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Mike Pelfrey has been called up to the Mets tonight and will start tomorrows game in place of Oliver Perez. According to Mets.com, Oliver Perez suffered from back spasms and the decision was made to have his start postponed. The team plans on examining him on Monday at which time they will make a decision on his status for the Colorado Rockies series.

This comes on the heels of the injury to Jorge Sosa who strained his hamstring and was removed from todays game. On that front, there seems to be some good news as Sosa insists he will not miss his next start. The team however, will wait until tomorrow before making a determination.

Posted by Joe D. at 10:27 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

The Mets won the third game of the series today and beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-3.

They had a feast teeing off on rookie J. Happ and the Phillies were lucky the damage was not worse as the Mets left the bases loaded in the first inning.

Jorge Sosa started, but pitched in and out of trouble for most of the game. He pitched five innings and allowed three runs, four hits and four walks in picking up his seventh win. In the top of the sixth inning he pulled up lame while trying to avoid getting doubled up. The Mets say he strained a hamstring and he will surely end up on the Disabled List. The injury may force Omar Minaya to make a trade as he is faced with the prospect of inserting Mike Pelfrey back into the rotation. Pelfrey was 0-5 in his brief stint with the Mets and had a 6.60 ERA.

The Mets relief corps all did a great job today! Scott Schoeneweis, Aaron Heilman, and Pedro Feliciano combined to pitch four scoreless innings allowing only two hits and striking out five!

The Mets had a big scare in the second inning when Jose Reyes appeared to injure his right shoulder on a bunt attempt. He remained in the game, but he was seen rubbing his shoulder at different times during the game. I wouldn't be surprised if he gets the day off tomorrow.

Carlos Beltran is on fire, and all of you know that when Beltran is banging the ball, the Mets win! Today Beltran slugged two more homeruns, giving him four now in two days. He now has 14 home runs and 50 RBI on the season, and after getting four more hits today, he is one of the hottest batters in the league right now!

Paul Lo Duca also homered in the game and had a couple of hits. He seems to be settling in again in the two hole and the Mets have said goodbye to their losing streak since Willie Randolph made the switch.

David Wright continues to dominate in the cleanup spot and had another homerun today as well. He is now hitting .291 and has gained 25 points in his batting average since taking over in the four spot.

The Mets have now homered nine times in this series and look like they are ready to make some noise in the National League East. They have won four games in a row and eight of their last nine!

Gameball goes to??? Who else but CARLOS BELTRAN! 

Lets sweep those Cheesecakes like they did us at Shea!

You know what they say... Payback's a _________!  (fill in the blank)

Posted by Joe D. at 06:05 PM | Permalink | Comments (11) | TrackBacks (0)

Paul LoDuca has had a rough two weeks.  He's lost his starting spot in the All-Star Game [I gave him my 25 votes.], he's bruised and banged up, he's facing a two game suspension, and he hasn't been batting very well [BA dropped from .319 to .282 during the unfinished month of June].  Why can't we give the guy a break?  Throughout the year Paulie has been arguably one of the Mets most consistent hitters. 

After the rain out against the St. Louis Cardinals LoDuca lashed into a radio reporter saying:
"You need to start talking to other players," he said loudly. "It's the same three or four people (who deal with the media) every day. Nobody else wants to talk. Some of these guys have to start talking. They speak English, believe me." [Star-Ledger]

Give me a break, now everybody is calling him a racist?!  There's no way.  After every game I watch I always see interviews with LoDuca on television.  It's funny too because I was wondering the other day why I never see Delgado explaining his recent slump, or Valentin or Franco ["leaders" of the team] talking about the game or their recent batting hardships.  I thought Franco was supposed to be a leader?

Posted by Shawn Lugo at 01:32 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Sorry folks, but no full report today. Minor League Report will return next Saturday in its entirety.

PLAYER NEWS:

FERNANDO MARTINEZ has been to selected to play in the 2007 All-Star Futures Game at San Francisco. The game will take place on July 8th. MARTINEZ will play on the World Team, managed by Juan Marichal. Catch the 18-year-old phenom, FERNANDO MARTINEZ on July 8th at 4PM only on ESPN2!

Congratulations Fernando!

TEAM RECORDS: 

AAA - New Orleans Zephyrs - (44-37) *

AA - Binghamton Mets - (32-45)

A (adv.) - St. Lucie Mets - (3-5)

A - Savannah Sand Gnats - (4-4)

SS (R) - Brooklyn Cyclones - (8-3)*

* - First place 

METS MERIZED QUESTION OF THE WEEK!

Last weeks answer was Mike Piazza and David Wright. Piazza appeared on Triple Play 2001, and Wright appeared on MLB 07: The Show. 

This week's question:

On June 13, 2001, the Mets came back from a 6 run deficit to beat the Orioles at Camden Yards. This rookie's RBI single scored Piazza in the top of the 10th for the winning run. Who is it?

Posted by Ryan Punzalan at 12:31 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Charlie Manuel, the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies, and the rest of those Philadelphia Cheesecakes may have just catapulted the Mets out of their month long slump on Friday.

Besides continuing their usual round of trash talking, this time from starter Cole Hamels, they picked a fight with the wrong guy during game one of the doubleheader when they accused El Duque of illegally doctoring baseballs with a foreign substance.

El Duque was shocked, when in the middle of his warm-up pitches all the umpires and Willie Randolph gathered around him on the mound and asked for his baseball cap. Of course they found nothing that a little Tide or Wisk couldn't fix, and gave him his hat back.

El Duque was furious as he pointed his fingers right into the Phillies dugout with a flood of Spanish expletives that was definitely not for the faint of heart. When Ramon Castro was asked if he thought El Duque was mad, he replied "Oh, yeah," Castro shook his head. How angry was he? "He was talking Spanglish," the catcher said, as he broke out laughing.

Willie Randolph said "I was glad they did that. They did us a big favor."

El Duque went on to dominate the Phillies for the entire game. He was at his absolute best and even his fastball clocked in at 94 MPH, a new season high. On the day he allowed the Cheesecakes only two runs and three hits, while striking out seven batters.

In what could only be seen as a small token of justice or revenge, El Duque ended the game with a strikeout in the sixth inning, and as he left the mound he stared into the Philly dugout and pumped both of his fists in the air.

Take that!

Posted by Joe D. at 10:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (3) | TrackBacks (0)

Pedro Martinez is making big strides in his return from rotator cuff surgery that he had last fall. As all Mets fans wait in anticipation for his return, the rotation has done a fine job in filling in for his spot. During Pedro’s absence, we have learned about our young hurlers, Oliver Perez and John Maine, and what they can do not only during the season, but in the post-season.

There have been talks that the Mets were interested in White Sox ace, Mark Buehrle. The talks have died ever since the White Sox said that they were planning to give Buehrle an extension. If the move did happen, it wouldn’t have made too much sense unless Tom Glavine was to retire at the end of the year. With Buehrle, the Mets would have seven total starters (Pedro, Buehrle, Glavine, El Duque, Perez, Maine and Sosa). Without Buehrle, the Amazin's would still have six starters on the team. Most likely, the odd man out is Jorge Sosa since he has the most experience as a reliever out of anyone in the rotation. El Duque potentially could be a long reliever like he was for the White Sox when they won their championship but he is just too good to be out of the rotation right now. What does everyone else think?

Back to Buehrle. He is only 28, but the Mets have other needs to focus on rather than starting pitching. This ball club is not anemic when it comes to starting pitching, they just have been inconsistent for most of the year. Moises Alou has been missed more than anything. I saw a stat that with Alou in the lineup, the team was batting .395. Ever since he has been out the team has been batting .275. This stat alone screams that they need to get themselves a right handed bat if Alou is not coming back anytime soon.

One last point. I know that probably 99% of Mets fans really have a disliking for Scott Schoeneweis (The 1% who likes him is his family and even they probably threw objects at the TV screen when he gave up that home run the other day), but I just think that Willie has to change his role. His ERA against lefties is 0.69 and for righties, the ERA is over 10. Now if Willie would just try Schoeneweis out as just a situational pitcher so that he would just pitch to lefties, it could work out for him. Maybe give Pedro Feliciano the whole inning of work instead. Whatever to get the guys’ confidence up because right now it’s as thin as Lou Piniella’s patience. Any thoughts about that move?

Posted by Brian Nemchin at 08:14 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

I was awakened this morning by my friend’s phone call informing me about how Willie Randolph and Orlando Hernandez almost had fisticuffs after last nights rain postponement. OK, ok, I don’t think it was going to escalate to that level, but it struck me as interesting either way. Willie told El Duque that he was going to be the Friday Night starter. Here are some excerpts from the Newsday article…

“El Duque, Thursday night's scheduled starter, apparently didn't agree with that decision and began shrugging and gesturing "why?" to Randolph, as reporters watched with curious grins.”

“Randolph realized his pitcher was serious about not wanting to pitch the nightcap and suggested they meet in his office. El Duque shook his head and motioned Randolph behind a wall in the bathroom area of the clubhouse.

The meeting broke up a few minutes later, but Randolph didn't say anything as he walked back to his office and closed the door. Reporters suggested that team spokesman Jay Horowitz asked the manager for his final answer.

Horowitz gingerly knocked on the door and stepped inside. He returned with the news that "El Duque felt more comfortable pitching Game 1 and he will. Maine goes in the second game."

I just thought that was hilarious. Considering El Duque is probably the same age as Willie, it is funny that he makes the rules on when he pitches and when he doesn’t. Can you imagine Carlos Gomez telling Willie “You know what Chief, I think ill sit out the first game of the double header and play center in the second, Beltran can play left instead.”

So Metsmerized readers, why do you think that El Duque would prefer to play in the first game so much that he would be insubordinate to his boss? Perhaps he doesn’t want to wait through the first game? Do you think that more bench players would be in the second game, hindering his chance for a win? Maybe he like day games better? I’d like to hear what others have to say.

P.S. I am also going to Philadelphia for the Friday night game, should be excellent fodder for an article next week.

Read some rants and raves about the Knicks draft night trades on www.sportsrantsandraves.blogspot.com

Posted by Dave Ponte at 11:30 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Would it be an understatement to say that today begins the biggest series of the year today against the Phillies?

I don't think so.

I think that fate may have played a small part last night when the Mets were rained out against the Cardinals. I believe that it was a sign that the Mets' luck has just changed for the better. Why, you ask?

Well, here are just a few reasons why I believe that last nights rain was heavensent...

1. Our Bullpen - The Mets have an overworked bullpen that was in desperate need of a good long rest. It is one of the most overworked bullpen in the league. Credit Willie's early hooks for the problem, but last year we had Darren Oliver who was able to pitch 5 solid innings a week, and this year we have nobody like that.

2. El Duque - This reason is pretty obvious... Our Cuban missile was born to pitch in big games like this. It is what he was born to do. As much as winning a game against the Cardinals would have been nice, he should have been lined up for a start in the Philly series all along. Willie neglected to do that, but fate took care of that for us.

3. Our Offense - With an offense that has been struggling for the better part of a month, a day off to get their bodies and minds at ease again, isn't exactly the worst thing in the world. I'm hoping that a day of rest will provide many more days of an offensive explosiveness that has been AWOL for much too long.

With that said, let the games begin. It is going to be a great series and in the end the Mets will come out on top.

Put it in the books!

Posted by Joe D. at 08:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Immediately after the umpires called off todays game due to rain, the Mets wasted no time in announcing that John Maine and Orlando Hernandez will be the starters for tomorrows doubleheader.

Whew...

Look, nobody wants Mike Pelfrey to succeed more than I do, but I feel a lot more comfortable with El Duque pitching to Chase Utley and Ryan Howard than Mike Pelfrey.

Everyone who saw Pedro Martinez pitching to live batters yesterday, can't stop raving about how good he looked. Omar Minaya expects Pedro to begin pitching in Minor Leagues games in 1-2 weeks. Many of the observers that have seen Pedro throw in the last month all say he is throwing harder. It's also important to note that Pedro threw his entire arsenal of pitches, and was not limited to throwing only fastballs. This is great news for the Mets.

I wonder who would go to the bullpen when he returns in 4 weeks? My guess is that it would be Jorge Sosa. I figure he could resume the role that Darren Oliver had last year and have success with it.

What do you think??

Posted by Joe D. at 07:03 PM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

Before I report on the bullpen, just a little info on tonight's pitching match-up.

Orlando Hernandez will take the mound tonight and try to defeat someone who gave some Mets fans nightmares in the off-season, including Carlos Beltran. Of course I'm talking about Adam Wainwright who takes the mound tonight as a starter rather than the closer who ended our season last year in Game 7 of the NLCS.

It was Wainwright who, in the ninth inning of that fateful game, struck out Carlos Beltran with the bases loaded to clinch St. Louis' 3-1 win.

El Duque will be facing the cardinals for only the second time in his career. Although he is winless in so far in June, it is by no fault of his own as the Mets failed to give him any run support. El Duque currently has a team leading 2.77 ERA, and is coming off of a no-decision in which he pitched 7 shut out innings against the Oakland A's. He has been the Mets most consistent pitcher when he is healthy.

The bullpen should be well rested after yesterdays Mets win that was shortened due to the rain. Billy Wagner is having one of his best seasons in a decade, and along with Pedro Feliciano, who has also pitched brilliantly, they give the Mets a lethal 1-2 punch in the bullpen.

The rest of the bullpen is still trying to find it's way. Scott Schoeneweis continues to disappoint and has looked like a first class bust so far this season. I would be surprised if he is ever allowed into a game with less than a three run lead.

Joe Smith has slipped a little since starting the season strong, and you can tell that Willie has lost some confidence in him.

The good news is that Aaron Heilman has pitched much more effectively in his last five outings, and it looks like he may have turned a corner. Guillermo Mota also has started to pitch better in his last few appearances. In his last appearance, he even hit 95 MPH on the radar gun. He could be the ace up the Mets sleeve in that bullpen.

All in all, despite Schoeneweis' implosion, the Mets' bullpen has taken a step forward after an absolutely awful month of May and most of June.

Posted by Joe D. at 05:08 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Everyone wants to know what the deal is with Carlos Delgado. It's really plain to see if you ask me.

Carlos Delgado has just turned 35. Much like sluggers Jeff Bagwell, Glenn Davis, and Jack Clark to name a few, Delgado has experienced a very sharp decline like they did. The players I mentioned played the same position and were similar type sluggers, and each of them became shells of their former selves at age 35.

Delgado’s situation is compounded further more by two things...

1. He is trying to return from off season surgery. He insists it is not a problem, but has also been jockeying for the Mets to pickup his $16 million dollar team option for the 2009 season. Any player will tell you that returning from one surgery is difficult enough, two surgeries, well that may be asking for too much, especially at his age. There's a difference huge between coming back from surgery when your 25 and when your 35.

2. He missed considerable time physically and mentally in the spring due to the birth of his child. At a time when Delgado should have been hard at work rehabbing, getting back into game shape, and getting his timing back, he spent too much time on personal matters for a player who had so much on the line.

Delgado takes things to heart and is a proud guy. You may remember his stance on standing for God Bless America, and the US vs Puerto Rico case. Guys like him are the last ones to admit that they are in decline.

Unfortunately for the Mets, he is not going to get any better than what we now see. He is what he is. It happens. Over 50% of major league baseball players are out of the game by their 35th birthday. That percentage is even higher in football and in hockey.

Carlos Delgado's defense is also taking a major hit. He never was great defensively to begin with, but he was never as bad as he appears to be now.

The slump is beginning to weigh heavy on him, and pretty soon the boo birds at Shea Stadium will certainly bring him down even further. It is beginning to look much like some other Mets who broke down completely in their thirties. Players like Roberto Alomar(34), Mo Vaughn(35), Gary Carter(33), Howard Johnson(32), and Keith Hernandez(33). When you consider all of the facts it should come as no surprise that Carlos Delgado has come to the probable end of a long career.

Willie Randolph could probably help his cause somewhat by hitting him even lower in the lineup than 5th, but he is reluctant to do so.

So, we are all left with a situation that will only get worse and maybe even ugly, as time goes on.

Delgado is owed $14.5 million dollars for this year, and $16 million dollars for 2008. As I mentioned earlier, the Mets have a team option in 2009 for another $16 million. The Florida Marlins were very smart when they structured this deal. In the first year (2005) it paid $4 million, then escalated to $13.5 million in 2006. As soon as his first year was up, they moved him to the Mets.

All we can do is hope that we can some production out of him for the money. There is no team that will ever take him off of our hands unless he can drastically turn it around. But guys his age don't ever drastically turn things around unless they're juicing as the steroids generation has shown us. But that's a story for another blog.

Posted by Joe D. at 12:09 PM | Permalink | Comments (12) | TrackBacks (0)

It's now official...

Mike Pelfrey will indeed start one of the games against the Philadelphia Phillies in Friday's doubleheader. This move is borne more out of necessity rather than Pelfrey dominating hitters in the minors. He is currently 2-2 with a 3.38 ERA in New Orleans, and has given up 43 hits and 15 walks in 42 innings. Not exactly mind boggling.

During his first go-around with the Mets, he went 0-5 and sported a 6.53 ERA. Pelfrey is expected to go up against Cole Hamels.

Sounds like the 4th of July fireworks might get started a little bit early in Philadelphia...

Posted by Joe D. at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

 

Today is the final day for All Star voting! 

If you are a REAL Mets fan, than I implore you to vote today for Paul Lo Duca.

He is the heart and soul of the New York Mets and we owe it to ourselves to show him how much we appreciate the impact he has made on our team.

I'm sure there are those of you who think there are catchers more deserving for the All Star nod, but until Major League Baseball adopts a better way to vote, the current system is just a popularity contest.

We need your help to get Paul Lo Duca to San Francisco.  If you truly bleed orange and blue, then please help us get the word out!

Mets Merized Online has just sent a bulletin to almost 20,000 of our Myspace Friends from our very popular Mr. Met page imploring our readers to vote now and vote often!

I encourage all of you to spread the word, because together, we can make a difference!

Remember that you can vote up to 25 times per email registration.

Click here to vote!

Posted by Joe D. at 05:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

Rick Peterson replaced Vern Ruhle as pitching coach of the Mets for the 2004 season. He has held the position since and is the longest current tenure coach the Mets have.
 
Peterson's playing career lasted from 1976-1979 in the Pirates' organization never making it out of class A ball. After retiring, he coached in the Pirates' organization. He was the Pirates' bullpen coach in 1984-1985. After Pittsburgh, Peterson worked in the Indians' organization from 1986-1988, never making it to the Majors. From Cleveland,  Peterson went to the White Sox' organization finally making it to the Majors in the 1994 season as a sports psychologist. After Chicago, Peterson bounced around in the Blue Jays' and Red Sox' organizations. In 1998, Peterson joined Oakland as a Minor league pitching instructor. He spent very little time in the A's' minor league system as he was promoted to be the pitching coach for the A's in April of 1998. With Oakland, Peterson was credited for developing the `Big Three' of Barry Zito, Mark Mulder and Tim Hudson. Each became 20 game winners with Oakland and were always amongst the final candidates for the AL Cy Young award, with Zito winning it in 2002. Peterson was the A's pitching coach under Art Howe. After Howe became the Mets' manager in 2003, Howe lured Peterson away from the A's to the Mets in the 2004 season.
 
With the Mets, several pitchers have credited Peterson in their developments. Peterson drew heavy criticism when the Mets traded Scott Kazmir for Victor Zambrano in 2004. Peterson said that he could fix Zambrano's mechanics in "10 minutes" and said that Kazmir was at least "3 years away" from the big league level. The rest is history as Mets fans need not to be reminded on how the trade worked out for both teams. It is almost safe to say that Peterson was stating his opinion and had no say in the dreaded trade that was made in 2004. Peterson was the only Mets' coach to survive the house cleaning of 2004-2005. Since 2004, the Mets have re-developed one time prospects Oliver Perez and John Maine. They have also changed the mechanics of Aaron Heilman, Pedro Feliciano, Jorge Sosa and Tom Glavine making them more effective. All have credited Peterson.

Two of Peterson's current projects with the Mets are prospects Phillip Humber and Mike Pelfrey. Peterson has worked with them extensively in spring training and holds both in the highest regards. The Mets continue to be reluctant in involving them in any trade talks yet as both have seen limited Major League action, but have prospered in the minors. Peterson is currently signed through 2009 with the Mets. Hopefully they will have a world championship by then!

Posted by at 09:11 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

It's been pretty easy to write about the shortcomings of the Amazin's in recent weeks, but the future isn't as bleak as it seems. Sure, they can't hit. Their bench consists a 49-year-old man who is finally showing his age. Oh, and yeah, Scott Schowenweiss (I'm spelling his name wrong on purpose because he's been so lousy that he's not worth looking up on Google) has stunk up the bullpen. But, there are a lot of positives thus far this season.  Here's seven highlights:

1. Jose on Fire - First and foremost, Jose Reyes has had a monster year so far. His homeruns are down, but his stolen bases are up and that's what a pure lead-off hitter needs to do. He's driving the ball to both sides of the field, he's driving pitchers crazy on the base-paths, and above all, he's having a blast doing it. Unlike most baseball stars, he hasn't let money get to his head. He loves the game, and we love watching him love it. Keep dancing, Jose.

2. The Anti-Piazza - Paul LoDuca = enough said. This guy has proven to be more of a leader in 1 1/2 years on the team than Mike Piazza did in his 7-plus years with the organization. Plus, he's the best contact hitter the Mets have. He's also got a fire to him not seen at Shea since the days of Ray Knight. Suspended for two games? Fine by me. This guy leads by example, and doesn't take crap from anybody.

3. A Stellar Pitching Rotation - Whether it's John Maine, Oliver Perez, or the biggest surprise of all Jorge Sosa, the Mets starting pitching give or take a week or two, has been the most consistent thing about this year's team. They can be counted to go at least six innings, and always keep the team in the game. And let's not count out El Duque and Glavine. El Duque's been pretty solid, while the latter has had more ups then downs lately, let's not forget all of those starts he lost giving up only a run or two. Can't wait for Pedro.

4. The Other Carlos - When he first arrived, I was down on the kid. He had a world of talent, but was a free swinger just like Reyes when he first arrived and I felt he needed more grooming in the minors. But, something happened after the Endy injury. He started taking more pitches, his fielding continued to inspire, and his poise above all else has shone through. Keep the kid in the bigs. He's emerging into one of the biggest success stories the team has had all year.

5. D-Wright is alright  - He couldn't hit me if I  stood next to him in April, but a staggering May and somewhat productive June has put the third baseman back where he belongs: among the elite players in the game. He's also growing into the leader Delgado and Beltran need to be.

6. No Drama - Billy Wagner has been spot on all year. He's blown just one save, and has looked like the Wags of old as opposed to the displaced reliever who messed with sliders all of last year. Billy deserves to be an All Star.

7. The Importance of Valentin - Damion Easley did an amazing job at second base filling in for Jose Valentin, but while he hit a ton, his fielding was lacking when compared to the smoothed mustachioed Met. Now that Jose's back, we can rest easy knowing we have a quality bat in the lineup and a defensive master at second. Since I kept this list to seven, I'll include a special shout out to Shawn Green here as well. Everybody was running this guy out of town in the off season, and look how valuable he's been to the team this year. Sure he's slumped a bit, and is sloppy in right, but he's so exceeded everyone's expectations.
 
Random Thoughts
It's time for Delgado to step up. It was time in April, was in May, and still is as we leave June. He's aged five years this year. Since time is of the essence, the Mets need to pick up a clean-up hitter who can carry the team on its back. Delgado isn't that guy anymore. Neither is Beltran, and Wright belongs in the #5 spot. Last point: there's a rumor going around that Moises Alou is actually a Met - can anyone confirm this? I don't buy it.

Posted by Jon Chattman at 02:47 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Everyone saw his fiasco this past week. Paul Lo Duca just doesn’t care. People may have thought to themselves “He isn’t representing the Mets organization or the MLB with any class whatsoever.” Lo Duca still doesn’t care. Sportswriters and commentators bashed Paul for neglecting to be a good role model. Paul just yawned and brushed his shoulder off.

Click on this sentence to see Dookie’s outburst from a fans view at Shea

Let’s just get it out there. He earned some big points there. So what if it was a border line strike. It actually was a strike it my opinion. Paul Lo Duca doesn’t give a rats-behind whether it was or wasn’t. He had some lip to give and he gave it. Here are some quotes from his weekly WFAN interview.

“If you got thrown out of a game what would you do?  No, no, no, no, I’m asking both of you, what would you do?  What, you just put your head down and you walk in the clubhouse like a little boy? “

No we don’t want you to do that. You’re the man now dog. We want you to get fired up, throw your equipment around all over the field, and create a spectacle of yourself. Why? There are 4 reasons:

1) Watching his eyes pop out of his sockets reminds us of 2004, when the Fossil Man won the WSOP
2) I will laugh whenever I see it replayed for the rest of my life
3) Willie certainly isn’t going to get the team fired up
4) The team reacted

Sometimes you have to let it go a little bit. Am I wrong?

• Perhaps your spouse has has been getting under your skin a little bit? Give ‘em a good outburst with a side of bug eyes, Lo Duca style.
• Co-worker giving you a few verbal jabs too many? Pretend your shoe is a shin guard and throw it at ‘em. 
• Some dude on the subway got his elbow in your back? A little nudge as he walks off will surly get the point across. Just watch the gaps.

Read more Lo Duca quotes and see other sports tirades on my blog www.sportsrantsandraves.blogspot.com

Posted by Dave Ponte at 10:24 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

Long Island, New York 1985 - My father and brother are Yankees fans.  Thank God for my aunt, who made me see the light and turned me to the Mets.  I went to my first game at Shea Stadium that year at the age of 5.  The Mets defeated the Montreal Expos.  I don’t remember much of the game.  But I do have a picture of the scoreboard.

I have probably been to hundreds of games at Shea Stadium in the 20 + years since then.  I’ve seen and been to a lot of memorable experiences. From Dwight Gooden striking out 20 batters, David Cone pitching a 1 hitter; I have sat 5 rows behind home plate, I have sat in the top row of the upper deck; I have been hosed down by the field crew in a 90 degree double header, I have been yelled at by security for spraying water from a bottle; I have seen errors, homeruns, grand slam singles; I’ve caught a shirt, a foul ball, and a stomach bug from the lighter fluid tasting pretzels outside the stadium after a game; I’ve had a beer, hotdog, soda and an Ice Cream in a helmet; I have participated in the wave, a Yankees Suck chant; I have been robbed by the parking attendants ($14 to park is out of control), taken the 7 train and the LIRR (The walk over on the boardwalk is actually nice)  I have been to games with friends, people I work with, Yankees fans, Mets fans, my father and brother, my wife, and most importantly, my kids.  I’ve seen so much there, I almost feel like I have experienced it first hand.

I remember a lot from the stadium.  Those memories will stick with me forever.  Baseball is the American pastime; growing up on Long Island it was almost a way a life.  From little league, high school, to the umpiring I have done over the past 15 years; Simply Baseball is Life.  But Shea Stadium is a way of life too.

I’m not here for a lesson on the stadium.  William Shea was a a great man.  Look it up one day.  He helped create this team we call the New York Metropolitans.  And after a visit @ Shea tonight, these random memories come back to you.

A pitcher’s battle almost overshadowed the 2 BOMBS that Shawn Green and Carlos Gomez hit.  You know what stands out after I left.  The Apple still rises after every homerun.  I sat on the 1st base side, about 20 rows up (anyone who was there would know who I was; my son was the one with the blue/orange Mohawk).  I took in the sites, the smells, the cranes in the parking lot?  The orange seats that surround our “toilet bowl” can never be duplicated.  The picnic area will never be matched.  The fans that came up to me during the game to comment on my sons’ hair are almost hysterical (is pictures can be seen on Mets.com and from what one guy said, Myspace as well  I even hear that I was on TV for a moment when Franklin was warming up.)  But I had fun.  I think any ballpark you go to you should have fun.  Sure, it cost me an arm and a leg.  But I was 5 once.  I was a kid once.  The memory remains.  For my 3 year old, the memory will remain (too bad my youngest won’t, he’s only a year old).  But Shea will be around for just over 1 season more.

Morale of the story:  Get out to the ballpark.  Get out to Shea.  For you younger kids, this will be one of those classic things you can tell your grandkids.  It’s a beautiful stadium, one of the few left.  It takes a true New Yorker to realize that.  Ruth may have built Yankee Stadium, but the Yankees had no problem playing @ Shea in the 70’s, and no one has a problem playing there now.  It will forever be missed when torn, enjoy it now, take pictures and hold these memories to your heart.  Remember, a picture may be worth a thousand words, but a trip to Shea will forever be; PRICELESS.

Posted by at 07:02 AM | Permalink | Comments (14) | TrackBacks (0)

Man, what difference a week makes. From losing six straight series, to winning four games in a row, it appears to me that the Mets are back. When I think of the Mets, I think of winning series, clutch hits, and a good combo of pitching and hitting. Well, they got that right now. If you ask me, the Mets are evolving into the elite team everyone thought they would be. Jose Reyes is creating havoc with his speed, Paul Lo Duca is creating the hyped up atmosphere with his eruption on Saturday, Carlos Beltran is heating up like last year, David Wright is hitting the ball with authority, Shawn Green is still punishing the baseball, and Jose Valentin has continued his hitting ways. even when hurt. Everyone is doing their job, and it's helping the Mets boost their respect around the league.

There are still a few bumps on the road. Carlos Delgado still can't seem to hit the ball with consistency. Since June 10th, Delgado's average has been .220. He hasn't been able to find those strings of hits to push is over .240, or even .250. Once he finds his steady swing, boy oh boy, the Mets will be unstoppable!

Since I've been talking about my perspective on hitting, let's talk about pitching. During this Mets streak, Tom Glavine looked like the dominant Tom from the early 90's when he was on the Braves. Back then, Glavine had his control and played with the hitters mind. Good job Glavine, do it again! El-Duque showed me something that made this streak legit. He told Willie, "No man, I wanna pitch to this batter, man." Then Willie agreed, and I'm sure he was happy with the results. Orlando thougt "he's my batter and I will get him out myself." This determination added to the confidence boost the Mets needed.

Jorge Sosa is a guy who can either pitch like Cy Young, or like Sidney Ponson. But, for most of the time, he's been pitching lights-out. Sosa has been that fresh air we needed after a bit of a rough ride with Pelfrey. Sosa came in and delivered for the Mets. The Mets needed a pitcher, and we got one.

Now, let's talk about my man, the "Maine Man." John Maine continues to be the most consistent starter for the Mets this season. He showed that in his previous start, he has the stuff to be the Mets top pitcher for the next few years. And folks, he's not even in his prime yet. Yes, I know he had his rough outings, but he's been the stopper on most occasions for any Mets losing streaks. In my opinion, John Maine is the Mets ace. Maine is poised like one, and man, can he pitch.

Last week, I was worried that we needed Moises Alou. Well, we could still use him, but we don't need him. Carlos Gomez is developing into the player I thought he'd be. A little impatient, extremely speedy, and some pop in his bat. Right now, Carlos Gomez is making us forget Moises Alou. Now, Alou is that player that will make the Mets an offensive juggernaut. However, we don't need that right now.

The fans are electrifying Shea Stadium right now, and it seems to help out the Mets in a big way. We, the Mets fans, are the catalyst to the Mets success. Without our support, they're going no where. So, even when the Mets are down, continue to root for them. That's what they needed all along.

Just as they say on the Flight of the Concord, IT'S BUSINESS TIME! Heh, in a different context of course. But, in all seriousness, LET'S GO METS!

Posted by Ryan Punzalan at 02:45 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

Can a team intentionally walk an opposing hitter too many times in one game? Morally, I don’t think it is appropriate. But there is no rule in Major League Baseball that limits the number of free passes you can issue a hitter.

When the Yankees intentionally walked David Wright THREE times during a Subway Series game at Shea back in May, it got me to think, “Maybe not in one single at-bat, but three times, it’s possible Wright could have made a difference!” A player like David Wright is getting paid to hit and drive in runs. Of course, he plays third base too. But his superstar prowess comes from his bat, not his glove. When he is intentionally walked, he is being denied the opportunity to do his job. The pitcher is using the easy way out of having to pitch to a dangerous hitter. Perhaps he may be setting up the possibility for a double play. Or maybe he is looking to get the eighth place hitter for the third out, so that the pitcher will lead off the next inning. In any case, a hitter should be able to go up there and beat the opposing pitcher fair and square. If the pitcher can’t do his job and get a hitter like Wright out, then what exactly is he getting paid to do?

A team should be allowed to intentionally walk a hitter only once during a game. If that hitter comes up again in a key situation, and they have already been “put on”, then that’s when the true showdown begins. Granted, while a pitcher may not intentionally walk a hitter, he can “pitch around” them and yield the same results. However, there is the possibility that the hitter may get what he considers to be a good pitch, make contact, and cause some damage. But again, that would be a fair opportunity for both the pitcher and the hitter.

Of course, the ultimate revenge is when a hitter is intentionally walked and the next batter comes up and belts one over the left field fence - take that!

Posted by MetsWrighter at 10:32 AM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

I'm not looking to rag on Willie Randolph, but he really ticked me off for showing up David Wright and getting in his face when he got picked off first base Monday against the Cardinals. It was actually the first time this season that he got caught stealing, but when Wright went into the dugout, Randolph gave him and earfull and neither one was willing to let it go for an entire inning, and I'm talking bottom and top of the inning.

A few innings earlier Jose Valentin got picked off as well, but he didn't get the royal rebuke from Willie. If Randolph wants to get on someone's butt, why don't he get on Delgado? I find it very upsetting that the only guy on the team that is having a solid season gets singled out for getting picked off. Gimme a break!

As long as I am talking about Willie, let me also say that I thought he pulled Jorge Sosa out of the game way too early. You could tell that Sosa was steaming when he was told his day was done after only six innings of 1 run baseball. I thought that Willie had learned his lesson lately with his early hook, but I guess not. Thanks to that move, the Mets ended up using 4 relievers including two innings each from setup man Pedro Felicano and closer Billy Wagner. Considering the Mets don't have another day off until next Monday, you would think that preserving the bullpen would be a top priority.

OK, I'm glad I got that off my chest. Boy, that felt good...

Posted by Joe D. at 07:42 AM | Permalink | Comments (32) | TrackBacks (0)

Picture this…the eighth place hitter just doubled in the bottom of the ninth with one out and the game tied at two. Next batter? Not the pitcher. Not a pinch hitter. Not the man who took over the ninth spot in the order when he went in as part of a double switch. Simply, the ninth place hitter that day. What’s going on? It seems a designated hitter has been inserted into the lineup and the ninth spot no longer belongs to the man on the mound.

How would this change the game as we know it? It already exists in the AL, but how would we NL fans respond to this?

As a paying spectator, when I go to a game, I want to see real baseball played. Maybe it’s just me, but I feel that National League Baseball is much more exciting and rewarding than the American League . In fact, except for the chance to beat the Yankees and own this city, I couldn't care less about inter-league play. 

Speaking of inter-league play, consider this year’s Subway Series, Bronx Version. Every time the camera showed Joe Torre, he was sitting back, relaxing, barely even facing towards home plate. And where was Willie Randolph? One foot on the top step of the dugout, watching every pitch, and analyzing every play that transpired on the field. (Might I also add, cheering on his ball club.)

I like a manager who gets involved in the game, one who realizes that it’s not just about the nine guys on the field. It just seems like American League skippers are lacking something - either the skills or the opportunities - causing the game to be, well, dull. Okay, maybe there is more offensive power in the AL, but how about some good old-fashioned baseball, including letting the pitcher hit!!

If you think about it, the only things AL managers really have to decide is, “Who’s playing today?” and “How long do I let one stinky pitcher go before replacing him with another one?” Once the lineup cards are submitted and any pitching changes have taken place, an AL manager’s job for the day is pretty much done, leaving only the occasional pep talk, reprimand, or “congratulations” to be performed.

I want to see the Great American Pastime the way it was meant to be played, and the expert managing of it. I want to see a pitcher forced to come out of a game prematurely, even though he is pitching well, because more offense is needed to take the lead or win the game. I want to see a pitcher come up to bat with a runner on second and less than two outs, and lay down a sacrifice bunt, so that a fly ball will then score a run. I want to see Manager A put up a left-handed pinch hitter, so that Manager B can bring in a left-handed pitcher, so that Manager A can then put up a right-handed hitter. (Whew!) Waste of players, yes, but the mind games are outrageously awesome to watch, not to mention totally acceptable.

Fundamentals. Execution. Run-manufacturing. Strategic shot-calling. Situational hitting and pitching. Opportunities that do not come often in the AL, unless playing an inter-league away game. So, Mets fans, when people tell you that the Yankees have it tougher because they are in a “harder” league, just ask them, “What has your MANAGER done lately?”

One final thought: To any and everone at Major League Baseball, please don’t bring the DH to the NL. Designating is for driving, not hitting.

Posted by MetsWrighter at 03:43 PM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

I hate Mondays, but at least this one this one won't be so bad because I have a Mets game to look forward to after work.

And, might I add, that yesterday's sweep was absolutely fantastic and that I loved the back page of Newsday this morning with the title "STRAIGHT A'S." ha ha

As you all know Carlos Delgado didn't play yesterday, but check this little tidbit out...

Before the game, Delgado went to Willie Randolph and said "it's was fine if you want to sit me." Apparently Delgado insisted he was OK. Anyhow it gets better...

Remember when Delgado committed an error on Saturday and also dropped a throw from Jose Valentin? Well, yesterday there was a chest protector hanging in Delgado's locker with his last name and number on it. It also had No. 22 (Valentin's number) on a bandage in the middle of it. I don't know if this was a poor attempt at humor, but it sure wreaked of that "Know Your Place Rook" incident last year.

Let's get one thing straight, I am not a big fan of Guillermo Mota. With that said I must point out that he had his third straight impressive outing on Sunday. It was his his third consecutive hitless performance, walking one and striking out two. And for all you radar gun buffs out there, he hit 94 mph for the second straight appearance.

Finally, why did I have to read a dozen stories from bloggers freaking about Julio Franco not being able to play first base yesterday??

Does anybody really care??

So what, he's having problems with his right knee. My problem is that he hurt it during the Yankees series and chose not to say anything about it until yesterday.

Those are immediate grounds for releasing him if you ask me.  It will be very sad to see him stay on the team while Carlos Gomez gets sent down to AAA once Chavez or Alou comes back.

What do you think???

Posted by Joe D. at 09:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (10) | TrackBacks (0)

Several Chicago papers continue to speculate that outfielder Jermaine Dye is on the move and that both the Mets and the Dodgers continue to monitor the situation. For the past two weeks the Mets have had scouts trailing the White Sox and keeping tabs on Dye. Initially it was believed that the interest was in pitcher Mark Buehrle, but it seems that Dye's name has popped up a few times in conversations.

Dye is currently batting .230 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs but was 10-for-31 (.323) with five doubles in his last nine games. The 33 year old right-handed batter slugged 44 home runs in 2006 with 120 RBI and 103 runs scored, with a .315 batting average. There is also a chance he may have strained a quad muscle and might end up on the disabled list today.

He certainly would add a lot of pop to a lineup that has had some trouble scoring runs on a consistent basis.

My concern is his age and his ability to stay healthy. We've already rolled the dice on guys like Moises Alou and even Delgado the year before, and I think the Mets would be better served looking for someone younger like Mark Teixeira from the Texas Rangers or Adam Dunn from the Reds.

One thing is becoming pretty apparent, and that is that the Mets are not expecting Moises Alou back any time soon.

On a sad note, former reliever Rod Beck was found dead today at his home in Arizona. He was only 38. Beck saved 286 games over 13 big-league seasons before his career ended when the Padres released him in 2004. He had 51 saves for the Cubs in 1998, but his best season came in 1992, when he had a 1.76 ERA and 17 saves in 92 innings for the Giants.

Posted by Joe D. at 07:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (18) | TrackBacks (0)

The Mets came to the park today with their gloves, their bats, and THEIR BROOMS!

In an AMAZIN' turnaround, the Mets won their third straight game and completed the sweep by beating the Oakland A's 10-2.

With Carlos Delgado out of the lineup and Shawn Green playing first base, and Damion Easley batting number five, the Mets exploded with 10 runs and absolutely pounded A's pitching.

Carlos Gomez, Jose Reyes and Jose Valentin had huge games and scorched the ball for three hits a piece!

Jose Reyes had a lead-off inside the park homerun to put the Mets ahead in the first inning, and Jose Valentin homered with two men on in the seventh inning.

Damion Easley had a clutch two-out double to drive in Wright and LoDuca in the third inning, and Carlos Beltran added to his team leading RBI total in the eight inning when he drove in Julio Franco and Jose Reyes.

With Beltran and David Wright continuing to hit in the clutch, things have been looking up for the Metsies!

John Maine pitched another great game pitching seven solid innings and giving up just two runs to bring his record to 8-4 on the season. He walked no batters in the game and struck out six. John Maine is now third in the NL in ERA and Wins, and should be a prime candidate to make the All Star team!

Mota and Schoeneweis both pitched scoreless innings, but it is clear that they have lost the trust of Willie Randolph who resisted going to them when the score was closer in the last three games.

It was Paul Lo Duca Bobble-head Day at Shea, and the fans gave Lo Duca a nice ovation when he came to the plate. Months from now, fans may look back at yesterdays outburst by Lo Duca as a turning point to the season.

The Mets now have a four game series with the Cardinals and hope to continue their winning streak when they send Jorge Sosa to start game one.

Todays game-ball goes to Jose Valentin who had three hits, including a three run homer, and had a great day in the field!

Posted by Joe D. at 03:01 PM | Permalink | Comments (5) | TrackBacks (0)

I just had to share this article with you after I read it this morning. Kristie Ackert over at the Daily News really made me laugh with the opening paragraph to her column today.

Too bad there isn't time to change the Paul Lo Duca bobble head doll that will be given away today at Shea. If there were, the miniature version of the Mets' hot-headed catcher could not only come with a removable mask, but also tossable accessories such as a chest protector, helmet, shin guards, elbow protector and batting gloves.

That's priceless...

I think it might be time to admit it. First we heard it's only April. Then we heard it's only May. Today we hear it's only June. For crying out loud can we finally admit that Carlos Delgado is a bust this season!

Hey Carlos, it's bad enough you're not hitting, now you can't field either?

Oh yeah, before I forget, Happy Birthday Carlos...

One last thing, before the game starts...

The Mets need to sweep the A's for more than just the sake of another victory. They need to sweep so that they can prove to themselves that they can beat a playoff team. They need to sweep because they need to prove to the Phillies and Braves that they are still a force to be reckoned with. But mostly, they need to sweep the A's to prove that the last 3 weeks of losing is definitely behind them.

So far, the Mets' one and two starters have done the job. Today I believe John Maine will seal the deal.

Let's Go Mets!

Posted by Joe D. at 11:43 AM | Permalink | Comments (6) | TrackBacks (0)

It’s hard to believe the Mets almost went a month without back to back wins. But last night, in an entertaining walk off win against the Oakland A’s, they managed to do just that and win their first series since beating the San Francisco Giants on May 31st.
 
David Wright was the offensive star with the walk off double to win the game in the bottom of the 9th. Orlando Hernandez pitched brilliantly, throwing 7 innings of shutout ball and proving you don’t have to pitch 100 mph to have nasty “stuff.” But the story of the game was Paul Lo Duca.
 
I liked Paul Lo Duca before last night, but after being at Shea Stadium to see the show he put on, I LOVE him! After watching 3 weeks of lethargic baseball I think it was imperative that something ignited this team. It was making me angry the lack of emotion some of the Mets were showing on the field. I wanted to see an occasional helmet get thrown out of frustration. Well, we got more than we asked for last night!
 
In the 6th inning, home plate umpire Marvin Hudson called strikes on two questionable pitches, and Lo Duca protested the calls. Willie Randolph had to restrain Lo Duca, who was ejected from the game. The fans got to see more than a helmet hit the ground, as Paul flung his bat, helmet, elbow pads and shin guards onto the field. Chants of “PAUL LO-DUCA” filled the stadium.
 
Maybe it was just a coincidence that Ramon Castro, Lo Duca’s replacement, set up the win with his double in the bottom of the 9th. Maybe it was just chance that led A’s right fielder Travis Buck to misplay the hit by David Wright that won the ballgame. But what I expect happened last night was a shift in momentum and a push in the right direction.
 
Paul Lo Duca could be faced with a suspension, but lets hope his outburst did more good than harm. Maybe it created the spark that this team has been looking for. If anything, it showed the fire and passion that Lo Duca has. I hope that some of the other players were taking notes.

Posted by MetsGal at 08:22 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

AAA - New Orleans Zephyrs (39-35)

6/18 - Game against the Oklahoma RedHawks was suspended due to rain.

6/20 - The New Orleans Zephyrs had a bad day losing, 3-1. The Zephyrs managed only ONE HIT! David Newhan (3B) hit a double and scored the only run for the Zephyrs. Willie Collazo (1-3) went 5.2 innings allowing two runs on three hits. Collazo also struck out three.

6/21 - After a tough day, the Zephyrs responded with an offensive breakout, defeating the Omaha Royals, 9-5. Two players had three RBIs, Mike DiFelice (C) and Jake Gautreau (DH). Gautreau had a three-run HR that jump started the Zephyrs five-run rally in the 8th inning. Chip Ambres (LF) went 3-for-4 for the day. Claudio Vargas was good in his six innings of work. He gave up four runs, only one earned, while striking out seven. Tim McNab (1-0) got the win.

6/22 - A day after have a great game, the Zephyrs got shutout losing, 4-0. Fernando Tatis (DH) had the only extra base hit for the Zephyrs hitting a double. Mike Pelfrey (2-2) went 5.1 innings and surrendered four runs in the loss. Pelfrey did strike out five.

AA - Binghamton Mets (30-39)

6/21 - The Mets can't seem to find that magical match of pitching and hitting. The Mets fell to the Reading Phillies, 8-6. Fernando Martinez (CF) went 2-for-4 with a two-run home run. Mike Carp (1B) who was recently called back from the DL hit a solo shot in the eight inning.  Robert Parnell (0-1) got the start, and wasn't bad. Parnell went six innings giving up three runs on five hits. Parnell also struck out four, but gave up two home runs. Joseph Serfass came in relief and gave up five runs on seven hits in only two innings of work.

6/22 - Kevin Mulvey suffered from a bad case of Mets defense as the Mets got shutout by the Harrisburg Senators, 9-0. No Met had a multi-hit game. Jose Coronado (SS) went 1-for-4 with a stolen base. Kevin Mulvey (6-6) went six innings and was alright. He gave up five runs, one earned, on seven hits. Mulvey also struck out two.

SS (A) - Brooklyn Cyclones (3-1)

6/19 - The Brooklyn Cyclones had its first game of the season facing against their cross-town rivals, the Staten Island Yankees. The results were a good one for the Cyclones as they defeat the Yankees, 5-1. The score was 0-0 until the sixth inning where Jeffery Voyles (3B) who came to replace Zachary Lutz, hit a clutch-three run home run to score two. Raul Reyes (CF) hit a two run double in the bottom of the eigth to secure the victory. Joseph Leaper got the start, and was good. He only went five innings allowing five hits, while striking out three. Edgar Martinez (1-0) came in relief and got the win.

6/20 - After a good win, the Cyclones jump out to a 3-1 lead over the Yankees, but lost the lead and fell, 6-3. Will Vogl (LF) help extend the with a two-run single. Nicholas Waechter (0-1) wasn't sharp in his first start. Waechter went 4.1 innings, allowing four runs and hits.

6/21 - The Cyclones had a good game as they defeat the Yankees for the series win, 6-1. Raul Reyes (CF) drove in two runs for the day to raise his season count to four. Jeffery Voyles went 2-for-3 with two runs and a RBI. Todd Privet was good in his start, even though he lasted only three innings. Dylan Owens (1-0) pitched in relief for the win. Stephen Clyne, the Mets draft-pick from Clemson, was good in his first appearance. Clyne pitched an inning and struck out two, while walking one.

6/22 - Coming in the series against the Hudson Valley Renegades, the Cyclones brought in their winning ways, defeating them, 3-0. Raul Reyes (CF) hit a solo home run, the first for the Cyclones this year, to jump start the Cyclones. Jeffery Voyles went 2-for-5 including a double and a run scored. 20-years-old Nicholas Carr (1-0) got the start and was OUTSTANDING! Carr went six-shutout innings, allowing only two hits, while striking out 10! Stephen Clyne got his first save of the season while striking out two

METS MERIZED QUESTION OF THE DAY:

There are two players who have been appeared solo on covers of baseball video games in a Mets uniform. Name the two players.

Posted by Ryan Punzalan at 11:56 AM | Permalink | Comments (17) | TrackBacks (0)

Howard Johnson is in his first season as the Mets' first base coach. He filled the position in place of Sandy Alomar Sr. who moved to third base coach, vacated by Manny Acta, who has become the manager of the Washington Nationals. After his retirement in 1997, Johnson became a scout with the Mets. In 2001 he was named the hitting coach of the brand new Brooklyn Cyclones. The Cyclones were the co-champions of the New York-Penn league that season due to the September 11th terrorists attacks. In 2003, Johnson was the hitting coach under manager, Ken Oberkfell, when the St. Lucie Mets won the Florida State League championship. Johnson and Oberkfell were promoted to the AA Binghamton Mets for 2004 and guided them into the playoffs. Both were promoted again to the AAA Norfolk Tides for 2005 and the Tides posted their highest batting average in six seasons. He served as the Tides' hitting coach again in 2006 under Oberkfell until his promotion back to the big league's prior to the 2007 season.

HoJo is best remembered by Mets fans as the franchises best third baseman ever (as voted by fans in the Mets' 40th anniversary all time team in 2002). HoJo broke into the big league's as a player in 1982 with the Tigers. The switch-hitting third baseman struggled (especially from the right side) with the Tigers from 1982-1984, as he bounced around from the minors to the big club. The Mets acquired him in 1985 for pitcher Walt Terrell. Johnson's struggles from the right side continued in 1985-1986, as he was often platooned with Ray Knight. After Knight left in 1986, third base belonged to Johnson, and he never left it to chance. Johnson's average improved from the right side, and he had a career year in 19