AGBAYANI: THE METS’ “BENNY-FACTOR” SLAMS THE CUBS Did you ever notice that certain players that have toiled in the minors for a while tend to exhibit surges in production when they finally get a crack at the big time? It’s as if they had those hits stockpiled for the Show and can’t wait to get them out of their systems once fortune and the front office permits. So it seemed to be with Benny Agbayani, [...]

As of now, Terry Collins’ job is safe and deservedly so. Based on getting the most out of what he has been given and basic fairness, there’s nothing justifying Collins’ job being in question. However, fairness is irrelevant in sports. A manager’s job security always becomes an issue when he has lame duck contractual status and his team has lost six straight games.Losing streaks get everybody edgy, with questions directed to management, in this case, GM Sandy [...]

Edgardo Alfonzo remains one of the most beloved Mets alumni, both for his post-season heroics (e.g. 3 HR’s including a ninth inning grand slam in the space of two vital 1999 playoff games against the Reds and Diamondbacks), and his role as part of the “Best Infield Ever” as dubbed by Sports Illustrated. His flexibility as a player made him an invaluable asset to the team which moved him from his original spot at second [...]

Last week I wrote about how the Mets need to find ways to entice the fans to come out to the ballpark in 2011.  Last week I brought up the idea of retiring 17 in honor Keith Hernandez.  I thought it would give Mets fans something to look forward to during the long season that 2011 will be and I thought that when looking back on 2011 it would be a fun thing to remember. [...]

Does it seem to you, as it does to me that in many respects the job Sandy Alderson has is about as contentious and uphill as Chris Christie – Governor of New Jersey? No matter your political persuasion – if you have one at all – one has to admit that both men have more than their hands full over the next few years. Don’t get me wrong I’m not comparing the intricacies and obvious [...]

While everyone celebrates that Sandy Alderson is the new GM and that he said all the right things the Mets still need a manager.  Unfortunately for us it looks like the Mets are going to be cheap with who they hire.  Also Alderson doesn’t like spending money so that means Bobby Valentine won’t be the new manager. Hopefully it won’ t be Bob Melvin since that will just be another Jerry with less personality. I [...]

We’ve spent the last week talking about who will be our next manager and GM. As Sandy Alderson recently moved to the top of the GM list, most Mets fans are clamoring for either Wally Backman or Bobby Valentine to take over as skipper. My question is: Why not both? It seems improbable, almost impossible, but it makes sense. Bobby can be our next GM. Wally can be our next manager. Valentine had been considered for [...]

Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog has posted that Peter Gammons told WFAN that he believes Bobby Valentine will be the next manager of the Mets. “I think there are two things: 1) He has a history and a good working relationship with Omar Minaya and 2) he is one guy that, though Jeff Wilpon will not always like what he hears from Bobby, I think they can have a relationship where Bobby could say to Jeff, ‘No, [...]

Yesterday, there were several reports circulating that Bobby Valentine was leaving his job at ESPN and had reportedly agreed to a four-year deal with the Florida Marlins. It was further reported that Valentine would debut as the Marlins manager on Monday when the Fish meet the Mets in San Juan, Puerto Rico to open a three-game series. Valentine is expected to replace Fredi Gonzalez who was fired as Marlins manager on Wednesday and replaced by interim manager Edwin Rodriguez. However, the Palm Beach Post [...]