Keith is coming back to SNY

As I wrote on Saturday, Keith Hernandez is returning to SNY, likely on a three-year deal.

Marty Noble has a near carbon-copy of what I wrote a few days back.

Is Ben Sheets a possibility?

Ben Sheets, who missed all of 2009 with an arm injury and subsequent surgery, could be an intriguing possibility for any team willing to take a chance on the oft-injured pitcher.  The Mets may be one of those teams.

In 2008, Sheets appeared in 31 games, pitching 198 1-3 innings.  He posted a 3.91 ERA and a 1.150 WHIP.  He notched a 7.2 SO/9.

Last night I pondered if the Mets should take a chance on Sheets, on Twitter.  Here are some responses I got…

Mets_Fever said: Johan and Big Ben would be a great 1-2 punch

kerelcoop said: considering all the injuries we just had, I can't take a chance on Sheets. I wouldn't feel comfortable.

samtpage said: Sheets was the best thing to come out of that report. If he gets injured, no biggie. Lackey injured (as usual), 70mil wasted

Frank_Guate said: SHEETS IS AMAZING when he’s in the game... but is a high risk... now the new contract can be full of incentives...

mattsito said: but what they need is solid and dependable, not another roll of the dice. Ollie, Pelf, & Maine are risks of a different sort

What is your take on the Mets possibly adding Sheets for next season?

Rogers picks Chapman to land with the Mets

I’ve been taking a hard route against dreaming about Aroldis Chapman coming to the Mets.  For one, I think he’ll cost more than he’s worth.  And two, I don’t think he’s major-league ready.

But Phil Rogers in the Boston Herald made some early off-season predictions and feels differently.  Here’s Chapman’s blurb…

Aroldis Chapman, Mets: The Cuban flamethrower is in demand, but teams are waiting for agent Edwin Leonel Mejia to drop his asking price. The Mets love Chapman and need to make a splash. He could duel Stephen Strasburg for Rookie of the Year honors.

This was penned a few days ago, as Chapman has since fired his agent Mejia and moved to another agency.

Yes, the Mets need to make a splash, or at least Omar Minaya thinks so.  I hate the term as I’d rather see the team put a winning ballclub out there over one that will sell jerseys.

And if Rogers is talking about Rookie of the Year in 2011, he might have a point.  I don’t think either will have what it takes to break into the majors next season, and if they do, they won’t last a whole year.

But still, it’s interesting to see people linking the Mets and Chapman.

Thoughts?

Mets making more changes to Citi Field

A quick rundown:

• Areas in the ballpark will be renamed for Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver and Casey Stengel.
• The bridge will be named “Shea Bridge.”
• A Mets Hall of Fame will be installed adjacent to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda.
• A committee will be formed to choose future players for the HoF.
• More team colors and logos will be added around the stadium.

A year too late.  But better late than never.

Here’s the full press release from the Mets…

FLUSHING, N.Y. -- The New York Mets today announced plans to expand the presence of club history at Citi Field next season in a variety of ways including renaming areas of the ballpark after Casey Stengel, Gil Hodges, Tom Seaver and William A. Shea.

The Mets also have re-formed the Mets Hall of Fame Committee, and will increase the number of visuals commemorating great players and moments both inside and outside the ballpark. The Mets previously announced a 2010 opening of the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum at Citi Field.

RENAMING OF AREAS IN BALLPARK The Mets will rename and visually theme Citi Field's VIP entrances and outfield bridge after individuals who made an indelible mark on the club. First Base VIP will be named after Hodges to honor the manager who led the Mets to their first World Championship in 1969. Third Base VIP will honor Seaver, the Hall of Fame pitcher and Mets leader in wins, earned run average and strikeouts. Left Field VIP will be named after Stengel, the first manager in Mets history. The outfield bridge will be dedicated as Shea Bridge, honoring the legacy of the man who was the driving force to bring National League baseball back to New York after the departure of the Dodgers and Giants.

METS HALL OF FAME & MUSEUM & HALL OF FAME COMMITTEE The centerpiece for Mets memorabilia will be the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum, located adjacent to the Jackie Robinson Rotunda and accessible from both inside and outside the ballpark. A re-formed Mets Hall of Fame Committee will evaluate potential inductees, and is comprised of a combination of media members with a long-standing connection to the club and Mets front office staff.

Media members on the committee are: Marty Noble, the Mets.com beat writer who is entering his fifth decade covering the team; Gary Cohen, the New York native and voice of the Mets on SNY who has been a Mets broadcaster for 21 years; and Howie Rose, a Queens native and radio voice of the Mets on WFAN who has covered the team for 21 years on radio and television.

The Mets committee members are: Dave Howard, executive vice president, business operations who has been with the organization for 18 years; Jay Horwitz, vice president, media relations who just completed his 30th season with the team; Tina Mannix, senior director, marketing who has been with the Mets for nine years; and former Mets pitcher Al Jackson, a pitching consultant who is entering his sixth decade with the Mets. Chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon serves as ex-officio.

"The re-formation of the Mets Hall of Fame Committee is central to our concerted efforts to better connect our present and future to our past," said Wilpon. "It reinforces the organization's and our fans' shared desire to recognize our greatest players. With our 2010 opening of the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum at Citi Field, now was the time to bring this group together."

Candidates will be evaluated on their impact on the field while in a Mets uniform, how they represented and affected the organization and their place in Mets history.

The Mets Hall of Fame was established in 1981 with an inaugural class of Joan Payson, the first Mets owner, and Casey Stengel, the first Mets manager. The Mets Hall of Fame has 21 members including former players, managers, front-office executives and broadcasters. Tommie Agee was the last person inducted in 2002.

The following is the list of Hall of Fame members in order of the year they were inducted:

Joan Payson (1981); Casey Stengel (1981); Gil Hodges (1982); George M. Weiss (1982); William A. Shea (1983); Johnny Murphy (1983); Ralph Kiner (1984); Bob Murphy (1984); Lindsey Nelson (1984); Bud Harrelson (1986); Rusty Staub (1986); Tom Seaver (1988); Jerry Koosman (1989); Ed Kranepool (1990); Cleon Jones (1991); Jerry Grote (1992); Tug McGraw (1993); Mookie Wilson (1996); Keith Hernandez (1997); Gary Carter (2001); and Tommie Agee (2002).

The Mets will announce further details about the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum in the coming weeks.

IMAGERY & TEAM COLORS Next season, fans will be greeted by Mets colors as they approach Citi Field with full-color banners of Mets players on Mets Plaza in front of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda. Mets logos will be added on entry points to the parking areas and on the light poles in the parking lots. The addition of team colors will continue inside the ballpark with staircases painted with blue and orange and more Mets logos throughout the ballpark. Flowers in the gardens at Mets Plaza in front of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda will also be blue and orange.

"These additions amplify our commitment to better recognize our team's heritage and honor the players and memories our fans cherish," said Howard. "Ownership is acting upon our fans' desire to see more Mets around the ballpark. We hear our fans loud and clear and these additions continue the process that started last season."

Sources: Keith Hernandez returning to SNY

Keith Hernandez will return to the SNY booth next season.

According to sources who wished to remain anonymous, one very high up in the SNY brass, Hernandez and SNY agreed on a new three-year contract very recently and it should be announced in the coming weeks.

Hernandez’s previous deal ended at the end of the 2009 season, and even had him on air saying, “I've enjoyed the four years and, hopefully, I'm in the middle of negotiating my new contract, hopefully, I'll be back (next season).”

Hernandez will reunite with play-by-play man Gary Cohen and his fellow analyst Ron Darling in calling games for SNY.

I’m sure Mets fans will be thrilled to have Hernandez back in the booth next year and beyond. He’s an absolute character with great insight into the mind of a player. And you just never know what he’s going to say next.

Glad you’ll be back, Keith!

More ‘69 World Series videos

Two more videos from the 1969 World Series.  First up, the shoe polish play…

And the final out and subsequent celebration…

Great comment on the first one: “The 1969 Mets – God’s most recent miracle!”

Dueling reports: Castillo three-way (not) being discussed

I’m sure you’ve all read this: Cubs explore Bradley deal that would net Castillo.

Well, now read this: Rangers won't do three-way Bradley deal.

Welcome to Hot Stove Season, where I won’t believe anything until the papers are signed.

I like talking about them on Twitter as hypotheticals and possibilities, but I’m not going to link to every rumor out there.

If you want rumor-mongering, you know what sites to visit.  If you want the news and analysis, come here and the other quality sites which I frequently link to.

How Mets fans view Luis Castillo [Image]

Link: Part V of blogger roundtable

Head over to NJ.com to check out the fifth and final portion of the blogger roundtable.

Today we answered, “If the Mets do not sign John Lackey, which other free-agent pitcher do you think would be the best fit for them?”

My answer is kind of a mess, but you’ll get the point.

Thanks to Brian Costa for setting this up.

Showdown: Santos’ OBP vs. Molina’s OBP [Graph]

The Mets need a catcher.  Bengie Molina is available.  The Mets will likely be interested.

Say the Mets sign Molina and pair him with Omir Santos as the Mets catchers in 2010, can you imagine the battle to keep their combined OBP above .600?

Here is a chart with Santos’ and Molina’s OBP for every year from 2001 on, Santos’ first year in pro ball.  All numbers for Santos are minor league stats except for 2009.

Please, no.  Don’t let it happen.  I don’t want to see a two-man battle for futility.