Mets Game 58: Win Over Nationals

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Joe Janish

Mets 3 Nationals 1

The staff stopper fulfills his role and salvages the final game of the series. Continue reading →

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Rounds 2-10: Stankiewicz, Reynolds, a Hawaiian, and College guys

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Kyle Schnitzer

Matt Reynolds

After the first ten rounds, the Mets philosophy is structured around saving money. The front office has not necessarily drafted the best players available, but after sleeping on last night’s decisions, I’m actually humming a different tune. The Mets seem to be drafting pieces, instead of players, which isn’t necessarily bad. By this, I mean that the team isn’t trying to find the next superstar. It’s a philosophy that the Tampa Bay Rays have mastered, which has fueled their success at the MLB level.

Here’s my best attempt to explain why they picked who they did and what those players bring to the table. Continue reading →

Posted in Mets 2012 Games, Mets Minors | Tagged , , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Blog Roundup: Back to Earth

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Paul Festa

After a euphoric end to a 7-4 homestand, one that included 3 complete game shutouts and a no-hitter (!), the Mets have come back down to Earth.  They lost the first two games in The District to drop 2.5 games behind the first place Nationals.  Obviously affected by their close proximity to the federal government, the Mets have been playing no-so-smart baseball.  They’ve committed more errors than the Congressional Budget Office, and even messed up an appeal play to second base (everyone on the field was ready for it, but someone forgot to tell the pitcher, who threw home).

In fairness,  they are short 2 relievers, and they had a game started by a rehabbing Chris Young, and unproven Jeremy Hefner.  But a win tonight would do a lot for the team’s confidence as they head into a weekend series in the Bronx.  R.A. Dickey is on the hill, so one can’t help but feel hopeful.

But enough of this palaver – Blogs:

  • St. Lucie to Flushing did a tremendous job covering the Rule 4 First Year Player Draft this week.  Check out his analysis of all 41 players the Mets drafted.
  • Seedlings to Stars takes a good look at a former number one draft pick, the improving Matt Harvey.
  • LoHud Mets examines the parchment-paper thin depth at shortstop, a situation made even worse after a finger injury to Omar Quintanilla.
  • Metszilla basks in the awesomeness of Scott Hairston.
  • The Eddie Kranepool society is still “with 28,” despite some bumps in the road (“the road” being the infield dirt between home and second base)
  • ESPN Mets Blog says a DL decision on Jon Rauch is “looming.”  Looming like a 6′ 11″ shadow over the Mets bullpen.

Also looming – more news, opinion, and coverage of the Mets here on MetsToday.

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Mets Game 57: Loss to Nationals

Posted on June 7, 2012 by Joe Janish

Nationals 5 Mets 3

It took one day to go from first to fourth. Continue reading →

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Mets Game 56: Loss to Nationals

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Joe Janish

Nationals 7 Mets 6

The Mets come back again. Then give it away. Then come back. Then give it away. Rinse. Repeat. Continue reading →

Posted in Mets 2012 Games | Tagged , , , | 18 Comments

Niese May Have Heart Procedure During All-Star Break

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Paul Festa

Only in this day and age can you get a hole poked in your heart one day, then go out and play ball the next.

Jonathon Niese left Sunday’s game with an elevated heartbeat.  He experienced the same malady during a start in the blazing heat of Arlington, Texas during an interleague game last year against the Rangers.  The heat can cause dehydration, which in turn can cause a rapid heartbeat.  But that wasn’t the cause on Sunday.

Doctors are not concerned about his condition, saying it is not a threat to his well-being.

Niese will consider a procedure called “ablation surgery” to treat his condition.

“I won’t miss any starts,” Niese said. “It’s like an outpatient thing that you do. It only takes like three days to recover from it. We might be doing it All-Star break, that way I don’t miss any starts.”

Outpatient heart surgery.  Welcome to 2012.

Web MD has a detailed description of ablation treatments, both surgical and non-surgical:

Non-surgical ablation, used for many types of arrhythmias, is performed in a special lab called the electrophysiology (EP) laboratory. During this non-surgical procedure a catheter is inserted into a specific area of the heart. A special machine directs energy through the catheter to small areas of the heart muscle that causes the abnormal heart rhythm. This energy “disconnects” the source of the abnormal rhythm from the rest of the heart. It can also be used to disconnect the electrical pathway between the upper chambers (atria) and the lower chambers (ventricles) of the heart.

The medical knowledge one gains by being a Mets fan seems to have no end.  Whatever Jon decides, we hope he has a long and healthy career.

Posted in Mets Injuries | Tagged , , , , | 4 Comments

First Round: Mets draft Cecchini, Plawecki

Posted on June 5, 2012 by Kyle Schnitzer

Gavin Cecchini, your future shortstop

If you haven’t heard yet, the 2012 MLB Rule 4 draft started on Monday. This year is much different from past years, as hard slotting has taken effect. Each team is assigned a certain amount of money, which can be used for bonuses. This prevents big-market teams from drafting players later in the draft who might have gone earlier, but fell due to bonus demands. The draft is modeled with the intent of the small teams getting the better players. It also forces the kids being drafted to decide if they really want to dedicate their lives to baseball professionally, if they aren’t getting first-round money.

Last year, the Mets went in a different direction from the past. After selecting Brandon Nimmo and Michael Fulmer, two high school players in the first round, the Mets flooded their draft board with college arms and toolsy high school players.

In the past, Mets fans were used to seeing college players drafted year after year. Some say it was used to save money, but at the time, the Mets were in contention or believed to be able to contend. The positives with drafting college kids is that a) they’re fairly well-developed, so you you have a good idea of what you’re getting; and b) they might not require as much time in the minors. The downsides: a) they usually don’t have as much “upside” or projectable talent as a high schooler; and b) you don’t get to develop them yourself.

After the jump, you can read my analysis by the New York Mets’ first two selections in this draft. Keep checking back for updates on each pick (until it’s a crapshoot). Continue reading →

Posted in Mets Minors | Tagged , , , | 9 Comments

Mets Game 55: Loss to Cardinals

Posted on June 4, 2012 by Joe Janish

Cardinals 5 Mets 4

Well, you can’t win ’em all … Continue reading →

Posted in Mets 2012 Games | Tagged , , | 4 Comments