“It was a beautiful thing to observe, all 36 oars working in unison.’’ – late Cardinals announcer Jack Buck quipping he had seen George Steinbrenner’s yacht. It is a timeless quote about a timeless subject, George M. Steinbrenner, the demonstrative, cantankerous and blustery owner of the New York Yankees, who died today of a heart attack at age 80. Buck’s comment has long been the perception of Steinbrenner by the public through screaming headlines and [...]

When pitchers and catchers reported Feb. 18, I posted five key questions the Mets faced heading into the season. Let’s revisit those questions at the All-Star break. Question 1: What is this team’s attitude? Assessment: By all accounts, it has been superb. There is a different chemistry in the Mets clubhouse than I have previously seen. The Mets have shown a remarkable resiliency to bounce back from adversity and Sunday’s win is just another example. [...]

The replays didn’t show whether, or where, Mike Pelfrey’s errant fastball clipped Scott Rolen, but how the Mets’ pitcher responded to not getting that call, and not getting a later call on a strike to Drew Stubbs was the backdrop of Cincinnati’s six-run fifth inning and subsequently last night’s loss to the Reds. Pelfrey didn’t lose last night because he didn’t get a couple of calls. He lost because of his reaction to not getting [...]

In watching Johan Santana toy with Cincinnati it was almost as if he were telling Mike Pelfrey, “Mike, this is how you do it.’’ While Santana isn’t as consistently dominant as he used to be, for one night he was as good as ever, throwing a three-hit shutout of the Reds, 3-0, with the game-winning run coming on his first career home run. And in the ninth inning, after Jason Bay’s dropped pop-up in left, [...]

The Mets’ June cruise has not only made them relevant in the National League pennant races, but subsequently also at the July 31 trade deadline. With management believing this is no fluke and the Mets will continue to play alert, aggressive baseball, there are serious discussions not whether they should trade, but whom to trade for – and just as important, whom they should not trade. Their interest, despite this remarkable run by the rotation, [...]

Just because Roy Oswalt told a friend he would accept a trade to the Mets doesn’t mean he’s in Manhattan on the off-day looking at apartments. Depending on what “friend” you talk to, Oswalt would also accept trades to Philadelphia, St. Louis, the Yankees and Washington Nationals. However, if it means getting out of Houston, a chance at the playoffs and perhaps an extension, the list of places suddenly favorable to Oswalt could grow. The [...]

Hisanori Takahashi will get another chance partly because he deserves it, but also because the Mets don’t have much choice. Takahashi has started four games; two sparkling and two stinkers. What the Mets have learned is when the unraveling starts it comes quickly, and trouble usually comes around the fifth and sixth innings. He began to tire at this time against the Yankees and Phillies, and yesterday. However, he lost it early against the Padres, [...]

My name is John Delcos and this is the first of many posts for Mets Merized Online. Some of you may remember me from my days as the Mets beat writer for The Journal News. I have since started my own NY Mets project entitled the John Delcos New York Mets Report. Me and Joe D. will now be working together to bring our readers even more relevant team news and improved content on the New [...]