The majority of the Mets are off today, except for those who have a “B’’ game in Jupiter later this afternoon. Pitchers Shaun Marcum, Pedro Feliciano and LaTroy Hawkins will each log some innings. The projected fifth starter, Marcum, raised concerns when he didn’t report to camp in shape. Here is a guy trying to hang onto a major league job and got a $4 million guaranteed contract from the Mets. He doesn’t come to camp ready to pitch and [...]

UPDATED 3:00 PM Good news for the Mets… Center fielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis was diagnosed with a bone bruise in his left knee and avoided any ligament damage. Adam Rubin reported the news after Nieuwenhuis returned from his MRI. Mets will treat him with anti-inflammatory medication and he’ll miss a couple of days. Looks like the team dodged a bullet…. JD * * * * * * * * Yesterday brought some tough news for those concerned with the [...]

Opportunity could be knocking for Matt den Dekker if Kirk Nieuwenhuis’ knee injury turns out to be more serious than just a bruise. We’ll know more on that later today. The Mets will consider all their options if Nieuwenhuis were to miss any significant time, but one could make a strong argument that den Dekker could have a leg up on his competition because of his stellar defense which can impact a game as much as a [...]

In a conference call Wednesday evening, Mets GM Sandy Alderson addressed several issues surrounding the team. Here are some of the things he told us: Catching prospect Travis d’Arnaud will not be allowed to block the plate. The reason for that is obvious – his health. The leadoff spot is still up in the air but Kirk Nieuwenhuis, who is the leading candidate, still has a lot of work to do. If Nieuwenhuis plays full-time [...]

Joe D. It’s been widely reported that Kirk Nieuwenhuis will be strongly considered as a leadoff candidate this season despite a 31% strikeout percentage, a low contact rate and on-base percentage, and a poor batting eye. Assuming he could improve his on-base and strikeout rates a little, his batting eye still is what it is, and he doesn’t fit the mold of an ideal leadoff man even if it’s only against right-handed pitching. What’s troubling [...]

Kirk Nieuwenhuis came up last season after CF Andres Torres went down. Billed as an athletic and toolsy outfielder with some promise, Nieuwenhuis hit the ground running raking to the tune of a .325 batting average in March and April. Then came some strike outs, and more strike outs, and then came a whole lot of weak grounders and even more strikeouts, which led to his demotion in July when he batted .105  — deer [...]

Matt den Dekker, CF Bats: L Throws: L Height: 6’1″ Weight: 205 lb. Position: Centerfield Age: 25 (26 in August) ETA: 2013 MMO Top Prospect Rank: #12 Background: Here is a brief player profile from the recent 2013 MMO Top 25 Prospect series: Matt den Dekker has only been in the Mets farm system for three years, but his name has been relevant since the Mets tabbed him as a legitimate centerfield prospect. Den Dekker torched Binghamton upon his [...]

The question is always posed at the start of the exhibition schedule: How important is it to win during spring training? For most teams it isn’t and history is full of examples of spring training winners who were flops during the regular season. The reverse also holds true. But, what about the Mets, who open up today against the Washington Nationals? What are we to make if Zack Wheeler outdoes Stephen Strasburg or if the Nationals light him up? [...]

Several days ago I gave you my idea for the Mets’ batting order and it included Kirk Nieuwenhuis as the leadoff hitter, so I was happy to read Adam Rubin’s story he will be given first chance to win that job. Nieuwenhuis will be the leadoff hitter for Saturday’s exhibition game against Washington. The Mets like Nieuwenhuis’ patience – he sees over four pitches an at-bat – and he had moderate success in the role last year [...]

This week, Terry Collins and David Wright provided their annual sound bites that they believe the Mets, yes the group that has found its way to Port St. Lucie this spring, have it in them to make a run to the playoffs.  I know what your thinking.  How could a team that won only on seventy-four games last season with a Cy Young Award winning knuckleballer that has since been traded, a team which features [...]

For better or worse, Michael Bourn fell off the New York Mets radar Monday when he agreed to a four-year, $48 million deal with the Cleveland Indians. Mets/MLB beat writer Anthony DiComo suggests, if history is any indication, Sandy Alderson committed an error.  DiComo wrote: The 11th overall Draft pick has a bizarre history of busts relative to the picks around it. Of the 48 players in history taken 11th overall, only five have amassed [...]