The last 2 weeks I wrote about how the pitchers and the players who patrol the infield must step up for the Mets to have success in 2010.  This week concludes with how the outfielders must step up. Angel Pagan: For the first 2 months of the 2010 season it looks like Angel Pagan will be the everyday Center Fielder for the Mets due to Carlos Beltran’s surgery.  Pagan had a good year last year, [...]

When the Mets traded Ryan Church for 25 year old left fielder Jeff Francoeur, the Braves as well as every saber-head in the universe said the Mets got hosed. Lately, they don’t chirp as loudly as they once did. I think they are lying in wait for one false move by Francoeur so they could jump out and proclaim, “You see! I told you so!”. I also believe they have a long wait ahead of them. I never really [...]

The Mets tied some loose ends yesterday by agreeing to one-year deals with arbitration eligibles Jeff Francoeur, Pedro Feliciano and Sean Green. Francoeur will get $5 million dollars which is far less than some of the outrageous figures being tossed around this off season by his antagonists. Frenchy had a solid debut with the Mets despite playing the final six weeks with torn ligaments in his thumb. The just turned 26-year old, has already amassed 251 extra-base hits and [...]

As you may have heard, Bart Hubbuch of the NY Post reported that rightfielder Jeff Francoeur will return to the Mets and speculated that Minaya may even sign him to an extension, something that Minaya previously alluded to last month. You can imagine the uproar all over the Mets blogosphere as they react to such devastating news. Luckily, the Mets don’t concern themselves with such mindless mutterings, and instead did exactly what they needed to do. The [...]

As we’ve done for the last two off seasons, we’ll try to get to your mailbag questions and comments at least once a week. Unfortunately, Christian has moved on, so until someone new decides they want to respond to site mail, you’ll have to contend with me. I may not get as analytical as my predecessor did, but I’ll try to answer your questions as best as I can. All I keep hearing about the Mets going after a [...]

On Monday, Jeff Francoeur underwent successful surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb. The following is the official press release from the Mets: New York Mets rightfielder Jeff Francoeur today underwent successful surgery to repair a tear of the collateral ligament in his left thumb. The surgery was performed in Atlanta by Dr. Gary Lourie. Following the surgery, Dr. Lourie and Mets Medical Director Dr. David Altchek of the Hospital for Special Surgery in [...]

Flash back to August 21st, 2005. It was a hot late-summer afternoon at Shea Stadium where the Mets were hosting the Washington Nationals. By the fifth inning, the Mets found themselves trailing 7-0. All appeared to be lost until a rookie came to the plate by the name of Mike Jacobs. Jacobs, a highly ranked Mets prospect, made his major league debut and promptly hit a three-run home run on the first pitch he saw. [...]

The Mets finally played some solid baseball and beat the Houston Astros 7-1 Friday night in the opener of their final series of the season. John Maine (7-6) made his final start of the season and delivered one of his best performances in two years. He pitched seven solid innings and allowed just one run on five hits, and he didn’t walk a batter while striking out seven. It was just what the Mets needed [...]

While appearing during his regular weekly spot with Mike Francesa on WFAN, Jerry Manuel sounded more like a general manager at times than he did a manager. When asked if he was intrigued by any of the starting pitchers and if any one starting pitcher caught his eye as far as the 2010 rotation, Manuel gave no ringing endorsements, and instead he offered quite the contrary. “I think the guys we have here now are good [...]

As we approach the final four games of the 2009 regular season, any hope of spinning a positive ending to an otherwise dreadful season is pretty much lost. Despite the writing being on the wall since mid-Summer that the Mets would not be involved in post season play for the third straight year, Mets fans clung to the hope that they would at least get a glimpse of the team’s future. However, like the stars [...]