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It looks like the Mets have some huge prospects on their way in the names of Carlos Gomez, 21 and Fernando Martinez, 18. Carlos Gomez is the most athletic of the two and has an impressive combination of power and speed and has a canon for an arm. Jose Reyes admitted that Gomez is faster than him and Carlos Beltran recently said that Gomez is much better than he was at the same age. Fernando Martinez is not as fast but is projected to hit with more power. He is often compared to a young Manny Ramirez.

Both of them are expected to be ready to contribute by the 2008 season, unless they hit their way to the Mets sooner. With Lastings Milledge already on the big league roster, it's easy to see that the Mets are looking pretty good in the outfield for the next 8-10 years. As a matter of fact, who knows... maybe when the Mets get the All-Star game in 2011, the starting outfield will be Carlos Beltran flanked by either Milledge, Gomez or Martinez.

Posted by Joe D. at 06:57 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

WOW, here we go, baseball's back! Well, at least spring training games are. Oliver Perez will lead things off and open the Mets exhibition season on Wednesday, when they face off against the AL Champion, Detroit Tigers. The game will be televised at 1:00 PM on SNY for any of you who cant wait to get some baseball into your system again.

I seemed to generate much debate on one of my blogs last week that listed Jose Reyes as the number one reason the Mets will got to the World Series in 2007. The consensus seemed to be that I should have tabbed David Wright as number one, and most were shocked that I didn't even list him among my five reasons. Interestingly enough, David Wright was asked to comment on Jose Reyes yesterday, and had this to say to Steve Popper of the Bergen Record...

"He's dynamic," Wright said. "We're two pretty different players. He's dynamic in all aspects of the game. He does everything exceptionally well in all aspects of the game. You can't look around baseball and find many more well-versed, five-tool players than Jose. He can absolutely do it all. The scary thing is he gets better and better."

As for all the hate mail my last blog generated from devoted Philly fans in the last 24 hours, I'll just say that the only retraction I am going to make regarding yesterdays post is this...

In the last sentence of my article I said that the Mets outclassed the Phillies. In doing so I implied that the Phillies had some class. I would like to retract the inference that the Phillies had some class and make it clear to all that they have no class.

Incidentally, I'm sick and tired of hearing our former (and worst) GM, Steve Phillips, knocking down the Mets every chance he gets. He recently commented on ESPN that the Phillies are the team to beat and the Mets better watch out. Somebody please shove a Mo Vaughn bobble head down his throat please.

Posted by Joe D. at 01:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

It's one thing when Jimmy Rollins starts talking smack about the Mets, but it borders on the ridiculous when Brett Myers joins the fray as well.

If you had to pick the one reason the Phillies didn't make the playoffs last season, you could make a strong case that Brett Myers was the biggest reason. After all, wasn't this the same guy who beat his wife in public last year and completely distracted the team for a month? Wasn't this the same guy who punched his wife in the face twice, dragged her by her hair while he slapped her face, and left her lying in a street gutter until onlookers rushed to her rescue? Wasn't this the same guy who had to be restrained by police because he wanted to keep his wife from telling them what had happened and then told the police "it was no big deal?"

Here is what Courtney Knight, 26, who witnessed the alleged attack, said in her testimony. "It was disgusting," Knight said. "He was dragging her by the hair and slapping her across the face. She was yelling, "I'm not going to let you do this to me anymore."

The 6-foot-4, 240 pound Myers, dwarfs his wife, who the police report said was 5 foot 4 and 120 pounds.

Authorities had wanted Myers to plead guilty to assault and battery, serve two years’ probation, enter a program for spousal abusers and undergo an outpatient alcohol abuse evaluation. But as luck would have it, Kim Myers dropped the charges against Brett two months later, and he was never convicted or punished for his actions.

And now I have to sit and read that this punk is talking trash about my Mets?

Only 2 weeks ago, Philadelphia Weekly had this to say about Myers:

Yesterday, the Phillies signed up their fattest, wife-beatinest pitcher who went 12-7 last year to a three year deal worth $25.7 million. Yep, Brett "The Incredible Hulk" Myers has been locked up. No, no, not by the police. (Rimshot.) The Phillies have signed him to a three-year deal.

Instead of opening up his big mouth, shouldn't he still be residing under a rock or something, and staying away from anything resembling cameras and microphones?

And one more thing... what makes Jimmy Rollins think that Brett Myers is so special? I mean the guy had an ERA of 3.91 last season in 31 starts, and his career ERA stands at 4.34. Does Jimmy Rollins really believe that the Mets should be afraid of Philadelphia's ace pitcher? It seems to me that both Tom Glavine and John Maine, had better ERA's and better seasons than Myers did last year.

Oh, and by the way, regarding their big pitching additions, how can Rollins say Tom Glavine is old, when Jaime Moyer at age 44, is four years older than Glavine? Someone also tell me why I have to be afraid of Freddy Garcia and his big fat 4.53 ERA? Last season Freddy Garcia allowed a whopping 32 homeruns, which was the 5th worst in baseball, can you imagine how many homeruns he will cough up in that bandbox the Phillies play in? Tom Glavine led the Mets with an impressive 22 homeruns allowed. In fact every one of Philadelphia's projected starters each gave up more homeruns than Glavine did.

One final point, and this one is aimed directly at Jimmy Rollins. Last year, Jimmy Rollins batted .214 in 19 games against the Mets, with 11 runs scored. On the other hand, our shortstop Jose Reyes, hit .360 against the Phillies and hit 7 homeruns while scoring 22 runs and stealing 5 bases. Their ace pitcher Brett Myers had an ERA of 5.09 against the Mets last year and his career ERA against the Mets is 5.89.

I think this is a good time for me to end my blog. Simply put, we own the Phillies. Let them shoot their mouths off all they want. The fact of the matter is that I already knew we were better than them on the field, now I know we outclass them as well.

Posted by Joe D. at 06:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

In my heart of hearts, there is no doubt that last year was just a dress rehearsal for the New York Mets. Sure I was devastated as I watched that backdoor curve freeze Carlos Beltran in game 7 of the NLCS for the last out. But I also understood the significance of everything we witnessed last season. It was a total cumulative collaboration of team work at it's finest. Despite all the adversity, the Mets were diligent in their effort every step of the way and they grew more resilient as they overcame each obstacle.

To me it was all just a precursor for what I believe will be one of the Mets' greatest seasons ever. The lessons from last year are already in play this spring as I hear each player saying the right thing and doing the right thing. The guys we depend on the most on offense, all showed up early. Reyes packed on 13 pounds of muscle, Beltran vows to steal more bases, and Wright worked out all offseason learning how to become more patient at the plate. These Mets don't make excuses, they learn and grow, and have a yearning desire to get to the World Series.

You should all know that I'm just not talking out of my love for the Mets, and these are not the ravings of an over-exuberant fan. I'm ready to back my words up, and not with more rants, but rather a more sound and statistical approach. Here's 5 reasons why I believe the Mets are going to the World Series this season.

1. Jose Reyes - Whenever people talk about MVP candidates from the Mets, you always hear the names of Carlos Beltran and David Wright. Well, I beg to differ. Jose Reyes is more valuable to the Mets than either Beltran or Wright. His ability to impact a game is unmatched by either of them. When Reyes gets on base, pitchers have to alter their delivery, catchers lose their focus, and defenses change their alignment. He completely unravels the opposition. Last year he led the Majors with 17 triples and 64 stolen bases, and became the first player in Major League history to have 122 runs or more, 194 hits or more, 19 homers or more, and 64 stolen bases or more in a single season. He also started in his first All-Star game, batted .300, and became the 9th Met ever to hit for the cycle. Nuff said! At only 23 years old, the best is yet to come.

2. Bullpen - Last year the Mets bullpen was among the best in baseball and there is no reason to believe that they wont repeat. The Mets superbly engineered their bullpen to the point of taking over a game in the 6th or 7th inning without losing any of its effectiveness over the course of the season. They created a model which is now being duplicated by even more teams this offseason. Salaries for middle relievers skyrocketed after 2006 as more and more teams became convinced that they needed specialized relievers for different aspects of the game, not just a closer and a setup man. Last year Willie Randolph used his bullpen like a surgeon, effectively using the strengths of each pitcher to extinguish any threats from the opposition. Guys like Pedro Feliciano, Darren Oliver, and Chad Bradford were no less important than their closer Billy Wagner, and setup man Aaron Heilman. The results were nothing short of amazing as the Mets bullpen led the National League with an ERA of 3.25 while having the fewest blown saves (15) and second most saves (43). They also led the majors in wins (32) and opposing batting average (.239), while finishing 2nd in strikeouts with 485. To sum it up... they were absolutely dominating! Despite the losses of Chad Bradford and Darren Oliver, the Mets may even improved with the additions of Scott Schoeneweis and Ambiorix Burgos.

3. Moises Alou - What the Mets desperately needed more than anything else this offseason was to find themselves a hitter that can hit left-handed pitching. Their lack of such a hitter may have been one of the main reasons the Mets failed to advance to the World Series in 2007. In Moises Alou, the Mets have acquired one of the most lethal right-handed hitters in the game. Last season he batted .301 and hit 22 homeruns with 74 RBI's in only 345 at-bats. Against left-handed pitching he batted .349 with an on-base percentage of .407 and a .687 slugging percentage. He has batted .290 or better in 7 of the last 9 years, and .300 or better for 9 straight seasons against left-handed pitching. He is a fiery competitor who can work the count as good as anyone in the game and despite his power, he has never struck out more than 87 times in a season. In fact, in his last 700 at-bats he has only struck-out 74 times. His presence on this team will have a massive positive effect on David Wright, similar to the effect Carlos Delgado had on Carlos Beltran last season.

4. Tom Glavine - The Mets may not have signed any of the big free agents in the offseason, but making sure they kept their current ace, Tom Glavine, from leaving was a major priority. Luckily for the Mets, Glavine decided to stay and try to win his 300th game as a New York Met. In 2006, Glavine had his best year since the 2002 season and even earned a spot on the All Star team. The 40-year old lefty, went 15-7 in 32 starts with a 3.83 ERA, and his home ERA of 2.84, was the best in the NL East. Glavine was well on his way to winning 20 games and had compiled a nine game winning streak before going into a mild slump after returning from a blood clot scare. However, he finished the season strongly and was very effective in the postseason going 2-1 in three starts, with a sparkling 1.59 ERA. If the Mets are to have any chance at returning to the post-season, they will need Tom Glavine to be every bit as good as he was last season. As Glavine chases win number 300 into the history books, you can be sure that the Mets will be riding his chase into the World Series.

5. Destiny - Last season was only the first chapter in what is going to be a great story of how the Mets won it all in 2007. They have a great blend of veterans and youth unlike any other team in the National League. They have guys that are hungry for World Series ring like Carlos Delgado, Paul LoDuca, Moises Alou, and Tom Glavine, who wants his last season to be his most memorable. They have battle tested kids like David Wright, Jose Reyes and John Maine, who each got a sip of pennant fever and want even more than just a taste in 2007. They have one of the best bullpens in baseball, one that more than makes up for any shortcomings from their starting rotation. From the 1-8 spots in the lineup, the Mets do not have an easy out. In fact, top to bottom, they may have the best lineup in the National League. When you consider all of these facts, it's easy to see that this season the Mets are a team of destiny. At least that's what I think. In about 6 months we will all know if I was right or wrong.

Let me know what you think, and share your comments!

Posted by Joe D. at 01:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

The NYsportsGUY Breakdown - Series 1 of 2

Posted by Dave Ponte at 10:26 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Lastings Milledge arrived in camp a day early, but controversy soon erupted when he was observed giving high-fives to a few fans as he entered the Mets training complex. Sources tell us he was also smiling and very enthusiastic when he greeted some of the other players that were also there, causing some of them to become very congenial and visibly elated. The Mets have scheduled a press conference to address these allegations, and Lastings Milledge himself will then address the media, and is expected to talk about the growing controversy regarding his very positive demeanor.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself. I just wanted to illustrate how easy it is for the media to put a negative spin on a story, even a positive one. We've become a society that loves to read all the negative gossip and trashy headlines. The press can wield it's power, like a lumberjack swinging an ax. When they get hold of something, they will milk it until it dries, and in the process, an innocent victim's reputation is sometimes destroyed in the wake of its aftermath.

I was one of those who bought into all the negative stuff that was written about him in the past. I was fortunate that some of my readers, showed me the error of my ways, and now I am remorseful for contributing to Lastings negative image by writing a laundry list of unsubstantiated events regarding Lastings Milledge last week.

Lastings Milledge has been treated unfairly and deserves a second chance. I've learned that even when we repeat someone's past blunders or mistakes, we make it harder for them to break free from it and move on. Lastings Milledge deserves a chance to move on. God knows, I’ve made my share of blunders and mistakes when I was 21, in fact I still make them.

For some strange reason, this young man has been cast under the intensity of a high-powered microscope that constantly analyzes every move he makes, and every word he says.

So now I seek my own redemption by asking everyone who reads this blog, all five of you, to embrace Lastings Milledge like we would any other player on the Mets. He is one of our own. He deserves the same benefit of the doubt we would afford David Wright or Jose Reyes. This poor kid is getting a raw deal and is being run out of town before he even really got here.

Let's do what we can to help Lastings Milledge tap into his enormous talent and abilities, by supporting him just as would any other Mets player. It will be harder for Milledge to reach his potential unless we give him the room to do it. He's a great prospect with a world of talent, but more importantly, he is just as human as you and I. He has the same feelings and emotions as we do. It's time for us to give Lastings a real opportunity to move on, and in doing so, we will all benefit by it.

Posted by Joe D. at 02:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Although this offseason was not littered with any big name acquisitions and lavish press conferences unlike the last two seasons, the Mets will certainly have many new faces reporting to camp at their in Port St. Lucie complex this spring.

Of course the team has also sustained some losses, and most notable among them were Cliff Floyd, Chad Bradford, Brian Bannister, Roberto Hernandez, Chris Woodward, Darren Oliver, Steve Trachsel, Victor Zambrano, Heath Bell, Royce Ring and Michael Tucker.

Here is a quick look at all the new Mets as we get ready to open Spring Training.  

OF Moises Alou - Alou was by far the most significant acquisition for the Mets this offseason. He was signed as a free agent to a one year deal worth $8.5 million dollars. Alou takes over for Cliff Floyd in leftfield, and adds a much needed right-handed bat to the lineup, as well as protection in the lineup for David Wright. Despite his age (41), Alou can still pound left-handed pitching with the best of them, as he scorched them with a .346 batting average, third highest in the league.

RP Ambiorix Burgos - Burgos came over to the Mets from Kansas City in a swap for Brian Bannister. Although he may not play a significant role this season, the Mets look at him as the heir apparent to Billy Wagner. He has a plus fastball and tremendous upside. At 22 years old, he has already amassed 18 saves as the closer for the Royals last season, but still needs to harness his control. He has a tremendous future ahead of him.

RP Scott Schoeneweis -  Schoeneweis, 33, was signed to a three-year, $10.8 million deal. Over the last two seasons he has been very effective against left-handers, holding them to a .209 average and allowing just 1 home run in 201 at-bats. His ability to hold left-handed hitters in check will come in handy in a league that is loaded with some of the best power hitters in the game.

SP Chan Ho Park - The Mets were willing to gamble $600,000 in 2007, to see if Park can return to the form that made him a top starter when he was with the Dodgers, before signing his $65 million dollar mega-deal with the Texas Rangers. Although he was largely a bust during the length of the deal, he showed some life last season with San Diego. From 1997-2001, Park averaged 15 wins a season and compiled a 3.40 ERA, while striking out 966 batters in 974 innings. The Mets also included a clause that would pay him only $150,000 if Park fails to make the team out of Spring Training.

SP Jorge Sosa - Sosa probably won't ever have another season quite like his 2005, when he finished 13-3 with a 2.55 ERA, but for the small price the Mets paid for him, it was a good gamble by Omar Minaya. He is expected to compete for a spot in the rotation (who isn't?), but can be useful as the long reliever out of the pen. If the 29 year old righty comes close to duplicating his past success, he can be a great replacement for Darren Oliver.

IF Damion Easley - The Mets signed utility man, Damion Easley to a $850,000 contract. He is expected to fill the role played last season by Chris Woodward. Last season he batted .233 in 189 at-bats, with 9 homeruns and 28 RBI's. I see this as a big upgrade over Woodward and a nice bat with some pop off the bench. His addition will also keep Jose Valentin fresh and he may even work himself into a platoon. 

OF David Newhan - Newhan adds some depth and appears to have the inside track on the final bench spot because of his ability to also play in the infield. He hit .252 last season as a reserve and has a little pop and some speed. His main competition for a spot on the roster will come from Ben Johnson.  

OF Ben Johnson - The 25 year old Johnson, was the key part of the deal for the Mets when they sent Royce Ring and Heath bell to the Padres. Johnson has an emerging powerful right-handed bat and will provide valuable insurance in case of injury to Shawn Green or Moises Alou. The Padres' Minor League Player of the Year in 2005, Johnson was ranked as the Padres' No. 4 prospect by Baseball America in 2006.

SP Jason Vargas - Vargas was once the top pitching prospect for the Florida Marlins. The 25 year old may start the season in New Orleans unless he really turns up the heat in camp. He has a huge upside and could prove to be a steal for the New York Mets.

SP Aaron Sele - Sele was signed to a minor league contract last month, and is one of the pitchers competing for a spot in the back of the Mets' rotation. He has had some success in the past and may prove to be a good signing by the Mets. Last season he started 15 games for the Dodgers and won 8 of them with a 4.53 ERA.

RP Jon Adkins - Adkins was acquired from the Padres and actually was on his way to having a nice season before tailing off at the end of the year. He finished the season with a 3.98 ERA and pitched in 55 games. The 29 year old righty, might make the 25 man roster, simply because he has no minor league options remaining.

Posted by Joe D. at 04:13 PM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

On a day that Willie Randolph proclaimed that only Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez were guaranteed a spot in the rotation, the stage had been set for New York's very own reality show. Ladies and gentlemen, I give you, The Contenders: A Shea Stadium Showdown.

First, lets meet the Executive Producers, Fred and Jeff Wilpon. This is where our story really begins. After a thrilling season which saw the New York Mets come within one strike of going to the World Series, Fred and Jeff Wilpon designed a plan that they thought would surely be a box-office hit, one that would be played out on the back pages of newspapers everywhere in the city. Their mission was to secure the talents of 28 year old, Barry Zito, the most talented star on the market. However things didn't go as planned, because rather than opening up their wallets and going all out to sign the big star, they chose instead to make him a token offer, believing the allure of starring in New York's biggest show would be enough to get him to sign on the dotted line. But alas, this fairy tale ending was not meant to be, as the star pitcher decided to take his glove, his guitar, and his matinee idol looks to the West coast where he ended up finding fame and fortune.

Next we have our Director, Omar Minaya, who nearly won his first Best Director award in 2006, but lost out to Terry Ryan who produced the feel good movie of the year, "The Twins." Unlike years past, when his producers gave Omar all the monetary resources he needed to produce a surefire hit, this year would be very different. Despite the huge windfall from a new cable network, a landmark stadium-naming deal, and record breaking ticket sales, this offseason Omar would have to find his cast from among a list of promising "B" actors and former blacklisted performers. Omar was even forced to stretch out his gaze far beyond the reaches of the Dominican Republic, to a far away city located in the isolated regions of the Korean peninsula.

It was a tough task, but Omar Minaya was the perfect man for this particular quest, and after many months of searching and negotiations, he finally put together a short list of would-be candidates, contenders, if you will. As February approached, Omar looked down at his list of contenders and said, "From these nine candidates, we will choose the three best warriors, and they will fill the void on our pitching staff."

And thus, the stage had been set. The challenge had been thrown down. And like gladiators in an arena, these nine heroes will see if they got what it takes to make it up north, where throngs of adoring fans will greet them on a cold April day. Without further adieu, I give you... The Contenders.

John Maine: The Man Who Would Be King - Barring a total spring meltdown, Maine should easily emerge as the leader of this group, and lock up the third spot in the rotation. Last season he stepped in and impressed the Mets brass with his mental guile and his ability to work his way out of trouble.

Oliver Perez: The Would-be Hero - After a dismal season speckled with a few flashes of brilliance, Oliver Perez' stock is on the rise again after two dominating post season performances. Perez is no stranger to success, as he once struck out 239 batters in 196 innings pitched, with an ERA of 2.98 only two short years ago.

Jason Vargas: The Secret Weapon - The former jewel of the Florida Marlins organization, fell on hard times last season and lost some of his luster The hard throwing lefty is out to prove that he is no one-year wonder, and could surprise this spring. 

Chan Ho Park: The Beast From The East - After signing his huge $65 million dollar contract with the Rangers, it's been all down hill for this former All-star. Last season he seemed to regain his form while with the San Diego Padres, and the Mets are gambling that with a little tweaking, he can become the pitcher he once was.

Aaron Sele: The Wanderer - This year will be the seventh time that Aaron Sele starts the season with a new organization. He is currently the seasoned veteran of the group, but it will be quite a feat if he could hold off some of the more talented youngsters competing against him. Sele has had some success in the past, which may grant him some favor with Willie Randolph.  

Mike Pelfrey: The Shooting Star - Pelfrey is the one pitcher that the organization wants to succeed. His talent is without question and he is as polished as they come. With a little more confidence in his abilities, Pelfrey may not only win a rotation spot, but he may even become the ace of the staff by season's end. 

Philip Humber: The Comeback Kid - Humber was on the fast track to a rotation spot, but his hopes were dashed by an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. After missing almost a year, the former 1st round pick came back and put up some impressive numbers last season, striking out more than a batter an inning and even making a couple of appearances with Mets during a September call-up. The Mets are high on this kid.

Jorge Sosa: The Brave Little Toaster - After finally coming into his own with the Braves in 2005, Sosa reverted back to his wild ways last season, prompting the Braves to ship him off to the Cardinals. At 30 years old, it's time for Sosa to step up, or step aside. He has always been plagued with control problems.

Alay Soler: The Cuban Missile - After starring for the Cuban National team, Soler defected to the United States and signed with the Mets. He made a spectacular debut which included a seven inning gem against the Dodgers, followed by a shutout against the Diamondbacks. However, it all came to a screeching halt after giving up 19 runs in his next three starts, prompting a demotion back to Norfolk.

So there you have it. From among these nine hopefuls, there shall emerge three pitchers who will help lead the Mets to the promised land in 2007.

It's really going to be fun watching it all unfold, so stay tuned to MetsMerized as we bring you all the drama, all the suspense, and all the unexpected twists, as these nine brave warriors, put it all on the line for a chance to be... a contender.

Posted by Joe D. at 12:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

It feels so good to have baseball back again. I have to admit it was a pretty long and boring offseason for Met fans, especially when we were left with the memory of that awful game 7 in our heads! Blah! They say the best thing to do after you fall off your horse, is to get back on again. Well, unfortunately for Met fans, the season ended and we haven't been able to get back on that horse until now. And man, I gotta say that whoever came up with that stupid saying, was absolutely right! I'm completely recovered from 2006 and I am totally stoked for the new season.

There's so much stuff coming out of Mets camp today and it's only the second full day of spring training! First and foremost in my mind though, is our catcher Paul LoDuca.

Paul LoDuca has made it known that he would love a contract extension that will allow him to finish his career with the New York Mets. LoDuca, who will turn 35 in April, is entering the final season of a three-year deal that will pay him $6.25 million this season. He hit a team-leading .318 last year with five home runs and 49 RBIs, helping New York win the NL East for the first time since 1988.

Among his other contributions, LoDuca instantly became one of the leaders in the clubhouse after joining the team, and was a driving force and steady influence when he was on the field. He was also largely credited for leading an injury plagued pitching staff to a 4.14 ERA, that was ranked third best in the league.

Considering the fact that he was bedeviled with personal problems as well as a lingering thumb injury all season long, I have to credit him for gutting it out and helping the Mets win their first division title in over a decade.

There was also some other crazy story about Aaron Heilman being totally pissed off because he didn't get one of the 12 reserved parking spots at Tradition Field. Poor Heilman, he never seems to get what he wants. I think Omar should give him a free pass to Disney World so he could go to the Magic Kingdom, where all your dreams can come true.

Meanwhile, Billy Wagner sounded like a man on a mission when he showed up. He vows to have a better season in 2007 and blamed some of his poor outings on nagging injuries. He said that this year he plans on bringing back the "old Billy Wagner." Somebody let me know when he gets here, I really miss the old Billy Wagner. Between me and you, I was quite pleased with Wagner's performance last year. Sure he had a few too many blown saves, but when I think of Benitez and Looper, I suddenly remember how thankful I am that Wags is our closer.

Hey, I didn't mean to go off on Milledge the way that I did yesterday, but I had to get it off of my chest. There's nothing that disappoints me more than a guy with a million dollars worth of talent and a dime's worth of common sense.  Milledge is one of the most exciting young talents in the game. He has one of the highest ceilings of anyone in the organization.

I guess if he didn't have the personal problems early on he may never have fallen to the Mets with pick number 12, when everyone expected him to be a "Top 5" pick in the 2003 draft. I wonder if the Mets ever regret passing on players like Chad Cordero, Carlos Quentin, Brandon Wood, and Chad Billingsley, when they selected Milledge. OK, I'm gonna shut up now, before I get into more trouble. I'm just mad because the Mets have invested so much in Milledge, and it's time for him to give the team some payback. Even though he was drafted 12th we paid him like he was drafted number one overall, and gave him a $1.9 million dollar signing bonus to boot. I'm not saying he has to be the poster child for the Boys Club of America, I'm just saying, smarten' up dude, and lets play ball.

Posted by Joe D. at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (7) | TrackBacks (0)

One of the Mets newest beat writers, John Delcos, kick-started a small firestorm on his blog, when he wrote the following...

Posted by Joe D. at 07:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (20) | TrackBacks (0)

It is so freaking cool to finally go into Mets Spring Training camp and not have to hear about the damned Atlanta Braves and their damned streak of consecutive titles. You have no idea how much I hate that team. I will never forget the year that they clinched just before going into the last series of the season against the Mets. Bobby Cox, who I despise, decided that rather than resting his regulars for a couple of days, he would instead play them all weekend long so that he could keep the Mets from winning a Wild Card spot. The Mets needed only one win, and of course the Braves swept them and the rest, as they say, was history. But this spring the Mets are wirting their own history as the enter Port St. Lucie as the defending NL East Champs for the first time in over a decade! Did you hear that John Rocker!

Did you know that the 2006 Mets made the fewest pinch-hitting appearances in the National League, the sixth-fewest pitching changes and the sixth-fewest defensive changes. Thanks to Marty Noble for that interesting fact.

I definitely think the defensive changes will increase a great deal this year with the addition of Moises Alou and a full season of Shawn Green. Plus if Anderson Hernandez makes the team, you can be sure to see alot of him late in the game.

ESPN recently reported that Pedro Martinez' fitness therapist had this to say about Pedro's ongoing rehab. "Pedro will be brand-new, the Pedro of maybe '97. It is my challenge, to build Pedro the old Pedro way. Pedro will again have the power in the fastball."

Wow, this is the second time in a month that I've heard such optimism regarding Pedro's return, and this time it's coming from the guy who's sole purpose it is, to nurture him back to health. Can you imagine the impact Pedro would have on the rotation if he is anything close to his 90's form when he returns after the All-Star break? I dont know if this is just another case of overblown optimism, or if there really is a chance that Pedro can come back and be as good as he was five years ago. But I do know this...  If Pedro does come back and pitches lights-out, the Mets will win 100 games in 2007. You read it here first.

Posted by Joe D. at 05:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

The Chan Ho Park contract just keeps getting better and better. Apparently, the Mets will only have to pay Park $150,000 if he does not make the team out of Spring Training. If he does make the team, the Mets get him for a very reasonable $600,000.

Here's the thing though, as Met fans we should be rooting for him not to make the team, because if he does make the team it means that either Oliver Perez or Mike Pelfrey or both, probably had poor springs. In fact, you can quote me on this... If Oliver Perez and Mike Pelfrey are lights out in Spring Training and clinch a spot in the rotation, there is no way Chan Ho Park makes the team as reliever. 

There is some major pitching news coming from the Twins and the Cubs that may be music to Mets fans' ears! It looks like both Carlos Zambrano and Johan Santana, could be available at the trading deadline if neither of them sign contract extensions before the end of Spring Training. Now, I'll be the first to say that Barry Zito wasn't worth the $125 million contract he signed for, however I'd gladly pay that for Zambrano, and I would definitely pay $150 million or more for Santana.

Our buddy in right field, Shawn Green, had his mutual option for 2008 declined by the New York Mets. I think this is great for the Mets, because you can bet Shawn Green is going to bust his tail this season as he plays for a new contract for 2008 and beyond. He may not hit forty-plus homeruns like he used to, but if we can get thirty-something homeruns from the #7 hitter in the lineup, then the Mets are going to crush the competition in the National League this season.

Pedro Martinez has already been sighted at Port St. Lucie, along with David Wright, Paul LoDuca, John Maine, Howard Johnson, and of course, Mr. Met.

It's going to be great watching all the starting rotation candidates compete for the last two spots in the rotation. I am looking forward to seeing more of Philip Humber and Mike Pelfrey as the battle it out with Chan Ho, Oliver Perez, Aaron Sele, and the ghost of Christmas past.

I will be posting daily notes from Mets Spring Training Camp starting this Monday. I am so stoked, it's gonna be a heck of a year!

Posted by Joe D. at 06:54 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

NY Sports Guy breaks it down. 

Please forgive me. I’d like to write this in advance to all 8 of you that will read my blogs this season. 7 of those 8 will be my friends who will be reading just because I will make them. As for the rest of you, well, I’ll say it again. Please forgive me. I may write a few things this year that you may disagree with. I may write some things that will anger you. But with every time you disagree or get angry, you will be enlightened another time. Or you’ll at least laugh a little bit. I also, like most fans, think that I am actually a part of the Mets Organization. I will say things like “Why can’t we get a groundball” or “We have to start hitting the ball in the gaps”. I know that I am not but its easier, so stop hating.

David Wright appeared to wear down toward the end of last season, and after another busy winter, it will be crucial for the All-Star third baseman to keep the demands of his fame in check. With his popularity exploding beyond New York, the Mets' cover boy must be able to handle the intensifying spotlight. So far I think he has handled his celebrity status quite well. He says and does all the right things, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he were to take it to the next level this season. I expect a huge season from David, especially now that he will have Moises Alou protecting him in the lineup.

All signs point to Lastings Milledge being ticketed for Triple-A New Orleans to begin the year. Minaya spoke with Willie Randolph, and the two agreed Shawn Green should be considered the right field favorite. "I think if Shawn is healthy, he's going to be given every opportunity to be the guy," Minaya said. Shawn Green might be starting the season in right field, but I hope he don't strain a neck muscle looking over his shoulder.

Last year the Mets got 61 starts from Steve Trachsel (30), Alay Soler (eight), Brian Bannister (six), Dave Williams (five), Victor Zambrano (five), Jose Lima (four) and Jeremi Gonzalez (three). In those games, the team was 35-26. Knowing all that... I feel a lot better about our pitching now. Don't you? Read my 2007 Pitching Preview at Mets Merized Online.

Omar Minaya said he's never been a part of a Mets camp with so much promising youth. In addition to Milledge, he'll have highly regarded outfield prospects Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez in camp. Tony Pena's teenage son Francisco, a catcher, will be there. And joining Pelfrey and Humber will be pitchers Kevin Mulvey and Joe Smith. Wow, I have to admit it's been a long time since the Mets had so much quality depth in their minor leagues.

While discussing Citifield, Fred Wilpon said fans should see a steel outline of the first level of the stadium, from their seats at Shea by Opening Day. By June, the brick exterior, with its granite base, should also be visible. The team will debut a Web cam on mets.com next week so fans can see daily snapshots of stadium progress. How cool is that!

I read somewhere that the acquisition of David Newhan spelled doom for the chances of Ben Johnson making the opening day roster. Coupled with the fact that currently reliever Jon Adkins is also on the outside looking in, it begs this question: Why exactly did we trade promising relievers Royce Ring and Heath Bell to San Diego? They each had great success in the minors last year, and the mets couldn't stop telling us how either one could step in and close for us in a couple of years. I just hope Ben Johnson does make the team. He has some nice power that the Mets bench could really use right now.

Buster Olney reported that he spoke with Padres GM Kevin Towers about the Mets' signing of Chan Ho Park. Olney says that the Padres actually offered Park $1 million but that he signed with New York, because he had a better chance of being part of their rotation. When it was first reported that Park had signed for $3 million, I was very critical of the signing, but at $600,000 it was a great move and a risk worth taking.

Posted by Joe D. at 09:54 AM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

ESPN, they had a great article by Phil Rogers who ranked all the outfields in baseball, and I was surprised to see the Mets ranked at number 4. Only the Angels, Tigers, and Braves were ranked higher. I thought it was ironic because besides all the comments and questions I get from fans concerned about the starting pitching, worries about the outfield ranked second. In my 2007 Mets Preview last month, I gave the Mets outfield a grade of A- and I had this to say about them:

In the 2006 season the New York Mets got some excellent production from their outfielders, something that they had not really experienced very often since the their inception in 1962. Simply put, they were in the top 7 in every offensive and defensive category that mattered most. That's quite an accomplishment considering that the heart of the Mets offense lies in their infield and not their outfield. The best part is that in 2007 not only do they have a chance to repeat that success, but I actually believe they will be significantly better. 

I love this time of the year! Football season is over and everyday you come online or turn on WFAN or ESPN, the talk is all baseball. It's only a matter of days now as Mets pitchers and catchers report on Thursday, and the full-squad workouts begin on February 21st. The Mets Spring Training Opener is scheduled for February 28th against the Detroit Tigers.

"This is the absolute best time of the year," Wright said a few days ago. "There's no better feeling than starting the baseball season. It just feels right."

I can almost smell the fresh, green grass, despite the frigid temperatures here in Staten Island, New York. There's already a growing buzz about baseball everywhere I turn. There's an exciting feeling of anticipation as the Mets embark on a new season. They certainly have some unfinished business to take care of, and all of us know it, but the memories of last years broken dreams are fading fast as spring draws nearer. I can't wait to see them take the field on February 28th because even though the game doesn't matter, it signifies the beginning of a new dream and a new hope for the ultimate prize, a World Series victory. So until then, I sit and wait like most Met fans for the exhibition opener, so that we can once again hear those glorious words, "play ball."

Posted by Joe D. at 11:35 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

As most of you already know, much has been said about the Mets' shortcomings in the starting rotation as we head into the new season. Many of us had hoped that the Mets would sign a marquee guy like Andy Pettite or a Barry Zito. But as luck would have it, it just wasn't in the cards for the Mets this offseason and they had to make do with some less attractive options to fill in the gaps. However, there is no need to go into a panic because the situation is really much brighter than you would think. So let's take a look at how the Mets starting rotation shapes up this season.

Tom Glavine - The Mets may not have signed any of the big free agents in the offseason, but making sure they kept their current ace, Tom Glavine, from leaving was a major priority. Luckily for the Mets, Glavine decided to stay and try to win his 300th game as a New York Met. In 2006, Glavine had his best year since the 2002 season and even earned a spot on the All Star team. The 40-year old lefty, went 15-7 in 32 starts with a 3.83 ERA, and his home ERA of 2.84, was the best in the NL East. Glavine was well on his way to winning 20 games and had compiled a nine game winning streak before going into a mild slump in the second half of the season. However, he finished the season strongly and was very effective in the postseason going 2-1 in three starts, with a sparkling 1.59 ERA. He is expected to be the ace of the staff until Pedro Martinez returns in July from the disabled list. Much will be expected of Tom Glavine in 2007 and I expect him to deliver as he chases the magic 300 win plateau. He is currently ten victories away, and the chase will surely add to the excitement of what's sure to be another amazin' season for the New York Mets.  Grade: B+

Orlando Hernandez - El Duque is currently penciled in as the #2 starter going into the season. After going 2-4 with a 6.11 ERA in Arizona, Hernandez went 9-7 with a 4.09 ERA in New York after being acquired in a midseason trade. As the season wore on, El Duque kept getting better and in his last five starts he finished with a 2.01 ERA. El Duque has always been a big game pitcher as evidenced by his 9-3 record in the postseason and his 2.55 ERA in 106 innings pitched. Unfortunately for the Mets, only hours before his scheduled playoff start last year, he came up lame while running sprints and was lost for the season. El Duque, who is 37 years old, was very effective as a Met last season, and that's why Omar Minaya made it a point to re-sign him to a new 2-year deal in the offseason. Barring any injuries, he should be able to win at least 15 games for the Mets in 2006.  Grade: B-

John Maine - What can you say about a 25 year old kid that nobody ever heard of who pitched his heart out and won the respect of his teammates and the adoration of the fans? That's exactly what John Maine did last season after starting the season in Norfolk and then taking over a regular rotation spot in July. When the Mets acquired him as the second player in the Kris Benson trade, nobody could have predicted that he would end the season as the Mets #3 starter and pitch as effectively as he did down the stretch. The former Orioles' phenom went 6-5 last season with a 3.60 ERA in 15 starts and allowed only 68 hits in 89 innings pitched. He held right-handed batters to a .247 on-base percentage. He gradually improved as the season wore on and at one point in August he ran off a string of 26 scoreless innings.  His best game of the year was when he tossed a gem against the Astros, a complete game shutout in which he allowed only four hits and a walk. He was nothing short of remarkable in the post season where he posted a 2.63 ERA in three starts, and striking out 13 batters in as many innings pitched. One of the things Maine will have to improve on this year is his control problems as he gets deeper into games. It seemed as though he had no problem facing a teams lineup the first time around, but by the time the 4th and 5th innings rolled around, he would lose focus and start putting runners on base and eventually give way to the bullpen. He was also prone to giving up too many homeruns, which was the result of throwing one too many fastballs as well as a lack of confidence in his slider, which is actually a great pitch. Although Willie Randolph has already said that there would be a competition for the last three spots in the rotation, you can be sure that John Maine will be the #3 starter come opening day.  Grade: B-

Oliver Perez - Acquired July 31 from Pittsburgh with reliever Roberto Hernandez for Xavier Nady, Perez was 1-3 with a 6.38 ERA in seven regular-season starts with the Mets and 3-13 with a 6.55 ERA in 22 major league starts overall. Perez became the steal of the trade as he filled in for the injured Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez, making two quality starts in the postseason. After his Aug. 26 debut with the Mets, Perez exhibited signs of his 2004 season, when he had 239 strikeouts in 196 innings for the Pirates. He finished the season with 41 strikeouts in 36 innings and was consistently clocked in the mid 90's with his fastball. He had his most impressive outing of the year on Sept. 6 in a shutout against the Braves, in which he allowed five hits and one walk while striking out six. The knock on Oliver Perez is his inconsistency and his ability to lose control at any given time. He oozes with talent but has yet to show he can produce day in and day out. You never know which Oliver Perez will show up when he takes the mound, the overpowering lefty that had scouts drooling in 2004, or the wild and ineffective pitcher that couldn't get anyone out for 3/4 of his starts in the last two seasons. Of all of Rick Peterson's pet projects this season, Perez should be his top priority. If Peterson can get Perez to pitch with any consistency, the Mets may end up with one of the top left-handed starters in the National League. Yes, he's that good.  Grade: C+

Mike Pelfrey - The Mets first round draft pick of 2005, could be the next great pitcher to come from the Mets since Dwight Gooden. The phenom as often been called a right-handed version of Randy Johnson, and is often compared to Hall of Famer, Don Drysdale. His arsenal features a four-seam fastball that is clocked at 99 MPH, a two-seam fastball, an 85 MPH power curve, and a circle changeup. After moving up three levels in the minor leagues in 2006, Mike Pelfrey made his major league debut with the Mets on July 8, 2006, and earned his first win in a 17-3 victory against the Florida Marlins. Overall, he was wildly inconsistent at times and lacked confidence in his curve and changeup. Results were mixed in his big league call-up, but there was no doubting his enormous potential and vast talent. At 6-foot-7, Pelfrey is an intimidating presence on the mound, and if he can learn to harness his secondary pitches, he will be virtually unhabitable. As of now, he is just one of many candidates in camp vying for a chance to fill the final two spots at the back of the rotation. The Mets want him to win the job, but I think the team would be best served by letting him spend a month or two in New Orleans, before coming up and becoming the Mets' ace pitcher for the next ten years.  Grade: C+

Chan Ho Park - It has been five long years since Chan Ho Park has posted an ERA under 5.46, and in those years he has won a total of 33 games while earning a hefty $65 million dollars for his effort. The Mets are willing to gamble $600,000 in 2007, to see if Park can return to the form that made him a top starter when he was with the Dodgers, before signing his Boras-inflated mega-deal with the Texas Rangers. From 1997-2001, Park averaged 15 wins a season and compiled a 3.40 ERA, while striking out 966 batters in 974 innings. Anyhow, given the question marks surrounding the back end of the rotation, Park may end up being another one of those wise decisions from Omar Minaya, that may pay big dividends for the New York Mets this season. With a little luck, Park may be the answer at the number 5 spot in the rotation, at least until Mike Pelfrey wrestles the job away from him by midseason.  Grade: C-

Best of the Rest - In addition to the players already profiled, the Mets have signed Jorge Sosa and Aaron Sele for added insurance just in case things don't work out as planned. Sele has had some moderate success in his big league career, while Sosa is a prodigy in search of the confidence that made him a top starter for the Braves in 2005.  Jason Vargas, who was acquired from the Florida Marlins, will also be given a chance to compete for a job, and tap into the potential that made him a top prospect only two short years ago. The real surprise may come from the Mets' 2004 first round draft pick, Philip Humber. Humber came back last season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his elbow, and seemed to regain the form that made him one of the top college pitchers in the country. He is as polished and as poised as they come, and is without question, projected to be a front-line starter in the near future.

Overall Pitching Grade: B-

Posted by Joe D. at 12:23 PM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

UPDATE: It seems that the earlier reports that park was signed to a $3million dollar deal were wrong. He in fact is signed for a guaranteed contract worth $600,000 that can go as high as $3 million with performance incentives. It definitely makes the signing a lot more attractive. Kudos to Omar Minaya for bringing in an intriguing low risk/high reward type player just before the start of Spring Training.

In a few days the Mets will have one more pitcher in camp competing for a spot on the rotation. The Daily News is reporting that the Mets have signed Chan Ho Park to a one year deal worth an estimated $3 million dollars.

The 33-year-old righthander, went 7-7 with a 4.81 ERA in 24 appearances for the Padres last season. He made $15 million in '06, in the final year his five-year, $65 million contract that was for the most part, a bust. I'm not a huge fan of Chan Ho, but at this point the Mets need all the arms they can get, so bravo.

Looks like Rick Peterson will get yet another project to work on this spring to go with Jorge Sosa, Jason Vargas, Oliver Perez, Aaron Sele, Scott Scheneweis and Ambiorix Burgos. That's a heck of a lot of projects for one pitching coach. Maybe it's time we name an assistant pitching coach, hee hee. Maybe we should have taken all those millions of dollars in salary and put it into just one non-project, a guy like... I don't know, Andy Pettite maybe? Mark Mulder? Barry Zito?

The Daily News also had another great article by one of my favorite Mets beat writers, Adam Rubin. If you don't read his columns, you should. He says the Mets are on the rise and who am I to disagree with that. :-)

We have a new writer on our staff! His name is David and is better known as NY Sports Guy. Look for his first column to post every Tuesday, starting next week.

Posted by Joe D. at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Only 8 more days until Mets pitchers and catchers report. I can almost smell the green grass and those awesome hotdogs!

As a special treat to all my readers, subscribers and myspace friends, I give you the Ultimate Mets Merized Challenge! Here is a Mets quiz that is sure to test your knowledge of the New York Mets. I hope you enjoy it and look forward to your comments! HOW METS MERIZED ARE YOU!

Nothing much happening this week in Mets land. The Mets did do a nice thing earlier this week when they donated $20,000 to the Greater New Orleans Sports Foundation. Paul LoDuca, Mike DeFelice and Howard Johnson were on hand to play some baseball with the kids too.

Excellent article by John Shea from ESPN on the New York Mets. He speaks highly of the Mets lineup and considers them the best in the NL. He had this to say: "More than any other team in the National League, the Mets have an American League lineup. On all cylinders, there's no easy out, except for the pitcher's spot."

The final installment of the 2007 Mets Preview which covers the Starting Pitching is running a bit late, but should be posted before the weekend.

Posted by Joe D. at 05:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Well, it looks like the battle to replace Darren Oliver as the long reliever just got a little narrower. Dave Williams, who was viewed as a potential long reliever and emergency starter, had an operation to repair a herniated disk in his neck and could be out until June. Williams started feeling pain when he began his offseason throwing program in January. This leaves the Mets with offseason acquisitions Aaron Sele and Jorge Sosa as leading candidates for the job.

The Mets announced that they have agreed to a minor league contract with outfielder Ruben Sierra and invited him to spring training. He has absolutely no shot of making the team unless the Mets become overwhelmed with injuries.

Only 12 more days until Mets pitchers and catchers report to spring training in Port St. Lucie on Feb. 15. This is the first time the Mets will head to Tradition Field as defending NL East champs.

By the way, David Wright is convinced Pedro Martinez will come back from rotator cuff surgery stronger than ever after visiting with him in the Dominican Republic earlier this month. "It's very impressive at his age, putting in the effort to get himself back to where he was," Wright said last night at a promotional appearance.

Carlos Delgado, who was one of the honorees at the Thurman Munson dinner in NYC, visited a doctor on Monday and has been cleared to start hitting. He expects to be ready for the start of spring training. Delgado has been seen everywhere this offseason making personal appearances for many charitable causes. Whenever he talks about the Mets chances in 2007, he is bursting with confidence and enthusiasm, and is expecting bigger things for the team this season.

Mets general manager Omar Minaya doesn't seem to share the same concerns about the pitching staff as his fans do. While most Mets fans worry about the state of the starting rotation and the losses of Chad Bradford and Darren Oliver from the bullpen, Omar Minaya is offering a high-powered sales pitch. "We're going to be fine," he says. "Our rotation is going to be fine. Our bullpen is going to be very good. We'll be OK."

Minaya is very ecstatic about the signing of lefty Scott Schoeneweis, whom he called the best reliever on the market "and one of the best in the game against left-handers." He also likes the acquisition of talented but often erratic right-hander Ambiorix Burgos in a trade with the Royals. With dependable Aaron Heilman and Sanchez and Mota also in the fold along with dependable lefty Pedro Feliciano, Minaya believes the Mets' bridge from starter to closer, Billy Wagner, will be formidable. Personally, I'm not worried about the bullpen and neither should Mets fans. My biggest concern lies only with the rotation, but if Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez and John Maine pitch up to their potential... watch out NL East!

Mets Merized Online will soon be announcing the addition of a two new staff writers as well as a contributing writer who will do a monthly feature on the Mets Minor Leagues. Mets Merized Online is dedicated to providing you with a full slate of everything you need to follow your favorite team, the New York Mets. You will never miss a beat as we bring you daily coverage that is packed with exclusive features, hard-hitting commentary, breaking news, exclusive player interviews, post game analysis and of course some of the best blogging and reporting on the web. Join us in 2007 as we support our team and share in the excitement of what is going to be another amazing season for the New York Mets.

Posted by Joe D. at 06:49 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This is the fourth in a series of 5 weekly installments previewing the 2007 New York Mets. Each Thursday until Spring Training I will preview one of these five team components: Infield, Bullpen, Outfield, Catcher & Bench and finally Starting Pitching.

Catcher - Despite dealing with many nagging injuries all season long, Paul LoDuca endeared himself to Mets fans by hitting .318 and scoring 80 runs as the number two hitter in the lineup. In 512 at-bats he pounded out 39 doubles and 5 homeruns while striking out only 38 times all season long. For his efforts he was selected as the NL's starting catcher for the All-Star game, his 4th straight appearance. He was the perfect compliment to leadoff hitter Jose Reyes with his patience at plate and his ability to execute the hit and run. Lo Duca finished the season with a hit in 44 of his last 53 games, and batted .338 with 37 runs, 16 doubles, a triple, two home runs, and 17 RBIs during that stretch.

Defensively, he also had an excellent season behind the plate. His ability to call a good game and talk to his pitchers proved valuable to a staff full of young and inexperienced pitchers, but he was also savvy enough to get the most out of veterans like Tom Glavine and Orlando Hernandez. Additionally, baserunners were not as eager to run on the Mets as they had been in years past. His hard-nosed style of play and on the field intensity made him a strong clubhouse leader.   Grade: A-

Bench - In 2006 the Mets got some lackluster results from their bench which became visibly tired and ineffective as the season drew to an end. This offseason, Omar Minaya took some positive steps to strengthen the bench by bringing in outfielders Ben Johnson and David Newhan, while reeling in infielder Damion Easley from Arizona to replace Chris Woodward. 

Some of the familiar players coming back this season include Lastings Milledge and Endy Chavez in the outfield, Ramon Castro behind the plate and the ageless Julio Franco in the infield.

The Mets got a huge year from Endy Chavez last season and he is expected to get even more playing time in 2007 as the Mets try to figure out if he could be an everyday player. Defensively, he is the best player on the team and last year he proved he was no slouch at the plate after hitting .306 while scoring 48 runs and driving in 48 in only 353 at-bats. He also showcased his speed and baserunning skills with his 12 stolen bases and 5 triples.

Ben Johnson may prove to be a nice addition this season after he was acquired in a trade with San Diego. Johnson batted .250 with four home runs and 12 RBI in 58 games with the Padres last season. He is a versatile outfielder who can play all three spots, has speed and shown some power. Johnson was named the Padres Minor League Player of the Year in 2005 after batting .312 (129-414) with 79 runs scored, 27 doubles, 25 home runs and 83 RBI in 107 games with Portland. The talent and the promise is definitely there, and at 25 years old, he may be ready to step up.

Lastings Milledge got off on the wrong foot, but believe me when I tell you that this kid could be the total package. The 22 year old has the quickest bat speed in the organization and as his body starts to fill out, his power will increase. The former First Round pick has always been projected to be a 3-5 hitter. I am glad that the Mets resisted the temptation to trade him, because ultimately he can become the best homegrown outfielder that the Mets have ever produced.

David Newhan has spent much of his career with the Orioles as a utility player both in the outfield and infield as well. He is a career .256 hitter with moderate power and some speed. His spot on the roster is not guaranteed and a decision on him could come down to the last day of Spring Training.

Julio Franco had some big hits for the Mets last season but after a hot start, he cooled off considerably in the second half. He ended the season hitting .273 and swiped 6 bases in 95 games for the Mets. An interesting fact abou