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The Mets are Getting Healthy 2008-03-09 20:10:11 “At least you have your health.”That’s what people in the US of A say when the going gets tough.Unfortunately, the Mets, currently residing in the southern US of A, could not have said that.Brian Schneider, Carlos Delgado, Damion Easley, Marlon Anderson, Jose Valentin, Ruben Gotay, Luis Castillo, Moises Alou, Endy Chavez, Carlos, Beltran, Ryan Church, Orlando Hernandez, and Duaner Sanchez have all been without their health for at least part of spring training.“Time heals all wounds.”This phrase is usually used more figuratively than literally, but the literal is of more import to the Mets than the figurative. Yes, figuratively, the Mets need to hope the wounds of their September 2007 collapse need to be healed before Opening Day, but the literal wounds of their disabled need to b
Maine Man 2008-03-09 17:53:35 John Throws 4 No-hit Innings vs AstrosJohn Maine
has been looking very good this spring, putting in another fine performance against Houston today at Tradition Field.Maine walked one and struck out 3 as the Mets topped the Astros, 3-0.Jose Reyes homered to lead off the bottom of the 1st inning, his first HR this spring.Ryan Church started in RF, his first game action since colliding with Marlon Anderson a week ago in a game vs the Dodgers.The Mets will play a home-and-home series with Boston tomorrow and Tuesday. Johan Santana pitches in PSL tomorrow vs Jon Lester.
High Hopes 2008-03-09 11:19:23 Season Riding on "Two Aces"I just thought this picture in SI was so cute I has to put it up.I'm not sure the rest of the National League will feel the same way.
Read This Before Buying Tickets 2008-03-08 08:37:49 The Mets will begin selling single game tickets tomorrow at 9:00am. You can purchase them through Mets.com or call 718-507-TIXX.Don't be a sucker and buy tickets on the web.Call them on the phone, you'll thank me.On the web, there is limited latitute for you to find the seats that you want.The choices are usually limited to "best available" which channels ticket buyers into choosing from the seats the Mets want to sell first. These are usually not the best seats available. You'll either end up in the outfield or sitting in the back rows of the loge or mezz.Call the Mets on the phone and speak to a ticket agent.This way YOU dictate where YOU want to sit. If they try to sell you other tickets, tell them 'no thanks' and threaten to hang up. I'll bet you a dime to a dollar, you'll get better Read more:Buying
, Tickets
Don't Worry.... Be Happy, Met Fans 2008-03-07 14:15:40 Cheering you up on this rainy day....Whenever this crazy franchise of ours has us down in the dumps, us Met fans always turn to that wise, old sage of yesteryear.No, not Casey Stengel, stupid!Chico Escuela! Boy could we use Chico right about now. I believe he is a right-handed hitting 1B-OF type ,so he will fit nicely into our depleted outfield.Does anyone know how we can contact him? Please advise.Until then, Met fans keep the faith. It will all work out. Think positive and keep saying...Beisbol has been berry berry good to me! Read more:Happy
What to Do About Alou…and Other Burning Questions 2008-03-06 22:54:36 Barry Bonds. Sammy Sosa. Kenny Lofton. Reggie Sanders. Preston Wilson. Jay Payton. Xavier Nady. Marcus Thames.What do these names have in common?No, it is not the long awaited sequel to The Mitchell Report (The Mitchell Report 2: Deuces Are Wild).Rather, it is a list of players suggested to replace hernia victim Moises Alou and the rest of the Mets’ infirm.Omar Minaya seems to have dismissed the idea of signing Bonds or Sosa, stating on MLB.com that he would prefer to "…go with someone internal right now."Of course, baseball fans know that “right now” means:We are actively searching for players who are better than the schlubs that are currently on the roster.Kenny Lofton’s name has been floated around by Newsday and some blogs, but Lofton is not right-handed, nor able to fill in Read more:Burning
Pedro's First Start Washed Away 2008-03-06 21:43:42 Heavy Winds, Rain Cancel Game vs NatsPedro
Martinez' first start of the spring will have to wait a little longer. The weather in Viera was torrential causing the two teams to sit it out today."I'm El Nino" stated Pedro. He will not pitch Friday in Winter Haven, Instead, he will go back to PSL and pitch a simulated game.Mets MorselsMarlon Anderson (bruised sternum)and Damion Easley(ankle)have been cleared to play.Ryan Church (concussion), Carlos Delgado(hip) and Ruben Gotay(ankle) and Brian Schneider(hamstring) are all still unavailable.There is still no indication when Carlos Beltran, Jose Valentin or Luis Castillo will see action. Duaner Sanchez is also being brought along slowly after experiencing stiffness in his throwing armThe Mets will announce their first round of cuts on Friday. Read more:First
, Start
Santana Better 2nd Time Around 2008-03-06 06:50:24 Mets Top Dodgers, 3-2 in 9th for 5th StraightJohan Santana
looked more like himself in PSL this afternoon, giving up a run on two hits over 3 innings of work. Santana's change-up was in mid season form, striking out four batters and keeping many other off balance.The Mets again played today's game without their starting outfield. Fernando Martinez started in right, Brady Clark started in left and Angel Pagan was in center.Carlos Beltran has yet to play. The team is allowing him to rest/rehab his surgically repaired knees until later in the spring.Moises Alou flew back to New York to have an MRI on his strained right groin.Other updates from the Mets' M*A*S*H* unit...
Injuries Pounding Mets; Alou Out 4-6 Weeks 2008-03-06 06:50:24 All of the optimism coming into camp has been dashed by the outbreak of injuries the Mets have suffered so far this spring.The latest is one that will be sure to hurt. The team announced that OF Moises Alou has a hernia and will be out 4-6 weeks.This is a blow to the already depleted OF corps where Ryan Church is still out with a concussion and the rehabbing Carlos Beltran has yet to play.Other injured Mets include Carlos Delgado, Marlon Anderson and Ruben Gotay.You can bet the ranch that GM Omar Minaya is working the phones vigorously to find a 1B-OF type. The Mets need one of those badly. A right-handed hitter would be preferred.Is Xavier Nady available? Read more:Injuries
, Weeks
Spring Training Update: Pitching Shows Promise while Position Players Ail 2008-03-06 06:50:24 The Flushing Faithful can stop panicking…sort of.Johan Santana and John Maine have shown improvement since their first starts of the spring. Most importantly they are healthy.Pedro Martinez should have taken the mound for the first time when the seven o’clock hour passes on Thursday night. Petey still suffers from foot pain but he was quoted by Newsday stating, "It still hurts. There are landings when I do feel it, but I have to put it away in my mind."Oliver Perez was shaky in his first start, but he too has his health.One who doesn’t have his health is Orlando Hernandez. El Duque has been working on his own to alter his delivery to avoid the pain caused by a bunion on his right foot.Thankfully, Mike Pelfrey has gotten off to a great start, shutting down the opposition and getting t Read more:Players
, Spring
, Spring Training
, Training
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Mets Win 4th Straight 2008-03-06 06:49:56 Pagan Paves Way Again; Maine SharpThe Mets beat the Marlins in Jupiter this afternoon behind some impressive pitching and - believe it or not - the bat of OF Angel Pagan.Pagan, an offseason acquisition from the Cubs, went 3-5 giving him 11 hits in this young spring season.John Maine continues to look solid, surrendering one run over 3 innings while striking out three.Mets MorselsDarryl Strawberry was hired by the Mets as "a Spring Training instructor, spokesman for the club's outreach program and occasional Minor League observer". Willie Randolph joked that he may need Straw in the outfield due to all the injury problems the team is having.Johan Santana pitches tomorrow against the Dodgers at PSL at 1:10pm. Read more:Straight
Smoking Banned at Shea 2008-03-04 12:36:56 Smokers Beware - Shea is Now a No-Smoking
ZoneThe official release from the New York Mets:"FLUSHING -- The New York Mets today announced that Shea Stadium will become smoke-free during the Mets' final season in their longtime home.The 2008 smoking prohibition will encompass all areas within Shea, including the ramps.The Mets will continue to provide fans a smoke-free environment when they move into Citi Field, their new world class home, in 2009. Shea's seating bowl became smoke-free in 1995 following the City Council's enactment of the Smoke-Free Air Act. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg signed the Smoke-Free Air Act of 2002 amending the 1995 act to ensure that public spaces including bars, nightclubs, and restaurants and all places of employment in New York City are smoke-free.The new policy Read more:Banned
Pagan Leads the Way 2008-03-04 12:25:13 Mets Nip Bums, 6-5 With 3 in 9thCan you look at this box and tell me what team this is?Give up?It's the Mets, stupid!All subs and scrubs. They came back in the 9th inning today in Vero Beach to beat the Dodgers, 6-5. Jose Pagan, who was acquired from the Cubs in January for 2 non-roster players batted 4th and went 3-5 to lead the 'Mets' to victory.Met MorselsToday's game will mark the final time the Mets will play the Dodgers in Vero Beach after 47 years. LA is moving their winter headquarters to Glendale, Arizona - the site of Super Bowl XXII. Dodgertown will be no more...Carlos Delgado was back with the Mets today after having an MRI performed on his hip in New York. The results were negative, but he does have an impingement. Ouch. Read more:Leads
Pelfrey Making His Case 2008-03-04 12:25:13 Another Strong Outing For Former Top PickThe Mets' rotation is rounding out sooner than they thought. Mike Pelfrey is pitching like a No.1 pick is supposed to. He threw 3 scoreless innings at the Braves today in PSL as the Mets topped the Braves in 10 innings, 3-2With El Duque not 100%, Pelfrey is taking advantage of the opportunity to show his stuff. 6 of his 9 outs came on grounders. Pelfrey is vying for the 5th spot in the rotation, which was thought to be reserved for El Duque. Should he continue to pitch at this level, the Mets will be compelled to give him that 5th spot.Last season, Pelfrey lost his first 7 decisions and earned a trip to the minors. We he returned in September, he won 3 of 4 starts.
Minaya & Randolph: Who’s on First? What’s on Second? Who the Heck is in the Bullpen? What about the Outfield? 2008-03-04 12:25:13 Willie: So, Omar, who’s on first? Omar: Whaddya mean who’s on first? Delgado’s on first. Willie: No, no, O. Delgado’s got the hip thing. Omar: Okay, okay, so put Anderson on first. Willie: O-man, Anderson got his jaw knocked around by the right fielder. Omar: Jeez Louise. Maybe I oughta trade a pitcher or too. See ya, Willie. Willie: Whoa, hold up a second. What about second? Omar: Willie, my man, you said Gotay’s all we got right now. Willie: He’s getting his wrist and ankle checked out in New York. And he’s starting to lose it in the field. Omar: So let Castillo, Easley, or Valentin get some reps. Willie: Not ready yet Omar. Omar: Sure they are. Willie: Not ready yet Omar. Omar: Okay, okay.Willie and Omar thought they were going to have it easy this spring. Almost all of th Read more:First
, Second
Costly Win For Amazin's 2008-03-04 12:24:58 Mets 1, Dodgers 0The positives.....very fewThe pitching looked great especially rookie LHP Jon NieseThe negatives.......too manyRyan Church collided with Marlon Anderson..both had to leave the game (photo)Carlos Delgado was sent back to NY for an MRI on his hip..just a precaution we're toldJose Reyes fouled a pitch off his left leg, he stayed in the game for a bit but was clearly affected
Johan Touched Up in Debut 2008-02-29 22:16:44 Johan Santana made his first start as a Met today in PSL.He pitched 2 innings, giving up 3 runs on 4 hits.His old nemesis, Juan Gonzalez, blasted a 3-run HR as the Cards kept the Mets winless, 5-4Highlights Read more:Johan
, Touched
For the Love of Wilpon, Just Win a Game 2008-02-29 15:49:47 "It's only Spring training. It's only Spring Training," a Mets' fan says to himself rocking back and forth in the corner."It's not even March. It's not even March," says another Flushing fanatic pacing back and forth.The Mets' Spring Training record sits at 0-2-1 for those who would like to count the 4-4 tie to the University of Michigan. Today, the Mets managed to get shutout 7-0 by the St. Louis Cardinals.Starter John Maine labored through 1 2/3 innings giving up three runs, four hits, and a walk while throwing 45 pitches. Ruddy Lugo and Joe Smith also gave up two runs a piece in their respective innings of work.Scott Schoeneweis, Steve Register, Nate Field, and Juan Padilla pitched a scoreless inning each.Perhaps worse than Maine's, Lugo's, and Smith's innings was the performance of the
Ken Rosenthal on the Mets 2008-02-29 15:49:47 From FOX SportsMets officials remain divided on free-agent right-hander Kyle Lohse. Some view Lohse as protection against an injury to righty Orlando Hernandez. Others see him as unnecessary in the wake of the Johan Santana trade. Righty Mike Pelfrey currently is the Mets' sixth starter, and the return of righty Duaner Sanchez from a dislocated shoulder would add depth to the bullpen. Kyle Lohse is still on some radars, but nobody will pull the trigger. (Lisa Blumenfeld / Getty Images) At the moment, the Mets' only right-handed alternatives to Alou are Angel Pagan, a switch-hitter who has only 318 major-league at-bats, and Brady Clark, who is in camp on a minor-league contract. Neither plays first base.The buzz among scouts on the East Coast of Florida is that the
Enough Already! 2008-02-28 07:47:48 Selig, Fehr in Front of Congress AgainThis time they were not alone. Sitting next to the commissioners and union heads of the 3 other major team sports,the dynamic duo defended their policies regarding the use and policing of performance-enhancing substances in the game of baseball..... Read more:Enough
Peterson to Learn from Santana 2008-03-12 18:59:50 New York Mets’ pitching coach Rick Peterson
joined Rob Dibble and Kevin Kennedy on XM radio’s MLB Home Plate channel to talk about the state of the Mets’ pitching staff.Peterson immediately received questions about working with Johan Santana
.One might think that the savvy, technologically-oriented Peterson would have gone on to say that he actually noticed flaws in Santana’s mechanics and has found a way to make his changeup more devastating.Instead, Peterson spoke about how much he is looking forward to learn from Johan. He wants to learn what makes Johan so great and apply that knowledge to teaching some of the younger pitchers.One thing Peterson was able to pick up on was Santana’s work ethic. Peterson mentioned during the interview that, “…preparation equals performance.
Pagan Hustling His Way To Shea 2008-03-11 15:26:18 Unknown OF Making WavesHe could not have come along at a better time, this Angel Pagan fellow.With the Mets wondering how to fill the void left by the injury to Moises Alou, a solution has emerged right under their noses.Pagan, acquired in a trade in January from the Cubs, has burst onto the scene this spring hellbent on making the club.Is he one of Omar's new 'finds'? Only time will tell. Pagan, after two uneventful seasons at Wrigley, is batting .415 for the Amazin's this young spring and has caught the eye of manager Willie Randolph.Final cuts are still weeks away, but if Pagan keeps up hitting and hustling, the Mets may not have to make a trade for an outfielder.
Signs of Life 2008-03-10 20:47:44 Santana Dazzzles; Beltran and Delgado ReturnJohan Santana struck out four while pitching four scoreless frames today as the Mets and Red Sox tied 1-1 at Tradition Field. Needless to say , he looked a lot like the Johan the Mets thought they were getting.That was not the only good news. Both Carloses returned to action.Beltran was the DH and Delgado played first base.They went a collective 0-5 on the day.
Mets Considering Bonds, Sosa? 2008-03-10 09:27:45 OF Injuries May Force A Trade, Too...With their starting outfield either on the DL, woozy or inactive the Mets are considering all options at this point.Carlos Beltran (knees) has yet to play a in game this spring. Moises Alou (groin) will miss at least the first month of the season, and Ryan Church (concussion) has resumed playing but his health may still be in question.These injuries may mean, according to Buster Olney of ESPN, the club may pursue Barry Bonds
or Sammy Sosa. Unlikely, he said, but the club has not ruled it out, either.GM Omar Minaya wants to look internally for candidates first before making a move he may regret. The problem is, those options are few.Endy Chavez, is role player, as are Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson. None of these players are suited to play everyd
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