A happy goodbye

When I started this blog in 2006, I had no idea the sort of effect it would end up having on my life. I did it on a whim - as something to help me pass the summer of my transition between high school and college.

Nearly seven years later, it's time to say goodbye.

But it's all good news from here on out. The reason TheRopolitans.com is going on indefinite hiatus is because...

In a few days, I'll be going to work for SNY.

To say I've landed my dream job is an understatement. When I met my now wife-to-be, she asked me what my dream job would be. Without skipping a beat, I said, "Work for SNY." And four years later, my dreams will become reality (both by working for SNY and marrying her).

Over 4,000 posts later (with thousands lost to the annals of the Internet), I couldn't thank you all who supported me through the years without needing a novel to spell it out. For those that have read the site since the beginning (a.k.a. my parents), those that followed me on Twitter way back in '09, to the hundreds that have commented, emailed or contacted me in some way, I must say: Thanks. Without any of you, I wouldn't be where I am today, or will be in a few weeks.

I couldn't be more excited to jump in to the fun at SNY to help make it the best place for fans to read up on their favorite New York sports teams, best place to work and best place for me to make my career.

So long, TheRopolitans.com. It's been a fun and wild ride. You've help me find my way to journalism, to friends, to jobs. But now it's time for you to rest, while I go on to bigger and better things.

Johan Santana's first scouting report

From my friend Matt Stucko (Go Bobcats!) on Twitter is a photo of Johan Santana's first professional scouting report:

. @mets @johansantana 1st official scouting report when he was 16yo by @astros scout.. Santana is 2x Cy Young winner twitter.com/MLB_Prospects/…

— Matthew Stucko (@MLB_Prospects) February 18, 2013

click to enlarge

Mike Piazza on MLBN

In case you missed Mike Piazza on MLB Network last night discussing his new book, here are the clips from the show:

Bourn signs in Cleveland; How was the Mets offseason?

Free-agent outfielder Michael Bourn, who the Mets had been persuing - dependent on the ruling on the status of their draft pick (which was in jeopardy of being lost if the team signed him) - has signed with the Cleveland Indians.

Reports are that Bourn signed for a similar amount of money that the Mets were offering, but didn't want to wait for the MLB to make a decision on the Mets draft pick.

So, that pretty much closes the book on the Mets 2012-2013 offseason that saw them trade away the reigning Cy Young winner and get back a starting catcher, the top catching prospect in baseball and a live minor league arm. But what do Mets fans think of the moves? Let's find out...