Wallace Matthews leaving Newsday for ESPN New York

April Fools Free Post

Everyone’s least favorite curmudgeon of a columnist will be leaving his post at Newsday to join ESPN New York and cover the New York Yankees.

That’s right, Wallace Matthews will be Adam Rubin’s crosstown reporter buddy, covering the team in the Bronx.

All of his columns are off of Newsday’s site.

Matthews can be found on his new ESPN Twitter: @WallaceMatthews

Via ESPN…

Wally Matthews (Yankees) – Matthews has covered New York sports since 1983 as a reporter, columnist, radio host and TV commentator.  He joins ESPNNewYork.com to cover the Yankees, which he's done since the days of Stump Merrill, having worked for Newsday, the New York Post, the New York Sun and ESPN Radio 1050 AM.

Check out the press release here, if you don’t believe me.

Thank you, ESPN New York.  Thank you.

K-Rod heads home for emergency

April Fools Free Post

Update: Andy Martino reports that K-Rod flew home after a family member was involved in a serious car accident.

Marty Noble is reporting that Francisco Rodriguez has left the team and returned to Venezuela for an “emergency-related” reason.

Omar Minaya believes K-Rod will be back for Monday’s game.

I’ll believe it when I see it.

Mets adding to Citi Field

From the Mets… Fun stuff in BOLD…

The Shea Stadium Home Run Apple has been relocated to Mets Plaza in front of the Jackie Robinson Rotunda, offering fans a central meeting point. The popular piece of Mets history will also be available anytime before or after games for photo opportunities.

Topps baseball cards showing the Mets lineup of the day's game will sit atop the escalators and stairs in the Rotunda. Oversized vintage baseball cards of Cleon Jones, Dave Kingman and Robin Ventura will be among those featured on Topps displays on the first and third base sides of the Field Level.

Following a successful inaugural season, Union Square Hospitality Group's Blue Smoke and Box Frites concepts will open additional locations in the Promenade Food Court along with a second Big Apple Brews, featuring 30 Anheuser-Busch products.

The 1969 and 1986 World Champion Mets will be celebrated at the Champions Club, formerly known as the Ebbets Club, on the Field Level behind home plate. Photographs from those memorable seasons will decorate the space, with the first base side honoring the 1986 team and the third base side saluting the 1969 club.

"These changes along with the opening of the Mets Hall of Fame & Museum, reflect our ongoing desire to enhance the fan experience and showcase Mets history," said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, Business Operations, New York Mets. "Our fans told us what they wanted to see, and we will continue to respond to their feedback as we further refine the ballpark."

The previously announced renaming of Citi Field's VIP entrances will be completed for Opening Day. Hodges VIP, on the first base side of the ballpark, is marked both inside and outside with imagery of the legendary Mets manager Gil Hodges. Seaver VIP, on the third base side, features photos of Mets Hall-of-Fame pitcher Tom Seaver. Stengel VIP, at the left field entrance, displays imagery of the first manager in team history, Casey Stengel.

Banners of Mets players from all eras including Ed Kranepool and Edgardo Alfonzo have been added to Mets Plaza and in the parking lots. Inside the ballpark, the centerfield scoreboard "Lets Go Mets" sign facing the field and the "Home of the Mets" sign on the opposite side both now use the Mets script logo.

The outfield bridge on the Field Level will be dedicated Shea Bridge during a pre-game ceremony on Opening Day. Naming the bridge after William A. Shea honors the man who brought National League baseball back to New York after the Dodgers and Giants left for California in 1957 leading to the creation of the Mets.

A limited number of tickets to Opening Day, Monday, April 5 against the Florida Marlins at 1:10 p.m., are available through the purchase of Season Tickets and Plans by phone at (718) 507-TIXX and at Mets.com or LosMets.com.

All good stuff.

Manuel’s Musing

“Obviously, you'd like to see better going into the season.”

-Jerry Manuel on Mets pitching

Adam Rubin: Reyes to Start Season on DL

Hi, Jeremy Schilling from http://jschil.wordpress.com here:

ESPNNewyork.com's Adam Rubin is reporting that Mets sources have told him that Shortstop Jose Reyes will start the season on the disabled list. While he's been rehabbing furiously in camp since being cleared to do baseball activites, Rubin reports the Mets' brass wants to take it slow.

Reyes is eligible to come off the DL on April 11 against Washington. That's the 6th game of the regular season.

Rubin: Murphy will start season on DL

Adam Rubin is reporting that Daniel Murphy will start the season on the disabled list.  He is expected to miss two to three weeks.

Update: Brian Costa says the injury could sideline him up to six weeks.

Update 2: It’s a Grade 1 sprain of his right MCL.

Mike Jacobs will likely start at first base while Murphy is out.  Fernando Tatis and maybe even Chris Carter might see time.

Rubin: Mets HoF to open Monday

All the more reason I will not be going to Opening Day. 

It’ll be a madhouse.

Murphy in question for OD, Misch to Buffalo

Daniel Murphy was just spotted leaving the Mets facility in street clothes and visibly limping.  Rich Coutinho “seriously doubts” he will play Opening Day.

Also, Pat Misch has cleared waivers and will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

Three tidbits to look forward to [Quotes]

Quick and dirty quotes from three different articles.

Sources: Santana to start Opening Day by Adam Rubin

New York Mets ace Johan Santana will oppose Florida right-hander Josh Johnson on Opening Day, but manager Jerry Manuel has tweaked the rest of his rotation after a string of underperformances, team sources said.

I wasn’t worried that Santana would miss OD, but I guess this is reassuring for those with tickets.

Top 10 for '10: What I'm most looking forward to this season by Tom Verducci

10. The surprise team

Fourteen teams had losing records last year. One of them will be in the playoffs this year. How do I know this? Of the 120 playoff teams in the wild card era, 30 of them had a losing record in the previous season. That's 25 percent of your playoff teams, or an average of one turnaround team in each league each year. There has been at least one turnaround team in the playoffs every year but one in the 15 wild card seasons.

Verducci tabs the Mets as one of the teams to keep an eye on for this spot.

NL East Preview: A Steady Reign by Albert Chen

Prospects like 23-year-old first baseman Ike Davis and 22-year-old center fielder Fernando Martinez brightened an otherwise gloomy Mets camp as they sliced up opposing pitchers and gave hope to an injury-cursed team.

Chen also picks the Mets to finish 4th with a 79-83 record.

Yay?

Lennon on Green in Buffalo

David Lennon is doing a live chat right now (you can use your one free page view to join in) and I asked this question:

How many dinners will Sean Green be buying in Buffalo? He'll be making nearly $1 mil and playing in Triple-A. How long until he comes back up / is traded?

Here’s Lennon’s response:

For the Bisons sake, hopefully there is an Outback or Carrabas in Buffalo. Seeing the state of the Mets pen, they may call up Green sooner rather than later. I don't see him being traded.

Join Read the chat here.