SI’s Heyman On The Mets

Jon Heyman’s Daily Scoop column has tidbits of information from around the major leagues. I’ll give you the Mets related stuff below or you can read the full column here.

  • While Moises Alou may be as close as 10 days away for the Mets, that four-to-six week estimate for Pedro Martinez‘s hamstring appears to have been a very optimistic scenario.
  • Mets outfielder Angel Pagan (.381 so far) has earned more playing time with his superb start. Pagan, a favorite of the front office, could find himself in a four-man outfield rotation once Alou returns. Carlos Beltran would miss less time than the others, but Mets people appear to like the way Cleveland’s four-man rotation works.
  • Manny Acta is treated like returning royalty by some members of the Mets front office when he comes back to Shea as Nationals manager — a little awkward considering he’s managing the competition. Imagine how great they’d think he is if his team didn’t have the worst record in the league at 4-10 (tied with the Tigers).

Reyes Handshakes Are Back Again!

Jose Reyes said in the SNY post game show tonight that Carlos Beltran talked to him about the handshakes that he swore off in spring training. Beltran told him that the team misses the shakes and they want Reyes to be himself.
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I love the handshakes and think it’s great energy for the team. Reyes’ game is all about energy, on the field and in the dugout. I was really disappointed when I read this spring that he wasn’t going to continue the handshakes and switch to an “all business” persona.

The argument against the handshakes is that it provokes other teams that think Reyes is embarrassing them. I don’t buy that major league players are any more motivated by seeing Reyes behavior. Even if they are, Reyes should be true to himself and keep up the shakes!

Forbes: Mets Second Highest Value

Reflexion


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Forbes ranks the New York Mets second, behind the Yankees, in overall value of the club at $824 million.  The team also had an operating profit of $32.9 million last year. We shouldn’t complain about big contracts like Santana’s and Beltran’s when the team is still making money is the moral of the story. Read the full column here.

On Deck: April 15, 2008

Jackie Robinson Day – Washington Nationals (4-9) at New York Mets (5-6)   7:10pm  TV: SNY Radio: WFAN

Odalis Perez (0-2) vs. Mike Pelfrey (1-0)

What to watch: The entire Mets team will be wearing Jackie’s number 42. Mike Pelfrey gets his second start and chance to prove that he belongs on the major league roster. Paul LoDuca and Lastings Milledge make their return to Shea Stadium. Brian Schneider and Ryan Church get to see some old friends on the Nationals.

 

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Washington Nationals Coming To Town

The Nationals come to town tomorrow night for a three game series. The scheduled starters are:

Tues. 4/15- Odalis Perez (0-2) vs. Mike Pelfrey (1-0)

Wed. 4/16-  Matt Chico (0-2) vs. John Maine(0-1)

Thur. 4/17- John Lannan (0-2) vs. Nelson Figueroa (1-0)

The story of this series is going to be the starting pitching competition between Pelfrey and Figueroa. They’re competing to stay in the rotation, and on the roster, when Pedro Martinez comes back. The Nationals have been struggling and their starting pitching has been especially dreadful. Nats GM Jim Bowden even called them out in the press last week.