Two of the key players in the competition for the number five starter delivered performances that were on opposite sides of the spectrum. Freddy Garcia was slapped around for four runs in two-thirds of an inning. He walked three and allowed two hits before being removed from the game. Afterward, he spoke to reporters. “I’m always slow, but this year is different. I’ve got to be...

Great piece based on some nice information gathered from The Fielding Bible – Volume 2. In 2008, it wasn’t close.  The New York Mets clearly had the best defense, based on Defensive Runs Saved from The Fielding Bible–Volume II.  Outfielders saved 56 runs for the Mets last year.  Using the rule of thumb that the value of a win is about 10 runs, that’s five...

Johan Santana was supposed to make his spring debut today against the Cardinals, but he was bumped from that start on Wednesday because of a little soreness and tightness in his elbow. The plan was that we would be shipped until his next scheduled start on Tuesday, but now several sources have confirmed that he will not make that start either. David Lennon writes: Johan Santana already...

I’ve spent the last two hours listening to Mike Francesa who is broadcasting live from Tradition Field at Mets Spring Training Camp. Ryan Church and David Wright have struck a big blow today against WFAN’s Mike Francesa. The two of them decided against appearing as guests on Francesa’s show because of comments Francesa has made against both players since the end of last...

Adam Rubin of the Daily News is reporting that the Mets have signed lefthander Ron Villone to a minor league contract. Add another lefthander to the Mets’ mix in camp. Ron Villone has signed a minor-league contract. Villone, 39, went 1-2 with one save and a 4.68 ERA in 74 games with the Cardinals last season. Villone is a New Jersey native, and has a career ERA of 4.75 and has logged over...

This off season was speckled with some speculation that Mike Pelfrey might be a candidate for burnout or injury due to being overused too soon at such a young age, a condition known better as “The Verducci Effect”. I don’t really subscribe to that theory, and that’s all it really is, because it relies too much a selective cases for it’s foundation that seemed to be...