Aaron Heilman is a stand up guy

For all the Aaron Heilman took while pitching for the Mets, he still had the kindness to do something like this.

From Steve Popper, relaying info from the BBWAA awards dinner:

On Page 39 among a few ads for David Wright winning the Joan Payson Award for charity work, Aaron took out an ad that read:

An Appreciation

Playing at Shea
before you folks
was an experience
I always will savor

Thank you for support

-- Aaron Heilman

Congratulations to all award winners this evening

Almost makes you feel bad for booing him every single day.

Also, while we're on the topic of Heilman, he's on the move again. He's the newest member of the Chicago Cubs.

Want to work for the Mets?

Well, have I got the job for you!

Loading Dock Supervisor - New York Mets (Flushing, NY)

SUMMARY:

The Loading Dock Supervisor is the primary individual responsible for all incoming and outgoing deliveries. This person will be the liaison to all departments with regards to incoming deliveries. They will oversee the mail operation as well. They will be responsible for all operations at the loading dock including, dispersing of material once it is offloaded, contacting the recipient, ensuring proper storing and/or breakdown of such items.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Oversee incoming and outgoing packages.
  
• Operation of mail operated X-ray machine.
  
• Track deliveries and maintain log of both incoming and outgoing deliveries.
  
• Compliance with MLB guidelines in regards to logging of all Clubhouse packages.
  
• Mailroom coverage when needed.

You also have to be able to lift up to 25 lbs. The Mets don't hire weaklings.

Sorry, you won't be assistant to the GM. Or Mr. Met.

If you're interested, apply here.

Zeno's Paradox: Signing Oliver Perez

If you're unfamiliar with Zeno's Paradoxes, one of them states that, "Before a moving object can travel a certain distance, it must travel half that distance. Before it can travel half the distance it must travel 1/4 the distance, etc. This sequence goes on forever."

That's how it seems the Mets are progressing with Oliver Perez.

Every time I hear a rumor, the Mets are "getting closer" or are "a bit closer" or "almost there."

With the market thinning, now with Jon Garland and Andy Pettitte off the market, it leaves really only Perez and Ben Sheets as viable options for the Mets.

They need a No. 2 or 3 starter, and though neither are a perfect fit, the Mets cannot enter the season and expect their current rotation to compete.

Sick of Manny

Look, Manny is a great player. He's a schlub in the clubhouse. He wants a lot of money, over a long period of time.

He wants this...He wants that...He'd be a good fit... I'm sick of it. I've had it up to here with all the Manny Ramirez and Mets rumors.

Mets Tailgate said it best:

If I read one more post by a Mets blogger about Manny Ramirez I'm going to scream.

Bingo. Enough speculation, enough projection. If they sign him, great. If not, well...too bad.

The team needs pitching more than it needs another left fielder. I give up.

The economy is struggling -- except if you're a Mets fan

It seems baseball will always be an "escape."

The Mets have announced they have already sold around 25,000 seats per game, for the entire season of home games, according to the Associated Press. The team has also sold all 49 luxury boxes, save for two they save for single game purchases.

If anyone has a box, want to invite me?

Link: Janish, part two

Here is the second part of the interview with Joe Janish of Mets Today, posted by Mike Steffanos of Mike's Mets

Mets add two pitchers

The Mets have announced the signings of two pitchers that will be joining them in spring training. No, they're names are not Sheets or Perez.

Righty Kyle Snyder and lefty Jon Switzer were brought on board, likely to serve as bullpen fodder at triple-A. Both ex-Red Sox, they've seen significant time in the minor leagues last season, and will look for a hot spring to possibly land them on a major league roster.

If not, I'm sure we'll see one, or both, at some time due to injuries.

Anthony DiComo also lists all the non-roster invites for spring training.

They are:
Nelson Figueroa, Michael Antonini, Dillon Gee and Tobi Stoner, left-handed pitchers Adam Bostick, Casey Fossum and Tom Martin, catchers Rene Rivera, Omir Santos and Josh Thole, infielders Andy Green, Michel Abreu and Jose Coronado, and outfielder Fernando Martinez.

18 days! 18 days!

Report: Andy Pettitte soon to be off the market, returning to Yankees [Updated]

Update: Deal is done.

Via Peter Abraham:

It’s a $5.5 million deal that could balloon to as much as $12 million based on innings pitched and roster time.

Andy Pettitte looks like he will remain a Yankee, according to Ken Davidoff and Arthur Staple over at Newsday.

The deal is supposedly worth $6 million for a base salary, with incentives that could earn Pettitte up to $12 million.

The market is slimming, Omar Minaya. Hop to it.

Links: The MexHex, Joe Janish interview

Marty Noble and Keith Hernandez team up to attempt to debunk the "17" curse. Interesting, to say the least. Click here to read the article.

Mike Steffanos over at Mike's Mets conducts an in-depth interview of Joe Janish from Mets Today. A great read. Click here to read the article.

Johan's no-no card and a case of mistaken identity or: Why you need to proofread

Occasionally, I'll post something here and I won't catch a spelling error or calling Rob Mackowiak "Rod." Hey, it happens and people make mistakes. Thankfully I have a few close friends and die-hard readers who look out for me and let me know if I slipped up.

I am also one of the copy editors for my school newspaper. Scanning over every article with a fine toothed comb is something I find both extremely necessary and somewhat enjoyable.

But for these two flubs, it looks like everyone that had a hand in it made one giant "Uh-oh!"

First up, the case of mistaken identity. This was scanned and sent in by Corey Mansfield. He said he was scanning a fantasy baseball magazine ("Fanball - Fantasy Baseball, Annual Guide 2009" to be exact) and came across this box for Carlos Beltran.

But...that's not a photo of Beltran...What I find really hilarious though, is that Fernando Tatis (the player pictured, if you couldn't tell) has his number very clearly visible. Whoops!

Next up is something sent in by Ryan Punzalan of Retire31.com.

This one is a must-have for the avid baseball card collector. It just sold for $305 on eBay, so hopefully another one pops up.

As if there wasn't a bigger jinx ever created, I present you this -- the Topps Johan Santana No-Hitter card...I wonder what went through the Topps people's heads when they found out there was no no-no.

"What do you mean he didn't throw a no-hitter?! Really? Are you sure? 100 percent? Awww...shucks..."

A life lesson learned: If you're going to make something, make sure you check it over a few times before you hit "send to printer."

UPDATE: Here's a story about the "fake" cards (like Santana's) that Topps PURPOSELY printed up. Not very funny, guys.

Thanks, Ryan and Corey! And Buzz!