I caught up with NY Mets minor league outfield prospect, Sean Ratliff the other day, and he was nice enough to answer some questions for our readers at MMO. Sean had his entire 2011 season wiped out before it even began, when while standing in the on-deck circle towards the end of spring training, a foul shot off the bat of Buffalo third-baseman Zach Lutz struck Ratliff directly in the right eye. This came only [...]

Some big positives that can be taken from the NY Mets 2011 season were the contributions, and emergence, of some promising young players that were called up from the minors. During the year, the Mets relied heavily on players like: Lucas Duda, Ruben Tejada, Dillon Gee, and Justin Turner. And in September, we got to see some very interesting pitching performances, by righties Chris Schwinden and Josh Stinson. I caught up to Stinson this week, and [...]

I was able to catch up with Mets minor league pitcher, lefty Steve Matz the other day, and I asked him how his arm was feeling with spring training right around the corner. Steve has already reported to the complex at St. Lucie to begin his throwing program in warm weather. He went under the knife, with TJS on his pitching elbow in 2010, and had to be shut down when he tried to pitch [...]

This week I caught up with NY Mets right-handed pitching prospect, Bret Mitchell. Bret was the 2011 Sterling Award Winner as the Kingsport Mets Pitcher of the Year. The Mets were fortunate to be able to get a quality arm like Mitchell’s with their 12th round pick in the 2010 draft.  Now, after rehabbing from an injury suffered at the end of last year, he is poised to have a big season in 2012. Bret [...]

The other day I jokingly suggested that I was going to have Kelly design a special graphic for Lord Sandy – a moniker that frequently appears on our comment threads. I even asked if we should make one with a halo or without… Well as luck would have it, longtime friend of MMO and frequent commenter, Mr. North Jersey decided to take on the challenge and offered up this clever rendition: Nice job… I love [...]

This week I got the chance to chat with New York Mets right-handed pitching prospect, Erik Goeddel. Erik pitched this year in the starting rotation for the Savannah Sand Gnats, in the South Atlantic League. He missed some time in the middle of last season because of an injury, but is back to 100% now and eager to start Spring Training. Heading into next season Goeddel is working on a new pitch which he details [...]

I got a chance to talk with Mets right-hander Scott Moviel just after Christmas and he was nice enough to bring us up-to-date as far as his progress in 2011. Before last season Scott was battling knee troubles which can be problematic for a pitcher who stands 6’11″. Now healthy once again, he provides us with some very interesting insights on the challenges he is taking on heading into next year. Check it out and [...]

For a college baseball player with aspirations of one day playing in the Major Leagues, the junior year is the most important one to his stock in the June amateur draft. The worst thing that could happen would be to get hurt at this critical time. That is exactly what happened to Charley Thurber of the University of Tennessee Volunteers. Battling untimely injuries, he fell in the draft from a top 10 round pick last [...]

I had the pleasure of doing a Q&A with 23-year-old, New York Mets minor league pitcher, RHP Ryan Fraser the other day. In just two years of professional baseball with the Mets, the 6’3″ Fraser has made some very favorable impressions on people who follow the team. He was the Brooklyn Cyclones closer in 2010 registering 12 saves, and he was an anchor in the starting rotation last season at Savannah of the South Atlantic [...]

I had a chance to chat recently with 22-year-old Mets minor league pitching prospect, 6’3″ left-hander, Adam Kolarek. Adam pitched nearly all of 2011 with the South Atlantic League Southern Division Champion, Savannah Sand Gnats, helping to anchor their bullpen. It was really nice of Adam to take some time off from holiday shopping to chat with us here at MMO, let’s see what he had to say: Petey:  First of all congratulations Adam on [...]

Amidst trade rumors surrounding the talented lefty, Jonathon Niese showed up with a smile to the Mets Kids’ Holiday Party. He said he feels good and is eager for spring training to begin. Though it’s unlikely the Mets trade Niese, he said it’s a matter in which he has no control. “Obviously, it’s not my decision where I pitch,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll stay here with the Mets, and I’m looking forward to it.” [...]