Left field has always been used as a kind of defensive dumping ground for many teams trying to find a way to get a bat in the lineup.  Not requiring the arm strength considered de rigueur for Right, and less daunting in the presence of a fleet centerfielder, it is often a place for players whose offense demands playing time, but are not “natural” outfielders and have been blocked from a preferred position by a regular or superior defender.

Even good glovemen have been known to regard the territory with disdain: following his trade to the Texas Rangers, Lee Mazzilli reacted to being shifted from center to left to accommodate Rangers’ rookie George Wright by referring to his new spot in the outfield as “an idiot’s position.” Surely an overly harsh judgment, but objectively, it is accepted baseball wisdom that players with less speed, weaker throwing arms, and generally questionable glove skills are best relegated to the “low glamor” pasture to best hide their defensive shortcomings. All of this is assuming, of course, that their bats will provide sufficient thump to offset the inevitable consequences of their less-than-stellar glove work.

The Mets have certainly tried their fair share of square pegs in that particular round hole. After acquiring Mike Piazza, an attempt was made to shift the suddenly superfluous Todd Hundley to left. It didn’t end well. And we all still have the memories of Daniel Murphy’s adventures there fresh in our minds. Hopefully, his apparently successful adaptation to second base will help them fade soon.

Now we have the Dude. After appearing primarily in RF last season, Lucas has been shifted across the field to replace the departed Jason Bay, a player whose offensive woes notwithstanding, provided average to, at times, above average defense. But Bay’s glove could not carry his bat, and the Mets clearly expect much more in terms of offense from Duda.

Interestingly, it is not as if Duda is playing an unfamiliar position (even though it might appear that way), having logged 296 games in LF while in the minors. He spent considerable time in the outfield during his collegiate career as well although he seems to have been primarily a first-sacker during his early days at USC. Regardless, it has been his power potential as reflected by his imposing stature as well as the occasionally notable outburst of big flies in his minor league career (e.g. a run of 5 consecutive games with a homer during his 2010 campaign with Buffalo) that have led Mets management to install him in LF and hope for the best.

The tutelage of Mets outfield coach Tom Goodwin and careful positioning may combine to neutralize some of the more glaring holes in the Dude’s game, although if the play involving Rob Brantley’s drive to the left-field corner during the Marlin game on April 7 is any indication, there is plenty more work to be done. He does have a good arm, having pitched and served as the closer on his high school team.

So, the question remains as to what course of action would be best for Mets management to follow given the various scenarios that could develop with Duda’s career. On the one hand, he is a relatively young (27) controllable player (2 years from arbitration eligibility and 5 from free agency) that has shown flashes of power, probably the scarcest resource in the Met system. On the other hand, with his size and relative lack of foot speed, he profiles more closely as a first baseman, a spot likely currently occupied by Ike Davis. Accordingly, I foresee one of four possible scenarios developing:

1. His bat develops as the team hopes, and he becomes a consistent 25-30 HR and 100 RBI threat whose game-breaking ability outweighs his mediocre defensive metrics. He remains in LF as long as feasible.
2. His bat develops as the team hopes, etc., and he becomes a valuable trade chip, perhaps to a team in the AL where he can DH or to a team in either league with a vacancy at 1B. The resultant return being either a “true” outfielder with comparable offensive skills, a “true” outfielder with complimentary offensive skills (i.e. speed, high OBP), or a package of high minor level talent to help plug various positions (e.g. outfield, bullpen).
3. His bat develops as the team hopes, etc. and the team finds a better trade match for Ike Davis who is dealt for the resources described previously and Duda is installed at 1B.
4. His bat continues to tease but he does not take the next step to that of a consistent power threat fast enough, at which point his defense becomes truly problematic.  Team management is then left with a choice of using him as a role player or getting what they can for him in the trade market.

I can envision his development taking the favorable path. He has shown a good eye at the plate, although his patience has at times been criticized as a lack of properly channeled aggression by some. He has exhibited a reasonable ability to hit left handers in his career, albeit with somewhat reduced power. He is at the age where many players enter their time of greatest production.

What sets great lineups apart from merely good ones are what follow the four hole and gives the batting order “length.” When Travis d’Arnaud arrives, he likely projects as a number five hitter, keeping the preferred left/right alternation in place behind Davis, assuming Davis gets his act together. If Duda can fill the slot of the sixth place hitter consistently (there’s that word again), the Mets should have excellent run production.

As the first six weeks of the season wraps up, Duda has seen his stats across the board decline sharply. In April he was among the league leaders with a .436 OBP and .978 OPS while batting mostly sixth or seventh in the lineup.

However, when May rolled around, Terry Collins began batting Duda in the cleanup and five spot and the results so far have been disastrous. In 13 games this month, Duda has a .119/.191/.357 batting line in 49 at-bats which have all but erased the gains he made in April. He does have eight home runs and a very respectable .355 on-base, but somehow he leaves you wanting more. He’s become quite the enigma. It’s still early in the season, and it’s not like the Mets have any better options at the ready, but he needs to start showing some aggression and start swinging and making contact with some of those strikes that just seem to pass him by.

I enjoyed stopping by his locker to shoot the breeze for a minute or two, talking about things other than baseball. Very smart, clever and possessing an insight on numerous issues. When there was the inevitable blow up or moment of absurdity, Ventura was always there to put it into perspective with a quip as short and hard-hitting as his swing.

Once I asked him about his fight with Nolan Ryan, and his response was he knew he had made a mistake halfway out to the mound, but couldn’t turn around. You’ll even notice in the video he slowed down.

Was it an embarrassing moment? Yes, but years later he handled it with humor. He even joined with Ryan to autograph photos of the brawl.

When I covered the Orioles and he was with the White Sox, I’d make time to go over to his clubhouse for a few moments. He was accessible to anybody who would take the time to ask a question.

I am sure there will be a lot of questions for Ventura pre-game tonight when he brings his White Sox into town. There will be rehashing about his time with the Mets and Yankees, about being in New York during September 11 and what he remembers about Mike Piazza’s homer the first game back in the city.

He’ll also get a question or four about his grand-slam single against the Braves in the 1999 playoffs.

That night is one of the greatest team displays of enthusiasm outside of winning a championship I have ever seen. That, and I suppose, the Piazza post 9-11 homer. Both were amazing to watch.

Ventura wasn’t a five-tool player, but was consistent and clutch. With a runner in scoring position you wanted him at the plate because he’d usually make contact.

Ventura was a .267 lifetime hitter and only once hit over .300, that being .301 in 1999, his first season with the Mets. Considering his 66-game hitting streak in college, I always wondered if he thought he should have hit for a higher average. He also hit 32 homers with a career-high 120 RBI in his first year with the Mets.

What the Mets wouldn’t give for a player with that production now.

Ventura had three solid years with the Mets, who, during that span had arguably one of the best defensive infields in history. Few balls got by Ventura, Rey Ordonez, Edgardo Alfonzo and John Olerud.

Both Olerud and Ventura would later play for the Yankees. When they left the Yankees, I believed I’d see both again managing in a major league dugout. I’m still waiting on Olerud.

The only decent player on Miami’s roster is Giancarlo Stanton, of course, but even he has been on-and-off this season. He didn’t hit his first home run until his 18th game of the season two nights ago against the Cubs. He went on to hit two on Sunday, but his power numbers still have left much to be desired. His walk numbers and BABIP are at normal levels for Stanton, so perhaps it’s the shoulder contusion that Stanton suffered a few weeks ago which has been bringing down his production.

Overall, the Marlins are a team the Mets should handily beat. Although some cynics predicted the Mets to compete with the Marlins for last place, that seems unlikely with the way the Marlins have started the season. Hopefully the Mets will be able to use this series to get back on track.

Pitching Matchups

Game 1: Matt Harvey, RHP (35 IP, 233 ERA+, 3.90 K/BB) vs. Jose Fernandez, RHP (20 IP, 84 ERA+, 2.38 K/BB)

The Mets saw Fernandez make his big league debut against them on April 7, when he allowed one run on three hits in five innings while striking out eight. He has had one good start and two iffy ones since then. In his last start, which came against Minnesota, he gave up four runs on six hits in five innings. In his start before that, he gave up five earned in four innings against the Reds. One thing to take note of in game one of this series will be Fernandez’s pitch count. The Marlins have coddled him thus far, keeping him around 8- pitches in each of his starts.

Game 2: Jeremy Hefner, RHP (21 IP, 70 ERA+, 1.09 K/BB) vs. Kevin Slowey, RHP (29.2 IP, 155 ERA+, 3.50 K/BB)

After spending an injury-riddled 2012 season with Cleveland’s Triple-A affiliate, the once top prospect Slowey got another shot with the Marlins. Slowey has been their best pitcher so far, putting up a team-best 2.43 ERA. It’s hard to say long-term whether Slowey can hold up, but he has been very good so far and keeping his walk numbers down, which he has always been known for. In his last start against the Cubs, Slowey gave up three runs in six innings while striking out six and not walking a batter.

Game 3: Dillon Gee, RHP (25.2 IP, 61 ERA+, 2.00 K/BB) vs. Wade LeBlanc, LHP (24.2 IP, 61 ERA+, 2.00 K/BB)

LeBlanc was traded to Miami for John Baker in November 2011 after four years with the Padres. LeBlanc spent last season as a starter and reliever for the Marlins, posting a 3.67 ERA in 25 games, nine of them starts. He hasn’t been as terrible as his numbers might say. His ERA is inflated from his April 15 start in which he let up seven runs in 3.2 innings against the Nationals. He has otherwise been decent. In his last start against Chicago, he gave up four runs on eight hits in six innings.

Series News & Notes

• Adeiny Hechavarria, who you might remember from the last series these two teams played, suffered a bruised elbow on April 16 and was placed on the disabled list the next day. Hechavattia went 4-for-10 in the last series against the Mets in early April.
• New York embarks on its second road trip of the year with three games in Miami and then three contests in Atlanta…The Mets will play 13 of their next 19 away from Citi Field…New York went 3-5 on its first road trip of the season…The Mets were 38-43 on the road in 2012.
• David Wright is tied for second in the majors with 19 walks and Lucas Duda is tied for fourth in the majors with 18…The Mets have drawn 87 walks, tied for the fifth-most in the majors.
• David Wright is day-to-day with a stiff neck. He will miss the first game of the series.
• The Mets have hit at least one home run in 17 of their 23 games and 25 on the year, tied for the sixth-most in the National League…The Mets have hit three grand slams to lead the majors.
• John Buck’s eight home runs tie him for the third-most by a Met during the month of April with Dave Kingman (1982), Jeff Kent (1994), Todd Hundley (1996) and Mike Piazza(2001)…Carlos Delgado (2006) and Dave Kingman (1976) hold the club record with nine home runs in the month of April.

The New York Mets lost their second straight game to the Philadelphia Phillies by the score of 9-4 this afternoon at Citi Field. The loss drops them to 10-12 and they have lost eight of their last eleven games.

Shaun Marcum (0-1, 6.75) made his Mets debut and lasted just four innings, allowing three runs on five hits and two walks. He tossed 71 pitches, 44 for strikes, and was charged with a wild pitch. Marcum’s fastball never eclipsed 85 mph. He’ll need to do better than that next time out if the Mets are to make any noise the rest of this season.

The bullpen was called on to pitch five innings and first up was Robert Carson who was absolutely torched by the Phillies. The lefthander allowed five runs in the fifth inning including two home runs by Domonic Brown and John Mayberry. LaTroy Hawkins and Scott Rice each tossed a pair of scoreless innings. Rice has been very effective out of the pen for the Mets. But nevertheless, they now have worst bullpen in the majors with a 5.28 ERA.

Offensively, David Wright had two hits and an RBI, and catcher John Buck hit his eighth home run of the season in the ninth. He now has 23 RBI this season and only Mike Piazza and Ivan Rodriguez have had more in the month of April since 1920. Good company.

The other runs came on a sac fly by Ike Davis and Jordany Valdespin drove in the Mets’ first run with a double in the second.

The Mets have lost three in a row, and four of their last five games against the Phillies this season. They’ll look to salvage the final game of the series with Jon Niese going up against Cole Hamels at 1:10 PM on Sunday.

He’s kept criticism at bay and been one of the bigger surprises for the Mets in the early part of this season. Buck continued his hot streak with another home run in yesterday’s loss to the Phillies 3-7. He’s is batting .375/.371/.875, has five home runs, 15 RBIs and a savvy veteran demeanor in the dugout.

As the season progresses, one can only guess what lies ahead for the journeyman catcher. I can’t help but point out what looms in the minds of Mets fans: if Buck keeps playing like this, he could be a valuable trade chip at the deadline.

The two sides of me—the Mets fan and the rational thinker—have gone back and forth with the concept for the last couple days. The Mets fan says:

“Buck has been great and will compliment Travis d’Arnaud when d’Arnaud is ready to come up.”

Then the rational thinker chimes in and says:

“You know the Mets won’t keep him if he keeps playing like this. He’s 32. He’s not part of the rebuilding process. D’Arnaud is the Mets future backstop. If Alderson is willing to stick to his guns and trade Dickey, you think he’s not going to try and move Buck to a contender needing a catcher for more young pitching?”

Who could blame him if he did? It would make perfect sense. Terry Collins can say whatever he wants about competing this year. That’s his job. That’s what he’s paid to do. He’s going to do so even more knowing that teams are watching him as he comes off contract.

But my inner Mets fan keeps screaming in my ear saying:

“Dan, you idiot, the Mets can’t just trade Buck if they have a good record by the deadline. You don’t just throw away a potential winning season.”

To which the rational thinker rebuts:

“Yeah, you do. It’s called having a long-term strategy. Doesn’t that scenario seem familiar? A team with a good record by the All-Star break doesn’t mean its playoff bound. I don’t care if Buck has 30 home runs and 80 RBIs by then. If Alderson can make another worthwhile trade with Buck as the centerpiece, he’s probably going to do it.”

Even if Buck is an NL MVP candidate, he’s still a stopgap player. You unload stopgap players at the trade deadline A) so you don’t have to pay their full freight and B) so you can get some young talent for a player you weren’t going to keep anyway.

Of course, none of this matter unless Buck continues to produce at a high level. Maybe he will. Maybe he won’t  Time will tell. Here I am, nine games into the season, talking about what’s going to happen at the trade deadline. It’s still incredibly early, but don’t be naive and think that this won’t be a topic of discussion down the line if Buck holds up.

At any rate, it’s good to see another Mets catcher doing well at the plate. It reminds me of the great seasons with Mike Piazza and the late Gary Carter. Let’s hope things continue to get #BuckWild.

What do you think about Buck and the Mets?

In 31 plate appearances so far this season, Buck is batting .393/.387/.464 with four home runs and an NL leading 14 RBIs in eight games.

Buck did not hit his fourth home run of the year last year until May 13 (25 games) and did not drive in his 14th run of the season until June 24 (50 games).

He is the first Mets player with four home runs in the team’s first eight games of season since Mike Piazza in 2001.

I tossed the following question out on Twitter and what follows are a few of the many responses.

Some Met fans are excited about Buck because it keeps the Mets in contention. Others are excited because we can trade him at deadline and get more for him if he keeps this up. Where do you stand?

@metsmerized I love what he brings to the young pitching staff. I think that’s valuable then what we could receive in trade at the deadline.

— Ben Yoel (@Ben_Yoel) April 10, 2013

@metsmerized trade, he keeps it up they could get a nice return

— Bosco (@bosco86) April 10, 2013

@metsmerized He’s without a doubt a deadline trade

— Michael C DeLuca (@MiaFins1) April 10, 2013

@metsmerized Dam ngood question. Think I’m the latter, hoping that if they are in contention d’Arnaud can keep them there.

— E.J. (@TheHappyRecap) April 10, 2013

@metsmerized The only answer to this question is . . . both.It all denoends on timing and circumstance.

— Scott M. Dolan (@ScottMDolan) April 10, 2013

@metsmerized keep buck and sign him. Good 1-2 punch behind the plate; maybe Buck can play 1st against lefties when d’arnaud arrives

— anthonynap (@anthonynap) April 10, 2013

Damn… What the Buck will the Mets do….

Something struck me as odd earlier this spring as I watched SNY’s first broadcast of the season from Tradition Field. Our splendid announcers were interviewing Collin Cowgill and at one point I believe it was Ron Darling asked whether Collin was getting a lot of ribbing about something or other in his background (I think it was about an underperforming college team he was affiliated with – I can’t remember exactly).

The thing I found odd was the awkward pause after the question when Collin looked at the camera like Dirty Harry staring down some “punk,” as if to say “I’m not the sort of guy that gets teased a lot.” What he did say after finally breaking the tension with a smile was “um, no not really, but yeah they’re having an off-year.” Did anyone else catch that?

Then there’s Valdespin, whose had all sorts of fanciful terms describing him, from to “loose wire” to  “screw loose” to “plays with a certain flair,” to “brash and inaudible.” After getting plunked in the privates Monday by a Justin Verlander fastball maybe we should call him “Lefty.”

The dude showed up to play second base for a Major League baseball club without a cup … now if that isn’t tough I don’t know what is. When Valdespin was asked where the pitch hit him, Valdespin replied, “in the d–k,” adding that everything is “fine” and he doesn’t expect to miss action

“Everything is good, working good, normally, everything is great,” Valdespin said. What’s really amazing is where he found the time between getting plunked, the visit to the clinic, and being interviewed by the Post, to come to the conclusion that everything is in fact “working fine.”

Now see, that’s the kind of crazy I want on my ball club. What is nevertheless obvious in all of this is the effect he has on opposing pitchers, he is exquisitely annoying with his mannerisms, and that’s not a bad thing if you ask me. Also, you get the sense that he’d be more than willing to scrap if you piss him off enough — unless of  course Justin Verlander is on the mound and you’re gunning for a roster spot in spring training and you just got your eggs scrambled by a 94 mile an hour fastball — lets be reasonable — nobody wants to get Robin Ventura’d.

Now there’s this new barrel-chested shifty eyed kid named Travis D’Arnaud. He’s not particularly brash or cocky, but his reputation as a tough guy preceded him to such an extent that Collins felt he had to specifically warn him against outrageous notions such as blocking the plate. Also, you look at Travis, and he looks like a tough guy … didn’t really get that with Josh Thole, Josh talks to deaf puppies … I’d rather have a guy back there who looks like he eats puppies. People talk about how D’Arnaud’s stats are skewed because he played in a hitter’s league but you know what? You can tell a lot about a hitter from the way major league pitchers pitch to him, and all spring left-handers in particular seem to want to part of him.

Who is the toughest guy on the Mets? Well it isn’t David Wright, nothing against the Captain, but David’s just too damned nice. He’s the guy who you can always count on to do the right thing, the sensible thing (his dad was a cop for crying out loud) …  David is more likely to try and break up a fight. It sure isn’t Duda, who I could imagine getting punched in the face and responding with “hey? What was that all about?” Now granted Duda is one guy you really wouldn’t want to get angry as he could probably hold his own in single combat against an enraged Yeti, but he also seems like just a really peaceful fellow. No, it’s Ike, and I’ll tell you why. After that high slide into Tejada by Chased Mutley a couple of years back, Ike took a really weird rout to the dugout and he was jawing at Utley the entire time, boy was he fuming. I didn’t know Ike had it in him. Up until then I thought he was just another nice kid.

So when all the crap about Ike keeping late hours came out I was pretty upset, not with the perception that Ike isn’t the goody two-shoes wholesome kid we all thought he was (he isn’t, that much is obvious), but with the realization that someone in ownership or management didn’t like it. But who? And more importantly, why?

I’ve gotten into more arguments with other Mets fans over this issue than any other I can think of. The curse of Mike Piazza, which actually started before Mike was even on the team. See, in 1986 the Mets accumulated a lot of negative Karma because of all the people they punched out. They also won the World Series so the “bad guy” Karma was not exacted through some fitting heartbreaking loss in game 6 of the World Series, nope, the bad guys got away with it. The 2000 World Series rolls around with all this negative Karma still looking for a chance to stab Met fans in the eyeball, and Mike Piazza, gets into this weird confrontation where Clemens throws the barrel of a bat in Mike’s direction.

That was Piazza’s chance to exorcise the bad juju by putting a bully in his place while vanquishing a great and bloated evil, but he didn’t. He should have at least started walking to the mound with the understanding that if no one stopped him he’d proceed to punch Clemens in the face. Nope, Mike more or less trots to first base with this “dude, what is wrong with you?”  look on his face. That was the worst thing that could have happened at that moment in time. The best thing would have been if Mike had the presence to realize that getting tossed (even if it meant a one game suspension which I doubt would have happened) would be worth giving your team the galvanizing jolt of courage and resolve that that the moment demanded. I knew then that the Mets were going to lose the series.

So here we are in 2013, and I’m starting to see a bit of an edge on the peripheries of this roster again. Maybe a gag order has been placed on someone in ownership. Maybe the “bad guy” Karma was finally satiated in 2006 when the nice guys lost … but the curse of Mike Piazza won’t officially be put to rest without a least one bench clearing brawl. It says so in the Karma rule book (I looked it up). Even more imperative, however, is that upper management find the doofus wiener who made those comments about Ike and lock him in a basement somewhere under the bowels of City Field for the remainder of the season. Maybe give him use of a flat screen and provide him with lots of snacks and a direct line to the Shake Shack, but under no circumstances should he to be allowed to leave his room or to speak.

Ever since the late 80’s the Wilpons have vigorously implemented this “character” requirement to being a N.Y. Met. I think the reasoning was largely intended as a corrective measure after the late 80′s debacle. It was also grounded in the fact that over in the Bronx, by employing a blueprint similar to Cashen’s, the Yankees secured the dynasty we should have had because they insisted on “+ character “ players. So, Jeff … er, ownership goes above and beyond ownership’s purview, insisting on “character” guys (to a fault) at the expense of that “by any means” edge and grit that almost all successful teams have. Sure maybe I’m overstating toughness, after all this isn’t football and I’m not Howie Long. Maybe in the end it still comes down to talent on the field, but with the exception of some of the more recent Yankee teams, I can’t come up with too many world series winners who didn’t have that “edge.”

One thing that a lot of us might agree on when it comes to this Alderson fellow, is he’s not the nicest guy in the world when it comes to the manner in which he executes his duties … In fact he can be kind of a cold-hearted, wise cracking, box of chocolates sending, disappointed in Santana jerk, but maybe that’s not such a bad thing. If he’s remaking this team in his image my guess is there will be at least a few guys like Cowgill and D’Arnaud and Valdespin who look like they might just have enough crazy in them to stir things up. Guys who might give you that split second after they get dusted where you’re not quite sure what they’re going to do … Who will more or less guarantee some payback if you go into second spikes high. I sure hope so, because if we don’t incorporate that element we’re just going to keep getting run over by the Chase Utley’s of this world. It’s no coincidence that Utley did that to maybe the nicest kid on the team. Nice doesn’t win championships.

In 2012, we saw Gavin Cecchini and Kevin Plawecki hog the spotlight as the first round picks and the most promising new members of the Mets minor league system. Behind them followed many new and talented players that came into the fold of the orange and blue. I was so excited as a fan last year, that I actually added as many players as I could to my personal twitter to see who would sign. One of the first players to sign after the draft ended was Robert Whalen, our 12th round pick out of Haines City High School in Haines City, Florida.

Whalen’s part in the draft didn’t stop there. Instead of just taking his money and reporting to camp, he decided to take it upon himself to encourage fellow 2012 Mets Draftees to sign with the team via Twitter. That really stuck out for me and earned him my “Favorite Player of the 2012 Draft Award” for his character, encouragement and one other thing… I was very intrigued by why a draftee would go on a quest to get other players he hardly knew to join the Mets, so I decided to ask him. It turns out that Robert Whalen is a die-hard Mets fan, and has been for as long as he can remember.

Well upon learning that the Mets had drafted a fellow Mets fan, I knew that I needed to reach out to him and get to know him a little better. So I conducted a short interview with him and I’m quite pleased to get to know Robert Whalen, and also to share his character and enthusiasm with MMO.

Ok, first question. So I heard you grew up as a Mets fan, how did that come to be as a Florida native?

Definitely been a big time Mets fan my entire life, my mom and dad were born and raised in Queens. Dad was from Flushing and my mom was from Woodside. My two older sisters were born in NY as well, but we lived in Stroudsburg, PA so I was born in Pennsylvania. I moved to Florida after 8th grade so I could play High School ball down in Florida to have a better opportunity to get drafted or go to a Division 1 College. Up North, there aren’t many scouts looking, so Florida was the place to be. My father took an early retirement from working at UPS in Manhattan, and my mom quit her job. My sisters were old enough to stay up North, so me and my parents just packed up and moved to Florida. Mainly just for baseball and of course the better weather!

Describe the day you got drafted. You must have been ecstatic to be drafted by your favorite team!

Draft day was bittersweet for me to be honest. I had such high expectations going into my senior season and my first 3-5 starts were phenomenal. Was really pitching well with a hard fastball that touched 95 once or twice: hardest I’ve ever thrown. Then I just had a long streak of a dead arm period. It was something I’ve never experienced before and I just never had the same velocity the rest of my season. Scouts backed off and my stock continued to drop. Almost all 30 teams were still in contact with me and had positive things to say, but on draft day when the 10th round came and my name still wasn’t called I was miserable. I really thought I wasn’t going to get drafted. All I wanted to do was play pro ball. Didn’t want to go to school, and I didn’t have a big asking number. Just wanted to play. So when the 12th round came and I had about eight teams call all offering the same and their picks were coming up. I really got to choose which team to play for and there was no way I was turning down the Mets!

Rob Whalen: I got to catch the first pitch from Super Bowl champ Dave Diehl.

Of course not. Now, for the fans, please can you give us an idea on what you throw?

Unfortunately this past summer I was shut down and wasn’t allowed to throw in games or anything like that so a lot of people, fans included, don’t really know me as player. The best way I can describe myself is how my old coaches and teammates have described me over the years. For one, I had always tried to mold my game after Roger Clemens, we have the same body type and mechanics and I just loved his intensity on the mound and how he never feared a hitter. I’m the same way, I go out there with that bulldog mentality that I’m going to challenge every hitter that steps in the box. I throw a fastball that ranges from 88 to 94 miles per hour. A hard 12-6 curveball that’s been an out-pitch for me, but one I can also throw for strikes. A slider that I’ve developed the past couple of years that I actually got my first professional strikeout with in Kingsport last summer. Also I’m working on developing a changeup that could be a key pitch for me if I can stay consistent with it down in the zone.

That was your only appearance last year. How did it feel stepping onto the mound in your first minor league game?

Yeah, my one inning for the year! It was awesome, got to make my debut with my buddy Brandon Welch who was also doing the same program as me up in Brooklyn. It was in Bluefield, West Virginia – the COMPLETE opposite of Brooklyn! I went from a stadium being sold out every night to having about a dozen fans in the stands, so that serious adrenaline wasn’t really there believe it or not. I was still very pumped though. It was my first time in a game in months and I remember talking to Tomas Nido, a good friend of mine, about how the batters looked like they were a mile away. But it was an awesome experience, something I will definitely never forget.

It must have been easier since Nido has caught you before right?

Tomas was a teammate of mine for the previous two years before the draft for our travel ball team, FTB Mizuno. So when I got drafted by the Mets it was awesome knowing that I was going to have a guy there who I knew and was actually one of my battery-mates for the past two years. He didn’t catch me in Kingsport but I’m sure him and me will be paired up again many times in the future.

My Brooklyn Cyclones jersey from Gary Carter Night at MCU Park.

How long were you in Brooklyn? Did you like the atmosphere? It’s pretty different than other baseball stadiums in terms of interaction.

I was in Brooklyn the entire summer up to August 25th. That was actually the day Welch and I were supposed to make our debuts at home versus the Staten Island Yankees. But they decided to send us to Kingsport for a less pressure atmosphere for our debut, which I can appreciate, and respect. I loved every minute in Brooklyn. I wish I could have been out there playing, but it wasn’t my time. The fans were incredible, always had our backs even when we struggled and sometimes traveled to our away games. But for me, being in Brooklyn felt like home. It’s an amazing place to play, almost feels like the big leagues the way the stadium would sell out and how the fans all got into the games. Without those die-hard Cyclones fans it would just be another minor league stadium. Those fans make it fun to play there.

Is there anything you feel you need to improve?

Of course, you can never stop improving and getting better, for me I’ve really been working hard this offseason on getting in much better shape physically and strengthening my arm. I’m doing whatever I can to make sure I don’t go through that dead arm phase I went through my senior year. Also, like I mentioned before I’m working hard on developing my changeup. Like all young pitchers, command is always the make-or-break thing for guys and I’ve always felt like I’ve had decent command for my age, but command is a given. Something I work on the most and not just my fastball but with all my pitches, is being able to throw whatever I want, whenever I want!

Awesome. You are reporting to extended spring training, where do you think you will end up playing this year?

I’ll have a better idea once I get to camp and have a chance to talk the coordinators and all the guys that make those decisions. I would love to go to Brooklyn, it was eating at me last summer that I couldn’t go out and pitch in front of that crowd, so my goal heading into camp is to just really show what I’m capable of and make it really hard for them not to send me to an advanced league like Brooklyn which features mainly college level players.

I hope so man, I want to see you play personally. Okay, last question. Who is your favorite Met?

It would be awesome man I appreciate that. Man, my favorite Met growing up was always Mike Piazza. I actually just started reading his book, but Piazza was the man and every time I would go to Shea and watch a game all I wanted to see was Mike Piazza hit a bomb. I tried to emulate everything he did, his batting stance and the way he caught since I was a catcher when I was younger. Now it’s David Wright, I have a ton of respect for the guy, just the way he handles himself on and off the field is what I admire most and a path I try to follow. He sets a great example for us younger players and now that he’s locked up with us I’m looking forward to possibly having him play third base behind me one day.

* * * * * * * *

I thank Robert Whalen for giving me the opportunity to interview him and I wish him so much luck going forward. I want to see him achieve his dream and stand on the mound in front of us at Citi Field. Robert reports to extended spring training on April 13th, and will play there until he earns his assignment to a short-season league. You can follow him on twitter at @RobWhalen38.

I turned 21 that November. I was now ‘legal.’ I started my senior year in college, my entire life and all my dreams lay ahead of me. I got to meet and party with the members of Van Halen at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. One month after Jesse tossed his glove to the heavens I met the girl I’d eventually marry.

But 1986 also saw me get my first car. You always remember your first. It was a bad-ass silver Chevy Cavalier RS with black racing stripes. If you wanted to find me on a Saturday that summer, I’d be outside wearing my Mets hat, rock t-shirt and heavy metal spiked leather wristband. I’d be waxing my baby, using Armor-All and Windex, polishing her up—fenders, chrome, tires, windows. I had Van Halen, Scorpions, Whitesnake, Springsteen and a new band called Guns-n-Roses blasting from my tape deck. The neighbors heard me before they’d see me. Yes, 86 was a great year. My future—as well as the future of my Mets—was bright.

1989: It was sadly becoming evident that the Mets dynasty may not materialize the way we hoped. We were still reeling from the shell-shocking loss to the Dodgers in the LCS the previous October. Doc was having drug problems. Keith was battling injuries and played only 75 games that season. Mookie was sent away to Toronto—another country!!! In 50 games, 35 year old Gary Carter hit 183.

That summer my wife and I celebrated our one year anniversary. We had the discussion of ‘starting a family.’ Kids??? Hell, I hadn’t even grown up yet. I figured we should start slow. We bought a puppy instead.

I loved my Cavalier. I took care of it, did the routine maintenance, etc…But really, to this kid in his early 20’s, it was an expensive toy. Racing my friends, speeding and driving recklessly had taken a toll and after 3 years and just 51,000 miles, my car was falling apart. My wife suggested I look into buying a Toyota. She loved their cars. But not me. I was a Chevy man tried and true. Growing up, my dad had no loyalty to any particular auto manufacturer—as long as it was American made. There was no way I’d buy a ‘Rice Rocket’ and listen to my father remind me how his older brother fought in World War II.

And after all, the expression is not “Baseball, Hot Dogs, Apple Pie…and Toyota?”

My second car, purchased in 1989, was another Cavalier. Sporty, equally bad-ass and blue (as in blue and orange.)

In October of ’94, the unthinkable and unimaginable occurred. For the first time in 90 years, not since Teddy Roosevelt was President, there would be no World Series.

That month I was also in the market for a new car again. My 2^nd Cavalier was starting to fall apart. The repair bills were adding up. Now, as anyone who is married or who has ever watched an episode of ‘Everybody Loves Raymond’ knows, a home is not a home unless the wife is happy.

My better half again tried to convince me to buy a Toyota. This time I appeased her and went through the motions. I looked, I shopped, I test drove one. And then when I felt I ‘did my part of trying,’ I went across the street and purchased another Chevy.

Equally unimaginable to there being no Fall Classic that October was the realization that my 20’s were coming to an end. I was 13 months shy of turning the ripe old age of 30. My bad-ass cool looking sporty car was replaced by a nice, conservative, safe, economical 4 door sedan. Blue (as in blue and orange.) I drove off the lot in a Chevy Corsica.

With my 30’s unavoidable I was at a good place in life. And my Mets were also in a good place. Generation K were poised and ready to dominate the National League. We had Bobby Bonilla, Todd Hundley, promising youngsters named Jeff Kent and Robert Person and proven winner Bret Saberhagen, Yes indeed, the Mets future, like my own, was bright.

2001: By now, Generation K had become a punch line. Bobby Bonilla went on to be one of the most hated Mets in history. Jeff Kent was 3000 miles away in San Francisco and, teamed with Barry Bonds, was part of the most lethal 1-2 punch in the game.

However, the Mets were defending NL Champions.

Sure, we lost the previous Fall Classic to the roided-up Yankees. But things were positive. For the first time in our history we’d been to the post-season 2 straight years. We were led by the best hitting catcher of all-time, local hero John Franco, quiet star Robin Ventura, much loved Benny Agbayani and Timo Perez, lefty Al Leiter, the glove of Rey Ordonez and the hard-working Todd Zeile and Joe McEwing,

As 2001 wound down it became evident the Mets would miss the post-season. On Sunday, September 9, Steve Trachsel took the loss to Florida, 4-2. The Mets dropped to 71-73, 8 games behind Atlanta. Two days later, the unthinkable and unimaginable happened again.

As the nation came to realize we were not invincible, our own safety shattered and we began shooting questioning looks at each other while giving up many of our rights, American patriotism skyrocketed.

With bodies still being pulled from the debris of where the Twin Towers once stood, I was involved in a car accident. My Corsica was totaled. I was back in the market for a new car yet again. My wife made a half-hearted attempt to talk me into a Toyota. No way! If I never wanted to drive a foreign car before, there was no way in hell I’d drive one now.

Most of my friends and family urged me to buy a Japanese car. They all loved their Toyota’s, Honda’s and Nissans. I resisted.

I was in my mid 30’s and was doing well financially. I bought a fully loaded Chevy Impala. It was the most luxurious and most expensive car I ever owned. Huge payment, my first full size. It took me 6 months to learn all the bells and whistles.

Four months later, I found myself sitting at my kitchen table signing divorce papers. After almost 14 years, my wife and I decided we’d grown apart.

During the first ten years of the 21^st century, as my 30’s ended and I entered my 40’s, with my future now uncertain, I realized I still could rely on my Mets.

Following the Mets personally is not always easy. The closest city to me that has a major league team is almost 300 miles away. Seeing my Mets live is much more difficult than simply hopping the 7 train to Flushing. It requires driving down to Los Angeles or San Diego. Phoenix, perhaps. It’s a weekend getaway that includes, not just the cost of the ticket and parking, but also gas, food and hotel bills.

Still, I was making good money and had no problem forking over hundreds and hundreds to see my Mets. And for spending money on Wright and Reyes t-shirts and Pedro Martinez jerseys. After all, our future was bright. In addition to David and Jose, we had Delgado, Beltran, Wagner, Shawn Green, fiery Paul Lo Duca, clutch Tom Glavine and promising young studs like Mike Pelfrey and John Maine.

Then, once again, the fabric of this nation was torn apart. Thirteen years after the impossibility of the World Series being cancelled and six years after 3000 Americans were killed and an entire generation lost its innocence, we found ourselves in the worst financial crisis of our lifetime. We were now witnessing firsthand what we had only heard about from our grandparents.

I, too, found myself unemployed for an extended period of time. Credit card debt went up, savings went down. But still, I could count on the Mets. Granted, Yadier Molina’s HR in Game 7 of the 06 LCS and Beltran taking a called third strike left us all in shock. The following September, the Mets blew a 7 game lead with 17 left and collapsed.

Six month later, March 08, I found myself getting a paycheck again. I was making only 60% of what I had been.

And then, my expensive, fully loaded, luxury car fell apart.

My Impala, though recently paid off, was costing me more in repairs than my car payment had been. After just 6 years and only 71,000 miles, driving slow, less reckless, not having gotten a speeding ticket in almost 20 years, my American-made car was heading for the junkyard. Four new cars, all Chevys, and only one lasted more than 6 years and exceeded 82,000 miles. To say I was pissed and fed-up would be an understatement.

On a Saturday in early April 2008, I got in my car. Thankfully, it started. I drove a few miles, rattling my way down the street. I did slow a bit as I drove by the Chevy dealer. I proceeded on and drove my piece of junk Impala to Toyota. A few hours later, I drove off the lot in brand new Camry. Blue (as in blue and orange.)

Those who know me literally did not believe me until they saw my new car. There was no way—NO WAY—I’d ever not drive a Chevy. And no way in hell I’d lower myself to buying a Japanese car. But here I was.

In a couple of months from now, my Camry will be paid-off. Five years and not a single problem. I love my Toyota. But still, in spite of Chevy leaving a bad taste in my mouth, I still slow down when I pass the Chevy dealership. I glance over, check out the new cars and feel nostalgic. Chevy will always have a special place in my heart.

Baseball is a unique sport. It’s not like Football where you can be a fan of one team…but still root for a different one. The Mets are a lifetime commitment, a love that extends from childhood into old age. Sure, they frustrate me. Sure, they piss me off. Sure, if Sandy Alderson was crossing a dark street late one night and no one was around, I’d debate flooring it. (just kidding) But what am I going to do? Change my allegiance after 40 years? I’m not about to become a Phillies fan where I have a ‘P’ on my head or root for the Blue-Jays and wear…whatever the hell that logo of theirs is.

With the exception of a trip back to New York in the summer of 2011, my first and only time seeing Citi Field and going overboard in the gift shop, I’ve not handed over any money to the Wilpons in 6 years.

So, yes, I’ll continue to root for my Mets, hoping for the best but expecting the worst. But money is tight. Rooting is one thing—financially supporting them is something different. I don’t plan on driving down to LA and forking over several hundred for a weekend to see a sub-par product. (The same logic applies to forking over thousands to Chevrolet, what I personally consider another sub-par product.)

The Mets are 6 weeks away from embarking on the 2013 campaign, a season where we have no hope to compete. The best thing about this upcoming season will be that it gets us one year closer to ‘the future’ that Sandy Alderson keeps talking about.

People change. I loved my Chevy’s and I kind of always will. I love my Mets. And I always will. But people do change. As a fan, one can only get pushed so much. If this person who swore he’d drive nothing but a Chevy until the day I die can now drive a Toyota, anything is possible.

(as a side note, my ex-wife, who swore by Toyota now ironically drives a Chevy)

My approach to this upcoming season will be rather robotic. If they’re on TV, I’ll watch (probably.) But, most likely, I’ll check the standings, glance at the box score. I’ll see what David Wright did, see how Wheeler or Niese or Harvey pitched. I’ll look to see if D’arnaud is living up to the hype. And then, until we start competing, I’ll move on to other things.

My approach to the 2013 Mets will be similar to passing a Chevy dealer. I’ll look, smile, feel a bit nostalgic. And keep going.

But of course, I can’t control myself in reading all the news stories about what is actually in the book before I read it for myself.

So that leads me to a very intriguing discussion.

Piazza admitted in his book to using androstenedione and Ephedra before the substances were banned, according to the New York Post. The 12-time All-Star catcher also said in his book that he took Vioxx (an anti-inflammatory), “greenies” (stimulants) and Dymetadrine (asthma medicine), the Post reports.

The New York Times reports that Piazza wrote in the book that he inquired about HGH, not knowing it was a banned substance, but his trainer advised against using it.

So let’s assume that Piazza is clean of HGH. He claims he never used “steroids,” and to this point, we all know he has never had a positive test on record.

But the real question now is how will Piazza’s admission to using these other drugs – mainly the currently-banned substances of andro and Ephedra – affect his chances at the Hall of Fame.

There will likely continue to be a rift amongst the voters. Some will say that since these substances were legal at the time, Piazza was not cheating. However, some will say that he was still enhancing his performance by using the substances, thus tainting his incredible numbers.

If I had to guess, the voters that voted for him this year will vote for him again next year. But then again, some may now change their vote since Piazza admitted to using “substances” during his career.

Of the writers that did not vote for him this year based on the suspicion of drug use, some may change their votes since Piazza admits to have never used “illegal substances.” But of course, the majority will have their initial inklings about Piazza confirmed and therefore will continue to exclude him from Cooperstown.

Talk about a voting conundrum!

I’m not exactly sure if Piazza’s book will help or hurt him. It almost begs the question of why he would even choose to admit anything in the first place. The timing of the book’s release is also strange, since he could have “cleared his name” before the voting occurred.

But then again, would his admission to using drugs clear his name or would it spark even more speculation like it already has?

I want to believe Piazza. I feel like he might have kept quiet if he used banned substances and would have hoped that no test results ever leaked.

He instead chose to be honest, and from what he admitted in the book, he never cheated according to what was and what was not illegal at the time.

I’m eager to see what else he has to say in his book. I just hope that all the juicy excerpts haven’t been revealed already.

The release of this book just keeps Piazza’s name in the news cycle, which will spark much more debate on whether he’s worthy of baseball immortality.

The two most anticipated releases will happen over the next month. Former Mets catcher Mike Piazza will release his autobiography, Long Shot, on February 12. The book was co-written by writer Lonnie Wheeler, a Cincinnati sports columnist, who also wrote autobiographies on Henry Aaron (If I Had a Hammer) and Bob Gibson (Stranger to the Game). In a recent interview with Newsday, Wheeler said Piazza addresses the performance-enhancing drug question head on – and in detail. Wheeler told the newspaper he believes Piazza is “clean.”

While the Piazza book will draw great media interest, it is Howie Rose’s first book, Put it in the Book: A Half-Century of Mets Mania, that may turn out to be the most insightful and revealing read of them all. According to advanced media information, Rose will share his Mets memories, both as a fan and, later, as the Mets radio broadcaster. Sound exciting? No, but the release also notes Rose will share his “thoughts and opinions on the current Mets team and roster and his thoughts on the future of the club.” If Rose is as honest with the written word as he is on the microphone, this could get interesting. The book hits shelves on March 1.

I must admit, I was excited to see Ira Berkow was releasing a Mets-related book titled, Summers at Shea: Tom Seaver Loses His Overcoat and Other Mets Stories. Berkow is a Pulitzer Prize winner and has been covering New York baseball since 1981. Good read, right? I’m concerned. The advanced media says the book is “culled from 50 years’ worth of columns.” That, to me, smells like a reprint of old material, but I will reserve judgment until I read it for myself. Berkow’s book will be released the same day as Rose’s title, March 1.

Mets fan and author Matthew Silverman is also releasing another Mets book on April 2. It is titled Swinging ’73: Baseball’s Wildest Season. According to Joe DeCaro, senior editor at Metsmerized Online, the book is not “your regular everyday telling of the “Ya Gotta Believe” season … instead I was transported through time itself and relived the 1973 season not only from the Mets perspective, but also from that of the Oakland Athletics and the New York Yankees as well.”

Finally, on New Year’s Eve, Howard Burman quietly released Season of Ghosts: The ’86 Mets and the Red Sox. Burman is an accomplished author and playwright. He describes Season of Ghosts as a story of  “one of the most dramatic baseball seasons ever, as it stretched both backwards and forwards–from the ghosts of seasons and players past to the reality of what followed … On an institutional level the game faced critical issues–player contracts, collusion, drugs, free agency, charges of racism, cheating, gambling, the growing popularity of professional football, and the influence of cable TV and satellites. Yet it produced a season of intense drama ending with an unforgettable post-season.” Season of Ghosts is available now.

It’s a good thing I don’t do radio; I wouldn’t have been nearly as diplomatic as they were. As if there wasn’t enough preordained controversy with this year’s crop of candidates, we get this nonsense and I’m not even going to enrage you with her supposed rationale. I have too much respect for you to even try. It’s almost as bad as the one vote that someone gave Aaron Sele. Again, not going to enrage you with the facts, you can look up Sele’s pathetic career statistics here if you wish. Then you have my permission to curse uncontrollably – - and yes you can practice reading that line in your best Bane voice. Or Darrell Hammond’s Sean Connery as I believe they’re one in the same.

Call me naïve but I was always under the impression that those having been afforded the privilege of a Hall of Fame vote would show just a modicum of respect towards it. I’m not the only one who thinks this way as does the great Metstradamus. But this is unfortunately the year that common sense, fairness and respect for the game clearly went over the edge of the train tracks faster than a New York City subway commuter. Ouch.

Now I’ve been very sympathetic to the plight the writers have when it comes to wading through the waters that PED’s have polluted in Major League Baseball. But like Metstradamus, when voters use their privilege to make some grand statement (i.e. voting no one in), peppered with some who find it – I don’t know – comical, to vote for the likes of Sele and Green, it simply demonstrates to me that stupidity isn’t determined by who you write for or what and if you get paid for writing it.

When the likes of Marty Noble, someone I’ve always had tremendous respect for, thinks that because Mike Piazza had an abundance of—wait for it—back hair, during his time as a Dodger and decides to connect the follicles and assume that it meant Piazza used. It shows me just how far we’ve fallen as a people more than anything. We’ll believe the very worst of each other just to protect our own vanity because God forbid a player is later found to have juiced.

We can’t have writers dealing with pangs of remorse now can we? To top it off, Noble then ironically said that as a Met, Piazza had a hairless back, which is ALSO a symptom of steroid use. So if Piazza essentially played with Robin William’s back he’s using yet if he’s smoother than an Abercrombie model he’s also using? Absolutely pathetic, especially that never, not once, has Piazza been accused or named in any report or tested positive for any performance enhancing drugs.

I always believed that MLB needs to be far more proactive of a guide for the BBWAA when it comes to Hall of Fame voting and steroids. I wrote a piece for Metsmerized in early 2011 calling for Bud Selig to commission a panel exploring the effects that PED’s have on actual playing performance. Of course Selig and MLB want absolutely nothing further to do with this issue—at least not what happened in the past. One bright spot happened a few days ago when the MLB Players Association and MLB agreed to year round drug testing for Human Growth Hormone and Testosterone.

The BBWAA and their writers refused to vote for some players and based it on innuendo and unproven allegations; and that is shameful itself. In part I can understand their fear of enshrining someone who later is proven to have used PED’s as players elected cannot be removed from the Hall of Fame. My question is why is that? Hypothetically if a Hall of Famer does something illegal, whether during or after their playing career, why are they not immediately open to removal? That, in my opinion, would allow the writers to choose players based on their careers and not on speculation.

George Orwell was quoted as saying:

“Saints should always be judged guilty until they are proved innocent.”

Now the real question remains, who was Orwell talking about; the players or the writers?

To turn attention away from Mike Piazza and the Hall of Fame vote for just a minute, let’s discuss the future Mike Piazza, or so we hope.

The Mets acquired Travis d’Arnaud, their catcher of the future, in the trade that sent R.A. Dickey to the Toronto Blue Jays.

But why can’t the future be right now?

d’Arnaud said he’s ready to play and recovered from a knee injury that ended his minor league season early last year.

All indications point to d’Arnaud starting the 2013 campaign in the minors. That’s fine, but there’s no need to extend his stay just so he can get “seasoning.”

The Mets likely want to have him start in the minors in order to delay his eventual free agency as well as adjust to his new surroundings. If he spends the first 20 days of this season in the minors, his free-agent clock will start in 2014, rather than this year.

But once that day passes, I’d really like to see the 24-year-old catching prospect in the Majors.

The best way to gain experience in the big leagues is to actually play in the big leagues. I’m all about making sure a prospect is ready, but from everything I’ve read on d’Arnaud, he’s ready.

Especially if the team won’t be too competitive this season, I’d rather see d’Arnaud struggle to find his way so that he’s ready for 2014, when the team has more financial flexibility to improve the roster.

But who knows? Maybe the kid bursts onto the scene and takes positive strides this season. We won’t ever know unless he’s given the chance.

The Mets are also weary of starting d’Arnaud in the bigs right away because the organization wants the catcher to develop chemistry with top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler.

Well, just like I believe d’Arnaud should be in the bigs as soon as possible, that’s how I feel about Wheeler. Give the young guys a shot, and they can develop chemistry together at Citi Field, rather than Las Vegas.

So the plan should be to let them both spend the necessary 20 days in the minors for free agency purposes, and then once they’re available, bring them up in May.

If the organization doesn’t have the money to bring in star players, at least it can give the fans a feel for what they have to look forward to in the coming seasons.

No offense to John Buck, but he’s not exactly a guy who fills up a stadium. But d’Arnaud playing regularly on the other hand may get the fanbase excited.

The sooner d’Arnaud and Wheeler crack the roster, the sooner the Mets will reveal their long-term identity.

Both Chass and Sherman covered the Mets in the Piazza era. These guys spent a lot of time with the Mets – and Piazza. Both confirm Mets beat writers and veteran baseball scribes in general suspect Piazza’s name may be on that dubious decade-old unpublished list of 104 players who failed the MLB steroids test.

In his 2009 book The Rocket that Fell to Earth, Jeff Pearlman suggests Piazza used performance-enhancing drugs:

According to several sources, when the subject of performance enhancing was broached with reporters he especially trusted, Piazza fessed up. “Sure, I use,” he told one. “But in limited doses, and not all that often.” (Piazza has denied using performance-enhancing drugs, but there has always been speculation) … Writers saw his bulging muscles, his acne-covered back. They certainly heard the under-the-breath comments from other major league players, some who considered Piazza’s success to be 100 percent chemically delivered.

I’ve come to the conclusion that the truth will be revealed, not in what Chass or Sherman claim they know, but what the evidence reveals as fact.

After reading reports by Chass, Sherman and Pearlman, the evidence supporting Piazza’s PED use boils down to one common piece of evidence: acne. Yes, acne. You know, comedones, seborrhea, cysts. By the way, how’s your breakfast? According to both reporters, Piazza had a bad case of acne on his back, “… a generally accepted telltale sign of steroids use,” wrote Chass. “Teen-age kids never had such a problem.” Sherman added Piazza’s “physical quirks” raised a lot of eyebrows.

What other evidence exists that he used PEDs? Well, there’s the acne thing and the fact that Piazza was selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 62^nd round on the June 1988 draft as a favor to his father. Who can doubt the lingering suspicion created by that fact?

That’s it, and that, in and of itself, is a problem — a big problem.

Piazza never tested positive for steroids. There is no evidence that his name was on the infamous Mitchell Report, yet, he won’t make it to Cooperstown this year because at least 145 of the 581 ballots (75%) that were reportedly submitted did not place a check mark by Piazza’s name because members of the Baseball Writers’ Association of America have branded Piazza a suspect. Just so we’re clear: Mike Piazza, the greatest hitter of the last quarter century, is being dismissed as a first-ballot Hall of Famer because the evidence suggests he may have used performance-enhancing drugs.

When Sherman asked point blank if he was a clean player, Piazza replied, “Absolutely.”

Doesn’t matter, Piazza had bad acne and, furthermore, anyone drafted that low must be using PEDs, right? His words mean nothing, but we had to ask.

Over his 16-year career Piazza posted a .308 career batting average (.377 OBP and .545 SLG %) and hit more home runs (427) than any other catcher in MLB history.

Doesn’t matter, didn’t you hear me the first time: He had acne – bad acne – and he was drafted in the 62^nd round. The evidence is clear, unlike Piazza’s skin.

The evidence is piling up, not against Piazza, but against Sherman, Chass and anyone who didn’t vote for Piazza. The greatest hitting catcher of the last quarter century is being dismissed as a first-ballot Hall of Famer because he had acne.

“The idea that you’re not going to vote for a guy based on something completely subjective and unproven doesn’t make sense to me,” said Morgan Ensberg, a former MLB infielder who now hosts a radio show on XM Sirius radio.

Ensberg makes a fine point. The Baseball Hall of Fame states, “Voting shall be based upon the player’s record, playing ability, integrity, sportsmanship, character, and contributions to the team(s) on which the player played.” Plain and simple, anyone not voting for Piazza questions his integrity and character and that judgment is being made around guesswork; circumstantial claims.

That’s the case against Mike Piazza.

Hall of Fame voting is not held to the same standards as a court of law, but maybe it should be. Leaving Piazza off the ballot, first-time or not, is a mistake. He should be judged one the six criteria defined by the HOF, not suspicion, whispers or off-the-record claims.

Tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. (edt) Jeff Idelson, President of the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, will step to the podium and reveal the Class of 2013. I am hopeful Piazza’s name will be read, but I am not optimistic. That makes me sad, not just for Piazza, but for a game once again being stained by poor judgment.

Shame on you, Murray Chass. Shame on you, Joel Sherman. Shame on you, Baseball Writers of America.

2012 saw our Mets conclude our 51^st season. Man, how time flies. The Mets are now in their second half-century. And it got me thinking (since I have no life) How does the Mets first quarter century compare with our second quarter century? For discussion purposes, I’ll refer to 1962-1986 (our first 25 years) as Act I. 1987-2012 (our next 26 years) as Act II.

When the Mets entered the NL in 1962 along with the Houston Colt 45’s, the baseball landscape was very different. Expansion teams were put together by cast-offs of other teams. Has-beens and never was’s. You couldn’t win a championship in five years like Florida did. Or get to the post-season in three like Arizona. You had to build from NOTHING.

Sure, the rules of the game were the same, sans DH. Although the game itself has remained relatively unchanged since the late 1800’s, the pennant races were very different.

The 1961 World Series was won by the Yankees. Led by the M & M Boys, The Bronx Bombers handily defeated the Reds in 5 games. New York won that final game, 13-5. The date was October 9^th. Yes, that early. October 9^th. In today’s world, we’re first getting our post-season feet wet. But back then, it was all over in early October.

There were no divisions, no LCS’s. Two leagues. 10 teams in each. You won your league and you immediately advanced token to the Fall Classic.

There were many great Mets memories in Act I. But man oh man, there was also endless suffering. Although the 60’s ended on a high, we spent the entire decade finding new ways to lose. In our first 7 years the Mets averaged 106 losses! We finished in 10^th place five of those seven years, 9^th in the other two.

Also in Act I was the post-Seaver era of Grant’s Tomb. In the six year period of 77-83 (I’m not including the strike-shortened 81 season) the Mets averaged 65 wins against 97 losses.

Basically 14 of our first 25 years were a joke. A waste. We were lovable…but we were a laughing stock. We were a doormat for the National League.

In 1962, only 1 out of 10 teams made the post-season. Baseball expanded in 1969 and with the creation of divisions and a “League Championship Series,” now 2 out of 12 teams would make the post-season. 2 out of 12. It remained this way through the remainder of Act I.

The Mets were 1794-2187 in those 25 years. For 15 of those 25 seasons, we finished under .500. However, we had 3 division titles, 3 pennants. 2 World Championships.

Act II: The Mets began Act II in a far better place than we started ACT I. Unlike 1962, when we started at the very bottom, the Mets started 1987 at the very top. Defending World Champions. Cant get any better.

Just 7 years into Act II, Bud Selig became the most despised man in Baseball since Walter O’Malley moved the Dodgers out of Brooklyn. Selig did the unthinkable and for the first time since 1904 there would be no World Series. Selig needed to do something.

In 95, Baseball was re-aligned. There would now be three divisions. And a wildcard! Suddenly 4 out of 15 teams would make the post-season. The Mets now had a better than 1 in 4 chance. Also making it easier for us was that Pittsburgh was moved to the newly formed NL Central. We now had only 4 other teams to beat in our division, not 5.

It didn’t help. In spite of less direct competition and more available post-season slots, the years continued piling up without the Mets playing beyond early October.

This past season another alteration was made to the game steeped in history. Another wild-card was added. Now, 5 of the 16 teams in the NL would see post-season action. Almost 1 in every 3 teams. And yet, the 2012 Mets were, for all intents and purposes, out of it by July.

For the 25 years from 62-86, the Mets compiled a 451 winning percentage. We were under 500 15 of those 25 years.

In Act II, the Mets won-loss record was 2091-2050, .505. Interestingly, however, of these 26 seasons from 1987-2012, we were under 500 13 of these 26 years.

How far have we come?

When you think of Act II, 1987-2012, there are lots of great memories.1987 would see our dynasty continue. We had taken New York away from the Yankees. The pinstripes were ‘the other New York team.’ Later on we’d acquire the best hitting catcher in Baseball history. There would be a Grand Slam single. Endy Chavez ‘saved the day.’ Benny Agbayani represented Hawaii, not Sid Fernandez. The future would be built around David and Jose, not Darryl and Doc.

But yet, in spite of starting ACT II in a better place than Act I, in spite of it now being easier to make the post-season, in spite of directly competing with 4 other teams instead of 9 as we did in 62, in spite of having a 1 in 3 shot of making the post-season as opposed to a 1 in 10, the Mets have fallen short time and time again.

There have been many more avenues to get to the Fall Classic over the last 26 years. But yet the Mets have only appeared in 1 more post-season than they had during our first quarter century.

It makes me feel that the more things change the more they stay the same. Or perhaps, the more things change, the bleaker they become. Something to consider…

At the time of the trade, the Amazins were a team on the rise under Bobby Valentine. However, despite an 88-win season in 1997, the Mets lacked the sizzle (or star-power) that the crosstown rival Yankees had, and the attendance reflected it.

Piazza’s first game in New York represented a few of the changes that would be evident during his time in New York. Before Mike’s arrival, the Mets were only averaging 18,177 per game. 32,900 flocked to Shea to see Piazza’s debut as a Met against the Milwaukee Brewers on May 23, and that number would continue to climb as the season continued.

On a Saturday afternoon before Memorial Day, it was Piazza behind the plate and hitting third in the lineup for the Mets. His first two at-bats were uneventful, as he grounded out and then struck out. But in the bottom of the fifth, the Mets’ slugger drilled an RBI double to right-center off of the Brewers’ Jeff Juden to give the Mets a 2-0 lead.

The crowd roared in approval, sounding much louder than the actual capacity at Shea that afternoon. As Daily News writer Mike Lupica said, “hope always seems to pad the house.”

The Mets beat the Brewers 3-0 behind a complete game shutout from Al Leiter. But the story of the day was Piazza. The fans got a tiny glimpse of the greatness that was still  to come

Safe to say, for the first time in a decade, they Mets a face for their franchise.

* * * * * * * *

This Fan Shot was contributed by Michael Rappaport. Have something you want to say about the Mets? Share your opinions with over 17,000 Mets fans who read this site daily. Send your Fan Shot to GetMetsmerized@aol.com. Or ask us about becoming a regular contributor.

Rounding The Bases is back… As we did before, we’ll highlight some of the must-read posts from the Mets beat writers, take a cruise around the Mets blogosphere, check in on our enemies, and have a little fun while we’re at it.

MMO Instant Replay

• Connor O’Brien dished out his report cards for the Mets infielders this week and gives Josh Thole a big fat D. “Josh Thole has not become the player we thought he could be. After hitting over .300 in his last two minor league seasons, and showing glimpses of a future .300 hitter over his first two years in the big leagues, his production has declined. This year, he hit rock bottom.”
• Dan Valis wonders if the Mets should consider trading David Wright for Andre Ethier if they don’t work out an extension. “If you swapped these two players, the Mets would still have a very solid middle of the order hitter to replace David. Ethier is already signed, and plays a position we desperately need to fill. They Mets already have some in-house options for third base, while they really have nobody on the roster who can play right field. With a tight budget a move like this could be very beneficial to the Mets as they begin to prepare for this off-season.”
• Is there a new manager trend, asks Jessep who lists Mike Piazza, Edgardo Alfonzo, Dave Magadan and Brett Butler as former Mets who could someday manage for their former teams.

On The Beat

• Ken Davidoff of the NY Post predicts that free-agent outfielder Melky Cabrera will eventually sign a one-year, $4 million deal with the Mets. Cabrera of course was suspended 50 games for failing a test for PED’s and then tried to cover it up. The Giants washed their hands of him.
• The Mets are not close to reaching new agreements with either R.A. Dickey or David Wright, according to a person with knowledge of the discussions according to Andy McCullough of the Star-Ledger. Things have certainly slowed down of late.
• In the aftermath of the destruction caused by Hurricane Sandy, the New York Mets will be holding a food drive and offering tickets. This is a great gesture by them, and gives fans a great opportunity to help others, while also possibly getting tickets to the game.

Friendly Fire

• MetsBlog reports that R.A. Dickey was named the National League’s most outstanding pitcher in 2012 as picked by the players. “It’s an extreme honor to be recognized by the people who you play against and compete against all year long,” Dickey said in a statement. “To know my peers think this highly of me is a tremendous feeling.”
• Have you checked out 2 Guys Talking Mets Baseball yet? Enjoy this behind the scenes conversation between Fred, Jeff and Sandy and you’ll be going back for more.
• Joe Janish of Mets Today wonders what if the Mets never signed Pedro Martinez. “Certainly, the magic of 2006 would not have occurred, but maybe — just maybe — the pain and suffering Mets fans are enduring now would have occurred from 2005-2009, when instead of signing people like Billy Wagner, Moises Alou, and Francisco Rodriguez, the Mets would have been stocking up on #1 picks.”
• The Rising Apple wonders if the Mets will re-sign any of their free agents and writes the following regarding Scott Hairston: “Unlikely; he drew a lot of interest on the trade market before the non-waiver trade deadline and even into August when he was placed on trade waivers. Alderson decided not to trade him because he felt there was more value in letting him finish the year with the team than trading him away. Now, with his career season, Hairston is looking to cash in with a more lucrative, multi-year deal, something the Mets won’t be able to afford.”

Enemy Territory

• In the rest of the league, there is still news. First off, David Ortiz has signed an extension with the Red Sox for two years. He might also consider sitting out the World Baseball Classic so it doesn’t interrupt him getting ready for the regular season.
• Rookie Mike Trout won the Defensive Player of the Year award in the American League, a testament to how great his defensive play was this season. Braves outfielder Michael Bourn took home the award in the National League.
• In big news for the New York Yankees, Mariano Riveraplans to return to the field next year.
• The Red Sox don’t want to offer Cody Ross a three-year deal, which could be a stumbling block in contract discussions according to WEEI.com. Jon Heyman says Ross is looking for a three-year deal worth about $25 million.

Today In Mets History

Seven members of the World Champion Mets begin a two-week engagement with comedian Phil Foster at Caesar’s palace in Las Vegas. Giving it the ol’ soft shoe are Tom Seaver, Jerry Koosman, Donn Clendenon, Ed Kranepool, Tommie Agee, Cleon Jones, and Art Shamsky. – Mets.com

In the eight and a half years since his MLB debut, Wright has compiled 321 doubles, 543 extra-base hits, 614 walks,  788 runs scored, 813 runs batted in, and 2,390+ total bases.  Each ranks first all-time for any player donning a Mets uniform on a nightly basis.  Wright also holds the second spot all time with a .301 career batting average.  He’s tied for third all-time in slugging percentage (.506) and fourth all-time in on-base percentage (.381).  His 203 home runs, often considered the most important statistical column, currently ranks third all-time as well.

Clearly, David Wright ranks amongst the best offensive players to ever lace up in the blue and orange, but does that make him the best of all-time?  For all the positive records Wright currently holds and/or will hold if he ends up signing a contract extension in the not so distant future, he already holds the team’s all-time strikeout record, with 1,007.  I’m sure there will be many of you who will find other reasons to deny Wright’s greatness.  Often referred to as Captain Unclutch, Wright has posted a career .294 batting average with runners in scoring position.  That includes five career grand slams and a career batting average of .331 with the bases loaded.  Certainly not the numbers of a man who can’t come through when it matters.

Realistically, I think the most logically hesitation for most Mets fans to shy away from calling Wright the best Met ever is the fact that the team hasn’t won a championship during his tenure.  Unlike Seaver, Kranepool and Ryan who were a part of the 1969 champion ship team, and Strawberry, Gooden and Carter who were a part of the 1986 championship team, Wright hasn’t been able to bring the hardware back to Queens.  Should that matter?  Maybe..maybe not..  But much like the fact the Mets won’t be headed to the playoffs may impact RA Dickey’s Cy Young bid, the players who contributed to a championship will forever hold a soft spot in the hearts of Mets fans who are fortunate enough to remember those times.

Others may argue that Wright, despite being widely considered to be the face of the franchise and captain of the team, has either been incapable or worse yet, unwilling to become the vocal leader we once anticipated.  Ultimately, Wright’s name will always be attached to what will be considered a losing era in franchise history to this point, but should that take away from what he’s accomplished?

Do Tom Seaver’s 198 wins, his 2,541 strikeouts as a Met, and his contribution towards one of only two franchise championships trump Wright’s offensive contributions which have rewritten the team’s record books?  Perhaps its a player like Mike Piazza, whose timely home runs account for some of the most significant moments in franchise history, who holds the biggest part of your Mets’ heart?  The fact is that Wright’s career numbers to date, despite the slumps, the recent injuries, and the uncertain future should without question lodge him amongst the franchise’s greatest all-time players.  However, is he the best?

Follow me on Twitter at @RobPatterson83.

MMO 9/11 TRIBUTE DAY

The Mets. The Braves. Late September. This is what a pennant race is all about. It was the 148^th game that season and the defending NL Champion Mets were surging. We’d cut the lead from 13 ½ to just 5 ½ and now the first place Braves were coming to town. At least, that’s what a pennant race should be about.

But on this September night there was not the usual electricity in the air that accompanies a crucial ballgame. Instead there was a sadness. A feeling of fear, uncertainty, confusion. Tears were mixed with anger. Disbelief intertwined with vulnerability. As the Mets took the field, just 8 miles away, in what was becoming known as Ground Zero, rescue workers were sifting through debris and clearing away rubble through the still billowing smoke.

For the first time in our nation’s history our mainland was attacked. For the first time in our nation’s history American citizens, regular people, were targeted by a cold hearted enemy. For the first time in our nation’s history, the game of Baseball was put on hold due to terrorism.

The Mets/Braves game on September 21, 2001 was the first sporting event that would ever be held in NY in a Post 9-11 America. From this point forward everything would be different. President Bush and others urged us to go back to our everyday life. The best way to show these gutless terrorists that a few planes could not destroy America or alter democracy was to get back to our daily routine. But how could we? Everything was different.

During the pre-game memorial, PA announcer Roger Luce exclaimed, “We now return to our National Pastime.” Easier said then done.

In spite of the Mets fighting long time rivals Atlanta in a huge series at Shea, there was a calmness in the air. Mets and Braves players exchanged hugs on the field before the game. The expression on the faces of Mets players was not one of determination to defeat Atlanta but instead, eyes were glossy, teary. Swallowing was a little harder. Diana Ross sung God Bless America before the game and Liza Minelli brought the Shea faithful to their collective feet with a powerful rendition of New York, New York. Even our mayor, avid Yankee fan Rudy Giuliani, was cheered at Shea.

For years, going to a Mets game meant hearing planes. We fans grew so accustomed to that familiar roar the sound of the jet engines didn’t even faze us anymore. This night, however, we glanced skyward when we heard planes overhead.

The game on the field seemed almost unimportant. We all questioned our own importance, our own place in life and for the first time realized that our shores were not impenetrable. These things only happen somewhere else, in a foreign country thousands of miles away. This only happens to strangers, not to family and friends, not to New York’s finest.

In the overall scheme of things, in the big picture, with the future of our country being questioned, did it really matter who won a meaningless baseball game in Flushing? Did anyone really care if Barry Bonds would break McGwire’s HR record? Was the farewell tour of Cal Ripken jr truly that important?

For seven and half innings Shea was eerily quiet. Sure, there were a couple chants of ‘Lets Go Mets’ that broke out but clearly, New York was not ready to cheer. All of that, however, ended in the bottom of the eighth.

Trailing 2-1 and with pinch runner Desi Relaford on first, Mike Piazza stepped to the plate.

Piazza hammered an 0-1 offering from Steve Karsay into the night. A monstrous blast that reached the camera platform beyond the wall in straight away center field. Hollywood couldn’t have scripted this stuff. Like Roy Hobbs, Piazza circled the bases. The only thing missing was the fireworks from the blown out light tower.

The Mets won 3-2 and cut the Braves lead to 4 ½. But the game meant more then that.

Americans had been urged to return to their every day life. It seemed a daunting task—until Piazza hit that shot. Cheers were heard in New York for the first time in over a week. Joyous screams filled the air from Flushing to downtown Manhattan. Things would now return to normal—slowly, but at least the days of darkness were ending. There was a light on the horizon. Once again, Barry Bonds’ HR chase DID matter. Cal Ripken’s farewell DID mean something.

But more important, the simple fact that a guy hit a baseball 400+ feet signified that New York was back. Baseball was back. And yes, America was on its way back.

Although one can argue there’s never been a bigger Home Run in team history, Piazza’s blast reached far beyond the box score of one game. It carried with it a significance that extended beyond Shea. It meant something, not just to a team, but to an entire city. An entire city now began to heal. And Mike Piazza gave us the medicine we needed.

In lower Manhattan rescue workers worked feverishly to clear the rubble of what had once been the most significant part of our world famous skyline. The symbols of American capitalism and the most symbolic office buildings in our city had been destroyed. Two buildings, 110 stories each that reached to the heavens, now lay in a smoldering pile of twisted metal and broken glass and within it, almost 3000 Americans.

A few miles to the north of where the WTC once stood another monument of a different kind also once stood. This one was called The Polo Grounds. Just 12 days after Piazza brought a city back from its knees, October 3, 2001 marked the 50 year anniversary of Bobby Thomson’s famous HR that handed the pennant to the NY Giants over the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Unlike Thomson the hit by Piazza did not clinch the pennant and send a team to the World Series. However, in the same tradition of Thomson, Piazza’s HR carried great meaning, both on and off the field. In more ways then one, it was yet another ‘Shot Heard ‘Round The World.’

Now for some of my thoughts about recent Mets events.

Johan Santana did pretty well in his first spring start. Although he didn’t hit 90 (according to the stadium’s radar gun), he has time before the regular season to get back into the 90′s.

I don’t like the Frank Francisco signing. I don’t have a particular reason why, it’s just a feeling I have. I don’t feel he is the right choice to be the Mets closer. Joe hit on some of his troubling trends. He could very well may be the solution for them, but I just don’t think he is.

I believe Mike Pelfrey‘s time as a Met will be ending sometime soon. By that I mean either this year or next. He isn’t being efficient enough for them, and his production isn’t helping them either. However, here’s an idea that might change that… Try moving him to the bullpen. They moved Oliver Perez to the bullpen when he wasn’t working out as a starter, why not try moving Pelfrey? While it didn’t work for Perez, it could work for Pelfrey.

Even though Hojo’s Mojo said that the Mets liked what they saw from C.J. Nitowski, I am wondering if he is even worth bringing in. Especially considering he hasn’t pitched on a Major League team since 2005. That raises some major doubts. If you remember, he played for the Mets before. In 2005, he pitched 5 games with the Mets, had an ERA of 0.00 and a record of 1-0. I just think the Mets would be making a huge mistake in signing him if they did.