Two days into camp and the Mets have already taken two shots. The first was inevitable, that Michael Bourn signed elsewhere. Come to think of it, so was the second when Frank Francisco was shut down with elbow inflammation. The proviso was Francisco would be the closer if healthy and he is clearly not. Terry Collins told us that it may be a while before Francisco throws a baseball again. Ouch. How long he’ll be shut [...]

It’s no secret the Mets have concerns in their rotation, but that doesn’t mean they should rush Zack Wheeler, regardless of how good a spring training he has. The Mets tooker a somewhat patient approach with Matt Harvey, waited to bring him up last summer and gave him ten starts in which he showed his potential. The Mets need to do the same with Wheeler. I still maintain the Mets rushed former first-round pick Mike [...]

As I watch the snow pile up outside my window, I am thinking of three of the best words in sports, “pitchers and catchers.’’ The official deadline for the Mets is Monday, but the lockers are already being filled in Port St. Lucie. I am planning to get down there this month and have already started booking my flight, hotel and everything else. Most of the prognosticators have the Mets fighting the Marlins to stay [...]

Updated by Joe D. on 2/4 Johan Santana‘s participation in the World Baseball Classic for Venezuela appears an uphill battle that will not materialize, although there is no set decision, sources told ESPN New York. Because Santana ended last season injured and on the disabled list, a World Baseball Classic committee must agree to insure the southpaw’s $31 million contract in order to make him eligible for the event. I’m glad that Santana feels up [...]

This morning, I’d like to comment a little on two stories from the weekend, neither of them Mets related because, well, they haven’t done anything. The first is Stan Musial’s funeral and the second Frank Thomas’ comments from the White Sox’s annual fan convention. In different ways, both speak to baseball’s history in a profound light. Both return us to a cleaner, simpler time. Let’s look at Musial first. Here was a three-time MVP and [...]

Not that the bullpen-needy Mets would have made a play for Rafael Soriano anyway, but the Washington Nationals’ acquisition of the Yankees’ 2012 insurance policy has them as the sexy pick to win the NL East. It isn’t as if they needed much make-up after winning 98 games last season, but Soriano strengthens an already strong bullpen stronger. For his $28-million, two-year deal, Soriano will close, but the Nationals also have Drew Storen – their [...]

I’ve read many columns from my colleagues, and was greatly disappointed in those who would not recognize a player on the first ballot, and even worse, those who returned their ballots blank. As I wrote yesterday, boycotting first timers is an abuse of power. If you truly believe a player merits induction based on his career, then he should be on your ballot the first year. You can’t legislate whom a voter marks down on [...]

I am not surprised at the voting numbers for Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and Sammy Sosa, but I am stunned at there being a total shutout and disappointed at the reasoning of some writers. For just the second time in four decades none of the candidates were elected, and that is wrong. Craig Biggio, who was on my ballot, had 3,000 hits, which had been an automatic ticket – save PED user Rafael Palmeiro – [...]

Well, now here’s a sign the apocalypse is upon us. Pete Rose, baseball’s career-hits leader, is about to host a new reality series. The cameras will follow around Pete and his wife, former TV exercise queen Kiana Kim, to capture the daily doings of the every day couple. It should be as real as the Kardashians Of course, this would have been more compelling had it been done when he was playing, or better still, managing [...]

I keep hearing rumblings the Mets are interested in Carl Pavano, who made $8.5 million last year with Minnesota at age 36. Why? While the pressures pitching for the Yankees are different than they are the Mets – the expectations in the Bronx are always greater – this is not a move they should be making. I wouldn’t want Pavano in the Mets’ rotation if he were willing to pitch for the major league minimum. [...]