Where I explain my absences from posting

Wondering why I haven’t been posting as much as usual lately, here’s why…

I work at Main Street Connect, a startup company based out of Norwalk, Conn. We provide quality community (hyperlocal, if you’re a fan of that term) news websites. We’re young - just over a year-old in terms of the company, but some sites have only been around for a few months - and we’re already making a strong foothold for ourselves in our ten towns in Connecticut.

But we’re expanding. Right now, we’re preparing to move into new counties, new states, new regions. It’s exciting stuff for me, for the rest of the communications team, for the company.

If you want to know more about us, visit our corporate website here. (And if you’re a Wikipedia wonk, please take a moment to update our Wiki page - some of the stuff is a bit outdated (Like that we used to be in a franchising-model).)

You may have heard of our main competitor, Patch. An AOL-owned company, they’ve been setting up sites around the nation. They have us beat in terms of number of sites, but we think out editorial product, business model and connection to the community is supreme.

Take a look at the people on our management team - including a 30-year Newsweek contributor, former managing editor of Forbes.com, former senior VP at SmartReply, and many, many other brilliant and talented people. Oh, and stop by our Board of Directors page while you’re at it. You might recognize a name or two.

In short, stay tuned. I’m writing this so that you smart people out there might put us on your radar, because we’ll be making some big moves in the next few months.

If you need to reach me at any time, email my personal account here or my work account here. I’d love to hear from you for suggestions, advice or encouragement. If you think we can work together, let me know. Think you have a brilliant addition to our model, shoot me an email.

Oh, and follow me on Twitter here.

Come along for the ride. It should be fun. (I’ve always wanted to write that, and mean it)

/end shameless plug.

Back to your regularly scheduled Mets programming.

Is MSM unhappy with Sandy Alderson?

Does anyone else read a bit of distaste in this tweet? Like Rubin (and likely the rest of mainstream media) is a but upset with Sandy Alderson’s transparency through email (and even social media and webcasts)?

The Mets online push to connect isn’t perfect, but it’s giving the team the ability to leapfrog normal media, and speak without a filter to with fans – and that is probably not sitting very well with MSM.

It’s both the best and worst of social media. The team can speak directly to fans without being checked by MSM’s research, fact-checking and eventually, opinions and columns.

What do you think about the Mets
social media push and how they circumvent MSM?

Mets ink Capuano, Bucholz; DFA Igarashi

SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt is reporting that the Mets have inked Chris Capuano and Taylor (not Tyler) Bucholz to one-year deals, respectively.

They’ve also designated Ryota Igarashi for assignment.

Capuano is about all that’s left in this free agent market, and will be serviceable at best. He’s another arm to bridge the gap until 2012. Bucholz tossed all of 12 innings last year for Colorado and Toronto.

I’ll miss Iggy, if only because my fantasy baseball team name of Ryota’s Toyotas.

Thoughts?

Mets fans don’t seem pleased with Dan Warthen

I think Mets.com hit a sore subject.

Click here for full size fun.

#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?