In anticipation of a new baseball season, all we’ve been hearing about is how the bad the Mets are going to be and how much financial trouble the team is in. Well, though I’m usually the optimistic around here, I can’t help but admit that 2012 might be a long season. But if Sandy Alderson has taught us anything in his tenure as general manager, it’s that baseball is a marathon, not a sprint. The [...]

I had the chance to meet the authors of a children’s book that takes a different look at the famous poem “Casey at the Bat.” In “The Deal is on Strike Three: The Story Mudville Never Knew,” Long Islanders Peter Fertig and Rudy Saviano explore the story behind Casey and the Mudville nine. Hall of Famer and Mets legend Tom Seaver was so inspired by the book that he voluntarily wrote the foreword. Cal Ripken Jr. [...]

Amidst trade rumors surrounding the talented lefty, Jonathon Niese showed up with a smile to the Mets Kids’ Holiday Party. He said he feels good and is eager for spring training to begin. Though it’s unlikely the Mets trade Niese, he said it’s a matter in which he has no control. “Obviously, it’s not my decision where I pitch,” he said. “I’m sure I’ll stay here with the Mets, and I’m looking forward to it.” [...]

Daniel Murphy spread the holiday cheer by donning the big red suit as Santa Claus for the Mets Kids’ Holiday Party at Citi Field. He joked that he hopes everyone doesn’t think he’s a better Santa Claus than a baseball player. Most importantly, Murphy said that both his knees are feeling good in anticipation for spring training. “I’m done with my rehab, and now we’re really into the strengthening phase,” he said. “I always have [...]

Mets general manager Sandy Alderson made an appearance at the Mets Kids’ Holiday Party, and he talked about a medley of issues surrounding the team. First, he spoke about the new changes to the outfield wall at Citi Field. He said that it wasn’t one particular event that sparked the change, but that the constant “consternation and criticism” triggered the decision. The team recognized that they had the power to make a change and went [...]

Amid the sadness of losing Jose Reyes to the Miami Marlins, the Mets organization spread some holiday cheer the afternoon of Dec. 13 at the team’s annual Kids’ Holiday Party in the Acela Club at Citi Field. Students from local schools performed holiday tunes, enjoyed a free lunch and received a gift from the big guy himself, Santa Claus. But hopefully the pressure of having kids sit on his lap didn’t affect Santa’s rehabbing knees, [...]

So Albert Pujols is heading to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the next decade, which is great news for Mets fans. Pujols had been heavily courted by the Miami Marlins before deciding to head out west. Though the Mets will have to deal with Jose Reyes within the division for the next six years (or at least until the Marlins trade him away like they do all their star talent), no Pujols in [...]

Construction has begun on moving in the outfield walls at Citi Field to make the ballpark more ‘hitter friendly.’ To date, the new stadium in Flushing has been a cavernous structure where home runs go to die. The Great Wall of Flushing and the Mo’s Zone right center gap have left hitters thinking home run out of the box but realizing that the ball had hit the wall, or worse, landed in an outfielder’s glove. [...]

David Wright was one of three Mets players selected to represent the team at the announcement of the 50th anniversary season Nov. 16 at Citi Field. I was on hand to cover the event for Metsmerized. Wright discussed a multitude of topics, while noting that he likes the team’s new uniforms and that his back is feeling very good after missing time last season due to injury. He said it’s been an honor to be [...]

In a Mets offseason that will be dominated by one huge name—Jose Reyes—other major needs may go overlooked. That’s partially because the Mets will try hard to keep Reyes and also because the team is still not financially sound. When we think of the Mets roster, we immediately say we need pitching, pitching and more pitching. However, a strong catcher is key to a good pitching staff. If the season started tomorrow, Josh Thole and [...]