In the television broadcasts this spring in which Keith Hernandez has been in the booth, he’s provided his insights into the best potential Mets’ batting order. He said that the best lineup will have length, and I agree. The team isn’t exactly an offensive powerhouse, so it will have to create ways to get the maximum production. The potential lineup would be the following: Jordany Valdespin, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Collin Cowgill, CF Ruben Tejada, SS Daniel [...]

Francisco Rodriguez spoke with reporters during yesterday’s contest in Port St. Lucie between the Mets and Team Venezuela, which is gearing up to compete in the World Baseball Classic. K-Rod said he would welcome a reunion with the Mets and would be extra motivated if given a second chance to redeem himself. Rodriguez is currently a free agent, and the Mets showed minimal interest earlier in the offseason. But please, please, please Sandy Alderson: Don’t [...]

Terry Collins told Jorge Castillo of the Star Ledger that Johan Santana is on target to start his first spring training game on March 10 or 11. That would give him about five starts, assuming there are no other setbacks, before Opening Day. Frankly, I don’t care if he’s starting Opening Day. I just want him to get fully healthy as soon as possible, even if that means missing a few starts early in the [...]

I’m sure many of us are excited to see the Mets’ catcher of the future, Travis d’Arnaud, take the field this spring. Sure, he likely won’t head north with the big club right away, but all reports indicate that he is the real deal. I don’t know about you, but I am definitely seeking the reassurance that d’Arnaud has what it takes to be a Major League catcher. Luckily, I received that reassurance a few [...]

Updated by Joe D. According to Mike Puma of the NY Post, after telling reporters that Frank Francisco has been shut down due to inflammation in his right elbow, Mets manager Terry Collins told Puma that “he wants Bobby Parnell to take over as the team’s closer.” “We keep talking about 2014 … why not get a head start?” Collins said. “I’m not panicking, but you’ve got to get somebody ready, and Bobby to me is [...]

I am so excited to receive my copy of Mike Piazza’s autobiography, Long Shot, which I pre-ordered several weeks ago. But of course, I can’t control myself in reading all the news stories about what is actually in the book before I read it for myself. So that leads me to a very intriguing discussion. Piazza admitted in his book to using androstenedione and Ephedra before the substances were banned, according to the New York [...]

The Mets seem to be rolling the dice when it comes to bringing in veterans on minor-league deals to compete for spots in the bullpen. The team will likely head north in about two months with seven relievers, but spring training will decide who those lucky seven are. LaTroy Hawkins and Scott Atchison were recently signed to minor-league deals. Do these guys have enough left in the tank to be contributors to this year’s bullpen? [...]

With the announcement this morning that the Mets have agreed to sign Shaun Marcum, the offseason drought is officially over. The Mets were the only team in the game to have not signed a Major League free agent before the Marcum deal. Of course, the Mets are going through a rebuilding phase, but the team didn’t even sign a bench player or relief pitcher to a pro deal. What this means is that the team [...]

The stars were out at the New York Hilton Saturday night at the 90th annual Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) Dinner. This year’s award winners received their hardware, and of course, R.A. Dickey was the main event. Dickey took home the 2012 NL Cy Young Award and was honored with the BBWAA’s “Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town” award for forging a special bond with the New York fans. Before Dickey took to the [...]