was in danger. “This front office isn’t like the one you’ve had in years past. This kind of stuff isn’t good. They want answers.” This happened the day after Pelfrey allowed eight runs in 2 2/3 innings against the Astros. Pelfrey told Lennon, “It was my [...]

Mets Merized Online was invited last Monday to cover a Mets food tasting at CitiField’s Delta Sky360 Club, or as they put it, “The All-Star Dining Line-Up.”  Due to some fortunate circumstances (for me), I was able to attend. So I headed out Monday with a camera and my appetite. I know that there are some things that haven’t grown on me yet at CitiField, but their food options make it difficult to choose what [...]

Yes, I know it was only one game after so many bad ones, but it was encouraging to watch Mike Pelfrey last night against Houston. One run on three hits in 6.1 innings. I’ll take that every time. By his own admission, Pelfrey said this could be a make-or-break season for him. If he has another one like last year, he could see the Mets cutting ties with him. They’ve already bounced that around in [...]

As we all know, David Wright’s contract technically ends this year (However, there is a option for 2013).  Speaking of Wright’s contract, Mike Puma of the New York Post spoke with Nationals 3rd Basemen Ryan Zimmerman about Wright’s contract with the Mets.  Zimmerman told Puma that the Mets should resign David Wright. “He enjoys being here.  They gave him an opportunity, and anytime you’re a loyal person like he is, anyone who gives you an [...]

The Binghamton Mets (AA) broke a three game losing streak on Thursday with a 10-6 win over the Jacksonville Suns (Marlins). The B-Mets put together a 12-hit attack, led by outfielder Cesar Puello who had a single, a double, a HR, and two SB’s. The righty-hitting Puello will turn 21 in two days. CF Darrell Ceciliani had two doubles in the game, and 1B Travis Ozga slugged a two-run homer. LHP Darin Gorski went five [...]

I saw it with my own four eyes – Wright hit a Grand Slam and Mike Pelfrey looked great in a 9-1 rout of the Houston Astros. Summary So let me knock the negativity out of the way to begin. It was the Astros and they looked completely outmatched. The Astros are a 100-loss team, It is Spring Training, Pelfrey still sucks, Wright is not clutch, Sandy Alderson is a nut job. Did I cover [...]

Confirming what was speculated earlier, the Mets have officially announced that they have optioned 2B/SS Jordanny Valdespin to the minor leagues along with OF Adam Loewen. LHP Garrett Olson, C Lucas May, C Rob Johnson and OF Matt den Dekker. All are expected to start the season with Triple-A Buffalo. Of the group, only Valdespin spent time with the Bisons last season. The infielder was promoted to the Herd on August 10 and hit .280 (30-107) with two home runs, nine RBI [...]

With opening day right around the corner Andres Torres is still not totally cleared to play.  Torres has not played in a game since last week due to a strained calf muscle. He took indoor batting practice yesterday but that is a long way from playing in real game action. He still needs to be able to run the bases and shag balls in the outfield before we can see in the lineup again. With [...]