Matt Harvey was named the Pitcher of the Month for April, the first Met to win the honor since R.A. Dickey last did so in June, 2012.

Harvey, 24, went 4-0 with a 1.56 ERA and 46 strikeouts in six April starts. His four wins tied for the National League lead, while his 1.56 ERA is third in the league for the month. His 46 strikeouts are tied for fourth in the league.

Harvey became the first pitcher in since 1900 to win his first four starts of the season, while allowing no more than 10 hits combined in those four starts.

This the second honor for Harvey this season as he was named National League Player of the Week during April 8-14. That was the week when he flirted with a no-hitter through 6.2 innings against the Twins in a frigid Minnesota.

Harvey now stands at 7-5 with a 2.26 ERA in 16 career starts, having given up only 63 hits in 99 2/3 innings.

It’s the first career monthly award for Harvey, who was selected ahead of pitchers such as Pittsburgh’s Jason Grilli, who logged 10 saves and a 0.82 ERA; San Francisco’s Madison Bumgarner, who posted a 3-0 mark and 1.55 ERA; and Adam Wainwright, who went 4-2 with a 2.03 ERA.

In what has been a month full of questions, concerns and a losing record to start the season, seeing Harvey win this award is certainly one of the bright spots.

Congrats Matt, may you win many more. Hey, if he keeps this up he may even win a Cy Young.

Well today, Baseball America released their 2013 Organizational Rankings and the Mets did come in at No. 16.

Here’s the top 16 overall:

1. St. Louis Cardinals

2. Seattle Mariners

3. Texas Rangers

4. Tampa Bay Rays

5. Miami Marlins

6. Boston Red Sox

7. Pittsburgh Pirates

8. Arizona Diamondbacks

9. Houston Astros

10. Minnesota Twins

11. New York Yankees

12. Chicago Cubs

13. Washington Nationals

14. San Diego Padres

15. Cincinnati Reds

16. New York Mets

How They Got Here: The best Mets farmhands are the products of trades—Wheeler from the Giants for Carlos Beltran, d’Arnaud and Syndergaard from the Blue Jays for R.A. Dickey. New York also has an intriguing crop of homegrown righthanders led by Matero, Montero, Fulmer, but the majority of its prospects has yet to surface above Class A.

High-Ceiling Sleeper: After missing his first full pro season because of Tommy John surgery, RHP Jacob DeGrom bounced back in 2012 with a 93-98 mph fastball and flawless control.

As Callis points out, this new Mets ranking is fueled by the trades of Carlos Beltran and R.A. Dickey who were dealt for Zack Wheeler, Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard who are among the top five overall Mets prospects.

So what does this mean in the grand scheme of things?

Nothing really.

The Mets could easily fall back to No. 24 once Wheeler and d’Arnaud are called up at some point this season.

The true test will come when the top five prospects are populated by players that were drafted/signed and developed through the system and how those players rank among all the other team’s prospects. That will be a truer indication of how well we are developing players.

That was until this past Thursday morning. I called my dad from my dorm room first thing in the morning and told him that we were going to a Mets game this season, and not just any game, but Opening Day.

I waited until the clock struck ten, and snagged two overpriced tickets way up in the nosebleeds, but that didn’t matter. For the first time, I’ll be going to cheer on my favorite team, along with my dad, and no matter who is suiting up on that field, I know April 1st, 2013 will be a day I will always cherish.

Just because the outfield will be an eyesore at best and the bullpen has more questions marks than the Riddler’s jumpsuit, doesn’t mean the experience of attending a Mets game should be tarnished.

The Mets fight song still plays as you get your ticket scanned at the gate. There is still no feeling in the world that can describe making your way through the Jackie Robinson Rotunda to see the field open up in front of you.

The fries and the shakes haven’t become infested with disease just because R.A. Dickey is playing North of the border; they’re still delicious (overpriced, but delicious).

Mr. Met doesn’t sit in left field in a fetal position. The Wilpons don’t stand on top of the dugouts donning a menacing smile, laughing at all those who were oh-so ignorant to actually pay to see the New York Mets. It is still a baseball game.

I know the boycott movement isn’t as popular as it was last year, but it still exists among many begrudged fans. I just don’t understand the mentality of those who decide to boycott their favorite team. Was this ever done in ’94? Or ’78? Or ’63? The answer is no. Yes, you want Wilpon out, many fans do, but are you really suffering so much that you will rob yourself the chance to see a baseball game with friends and loved ones?

Once again, the answer –at least should be–no. Fifty-plus years ago, this franchise was the worst team in the annals of baseball history. No team has ever lost more games in a season. And yet fans still came. Why? It was to see National League baseball in New York again. They stayed and continue to stay for the experience, the fun atmosphere of the Polo Grounds/Shea Stadium/Citi Field; and the Mets.

Just take a look at the post done this morning by MMO’s own Clare Lafferty. Clare was so excited to have the chance to go to Banner Day once again that she wrote a wonderful post about it, much like myself and Opening Day in this one. It’s not about how awful the team will be, or the upper management of this club, but simply a post about getting to go to a Mets game.

In the seventh inning, you still root, root, root for the home team, and if they don’t win it’s a shame. However the fact of the matter is it’s still the old ball game, no matter who’s on the field or signing the checks.

In actuality, the only ones the boycotters are hurting is themselves. They are the ones who are missing out on the grand old experience of going to a ballgame.

This year’s award winners received their hardware, and of course, R.A. Dickey was the main event.

Dickey took home the 2012 NL Cy Young Award and was honored with the BBWAA’s “Joe DiMaggio Toast of the Town” award for forging a special bond with the New York fans.

R.A. Dickey at BBWAA Dinner

Before Dickey took to the podium, the dais featured some of the top players in the game today including Mike Trout, Bryce Harper, David Price, Buster Posey and C.C. Sabathia. Former Met killer Chipper Jones was also in attendance to receive the BBWAA’s “Long and Meritorious Service” award.

The 1973 NL champion New York Mets were honored for their 40th anniversary. Rusty Staub and Buddy Harrelson accepted the “Willie, Clipper and the Duke” award. Willie Mays was actually there too and was given a standing ovation.

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson was tasked with introducing the 1973 team. But before doing that, he acknowledged Dickey for his remarkable season.

“The contributions he’s made for the Mets not just this year but over three years, it’s been a privilege of mine to watch him perform over the last two,” he said. “I think everyone, Mets fans and baseball fans everywhere, will agree that last year was truly not just historic but in some ways a storybook finish to his career here. I hope it’s not finished. I hope that sometime down the line that we will meet again.”

However, he said he was not infringing on Blue Jays’ general manager Alex Anthopoulos, who was sitting at the table right in front of the podium.

Sandy Alderson, the comedian

Alderson must have thought he was a comedian, but many Mets fans in attendance were not too impressed with his routine. He said that he has been in contact with several outfielders that he “met on the Internet, one of which went to Stanford.” Naturally, he was poking fun at the Manti Te’o situation, but still Sandy, why don’t you go get us an outfielder rather than joking about it?

But Alderson wished Dickey well, even though he was the guy who sent him out of town.

“Perhaps R.A. will become the first back-to-back Cy Young winner in two different leagues representing two different countries,” he said. “I hope that happens.”

Dickey was introduced by Phil Niekro, the greatest knuckleballer in history who served as a mentor to Dickey as he learned to throw the mysterious pitch.

Niekro was honored to be part of the event and even said to his wife that if his wedding had been scheduled for Saturday, he would have postponed it in order to be in New York for R.A.’s special night.

When Dickey won the Cy Young, Niekro called right away, and Dickey kept saying, “We did it! We did it!”

“I said, ‘We didn’t do it. You did it. You were out there busting your butt from the first day of spring training to the end, you’re taking the signs and you’re striking them out, and you’re pitching one-hitters and shutouts. You did it.’”

But Dickey still said that it was a team effort.

Niekro said that he was so proud of Dickey, and he’s sure that the likes of Charlie Hough, Tim Wakefield, his brother Joe Niekro, Hoyt Wilhelm, Tom Candiotti and Wilbur Wood would all feel the same way.

Phil Niekro introduces Dickey

“This has never happened to us before,” Niekro said. “No knuckleballer in the history of the game had won a Cy Young Award. You (Dickey) have brought us up to a level that none of us ever thought we’d get to.”

Dickey and Niekro embraced before it was R.A.’s turn to accept his award. He started with a litany of thank you’s to the Wilpons, Alderson and Mets’ public relations director Jay Horwitz.

“I have so many thank you’s for my Met family, and that’s what it really felt like when I was here,” Dickey said. “I don’t think I could have ever wished to play for a better manager than Terry Collins.”

Dickey of course thanked his wife Anne for sticking by him at his lowest times and traveling all over the country, Latin America and now Canada with him as he pursued his dreams. He talked about Cy Young’s wife, Robba, to put his thanks into perspective.

“For every Cy Young Award winner who has a mate and is married, there needs to be a Robba Young Award to go along side of it,” he said.

Dickey – a Star Wars buff of course – gave a special thank you to whom he calls the “Jedi Council of Knuckleballers” made up of Hough, Wakefield and Niekro. He said he remembers meeting Hough in 2005 as he was on his way out as a conventional pitcher.

“I was throwing 85 (mph) and didn’t have the control of a Greg Maddux,” he said. “I was serving up some balls that still haven’t landed.”

But he was grateful to his manager and pitching coach with the Texas Rangers, Buck Showalter and Orel Hershiser, for giving him the confidence to reinvent himself.

“75,000 knuckleballs off a cinderblock wall later, and here I am,” Dickey said. “I would not be here if it wasn’t for Charlie, Phil and Tim. This is an award to not only be celebrated with them but also the city of New York and the New York Mets fanbase.”

Phil Niekro and R.A. Dickey embrace.

Dickey only spoke for a few minutes since he likely had to feel a bit strange. Here’s a guy being celebrated in his former town for his accomplishments with his former team, but yet that team sent him packing even though he wanted to be back. Sure, the trade made sense for a rebuilding franchise, but it’s still tough to Dickey leave after such an inspirational season.

This year’s dinner marks the second straight year (Jose Reyes in 2012) that a Mets’ award winner accepted an award as a member of another team.

Even so, the night was a great event for baseball fans and one that Dickey will cherish for the rest of his life.

Meet Metsie, all 2.8 pounds of him…

Apparently, Metsie was thrilled about R.A. Dickey winning the Cy Young award when this shot was taken.

Metsie looks a little bewildered at times, like most Mets fans, writes Eileen…

Thanks for sending these in… It’s our first MMO Fan Shot that were actually shots!

This Fan Shot was contributed by Eileen. Have something you want to say about the Mets? Share your opinions with over 12 thousand Mets fans who read this site daily. Send your Fan Shot to GetMetsmerized@aol.com. Or ask us about becoming a regular contributor. 

Now that it’s official that R.A. Dickey has won the NL Cy Young, hopefully the trade talks surrounding him begin to subside.

It’s sad that the Mets are in such a financial bind that they can’t find the money to lock up a Cy Young award winner to a contract extension.

Sure, the arguments for trading him make sense. His value is at an all time high, and the Mets could maybe get back a few Major League ready prospects in return.

But here’s a guy who (surprisingly) actually wants to stay with the Mets because this is where he got his shot to succeed.

Dickey was 20-6 in 2012 with a 2.73 ERA and led the league in strikeouts (230), complete games (five) and innings (233.2). In those innings, he only walked 54 batters, which is extremely rare for a knuckleballer.

Let’s take a look back at baseball history to see how many Cy Young award winners started their next season for a different team the year after winning the award.

Reliever Mark Davis won the 1989 NL Cy Young for the San Diego Padres after posting a 1.85 ERA and 44 saves. However, he signed with the Kansas City Royals for three years and $10 million prior to the 1990 season.

In 1992, Chicago Cubs hurler Greg Maddux won the NL Cy Young with a 20-11 record and 2.18 ERA. He had played seven seasons in Chicago, but contract negotiations stalled, leading Maddux to sign a five-year, $28 million deal with the Atlanta Braves. How did that one work out for the Cubs? Well, Maddux wound up winning the next three Cy Youngs pitching for the Braves.

In the strike-shortened 1994 season, former Met David Cone won the AL Cy Young with the Royals after finishing 16-5 with a 2.94 ERA. But right after the strike ended, he was traded to the Toronto Blue Jays for Chris Stynes, David Sinnes and Tony Medrano.

The 1997 season saw Pedro Martinez of the Montreal Expos win the NL Cy Young after going 17-8 with a 1.90 ERA and 305 strikeouts in 241.1 innings. He also threw 13 complete games that year. However, the Expos knew they wouldn’t be able to sign him long-term, so the team traded him that winter to the Boston Red Sox for Carl Pavano and Tony Armas Jr. Martinez signed a six-year, $75 million contract in Boston, which was the largest ever awarded to a pitcher at that time.

Roger Clemens won the 1998 AL Cy Young with the Blue Jays, finishing the year 20-6 with a 2.65 ERA. Even with two years left on his contract, Clemens was traded to the Yankees for David Wells, Homer Bush and Graeme Lloyd.

Three Cy Young Award winners – Frank Viola (1988, Twins), C.C. Sabathia (2007, Indians) and Cliff Lee (2008, Indians) – started the following year with the same team but were traded near the July trade deadline.

So excluding those last three, that’s five pitchers in the 56-year history of the award that pitched for a different team immediately after winning a Cy Young. Further exclude Maddux and Davis since they signed free agent contracts, so just three pitchers – Cone, Martinez and Clemens – were traded after winning the award.

Dickey would fall into that category if the Mets traded him, since he was put under contract for the 2013 season once the Mets exercised his option. He would join impressive company if traded, but hopefully this award and his desire to return convinces ownership to get a deal done.

His age and pitching style are certainly risk factors, but now that he’s finally shown consistency over the past three years, it would be a worthy investment.

Maybe a two- or three-year extension with a higher base salary could get the job done. But seeing Dickey become just the fourth reigning Cy Young winner to get traded would be tough to swallow.

David Wright has been called “unclutch” during his Mets career. That may be the case overall, but that certainly wasn’t the case today, as ne belted an opposite-field, three-run homer that proved the difference in securing R.A. Dickey his 20th win of the season.

It’s fitting that the Mets unofficial captain came through in a huge spot. The blast gave the Mets a three-run lead, and they wound up needing all three of those runs, since Jon Rauch gave up another ninth-inning home run.

Despite all the talk, Wright’s home run further proves that he is the face of this franchise. Yes, it’s one hit in the scheme of things, but timing is everything.

Getting Dickey his 20th win was really the only motivating factor for this team the last month or so. And with the game on the line, who came to rescue? The “captain.”

I hope this Wright’s homer serves as a wake-up call to the front office that a long-term deal must be agreed upon fast. There are teams salivating to get their hands on Wright, either through a potential trade next season or when he officially hits free agency after next season.

But hopefully, none of that will even be an option, as the Mets would be wise to work out a deal as soon as this season ends, so Wright can have a clear head going into the offseason.

And the first order of business after Wright pens his name on the contract would be to put the “C” on his uniform. He’s the captain; everybody knows it. This is his team now, and it will hopefully be his team when the Mets make their next World Series run (maybe in 2013, maybe five years from now, maybe 10 years for now).

There’s the argument that since the team has lost 80-plus games with Wright, they can easily be in the same position without having to spend the money. However, without Wright, the team probably would have lost over 100 games.

Really what Wright needs is a supporting cast offensively. It’s not going to be an easy task, but Sandy Alderson has to find some speed and power to build around Wright. Don’t expect it all to come this offseason, but a few moves would prove to Wright that the organization is committed to winning.

And when the time comes when winning is the norm in Flushing, David Wright better be leading the charge!

Updated Post 8/9

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Terry Collins said he no longer plans to use R.A. Dickey on short rest through the remainder of the season.

Collins intends to use Jeremy Hefner in the rotation if he needs to give a starting pitcher extra rest, but will continue to use Dickey in his normal turn through the rotation.

Updated Post 8/3

Terry Collins told reporters before the game that he does not intend to use R.A. Dickey on short rest through the next couple turns in the rotation because of how the schedule works out with off days. But he did say they will likely be making that adjustment soon to give the other pitchers five days rest instead of four and using Dickey to fill in the gaps.

Collins said he won’t give any starters more than five days rest and it that were to happen, then that pitcher could just get skipped in the rotation and be used out of the bullpen temporarily.

Looks like they are going through with this…

Updated by HoJo

Original Post 8/2

Before yesterday’s game, Mets manager Terry Collins announced that he would be using R.A. Dickey on short rest at some point during the remainder of the season.

He didn’t say exactly when, but he said it would happen.

The idea of pitching Dickey on short rest came about based on his great success this year, his ability to bounce back quickly between starts and the fact that the Mets have had injuries to their starting rotation.

Collins finally gave in to all the speculation. Let’s see how short rest will affect Dickey, as he attempts to become the first Mets pitcher since Frank Viola in 1990 to win 20 games.

What do we all think of Collins’ decision to start Dickey on short rest?

There are of course pros and cons to each side. Short rest would give Dickey more starts in his quest for 20 wins as well as give injury-prone pitchers Chris Young and Johan Santana (when he returns from the disabled list) extra rest between starts.

However, he would also have an increased workload — something, even at age 37, that he hasn’t experienced in the big leagues.

I’m a proponent of short rest for Dickey. He’s having a miracle season, and I’d like to see him get the opportunity to compete for a Cy Young. The more times he’s out there, the better chance he’ll have to rack up victories.

Before we completely give up on the season, the Mets are a hot streak away from getting right back in the race. With Dickey going every fourth day, it increases the team’s chances of winning.

I’m interested to see how this plays out. As long as the team is able notice signs of fatigue before they affect Dickey long-term, short rest it is!

Please voice your thoughts below.

R.A. Dickey has been a cornerstone of the New York Mets’ early success during the 2012 season. While he had pitched well in the previous two seasons, nobody was expecting a sub-3.00 ERA, thirteen wins and an All-Star appearance. His success has presented the Mets with a dilemma, and the team must decide whether to keep Dickey or trade him.

* How will the Mets perform? 

The Mets were one of the surprise teams of the first half of 2012. With surprising batting and a good starting pitchers, the Mets spent much of the first half of the season second only to the Washington Nationals in the National League East division. The beginning of the second half of the season, however, has gone poorly. Now below .500 and in third place, the Mets appear to have only an outside shot of making the playoffs. Most experts expect a few Mets to be traded and some young prospects to join the squad.

* Dickey’s trade value 

Dickey’s trade value is a bit hard to accurately gauge, and it is likely that teams will have vastly different ratings for his value; factors are more challenging to gauge than a typical credit card comparison. On the downside, he will be 38 in October. Further, his stellar performance is a recent development. Over his career, Dickey holds an average 4.14 ERA.

On the plus side, Dickey’s pitching style mitigates the disadvantages of his age. A knuckleballer such as Dickey does not depend on arm strength to pitch well, and knuckleball pitchers can often pitch well into mid-40s. Further, Dickey should be able to deliver upwards of 200 innings of work if he continues to pitch well. On the whole, most experts agree that Dickey’s upside outweighs his negatives.

With Zack Greinke, a two month rental, recently being traded for a kings ransom that included the Angels’ #1, #4 and #9 ranked prospects, it certainly gives one pause to at least consider what the future value of Dickey’s trade return can mean to the organization. Especially with the goal for fielding an actual contender being closer to the year 2015 than it is to 2012. The shortstop the Brewers got back, Jean Segura is ranked No. 55 in the 2012 Top 100 by Baseball America. To put that into perspective, Matt Harvey was ranked No. 54.

* Will the Mets make the trade? 

Like making a business credit card comparison, the Mets must tabulate the advantages and disadvantages of retaining Dickey. As time passes, fewer experts are predicting a trade. While his trade value justifies making a move, his future value seems to outweigh his payroll cost and the young prospects the trade would bring. Once the Mets are again a competitive team, Dickey will still be young enough to make an impact, and his veteran status will help him guide a team of young players.

Further, fans have fallen in love with Dickey, and the Mets are reluctant to trade away fan favorites after the struggles of recent seasons.

Trade decisions are never easy, just as critical office decisions are tough for any business. The Mets will likely remain conflicted about what to do with Dickey up until the July 31st trade deadline. Mets fans who want Dickey to remain will be pleased with recent developments, but the possibility of a team making an offer that is too good to pass for the cash-strapped management still remains.

This Fan Shot was submitted by Rebecca. Have something you want to say about the Mets? Share your opinions with over ten-thousand Mets fans who read this site daily. Send your Fan Shot to GetMetsmerized@aol.com. Or ask about being a regular contributor, and share your opinions with an engaging community that loves to debate.

Update #2: So far we have 221 people who entered and 41 correct entries. The deadlin for entering is 11 PM tonight and we will choose five winners and announce them on Friday! 

Thanks to Susan Rose for sending us a picture of the Billy Joel DVD she won from MMO last week! I love these pics our winners are sending in!

* * * * * * * *

It’s time for another great Mets Merized Online Free Giveaway Contest and this time we are going completely bonkers as we are giving away not one, but FIVE FREE BOOKS! 

162-0: Imagine a Mets Perfect Season

A brand new release by author Howie Karpin that just came out this week and includes a foreword by David Wright. It imagines the unimaginable by bringing to life 162 of the best and most memorable Mets wins in franchise history. Need I say more? 

The book is aptly organized into monthly chapters from April to October plus a chapter for the post season. Each chapter includes memorable wins that took place in the corresponding month. (That was genius by the way.)

162-0 is every Mets fan’s dream come true. Imagine an entire season in which the Mets never lose. No blowouts, no midseason slumps, and no heartbreaking losses to division rivals. Just 162 of the greatest victories in Mets history or in other words, the perfect season!

WE ARE GIVING AWAY 5 FREE COPIES!

162-0: Imagine a Mets Perfect Season

Just answer these three questions correctly and if you’re entry is one of five chosen from all the correct entires, you will win a FREE copy of this must-have book!

1. Only one Mets player wore uniform No. 62 in a regular season game. Who was it?

2. Which Met often went by the nickname, “The Hammer”?

3. When R.A. Dickey pitched his complete game one-hit shutout last season, which player got the only hit off of him?

Email your answers to us at:

Only one entry per email address is allowed, and be sure to include “Get Metsmerized!” in the subject line. Your email entry must be received by 11:00 PM EST on Thursday night. Five winning entries will be randomly selected and announced on Friday.

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