It would have been difficult to recognize Dillon Gee at Citi Field Kids Day had he not been wearing his No. 35 jersey. He was sporting a dark beard and doesn’t exactly have the impressive frame of a Mike Pelfrey. But similar to Josh Thole, here’s another young guy who will do whatever it takes to help out the ballclub anyway he can. In addition to announcing Pelfrey as the Opening Day starter, Terry Collins [...]

When he introduced Mike Pelfrey to the children at Citi Field Kids Day on Wednesday, Terry Collins said that Mike will be the Opening Day starter. Everyone was taken aback since I believe this was the first time Collins had said that. Like the other players, Pelfrey is eager to begin spring training and looks forwards to the challenge of starting Opening Day against Josh Johnson of the Marlins. He commented on the improvement he [...]

Like Mike Pelfrey, Bobby Parnell is downright big. He is rather soft-spoken and to the point, but he is eager to begin the 2011 campaign and elevate his game to the next level. At Citi Field Kids Day, Parnell answered some questions for the children about what it means to be a big leaguer and when did he discover that he wanted to play professional baseball. Parnell told the kids to follow their dreams and [...]

Of all the players at Citi Field Kids Day, I was most impressed by Josh Thole, who Terry Collins introduced as a rising young star in the National League. Even after speaking with Beningo and Roberts on WFAN in the morning and then fielding basically the same set of questions in the afternoon, Thole smiled and delivered in-depth, informative answers. What’s more is that he seemed like a genuine, friendly guy. Thus far in his [...]

OK, so that phrase is very overused, but you have to admit it’s true. What you are about to read, Mets fans, should look like solid gold on your screen. “I feel 100 percent,” said Jose Reyes. “I feel pain free.” No more thyroid issues, no more oblique problems, no more batting third, and simply the Jose Reyes that we know and love. Terry Collins introduced Jose Reyes at Citi Field Kids Day as the [...]

Before I get into the interview with R.A. Dickey from the Citi Field Kids Day on Wednesday, let me set up the situation. Dickey walks out with his customary beard but with an insane bro-flow going on. Listening to him speak made me feel like I was sitting in English Literature class. His appearance and eloquent speech would have made him a great English professor, which was his backup plan had baseball not worked out. [...]