Spring Training 2007
Mets Sign Clemens
Associated Press reporter Irving Lanson found out on last Saturday that Roger Clemens made a decision about where he’d be playing in 2007. “New York,” Clemens told Lanson, “but please keep it quiet. We’re still working on the details, and if it falls through, I may sign with the Yankees instead.” “Hold on,” Lansing interrupted. [...]
Milledge, Burgos Make the Team
Huh … my hunch was right. The Mets will start the season with Ambiorix Burgos in the ‘pen, Lastings Milledge on the bench, and both Jon Adkins and Chan Ho Park in New Orleans. Remarkably, Park has accepted the demotion. Not so remarkably, Adkins has cleared waivers. One must wonder whether Park will be in [...]
The 25th Man
According to John Delcos, the Mets will be deciding on the final roster at some point today. With a slew of cuts yesterday — a group that included Ben Johnson and Lino Urdaneta — combined by the Aaron Sele and Joe Smith both being told they’ve made the team, there isn’t much fat left to [...]
Again the Story is Heilman in the Pen
With Duaner Sanchez out for the year, the spotlight is on Aaron Heilman to be the setup man. Interestingly, this time last year, the story was about the same: Sanchez had not yet proven himself, and the focus was on Heilman to fill the setup role at the beginning of the season. The only difference, [...]
Last-Minute Pickups
With just three days before Opening Day, all teams are making tough decisions in regard to their rosters and starting lineups. The Mets, obviously, are trolling the waiver wire for an arm to put into the bullpen, but there are other players to consider as well. Here are three players that are currently on the [...]
Ambiorix Burgos – To the Rescue?
Certainly the Mets cannot be really counting on Chan Ho Park to be an 8th-inning bridge alongside Aaron Heilman. A guy who gives up gopher balls is the last person you want trying to put out fires and holding slim leads. Rather, they’re retrofitting Park into the setup role because he lost the fifth starter [...]
Dirty Goes Down
As you’ve likely heard by now, Duaner Sanchez has a hairline fracture that will require immediate surgery. He’ll be out for, in all probability, the entire year. Best case scenario, he is able to start throwing by mid-August. Obviously, this is a tremendous blow to the Mets’ plan for winning. With Sanchez gone, the Mets [...]
Pitching Shaping Up
The bulk of the pitching questions have been answered, though things didn’t turn out quite the way everyone planned. Yesterday, Willie Randolph anointed Mike Pelfrey as “one of my guys”, which is Williespeak for “Pelfrey is the number-five starter”. Pelfrey will follow Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernandez, John Maine, and Oliver Perez in the starting rotation. [...]
Anna Benson Sets Mets Straight
Sorry, I couldn’t resist … There’s at least one legitimate reason for a Mets fan to pickup the latest copy of Penthouse magazine — to read Anna Benson’s opinion of the Mets. No, I haven’t read the article, but did find excessive enjoyment from this excerpt as published in the Daily News: “They got a [...]
Milledge Making Things Difficult
Lastings Milledge was supposed to come in to camp and work on honing some of his raw skills, both athletic and social. He was expected to begin showing better strike zone judgment, fielding ability, and baserunning instincts as the spring wore on. It was hoped that a positive spring, aided by the tutelage of people [...]
Down to the Wire
There are less than ten days left of spring training, and many issues have been addressed in Port St. Lucie over the last month. Still, though, there are burning questions yet to be answered — and may not be answered until the final days before the team heads north. The exciting: – Jose Reyes is [...]
Pelfrey: Resist the Temptation
As spring training 1984 was about to break, manager Davey Johnson begged GM Frank Cashen to allow him to bring a young phenom hurler north. Cashen resisted, but eventually gave in to Johnson’s pleading. From the New York Times: Cashen was comparing this year’s spring phenomenon with the Mets’ prize pitcher of the 1981 camp. [...]
So Long Soler
Another remnant of the Jim Duquette era was swept out of the Mets organization, as Alay Soler was given his unconditional release. Strange, it may seem, that the Mets — so desperate for starting pitching — would cut loose Soler, who has shown flashes of brilliance but overall been an enigma. The conspiracy theorist inside [...]
Spring Training: Game 9 Notes
Orlando Hernandez made his first preseason appearance since being diagnosed with arthritis, and he looked so-so. Nothing to be concerned about, as his performance was similar to what he showed once every three or four starts in 2006. At times, he is magnificent. Other times, he is a little better than ordinary. And once in [...]
Alay Soler or Oliver Perez?
It’s still early in the auditions, and there is plenty of time for the Mets’ starting pitching candidates to impress or flounder. However, it’s never too early to evaluate performance, and to make bold and brash predictions. How else can a Mets blogger look like a fool, and incite furious reaction? So here is my [...]
