#FireSandyAlderson

Look at this Twitter search: #FireSandyAlderson

There are people out there, claiming to be Mets fans, who are already calling for Sandy Alderson’s firing. I’m sorry, what?

Oct. 29, 2010 was two months ago. Two. Months. That’s how long Alderson has been at the helm of the Mets.

Since then, the Mets added J.P. Ricciardi and Paul DePodesta to the front office. They hired Terry Collins to manage the team. They cut dead weight by not offering arbitration to certain players – I’m looking at you, John Maine. They added cheap players in Ronny Paulino and D.J. Carrasco.

The team doesn’t have much money to spend to begin with. If you have half a brain, 2011 is a lost year. Yet, there are “fans” out there who want to #FireSandyAlderon.

Riddle me confused. Why? How? On what grounds?

What things would you have wanted to do differently? What other moves were there to make? Are they upset the Mets didn’t sign Cliff Lee? No one expected that anyway.

Greg Pomes and MetsFanMurph, I’m calling you out. Give me your list of things Alderson has done wrong, the things you would have done differently. I want to know your reasoning, as ridiculous as it might be. Did you want Lee? Did you want to trade the farm for another team’s star player?

Please, let me and other fans know why you want to #FireSandyAlderson.

We’re waiting.

Happy Birthday, Ray Knight

Happy 58th birthday, Ray.

Happy Mets-tivus

Today, Dec. 23, marks the celebration of Festivus. Today, we will go through the many rituals of Festivus, of course dealing with the Mets, so why don't we just call this "Mets-tivus."Break out your aluminum poles, and let us begin with the Airing of Grievances:

This first one is easy. Francisco Rodriguez. What the heck, man? It’s not enough to force me to get prescription strength Rolaids for when you pitch, but then you have to go and do something so incredibly stupid, like hitting your significant other’s father at Citi Field? As those men on ESPN say on Sundays, “C’mon man!” That’s scummy on so many levels.

Omar Minaya. Well, thanks for 2006. The rest, though not 100 percent your fault, wasn’t spectacular, to say the least. Goodbye and good riddance. You might be a good scout, but this GM position just wasn’t for you. Buh-bye.

Anyone that thought Jenrry Mejia as a reliever was a good idea.

The Philadelphia Phillies. Just, everything about them.

On to the Festivus Miracles:

Sandy! A step in the right direction for the organization.

Paul! See: Above.

J.P.! See: Above.

Terry! See: Above.

And finally, the Feats of Strength:

What a season Angel Pagan had in 2010. I’m very excited to see what he can do in left field (or center field) next season.

Ike Davis and his over-the-railing catches. A true feat of physical prowess.

And to us, the Mets fans, for returning year after year after year to the team that does little to give back, especially in terms of wins. We are one of, if not the strongest set of fans around. We’ve put up with a lot, but there seems to be a new direction this franchise is going in, and hopefully we will be rewarded for our perseverance.

Oh, and Ronny Paulino’s PED usage.

Happy Mets-tivus, everyone!

Oh, yeah… Happy Holidays

Anyone expecting and/or already receive any
Mets-themed items for their holiday?

Mets 2011 Opening Day roster, as of today

Is it too early to take a look at the 25-man roster ? Probably. Let’s take a stab at it anyway.

Updated with changes. Added K-Rod, subtracted Paulino.

Starting Pitchers

• Mike Pelfrey
• Jon Niese
• R.A. Dickey
• Chris Young
• Dillon Gee

Relief Pitchers

• Francisco Rodriguez
• Manny Acosta
• Ryota Igarashi
• Bobby Parnell
• Oliver Perez
• Tobi Stoner
• D.J. Carrasco
• Jose De La Torre

Starters

• Josh Thole
• Ike Davis
• Brad Emaus
• Jose Reyes
• David Wright
• Jason Bay
• Carlos Beltran
• Angel Pagan

Bench

• Ronny Paulino
• Mike Nickeas
• Luis Castillo
• Daniel Murphy
• Lucas Duda
• Nick Evans

OK, that might not be what it ends up being, but those are my picks for right now. Heavy on the infield bench, I know. Sue me.

Fernando Martinez and Kirk Nieuwenhuis will continue to get reps at Triple-A barring a spectacular spring.

One of Evans or Murphy will probably not make the team, I’m guessing. And I doubt Stoner and Perez will sit in the same bullpen.

So, what moves do you make to shake this team up a bit? Add another outfielder? Two or three more relief arms?

Let’s hear your roster ideas in the comments.

Top 10 Mets prospects according to BA

According to Baseball America…

1. Jenrry Mejia
2. Wilmer Flores
3. Cesar Puello
4. Matt Harvey
5. Kirk Nieuwenhuis
6. Reese Havens
7. Lucas Duda
8. Fernando Martinez
9. Aderlin Rodriguez
10. Brad Holt

Shocked that Duda is up so high. Puello, too.

Reese Havens will be the next Mets second baseman…in 2012.

Thoughts?

A Met Fan’s Lee Lament [Song]

Written by friend of The ‘Ropolitans Binny Muchel (@TweetTheMets).

A Met Fan’s Lee Lament (to the tune of Let It Be)

When I find myself in times of trouble, Buster Olney comes to me,
Bringing news that dooms us, Clifton Lee.

And in my hour of darkness, he is standing right in front of me,
Pitching for the Phillies, Clifton Lee.

Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee.
Whisper words that doom us, Clifton Lee.

And when the broken-hearted Met fans find that Yankee fans agree,
The Phillies really screwed us, Clifton Lee.

And though the NL East's decided, there's still a chance the Phils will see,
An aging starting pitcher, Clifton Lee.

Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee.
The Mets will have no answer, Clifton Lee.

And though the Mets seem hopeless, there is still a light that shines on me,
Shine until tomorrow, Dillon Gee.

I wake up to the sound of sports talk, Mike Francesa comes to me,
Speaking words that doom us, Clifton Lee.

Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee, yeah Clifton Lee.
The Mets will have no answer, Clifton Lee.

Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee, Clifton Lee, yeah Clifton Lee.
The Mets will have no answer, Clifton Lee.

Mets announce coaching staff

And there’s your 2011 Mets coaching staff.

Very glad to see Mookie Wilson back in a Mets uniform.

Thoughts?

My lunchbox to work today [Image]

You jealous?

Werth to the Nationals; or How quickly Philly fans turn [Image]

A good friend (who unfortunately is a Philly fan) just posted this on Facebook, referencing reports that Jayson Werth will sign with the Washington Nationals.

I’m bummed the Mets will continue to face Werth multiple times a year, but he’s on the Nationals, who will be spending a pretty penny on him, so not too much to worry about. Plus he’s getting an expensive seven-year deal. Yikes.

Anyway, I’ve been waiting to use this joke, in this scenario, for weeks, so…

“You could say that he’s…

*puts on sunglasses*

…Werth-less.”

*cue song*

Pedro Feliciano declines arbitration

As many expected, Pedro Feliciano declined arbitration from the New York Mets, according to Ken Davidoff.

This means that, if he decides to sign elsewhere, the Mets will get a sandwich draft pick between the first and second rounds of the draft.

Philadelphia and the Yankees have already shown interest in Perpetual Pedro, so chances are slim that he returns to the Mets, as Sandy Alderson & Co. are likely to offer him anything over a year.

So, believing this is the end of Every Day Feliciano, I bid you adieu. You’ve been fun to watch trot out to the mound nearly every day. I hope your arm doesn’t fall off anytime soon (unless you sign with Philly, in which case I hope your arm falls off after signing the contract).

Everything a Mets fan needs to know about Chris Young [Image]

That about sums up his last few years.

Buster hears: Mets close to Chris Young

Our auditory expert, Buster Olney, has heard that the Mets and Chris Young are nearing a deal.

Young, coming off an injury shortened season with the San Diego Padres (Paul DePodesta, anyone?), appeared in only four games. The 31-year-old walked 11 and allowed 10 hits in 20 innings last year.

A career with a 1.209 WHIP in 751 2/3 IP, Young has had trouble with injuries throughout his career (John Maine, anyone), with 179 1/3 innings being his highest in his career.

A good, solid signing, likely on the cheap. Fills a hole in the rotation, which was sorely needed.

I’m happy with this, if it goes through.

Davidoff on Feliciano, and why I like it

If Pedro Feliciano accepts arbitration tomorrow night - I'll say it's 50-50 - then that'll pretty much blow the little spending money they have. Which is fine; Terry Collins will surely use Feliciano more intelligently than Jerry Manuel did, and then the Mets will have themselves a July trade chip if they don't contend.

-Ken Davidoff

Couldn’t agree more.

The Mets don’t have money to spend. $4 million might hinder them, but $4 million isn’t going to be the game-changer to fix the team.

Feliciano will be fine if he stays, and is a chip to trade come midseason. If he doesn’t accept, the Mets get a sandwich draft pick.

I have no problems with this.

What I’m thankful for…

I’m thankful for Sandy Alderson.

I’m thankful for J.P. Ricciardi.

I’m thankful for Paul DePodesta.

I’m thankful for Terry Collins.

I’m thankful for a new beginning for the Mets.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Let’s go Mets!

Terry Collins on managing [Quote]

“There's only 30 of these jobs. They're very difficult to get.
They're very difficult to do.”

-Terry Collins

‘Is it spring training yet?’

Howie Rose forgets his mic is on during the Isles game.

I guess someone told him the Mets hired a manager.

Terry Collins: By the numbers

According to reports, Terry Collins will be named the next manager of the New York Mets.

Unclear on who Collins is? Here’s some easily digestable information…

69: Inches tall.

61: Years old.

10: Years playing professional baseball.

0: Games in Major League Baseball

671: Minor league games.

.255: Career minor league batting average.

6: Career home runs in the minors.

1: Chinese national team coached (2009 World Baseball Classic).

2: Seasons as manager of Orix Buffaloes of Japan.

6: Seasons managing MLB teams.

444: Career MLB wins.

434: Career MLB losses.

2: Highest finish in division.

5: Times team managed by Collins finished second in division.

0: Playoff games managed by Collins.

Poll: Who should be the next manager?

Cross Hurdle off the short list

And then it was two…

Clint Hurdle has (mistakenly) agreed to a 3-year contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates to try and drag that team out of the cellar.

It seems only Bob Melvin and Terry Collins remain candidates for the Mets managerial opening.

I’m good for either. No strong push either way for me. I think they’re fairly equal. Both have experience and track records, but none of them scream “Oh, pick me! I’m better!”

So, who do you have? Melvin or Collins? Terry or Bob?

Let’s hear your case in the comments…

DePodesta’s name removed from ‘Moneyball’

Jonah Hill of "Knocked Up" and "Superbad" fame as Peter Brand, the A's resident computer whiz. Paul DePodesta, the real-life Peter Brand, asked to have his name removed from the film.

-Jerry Crasnik

If I was being portrayed by Jonah Hill, I wouldn’t want my name attached either.

And I still have no idea how this is being made into a movie.

I don’t have a favorite for manager

I was all for Sandy Alderson from the get-go. I’m glad they’ve brought on J.P. and Paul. But now the Mets are looking for a manager, and I don’t really care who they hire.

Is that weird?

I think pretty much any of the candidates that they’ve hired will be fine. Wally Backman is the wild guy, Terry Collins is a front office favorite. Clint Hurdle is one of many with experience. Bobby Valentine still seems to be a fan favorite.

And I don’t really care.

Put the names in a hat, shake it up and pick one. Move forward from there.

The more important moves are who the players are on the field. A manager can only do so much, and the ones the Mets are considering all seem roughly on par with each other.

Do you have a favorite? If so, who and why? Maybe you can swing my position.

In memoriam

Nevermore, nevermore.

Is this the best front office in baseball?

The Mets have added another great baseball mind to the mix, hiring Paul DePodesta, tabbing him as Vice President, Player Development & Amateur Scouting.

Sandy Alderson, J.P. Ricciardi and now DePodesta. Is this the best front office in baseball?

Three very highly regarded baseball minds, all together, with money to spend (at least in the next few years) and a fan base that is open to any and all changes.

On paper, I’d have to say they’re up there. We’ll have to wait and see to watch what they do in reality, but this is awesome.

I was excited when the team brought in Alderson, but this is seriously exciting.

What do you think, best front office in baseball?

Ricciardi to join Mets

I’m not sure how I feel about this. He’s a good talent evaluator, but he’s not too great at creating contracts.

I can’t complain, because adding more seemingly smart people to the front office is fine with me. The more the merrier, I’d say.

What do you think about the Ricciardi hiring?

Shine on, just not here

Razor Shines will not be in the Mets organization next year, according to Adam Rubin.

No surprise here.

Sandy’s first quote

Sandy is official

It’s official.

2 p.m. tomorrow at Citi Field (and on SNY, of course).

Twitter Poll: Who’s your pick for manager?

First time in a long time, but here’s some Twitter poll results from my followers on who they would choose for the next Mets manager.

Here are some responses…

jaredshafran: Clint [sic] Hurtle! He has ties to the mets organization and would be a great man for the job!

TheRealHoov: Clint Hurdle. Expience, Mets Ties, Previous Success

Step_715: Larry Bowa because the mets need someone with passion and a winning attitude

jerrytroll: Chip Hale. I was a "Bring Back Bobby" guy, but his personality would clash too much with Alderson's, I think.

JenniferLSchiff: Bobby V! Bobby V! Can think of no other candidate for #Mets manager who would get the fans more excited and fill seats.

kstrauss11: Bobby V. Personality and track record.

nmigliore: As long as he listens to Alderson and understands sabermetrics, who cares.

chrisguzy: I would *like* Wally, but if we get Bob Melvin & Sandy give him a roster that wins? Melvin = best mgr of this generation!

Who would you choose?

Handing over the keys

Alderson is expected to have complete control of all baseball decisions, although he will need the approval of ownership on major expenditures. Essentially, the Mets will hand the keys of the franchise over to Alderson, who is expected to restructure the team substantially.

-David Waldstein

Sweet sassy molassy, I’m a giddy quoter today.

Ch-ch-ch-changes are coming. Brace yourselves, I guess.

The article also noted that most decisions will be in Alderson’s hand, but big moves will have to pass through the Wilpons. I guess there’s no avoiding that.

Standing up to the man

One baseball official said early in the process that [Sandy] Alderson was the only one of the candidates with the gravitas to stand up to ownership and insist that they step back and let him do the job.

-Steve Popper

This is great news, if true.

Great news.

So this happened

Welcome to the Mets, Sandy Alderson.

There should be a GM by weeks end

Josh Byrnes had his second-round interview yesterday. Today, Sandy Alderson is with the upper brass for round two. By Friday, it seems, the Mets may have their new general manager in place.

I’m very intrigued to see who comes out on top of this. My hunch – and all signs – are pointed to Alderson. But Byrnes is getting paid a hefty sum by the Diamondbacks over the next few years, so he could come at a bit of a bargain.

(But if the Wilpons are looking to save by scrimping on a GM’s contract, there’s a lot more to worry about.)

In the end, I think Sandy will be the next guy to look to – and hopefully not complain about – as the head of the team.

And I’m very, very happy about that.

Flood: Sandy Alderson for GM

“Sandy Alderson is exactly who the Mets need right now. They need change. This is a team with a messy roster that needs creative solutions. Alderson isn’t boxed in by traditional thinking. The need order in the organization.”

-Patrick J. Flood

Go read the rest right now.

I’m all for Alderson. I hope the Wilpons are too.

(Aside: I’ve never rallied behind a candidate for GM or manager before. I’m pulling for Alderson now, but if he makes moves I don’t agree with, or offers contracts I think are outlandish, I will be quick to pull my support. I’m a finicky fan. Sue me.)

A note from Jeff Wilpon on GM search

Dear Mets Fans:

As you may know, earlier today we completed the initial round of interviews with six talented candidates to become the new General Manager of the New York Mets.

Each was extremely impressive - Allard Baird, Rick Hahn, Josh Byrnes, Sandy Alderson, Logan White, and Dana Brown. All reiterated their desire and interest in pursuing this opportunity.

We will be in direct communication with each as we narrow the candidate pool by early next week. We subsequently will invite the leading candidates back to meet with Fred, Saul, and me.

We have an outstanding group from which to select our new General Manager. We look forward to sharing more information with you soon.

Sincerely,

Jeff Wilpon
COO

Sounds good to me.

Abolish the balk

Last night, while I watched Cliff Lee attempt to throw over to first base, I had an idea: Let’s abolish the balk rule.

Here’s what the MLB rules have to say about it:

Rule 8.01(a) Comment: In the Windup Position, a pitcher is permitted to have his “free” foot on the rubber, in front of the rubber, behind the rubber or off the side of the rubber.
--
(3) disengage the rubber (if he does he must drop his hand to his sides).
In disengaging the rubber the pitcher must step off with his pivot foot and not his free foot first.
He may not go into a set or stretch position—if he does it is a balk.
--
The pitcher, following his stretch, must (a) hold the ball in both hands in front of his body and (b) come to a complete stop. This must be enforced. Umpires should watch this closely. Pitchers are constantly attempting to “beat the rule” in their efforts to hold runners on bases and in cases where the pitcher fails to make a complete “stop” called for in the rules, the umpire should immediately call a “Balk.”
--
Rule 8.01(c) Comment: The pitcher shall step “ahead of the throw.” A snap throw followed by the step directly toward the base is a balk.
--
Rule 8.01(d) Comment: A ball which slips out of a pitcher’s hand and crosses the foul line shall be called a ball; otherwise it will be called no pitch. This would be a balk with men on base.

Why?

Isn’t the whole point of all of this – throwing to first, delivering the ball to the plate – to trick the batter and/or runners on the bases?

What’s the point of restricting what the pitcher’s do to try and create outs, either on the basepaths or at the plate?

The hitch in the windup, the slidestep, the shake of the glove, etc. are all designed to give the pitcher a bit of leverage to get around these rules. If they were abolished, who would suffer? The batter? The runner?

If the balk rule was abolished, I think it would free up pitchers to get a little more creative, keep the runners at bay, and challenge the batters at the plate.

What do you think: Should MLB do away with the balk rule?

My picks, for what it’s worth

ALCS

Ranger over Yankees in 6.

NLCS

Phillies over Giants in 6.

You?

I love this commercial

My front runner

[Sandy] Alderson, 62, is best known as the general manager that built the A's into a perennial October powerhouse, with three World Series appearances from 1988-90 and a title in 1989. Alderson first hired Billy Beane as a scout and was among the pioneers to value the statistic-driven style of evaluation before it became the "Moneyball" phenomenon.

-David Lennon

Make it so, Jeff and Fred. Make it so.

My playoff picks

NLDS

Phillies over Reds
Giants over Braves

ALDS

Rangers over Rays
Yankees over Twins

NLCS

Phillies over Giants

ALCS

Rangers over Yankees

World Series

Rangers over Phillies

How about you?

The back pages

Disappointed by the Post.

Omar, Jerry out; Ricco interim

There you have it: Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya out of their respective roles.

John Ricco named interim general manager.

Here’s the press release:

FLUSHING, N.Y., October 4, 2010 - The New York Mets today announced that Omar Minaya has been relieved of his duties as Executive Vice President of Baseball Operations & General Manager and they have declined to exercise the club's option on Jerry Manuel's contract as Manager for 2011.

A search is under way for a new General Manager who will run the team's Baseball Operations department. Ownership will lead the process with assistance from Vice President, Assistant General Manager John Ricco who will in the interim direct the department. The new General Manager will work with Ownership to identify and hire a new Manager.

"We are extremely disappointed in this year's results and the failures of the past four seasons," said Jeff Wilpon, Mets Chief Operating Officer. "We need to hire a new General Manager with a fresh perspective who will transform this club into a winner that we want and our fans deserve.

"We appreciate all that Omar and Jerry have done for the Organization and thank them for their time and effort," Wilpon said. "Changes like these are never easy, especially when you are dealing with people you like and respect."

Mets Ownership will meet with the media today at 1:30 p.m. ET in the Press Conference Room at Citi Field to address these changes.

I won the bet

I’ve won.

$10 is heading my way, from my father.

We shook hands back on March 12. Nearly seven months later, his money is as good as mine.

He thought the Mets would finish in last, I was a bit more confident.

He now owes me $10.

Yay.

Early Morning Tweets

This tweet back-and-forth happened around 5:40 a.m.

Mr. Cerrone is ready for stuff to happen now. As are all Mets fans.

But I’d rather play the waiting game with Omar Minaya and wait until the Mets know they have their heir apparent lined up before cutting Minaya loose.

Jerry Manuel should be handed his pink slip in a few hours, though.

Happy trails to you…

Adios, Jerry and Omar. I’m assuming we’ll be seeing some breaking news stories about you tomorrow.

It was quite a year. With some ups and lots of downs. And now, the season has ended. Heading into the year, we were so worried about starting pitching. After it all, we should have been worried more about offense.

Whomever comes in next year has some work to do. It should be a fun offseason.

Today in things we already knew but like to hear again

The Mets will announce shortly after the season that general manager Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel won't be returning in their roles, sources say. The announcements are likely to be made before the playoffs begin Wednesday. The changes will not come as a surprise, as they have been widely assumed for a few weeks now.

-Jon Heyman

So, I’ll see Manuel’s third-to-last game tonight. Yay?

Keith made Page Six

Story here: NY Post

Via Section518

A letter to Jeff Wilpon from Howard Megdal

What appears below is a letter Howard Megdal has sent to Jeff Wilpon. Enjoy.

Jeff Wilpon
New York Mets
Citi Field
Flushing, NY 11368

Dear Mr. Wilpon,

As you may know, I have been running to become the next General Manager of the New York Mets since the spring. I have covered the Mets for most of my adult life, having written on baseball for The New York Times, ESPN, SNY, MLBTradeRumors.com and many other publications.

However, my qualifications for this position, knowledge and energy I would bring to the task, and comprehensive plan for LOGIC, TRANSPARENCY and PASSION date back to my early childhood.

So while many people are calling for drastic and short-sighted changes to your baseball team, or ludicrously blaming you for, let’s face it, spending tons of money and building an incomparable baseball stadium, I have studied the issues at hand for decades, and believe you will embrace my comprehensive solutions. Your fan base already has: in eighteen separate primaries at Mets Web sites around the Internet, I averaged 74 percent in support of my campaign.

In other words, hire me, and it will not only profit the franchise for years to come, it will make you both heroes in the eyes of the fans and my colleagues in the press.

With the opportunity to serve as your General Manager, I will bring about long-term prosperity in your team’s on-field major league success, make the farm system into a breeding ground for both talent and low-cost major league solutions, and most importantly, make Citi Field a place that regularly sells out while turning your casual fans into regular customers.

I have been a fan since the age of six, a season ticket holder since moving to the area in 2006, and will root for the New York Mets long after my tenure as General Manager ends. I am actively raising my five-month-old daughter as a Mets fan of similar intensity—so rest assured, the plan I wish to put into place has nothing to do with my short-term job security as GM, and everything to do with making your primary investment the success you both deserve.

Moreover, I want to watch October baseball with my father, who raised me on Brooklyn Dodgers stories, my wife, who is as dedicated to your franchise as I am by virtue of having to live with me, and my daughter, who should get the chance to regularly experience the joy I felt in 1986, and that my father felt in 1969, and 1955.

I ask that, before you make any decisions about who your next General Manager will be, that you take some time and meet with me. I will happily come to the place of your choosing at your convenience. I am certain that, once I detail for you exactly how to turn the New York Mets into the consistent winner you both deserve and have sought during your tenure in ownership, we will find it mutually beneficial to work together.

Thank you for taking the time to hear me out. I look forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,

Howard Megdal

Think he gets a response?

Omar has until the end of the season

General manager Omar Minaya is going to be fired or moved into another job as soon as the season concludes, sources say. One source described Wilpon as in the “fact-gathering” stage in finding a new GM.

-Joel Sherman

In unsurprising news of the day.

NYT: Criminals wear Yankees gear

A curious phenomenon has emerged at the intersection of fashion, sports and crime: dozens of men and women who have robbed, beaten, stabbed and shot at their fellow New Yorkers have done so while wearing Yankees caps or clothing.

-New York Times

No comment.

This is spectacular [Video]

This was hilarious.

Via The 7 Line

Goodbye (for the season), Johan

From the Mets…

An MRI at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan yesterday revealed that Mets pitcher Johan Santana has suffered a tear of the anterior capsule of the left shoulder.  The injury is located on the front and bottom part of the shoulder close to the pectoral muscle, resulting in discomfort radiating through both the pectoral muscle and shoulder.  Santana will undergo surgery in the near future and we anticipate he will be able to resume throwing in the spring.

Doesn’t this sound familiar?

This is the headline on Mets.com right now

From the desk of Andrew Fletcher

Hey,

Andrew Fletcher here from Major League Baseball.  I’m reaching out to let you know that Angel Pagan was nominated as a finalist for the Roberto Clemente Award, which is given every year to a baseball player to recognize his community service efforts.

Angel participated in the Mets’ “Teammates in the Community Week,” helping residents in Spanish Harlem plant trees and flowers in a community garden alongside teammates, community leaders and Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.

We’re hoping you could ask your readers to support Angel by voting at http://www.chevy.com/Clemente, which begins today and runs until October 8.  You can read his full bio at the site, as well.

A really cool aspect is that any fan who votes is automatically registered for a chance to win a trip to the 2010 World Series, where the national Clemente winner will be announced.

Hope you can use this.  Please feel free to e-mail me back with any questions.

Thanks,

Andrew

I can’t not post this in full.

Go Angel.

Citi Field on Google Maps [Image]

But Shea is still marked.

(Click for full size image.)

Relevant, again

Francoeur out, Duda, Mejia and Arias in

Jeff Francoeur has been dealt to the Texas Rangers.

The Mets, reportedly, will get Joaquin Arias in return. Amazing they got anything for Francoeur, honestly.

Lucas Duda and Jenrry Mejia have been promoted from Triple-A Buffalo. Duda will likely get playing time in Frenchy’s absence. And Mejia will start on Saturday.

In other words, outside of the dismal loss tonight, the Mets did everything right!

Regarding Jeff Francoeur

Disregard everything but the chorus.

And via “YaySarcasm”

Also…

Please, Texas

There's a chance Jeff Francoeur could be spending his last day as a New York Met.

Two MLB sources told ESPNNewYork.com that the Texas Rangers are looking for a right-handed-hitting outfielder for the bench and are considering Francoeur.

"His name has definitely been talked about," one source said.

-Adam Rubin, ESPNNewYork

They say everything is bigger in Texas. I wonder what Francoeur’s OBP would look like there.

But seriously, this would be a smart move for the Mets.

Let the man go. He shouldn’t factor into next year’s lineup as it is, smile or no smile. Deal him now and let Fernando Martinez (or someone else) get a few rips up at the MLB level in this lost year.

How to enjoy the rest of the season

OR: How I’ve gotten through the last few months for the last few years.

The Mets aren’t dead yet. But they’re far from being alive.

They’re more of a deer who was just hit my a Mack truck. It’s alive, stumbling about, but you just know it’s not going to make it.

So, I present to you, how I’ve lived with the last few months of the last few years: Make every game a season.

What?

Yeah, you heard me. Each game stands on its own. It’s all that there is. The performance of the players should still be judged in terms of the season (looking at you, Jeff Francoeur), but each game should exist as a live-or-die type of event.

It makes things a tiny bit more interesting.

“Hooray, Mets beat the Nationals. Ha! Suck it, Strasburg!” Too soon?

It adds a little spice to something that will otherwise be mundane and boring. Because you know this team won’t be playing spoilers.

Do you have a way to make the last few weeks interesting? Share it in the comments!

Manuel’s Musing

“We've still got a chance to put some stuff together if we play good baseball.”

-Jerry Manuel

What stuff?

I’m confused

From a Poynter article by Roy Peter Clark:

Here was a game with two New York teams, a pennant on the line, in the bottom of the ninth, one out, two runners on base, with the world tuned in.

But, in the corrections at the end of the article, it reads:

The original version of this story incorrectly said there were two outs left in the game at the bottom of the ninth.

Emphasis mine.

Um, isn’t that the same thing?

Manuel’s Musing

“Obviously I'm disappointed, discouraged, frustrated.”

-Jerry Manuel, expressing feelings shared by every Mets fan

Just when you think it won’t get any crazier…

It does.

And yes, it’s from the fight.

The K-Rod mess

Where to begin?  By now, everyone knows that K-Rod was involved in a scuffle, alledgedly punched his father-in-law, will be charged with third-degree assualt and spent the night in a Citi Field cell.

Amazing, I know.

This team is a comedy of errors, on and off the field.

But I feel the worst for Jay Horwtiz. That poor, poor man.

Poll: Do you support Howard Megdal for Mets GM?

Also, leave your questions or comments below for Howard.

Adios, Alex

Wave goodbye to Alex Cora.

The Mets cut their losses Saturday, as they released (very) light-hitting utility infielder Alex Cora.

*does a little dance*

Hitting a cool .207/.265/.278 this season (.234/.299/.298 with the Mets in two years), Cora was making $2 million this season for his un-trackable intangibles. He was due to make another $2 mil. next year if he appeared in 18 more games.

The Mets also demoted Jesus Feliciano.

Taking their place on the team is Fernando Martinez and Ruben Tejada, who will likely get a large bulk of playing time the rest of the year. Also not good news for Luis Castillo.

But all good news for Mets fans.

Adios, Alex. I won’t miss you.

A tale of two outcomes

Driving in the car last night, with the Mets up 2-1, I started thinking about what would happen if the Mets eventually won the game.

Five and a half out. Two of three from the Braves. Lots of time left in the season.

But alas, as the game moved along, the Mets dashed all hopes of that. Awful play – as we saw with the four miserable errors – seemed to put the nail in the coffin for the season. Yeah, lots of time is left, but with the way this team is currently operating it’s seems all hope is lost.

Ya gotta believe? Well, only if there’s something to believe in. And right now, there isn’t.

I’m not the only Debbie-Downer in the room – by far – but it’s rare for me to get down about my team like this.

I can’t be the only one that feels this way. Who else is totally bummed about this team?

More on Zack Hample

This long message was posted in the comments late last night.  Give it a read [sic’d].

I was just at a game and this guy (and a film crew now) came and sat in the same section as me in Camden Yards. Actually the row in front of me. So I got the great pleasure of watching this clown and his entourage sprint from side to side coming close to knocking over kids or whatever got in his way. When asked by the film crew he showed them numerous bruises he has attained in the past few weeks when he had collisions with and other near collisions with other fans. I told the person I went with that if he came close to running into me he would get an elbow and I hoped they got it on film. I swear it would have made ESPN top ten.

Oh, and this guy can't even be called a fan! He changes team shirts, hats, whatever to get a pity ball. Thousands of little kids, true team fans, have been robbed of the experience of getting a player, possibly a legend or their favorite player, to toss them a ball while at the one game they might have the money to buy a ticket for all year. Instead this jerk changes shirts sprints in front of an 8 yr old and gets the ball. He's like the guys in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory that try to steal the golden ticket from Charlie Bump. Way to ruin the fan experience of people that can't afford to travel to every stadium and attend games all summer. Part of the allure of baseball and why it is America's pastime is not all what happens on the field. It's the experience at the park, believe me I'm an O's fan. I still convince myself to go because I love Camden Yards and the experience not Cesar Izturis batting .195 and making terrible throws to first.

The sights, the smells, the possibility of getting to your seat and getting a perfectly hit homerun land right in your hand. Sing take me out to the ballgame. Is he part of the song? Watch the end of Field of Dreams where James Earl Jones describes the fans coming to Iowa. At any point did he include some moron sprinting down the isle to snag a foul ball? NO! Many people follow him or ask advice or how to get a ball. This should show him seriously how much his effect has had on other fans. They feel like they don't have a shot unless they join his ranks. It's sad... I will say I still had a good time considering I caught BP ball hit right at me with my bare hands as one of his followers tried climbing over me with a glove. I told him good try, and laughed at him. Side note: Ballparks need to make a rule that children under 15 are the only ones permitted with gloves. Come on man, your 30 something, grow up and be a man bare hand it.

Seriously, poor Orioles fans.

Awesome old-school Nolan Ryan photo

My old soccer coach and friend sent me this awesome framed photo of Nolan Ryan as a housewarming gift.  Thought I’d share.

Megdal on ESPN.com

Howard Megdal on ESPN.com: I should be general manager of the Mets.

Give it a read.

It’s not often us Mets fans get published on ESPN.com

A sad Mets truth on PostSecret [Image]

OK, which one of us sent this in?

Guest Blog: Being a West Coast Mets fan

This Guest Blog was written by Kevin Strauss. You can follow him on Twitter.

Let it be known right off the bat that my roots are in New Jersey. I was born there, but my immediate family relocated to Los Angeles when I was just a baby. Family legend holds that I am named after Kevin McReynolds, whose grand slam in the 7th inning the night before (August 30, 1989) finished off a 3 game sweep of the Dodgers on the road only hours before I was born. The Mets are in my blood.

With that being said, maybe it was destiny that we moved out here to LA. Either way, as far back as I can trace, my family has been full of die-hard Mets fans. Growing up in Los Angeles, a city that bleeds blue when the Dodgers win and makes other people bleed when they lose, is tough for any fan that doesn’t “Think Blue.”

So, you might ask, just how hard is it to follow the Mets every season? Well, let’s start off with physically watching games. For us college students, it’s tough to shell out hundreds of dollars for MLB Extra Innings or MLB.TV. On the west coast, we rarely catch a Mets game, especially since TBS and WGN don’t carry Braves and Cubs games anymore.

Along with the price barrier, we have to deal with time. 7pm would be great to watch a game if that didn’t mean 4pm for me. Working until 5 and in LA traffic until 6:30 leaves little time to open up Gametracker to catch the end when I get home. Weekend games start at 10am out here, and the local FOX station only carries baseball at 1pm. Needless to say, it’s rough.

Basically, I’ve taken to buying the MLB At-Bat app for my iPod and watch the condensed game the next morning for most of the year. Your sympathy is greatly appreciated.

It is a family vacation when the Mets make a west coast trip, and we save up time and money to sit in Dodger Stadium for 3 straight nights (gross). This June, I made my first trip down to Petco Park (beautiful) to see Johan throw a gem only to have K-Rod blow the save and Adrian Gonzalez hit a walk-off grand slam. What else is new?

Through it all, the Mets have taught me about life. Sometimes the Benny Agbayani’s and Timo Perez’s can succeed (I should point out that the 2000 Mets are the ONLY reason I have “Who Let the Dogs Out” on my iPod). Guys like Mike Piazza can lift an entire country up with his bat after tragedy strikes. Guys like Endy Chavez can climb fences to make us believe and the Aaron Heilman’s can tear us down from the moment they take the mound.

In the end, it is the moments of agony, hope and excitement that bring us together as Mets fans and give us the emotional range and strength we need to survive in the “real world.” So, for that reason alone I will do whatever it takes to be there for the Mets, despite the difficulties I face being here in California. I wouldn’t trade this rollercoaster ride for anything…except maybe a bat and an arm at the trading deadline.

Thanks, Kevin!

Manuel’s Musing

“By the time we cross over the Mississippi (River) and whatever, hopefully, we'll leave all these bats here, everything that we brought with us. We'll leave them right here. We'll get home and get our stuff together.”

-Jerry Manuel

Yes, please

I will never, ever make fun of you again, Dayton Moore.

Guest Blog: My Citi Field experience

This guest blog was written by Jeremy Schilling, who has his own sports, Bruce Springsteen, Tiger Woods (and other things) blog here.  Enjoy.

My dad and I went to Citi Field way back on May 9 when they faced the San Francisco Giants. It was cold. And it was windy. For anyone living in this area you may remember that May featured a bunch of those chilly, windy days. It was my first time in Citi Field, and I was anxious to see what it looked like after hearing rave reviews.

(Oh, wait, I need to add a disclaimer here. I'm a big Tiger Woods fan...this was the Sunday of The Players Championship, and while waiting for the game to start, I got word that Tiger had withdrew due to a neck injury. Whether that impacted my view of Citi Field is up for debate.)

(Oh, and the other disclaimer. Oliver Perez was on the mound. And if you hadn't already heard, he's HORRIBLE. So what should have been a nice quick baseball game went on for about 4 hours. Whether that impacted my view of Citi Field is also up for debate.)

Anyways, the stadium is awesome. The big Jackie Robinson Rotunda is very nice looking, the wide concourses were great, and the food offerings for lunch were plentiful and very nice. Also, the enhanced, detail-driven scoreboards fit nicely in the stadium and with the modern day, young fan.

What I didn't like was the lack of warm desert options (where are the nice, warm Mrs. Field's cookies on a cold day...or DONUTS from Dunkin' Donuts! I hate when stadiums just put DD coffee but not donuts in there.) Also, the lines at the Shake Shack were very long, and the stadium wasn't even close to being sold out!

I guess the bottom line is that I need to return to Citi Field on a warm day, with a sold out crowd to get a true sense of the atmosphere and when Oliver Perez doesn't pitch....but so far, so good from my perspective.

Thanks, JSchil.

If you would like to submit your own guest blog, e-mail me at TheRopolitans@gmail.com.

Snow drifting away

The Mets designated Fernando Nieve (Spanish for “snow”) for assignment, likely making room for Manny Acosta who was flown out to LA yesterday.

Nieve has a nice start on the season but started to fall apart as Jerry Manuel turned to him again and again and again in nearly every game.  The wear and tear showed, as Nieve’s season started to disintegrate as he his arm failed to keep up with the workload.

Manuel should foot the bill for a decent vacation in the tropics for Nieve if no team is willing to take a chance on him.

If not Jerry…?

A lot of people are calling for Jerry Manuel’s head – with good reason.  I’d have no issue seeing Manuel our as manager.

But here’s my issue: Who would take over?

I really have no idea.  Lots of people are in favor of Wally Backman or Bobby Valentine.  But there are also many who wouldn’t like that move at all.

So, please, I’d love to hear your suggestions and reasoning.  If Manuel gets canned, who takes over?

Mets to ink Cordero

“Mets reach terms with reliever Chad Cordero on minor-league contract. Deal will be completed today.”

-Ken Rosenthal tweets

Remember when he was good and Mets fans were clamoring for him to no avail? Now he’s not very good (out of baseball) and the Mets sign him.

Genius!

Alex Cora is a leader!

$2 million for calling out your teammates.

Summing it up [Video]

Is adding a bat an issue?

The last two games in San Francisco have seen the Mets facing one of the better rotations in the NL.  But the Mets pitching hasn’t been far from stellar.  Surrendering only three runs over the last two games should be enough to see the Mets win one or both games.  Unfortunately, they haven’t been able to score any runs, and have been shutout in both games.

So is adding a bat an issue?  If so, where?

Ike Davis sure isn’t hitting.  The young first baseman is ice cold, hitting just .182 in his last 15 games.  Jeff Francoeur should see his time diminish as Carlos Beltran made his return on Thursday night and Angel Pagan will be seeing more time in right field. But they seems to be the least of their worries.

With Luis Castillo on the DL and Jose Reyes nearly there, the Mets are relying on Alex Cora and Ruben Tejada up the middle.  Cora’s OBP is a cool .279 while Tejada just worked his back up to .300.  Sure, they’re middle infielders who are bench players taking on a much larger role, but if the Mets are looking to add some pop, this might be the place to do it.

Outside of that, I think the Mets should be looking to get Josh Thole a lot more playing time.  Rod Barajas gave the team a nice jolt at the beginning of the year, but he too has been chilly at the plate and hasn’t hit a home run since May. Thole and Henry Blanco should be the tandem behind the plate, trying to find a taker for Barajas. That will allow the Mets to bring in another arm in the bullpen, which can’t hurt.

In short, the Mets need to hope Reyes and Castillo can get healthy and bounce back to form. If not, it might be time to explore a trade for a second baseman.

This would probably make me physically ill

Blech.

Manuel’s Musing

“I think I'm going to try to split that time up. But if we face a series where we face four right-handers I'm going to still have to find time for Francoeur and find time to give Beltran a day off.”

-Jerry Manuel

I really can’t wait to see how Manuel works with Bay/Beltran/Pagan/Francoeur in the outfield. It should be fun.

One year ago today, I was on Mets Weekly [Video]

Also, Happy Birthday to me.

Manuel’s Musing

“We're just not clicking offensively right now. We got a good team and we'll be fine.”

-Jerry Manuel

Found!

Guess The Met

The rules are easy: I post a Mets player photo, but only reveal a tiny part of the image.  From there, your goal is to try and guess which player the photo is of.

No prizes, but pride and honor is on the line.

Here is today’s Guess the Met… Good luck!

Answer will come later today. Leave your guesses in the comments.

Answer: JOSH THOLE!

Best game of the season? Best game of the season

Johan, Johan, Johan.

A complete-game shutout. A demand to stay in the game and finish it out in the 9th. His first career home run. Awesome.

Johan was far from dominant, striking out only five and walking three. But the offensive power that is the Reds barely had a sniff of a chance to score. He held the Reds to only three hits, one coming in the first and another coming in the 9th.

He also helped his own cause with his first career home run, clanging one off the right field foul pole in the third inning. He was pumped, saluting the crowd as he walked backed to the dugout.

It was one of the most exciting games of the season, I thought. The offense did just enough to support Johan's gem. I was worried going into the 9th, but I was glad Santana stayed on the mound - and then demanded that he stay in the game to finish it out.

All around, one of the best games of the season. Welcome to the second half.

Manuel’s Musing

“He said he wanted to finish it. I said, 'OK.'
That was that.”

-Jerry Manuel on his best managerial decision this year

Domo Arigato Vote Joey Votto [Video]

He should be in the ASG.

A letter from Zack Hample

Last week, I wrote this about Zack Hample.  He saw, read and responded.  His e-mail is below as I felt it should be shared with you.

Hey. 

Just saw your blog entry about me. Thanks for not being completely negative, but I'd still like to point out a few things you may have missed:

1) My life's work is not catching baseballs. I'm a baseball writer. My third book is being published next year.

2) I give away lots of balls to kids, and I've helped countless others snag balls for themselves. Here's some mail I've received from grateful fans.

3) For the last two seasons, I've been using my baseball collection to raise money for a children's baseball charity. Click here to learn more. Last year alone, I raised over $10,000.

4) Even if I were to catch 1,000 home runs during games, the 1,001st would still be an incredible thrill. Yeah, I've "been there before," but my reaction is one of pure joy and excitement. I don't sell these balls. I just love the sport, and I love being a part of it, if only as a spectator. I also love beating the odds. That, to me, is what it's all about, and it'll never get old.

Hope that gives you a better idea of who I am and why I do this.

Leave your thoughts in the comments...

Happy 4th

By the way, July 2 marked the 4th birthday of this website.  That means I’m entering my fifth year of blogging about the Mets. Wow.

I can’t thank you, the readers, enough for visiting, commenting and e-mailing.  You are all the best.

Why does this exist? [Image]

Postseason Ticket Reservations on MLB.com

Don't worry, they exist for every team.  Even the Orioles.

Manuel’s Musing

“If we'd have put any runs on the board, it wouldn't have mattered if he'd have pitched two more innings.”

-Jerry Manuel

The surprise

This morning, I felt like I was seven again.

For some reason last night (likely due to my beer-cap table), I was in no mood to watch baseball. I caught about two innings of action before retiring to an early slumber, accompanied by my trusty laptop and the complete catalog of The IT Crowd.

So this morning, when I woke up, I had no idea what the score was of the Mets game.  It was weird.  In this age of connectivity - of smartphones, netbooks and iPads - not knowing the score of the game is so foreign to me.

For the first time in an unknown number of years, with my laptop powered off and Motorola Droid charging, I turned to the ESPN bottom line.  As I munched on my Cheerios, I waited with bated breath for the MLB tab to turn up.  Then, I had to wait for the Mets and Marlins score to roll around.

Finally, the scored turned over and I saw the Mets secured a 6-5 victory, with the win going to Mr. Elmer Dessens.  Confused, it wasn't until I got into work this morning that I was able to look up the game recap and the box score for last night's affair.

So, hooray for not getting swept.  Now get the heck out of Puerto Rico.

Zack Hample: Idol or idiot?

If you don’t know who Zack Hample is, read here, here and here.

Hample caught Mike Stanton’s home run in the 8th inning of last night’s Mets/Marlins game.  He proceeded to celebrate like he’s never caught a home run ball before.

Here’s why I like him: Catching a home run ball is tough.  I’ve been to many games and never come close.  I’ve been lucky enough to have someone give me a batting practice ball from Shea Stadium as a few players tossed her one each.  But to collect over 4,000 balls is beyond luck.  It’s beyond chance.  It’s downright crazy.

I know Hample plans and begs and does everything under his power to acquire these balls, but it’s still not something to be laughed at.  It’s quite an “accomplishment” and a testament to a die-hard fan who really knows what he want to do with his life(?).

Why I don’t: Really? This is your life’s work? Collecting over 4,000 baseballs from stadiums and then celebrating like it’s your first? Come on, kid. Act like you’ve been there before.

If I managed to catch one, or anyone else for that matter, they would be allowed to dance and sing and high five everyone around them with glee.  You, you should just go sit back down and notch another stadium off your list in your notebook.

But what really irks me is that over the years you’ve been doing this, you’ve taken away that joy of catching a home run ball or being tossed a BP ball by a player from 4,000 other kids and fans. You’ve felt the joy thousands of times over that some other people never will, because of your strange and obsessive quest to obtain those little spherical objects.

Frankly, I say give it up. Let the rest of us have your fun. You’ve made your mark on baseball and society. It’s our turn now.

Manuel’s Musing

“He wanted to get out there and get a good lead, and steal a base right away. He got kind of caught up in the emotion just a little bit.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jose Reyes

Oh, by the way

Boo-yah.

Bobby V, ESPN employee

This masked man is not the Marlins next manager.

Manuel’s Musing

“We have probably taken that too far, the pitch count. We have trained the mind to think that they can only throw a certain amount of pitches. If you train to finish the game regardless of what it took, then I think the pitch count would be different. We've trained people to be somewhat limited because injury is a possibility.”

-Jerry Manuel on pitch counts

Which players would you be willing to give up for Cliff Lee?

I asked Twitter that very question.  Not necessarily which package will get it done, but who would you consider throwing in to acquire Lee. Here are some responses…

glenngiangrande: I say nobody is off limits. Mejia, F-Mart, whomever. Show the fan base something and get a deal for an ace done!

ZekeO73: Murph, Thole, Feliciano, Carter. Not an impressive list but, I don't think the Ms should be bailed out for a bad season

Ben_Yoel: Jenrry Mejia, F-Mart, Brad Holt, Josh Thole, Robert Carson, Dillon Gee just to name a few.

Jim1975: package Thole or Feliciano and a pitcher or just Beltran definitely keep Pagan

trmbonemulligan: Flores and many more. No Pagan and MAYBE Mejia

patrickboegel: Mejia, Martinez

dances_w_vowels: as a rental, some package of F-Mart and a young "second-tier" pitching prospect on the Eddie Kunz level. Not Mejia.

How about you?  Which players would you be willing to part with to land Lee this year?

Bobby V to the Fish

Many are reporting that Bobby Valentine has been hired as the new manager of the Florida Marlins.

Not really any thoughts on this.  Glad he's back in baseball, not glad he's in the NL East.

So I'll leave you with this...

Leave your thoughts in the comments.

Manuel’s Musing

“My honest feeling is that he will make a push to be in Puerto Rico. That's home. He might end up there. I don't know.”

-Jerry Manuel on Carlos Beltran returning for the series in Puerto Rico

The magic of R.A. Dickey

What a pleasant surprise he has been.

R.A. Dickey is another of Omar Minaya's scrap heap pickups that has surpassed expectations and performed admirably for the team.  If he could build a team entirely off of low-risk players a year removed from mediocrity, I think he would.  The team would probably be horrible, though.

His one pickup a year seems to do well, though.

Honestly, raise your hand if you thought Dickey would a) make a start for the Mets this season and b) actually do well.

None of you?  That's what I thought.

But I can't complain.  He's been awesome so far and there's no sign of him stopping yet.

Just waiting for the two-year, $10 million contract for Dickey at year's end.

Offense go boom

If you haven't figured it out by now, the blog is lacking a bit.  I started my first real job - eeeep! - last week and I have a fairly long commute.  The job is awesome, but I'm not used to working all day long and driving three hours every day, so I usually come home pretty exhausted.

Last night, I plopped myself in front of the television in the third inning (after listening to the first two in the car) and promptly fell asleep.  I woke up about twenty minutes before the rain delay finished up and watched the Mets pound the Tigers pitching for eight runs in one inning.

Then, I fell asleep again.

I woke up to watch Jon Niese struggle for about two minutes before my eyes fell closed once more.

Later, I woke to see the Mets push a few more across before I was out for the night.  Magically, I woke up right as the game ended and Gary Cohen sent the viewers to the post game.

So my night was filled with naps spotted by the Mets scoring runs.  Not too shabby.

Manuel’s Musing

“He was my Yale. And Felipe Alou was my Harvard.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jim Leyland and coaches he looked up to