2010 NL East Champs?

Houston Astros vs St. Louis Cardinals

http://cdn.pis.picapp.com/IamProd/PicAppPIS/JavaScript/PisV4.jsDid you think I was talking about the Mets? Funny! Actually I was imagining what it would be like to just take the whole Cardinals team and trade them for the whole Mets team. Imagine that… Albert Pujols, Matt Holliday, that pitching staff, a possible future Hall of Fame manager, Mark McGuire! At least the Yankees wouldn’t kick us around during inter-league play and we could stand toe-to-toe with the Phillies.

But alas, we are stuck with our poor Mets who are now in St. Louis where they’ll spend three games against a team, I think, that would win the National League East.

They will win it because of a pitching staff I am just drooling all over. Omar Minaya, take note. This is a pitching staff. Watch the Mets pitching, including Johan Santana, get rocked by Pujols and Company. Watch the weak hitting Mets made to look silly by the Cardinals superb pitching staff. Watch a team come to play. A team that doesn’t believe in comebacks because they are up right from the start. Continue reading “2010 NL East Champs?”

Mets May Bat Jose Reyes Third in St. Louis

Jerry Manuel has been talking publicly since spring training about hitting Jose Reyes third in the order until Carlos Beltran comes back. That may become a reality this weekend in St. Louis.

Photo courtesy of Wikimedia

There’s been a lot of chatter since the beginning of spring training that Jose Reyes would begin hitting third in the Mets’ lineup. Jerry Manuel told reporters that in spring training. He said that he likes the idea to “lengthen” the lineup without Carlos Beltran. The reporters keep bringing it up to Jerry, and it sounds like it might become a reality this weekend in St. Louis.

First, let me say that I have no problem with this at all. And I hope that Reyes hitting third in the order is successful until Beltran gets back next month. The baseball season is so long that it invites experimentation with the lineup to find the best configuration. But baseball has become so prominent in the public domain that it also invites people like me to comment or express my own opinion or dissatisfaction. I’d like to take this opportunity to do that… Continue reading “Mets May Bat Jose Reyes Third in St. Louis”

Mets’ Maine May Lose Rotation Spot

NEW YORK - JULY 10:  Manager Jerry Manual #53 ...
Image by Getty Images via Daylife

The Mets have to think long and hard about pulling John Maine from the rotation. But he’s had two awful starts to begin the 2010 season. And what has he done recently that he deserves any more of a chance than that? The Mets can’t allow him to put up stinker after stinker. Where’s the fast start that Jerry Manuel’s been telling us about? Maine is killing that fast start.

You may recall that I recommended that the Mets non-tender Maine last October. Clearly, that’s looking like the right move in hindsight. But that’s neither here nor there at this point.

Despite getting bombed for 3 runs in 0.1 IP last night, Fernando Nieve should take over the spot. He can lengthen out after working out of the bullpen. He was fighting Jon Niese for the last spot in the rotation three weeks ago. So it won’t take him long to be ready. It’s a no-brainer to me. Continue reading “Mets’ Maine May Lose Rotation Spot”

Mets Links: The Apple, Sean Green, Fred Wilpon’s House

Queens - Flushing - Shea Stadium - Mets Magic ...
Image by wallyg via Flickr

I really need to get back to the links more regularly. It’s funny how I keep writing that, but never seem to be able to take action on it. It’s clear that I need to clear out my saved reading list more frequently and I’ll resolve to do that.

Anyway, here are some good links from this week in Mets news:

  • Remembering Shea – A great post on the new location of The Apple with a great image
  • MetsBlog – Sean Green is headed to the disabled list and will be replaced on the roster by Raul Valdes
  • NY Times– Fred Wilpon’s former home is up for sale for $7.5 million
  • CBS Sports – Danny Knobler writes about the problems of the Mets rotation
  • Amazin’ Avenue – The “Mass” effect of overweight players – very funny and a good read

Mets’ Jose Reyes To Return Saturday

Jose Reyes will come back to New York and return to the lineup against the Nationals after playing in rehab games in Florida.

Courtesy of Wikimedia

Jose Reyes has been rehabbing in Florida and getting in shape after his bout with a thyroid problem. He’s playing in one more game today and then coming back to New York tomorrow.

The Mets plan to have Reyes in the lineup on Saturday against the Nationals. That’s the first day he’s eligible to come off the disabled list after being added retroactively to March 26.

From NY Times:

“Barring any setbacks, we anticipate that, the physical conditioning part of it is going extremely well,” Manager Jerry Manuel said. “He’s getting enough at-bats, so we will do another evaluation on Thursday after he plays in St. Lucie.”

I think that we all like Alex Cora, but hate seeing him on the field everyday. Reyes’ return is going to be huge boost to this team in the field and the clubhouse. I can’t wait to see him back out there on Saturday.

Mets Spring Training News: Reyes, Murphy, Jacobs

Today was my second day at Digital Domain Park and there was a ton of news today:

  • Jose Reyes will start the season on the disabled list
  • Daniel Murphy will start the season on the disabled list with a sprained knee
  • Mike Jacobs will make the team and probably start at first base on opening day
  • Chris Carter and Frank Catalonotto are vying for the final roster spot
  • The Mets are setting up the rotation to be Johan Santana, John Maine, Jon Niese, Mike Pelfrey, and Oliver Perez

That’s a lot to digest. While you’re doing that, I’ll tell you about my day today. I started out watching the morning work out and checking out the player’s cars being shipped back to New York. I got some great pictures of the work out that you can see in the slide show below.

Continue reading “Mets Spring Training News: Reyes, Murphy, Jacobs”

Video: Fox Sports 2010 NL East Preview

Here’s the annual video preview of the National League East from Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. It’s disappointing that the Mets are an afterthought for Rosenthal this year. He lists the Phillies as the early leader and the Braves as a contender. Even the Marlins are mentioned.

Maybe it’s good for the Mets to go into the season without the high expectations of the mainstream media like they did in 2009. We’ll see…

http://images.video.msn.com/flash/customplayer/1_0/customplayer.swf