Perez, Castillo Stay Home

For the second straight year, both Oliver Perez and Luis Castillo chose not to take part in the Mets’ annual visit to Walter Reed Hospital. This time, everyone is very pleased that Perez and Castillo stayed home. What a difference a year makes.

In other irrelevant news about former Mets, Brad Emaus is listed at 2B on the All-Star ballot. Were the Mets really THAT desperate to get names on the ballot — or THAT confident Emaus would still be around in July?

Brian Costa writes about the obvious: the more Carlos Beltran hits, the better the Mets’ chances are of dumping him at the trade deadline to a contending team. When asked about his no-trade clause, Beltran responded:

“I would listen to my agent, because they’re going to approach my agent first and then me,” Beltran said. “There’s a possibility that can happen if we’re not in contention.”

The part about “…if we’re not in contention.” is hilarious. Though, maybe if the schedule can be re-worked so the Mets play the Nationals fifty more times, the Mets will have a shot at being in contention come July.

Adam Rubin has a load of minor league updates, including a report that Adam Wogan will be watching Port St. Lucie this week — i.e., Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia.

Greg Prince lists 16 Things that Look Good for the Mets. Let’s stay positive while we still can.

  1. Mike April 27, 2011 at 12:27 pm
    “The part about “…if we’re not in contention.” is hilarious. Though, maybe if the schedule can be re-worked so the Mets play the Nationals fifty more times, the Mets will have a shot at being in contention come July.”

    I’m sorry Roland, but would you prefer your veteran big money players to come out and say “this team sucks”? I’m not really sure why you think you are so clever for pointing out that Beltran is saying the right things. Or would you prefer him to say “I can’t wait to leave”?

    Joe, this is exactly what I was talking about before the season started when I said the Mets can’t do anything right and it’s the media’s fault. It is impossible at this point to get good press because the second anyone does anything half the bloggers and half the journalists are spinning it all different ways. But to be fair I have more of a problem when so called journalists do this sort of thing, bloggers can say and do anything they want in my opinion. My point is simply that in my opinion, Roland, you are being unfair.

    • Roland Agni April 27, 2011 at 1:47 pm
      Mike, I don’t understand; you’re saying I’m not allowed to find something hilarious?

      It’s not the media’s fault that there is widespread negativity among Mets fans — the Wilpons have fostered that for the past 20 years. Whether the tabloids write with a negative slant or not, ambivalence will still exist. And actually, I think you’re dead wrong — the media reacts to whatever has happened in the last 24 hours. The Mets are on a hot streak, so all the press and blogosphere is positive. There are like 15 articles today on how awesome Josh Thole is and how the bullpen is unbelievable. If the Mets lose tonight because K-Rod blows a save and Thole goes 0-for-5, watch how fast the tide turns. It’s an emotional rollercoaster.

      • Mike April 27, 2011 at 2:13 pm
        The roller coaster is the problem. How can an organization as exposed as the Mets operate when ticket sales (and more generally support) are so easily manipulated by a few people with an audience? Most other organizations can weather a bad week or start a bit easier because fans and press don’t jump ship so early. I’ve always maintained this team will hit and if people jump back on now that they are then they are just as dumb as those who jumped off when they couldn’t hit (and in fact are probably the same people).

        The roller coaster hurts the organization. Makes doing business impossible from a media relations standpoint.

        • Roland Agni April 27, 2011 at 4:50 pm
          Nonsense. The Wilpons are the root of all that ails the Mets; they are not the ideal ownership for an MLB team in the media capital of the world. The majority of fans don’t read blogs and barely pay attention to the tabloids, and decide whether to attend a game based on their social calendar, the weather, and the price of the ticket. Then there are the bandwagon jumpers who will follow the Mets if they’re winning and otherwise won’t give them a second thought; they also do not pay attention to Mets info written in blogs and newspapers. The hard-core fans have their own preconceived notions and fall into two camps: one is ambivalent, the other wears rose-colored glasses. An article by David Lennon isn’t going to motivate someone in the former camp to create a Josh Thole placard to bring to Citi Field, and a blog post by Joe Janish isn’t going to convince someone in the latter that they should stay away from the ballpark. People have their own opinions, and the media presents plenty of balance among all viewpoints.
  2. God, I love women April 27, 2011 at 12:47 pm
    Phillies will own the mutts
    • SiddFinch April 27, 2011 at 10:55 pm
      the same Phils that just dropped 2 of 3 from the D’backs? the “mutts” as you call them will take 2 of 3 at the Bank this weekend. the Phils haven’t put it together yet and the “mutts” will ride their current hot streak into the 1st of May.
  3. Andrew April 27, 2011 at 11:55 pm
    Roland, you’re dead wrong – will you come back and say, “I was wrong” if the Mets are in contention as of July 1?

    My prediction, the Mets will end up keeping Beltran through the end of the year. Mets will win 86 games and roughly have a similar year to the Knicks – some ups, some downs, good year to build on. Playoffs unlikely unless Santana shows up on July 1 and starts winning right at go, which is a long shot.

  4. CatchDog April 28, 2011 at 9:54 am
    The fact is that a keyboard, internet connection and opinion does NOT qualify a person as being any more knowledgeable or smarter than the person sitting next to you on the subway.

    WHITE NOISE.

    ZZZZZZZ