Lawyers from Major League Baseball and the players’ association will meet today to discuss the grievance filed after the New York Mets withheld the remainder of this season’s salary from Francisco Rodriguez. Under baseball’s collective bargaining agreement, the meeting is required before the grievance can be scheduled for argument in front of arbitrator Shyam Das. New York’s decision, and an earlier move to put him on the restricted list for two days, cost Rodriguez $3,142,076 [...]

All year long we’ve been told that the Mets are financially in good health. It’s been the mantra ever since the name Bernard Madoff made headline news with his Ponzi scheme and swept the Wilpon family and Sterling Enterprises on board his swarmy carpet ride; not to mention all the livelihoods he destroyed along the way. The man surely has a place in hell perfectly decorated waiting for his arrival one day. Needless to say [...]

Johan Santana was good today, but a late home run by new Met-Killer Hunter Pence and the Mets lost the game, 4-3. Game Notes Johan Santana was great tonight, going the full eight innings, giving up four runs on nine hits with one walk and seven k’s. That stat line doesn’t tell the whole story for Johan, as four of those hits were given up in the first inning. After the first inning, Johan settled [...]

R.A. Dickey was masterful, allowing ONE HIT all game and giving the Mets their second straight shutout in a row. Game Notes As Joe D mentioned in his post, Dickey was OUTSTANDING. Dickey allowed one hit over nine innings, walking one and striking out seven. Dickey was never in trouble, and minus one walk got through most innings with limited pitches, including three innings of exactly nine pitches. Its ironic that the only hit Dickey [...]

Mike Pelfrey looked the sharpest he has in weeks, giving up zero runs and throwing 122 pitches, and the Mets managed to scratch across one run and hold the lead for the 1-0 win. Game Notes Mike Pelfrey had his best outing since early June, throwing seven innings of shutout ball, giving up four hits and a walk with four strikeouts. Big Pelf was getting key outs today, and only allowed ONE runner to reach [...]

After a great pitching outing from R.A. Dickey, Jeff Francoeur hit a tie-breaking home-run in the ninth inning and the Mets broke a two game losing streak to win the game 3-2. Game Notes R.A. Dickey went out today, and was wildly effective. Dickey gave up two runs on five hits with four walks, two strikeouts and he hit a batter. Dickey probably would’ve pitched more if he wasn’t lifted for a pinch hitter in [...]

After coming back from a 7-3 deficit in the 8th inning, the Mets bullpen, specifically Pedro Feliciano gave up the winning run and the Mets lost in dramatic fashion in 13 innings, 8-7. Game Notes Johan Santana started the game today like nothing that has been seen recently from him – hittable and giving up runs. Johan gave up six runs on eight hits, including a two run home run to Matt Holliday. Johan found [...]

How good it feels to be home. Jonathon Niese went to the mound today and pitched six solid innings, getting out of trouble consistently and received plenty of run support as the Mets beat the Cardinals 8-2 Game Notes Jonathon Niese went to the mound today and provided the Mets with some quality pitching to kick-off their trip home. Niese went gave up one run in six innings on seven hits with two walks and [...]

It’s now apparent that the Mets do have what it takes to make a run for the division. We find ourselves in this position because it turns out the Mets were not as bad as many of the experts had projected, and the NL East in general had a lot more parity at the top than expected; Philadelphia was not the juggernaut everyone thought they were. The Mets do have some questions as they enter [...]

As Major League Baseball moves into its All-Star Break, it’s time to reflect on the Mets and what they need to do to improve the team in the second half.  Whereas many people have been clamoring for another starting pitcher before the trading deadline on July 31, I don’t think that’s the answer.  In fact, I think the team just needs to improve some things internally, things that have nothing or very little to do [...]

The Mets are going to be playing for first place this weekend.  Not against the Phillies, but against a resurgent Braves team that is making it feel like the early part of the decade when these two teams were battling for NL East dominance.  And if Jonathan Niese and the Mets can take the rubber game against the Reds tonight, it won’t matter what the Braves do in Philly–the Mets will be 1 or 2 [...]