Hey Everybody,

Here are a few newsworthy stories from last week for today’s Morning Grind:

Mets Ink Capuano and Buchholz

Sandy Alderson has continued his genius signings and has inked RHP Taylor Buchholz and LHP Chris Capuano, both to one year, incentive laden deals. Capuano will receive a base salary of $1.5 million and Buchholz $600,000. I love the signing of Capuano because he is capable of being a successful starter and reliever. He is a 1st half pitcher, lifetime 29-24 with a 3.81 ERA in the first half, which is just what the Mets need. The former all-star could fill the empty rotation spot left by the ailing Santana until he returns around the All-Star break. Capuano returned to baseball in 2010 following two Tommy John surgeries that have left him out of baseball since 2007. His 4-4 record and 3.95 ERA in 2010 shows that Capuano can still pitch despite the major procedures he has endured in the past few seasons.

As for Taylor Buchholz, he is 28 and still a lot of upside. Before his elbow injury that sidelined him for 2009 and most of 2010, Buchholz enjoyed a dominant year out of the bullpen in 2008 with the Rockies. Buchholz went 6-6 with a 2.17 ERA in 66.1 innings. Buchholz could be a dominant and reliable arm that could pick up a great deal of the workload left behind by Pedro Feliciano. Given the fact that Buchholz is signed to a $600,000 base salary, this is practically the definition of a low risk, high reward player.

Roberto Alomar Elected To Cooperstown

Former Mets 2nd Baseman Roberto Alomar was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame along with RHP Bert Blyleven. Alomar received 90% of the balloting in his second year of eligibility. Blyleven received 79.7%, entering after his 14th year of eligibility. Despite Alomar’s two seasons of mediocrity with the Mets, he should have been a first ballot hall of famer. The 12-time all-star only had one thing besides his years as a Met against him: the spitting incident. In a heated argument, as some of you may know, Alomar spat on umpire John Hirschbeck’s face. The matter was resolved when Hirschbeck and Alomar publicly reconciled with each other the following season. This shouldn’t have even been a factor into the balloting. Alomar and Hirschbeck solved their own personal matters. If both parties involved are over it, why weren’t the writers in last year’s balloting? Anyway, a well deserved feat for both Alomar and Blyleven.

Alderson Sends Out Update Email

Alderson has sent another one of his emails out to the Mets fan base giving us an update on what is new with the Mets. The email refers to his thoughts on spring training, the upcoming season and the recent signings of Taylor Buchholz and Chris Capuano. I personally love the emails because they give the Mets transparency to the fan base on what is going on and the direction Alderson is looking to bring the Mets. Alderson’s updates have the feel to them to a lesser extent of FDR’s fireside chats. It is very refreshing to have a GM that knows both what he is doing and how to communicate with the press and fans. It is also good that Alderson can admit that we are not in a “win now” scenario and can promptly say what needs to be done in order to be in that situation. This is unlike Minaya who just told the fans what they wanted to hear instead of the reality. This is another way of expressing to the fans that we will have many of the same faces on the field this season, but also that this is a new regime and is a different ball club. The Mets are in good hands under Alderson’s regime.

Happy Commenting Everybody!