Mets Outfield: What’s Next?

The Mets have many, many questions pertaining to next season and the forthcoming ones. For me, the outfield situation is very intriguing. Ever since Continue reading

Posted in 11-12 Offseason | 7 Comments

Mets Spring Training Question 7: Pedro Beato

There are 7 days — one week — before pitchers and Molinas report to spring training. And so we examine Mets question #7 of the spring: what will become of Pedro Beato? Continue reading

Posted in 11-12 Offseason | Tagged | 8 Comments

Mets Spring Training Question 8: DJ Carrasco’s Arm Angle

With 8 days until pitchers and Molinas report, the #8 question to be answered during spring training is: what arm angle will D.J. Carrasco throw from, and will he pitch well enough to make the 25-man roster? Continue reading

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Mets Spring Training Question 9: Mike Pelfrey’s Sinker

With 9 days until pitchers and Molinas report, the #9 question to be answered during Mets spring training is: can Mike Pelfrey throw an effective sinker? Continue reading

Posted in 11-12 Offseason | Tagged | 11 Comments

Mets Spring Training Question 10: Who Will Be the Phenom?

With ten days before pitchers and Molinas report, let’s look at who might be the PSL “phenom”.

Nearly every spring training, there is one youngster who tears it up, or lights up the radar gun, and performs so overwhelmingly impressively that we fans are convinced we’ve seen the next Mets superstar … or at least, an All-Star. It’s that player who proves the philosophy of “hope springs eternal”, or “spring training hopes are eternal”, or something like that.

In the recent past, the “phenoms” of spring training have included Lastings Milledge, Fernando Martinez, Brian Bannister, and Ambiorix Burgos, among others. Sometimes — like Dwight Gooden — the phenoms pan out. Other times — like Gary Rajsich — things don’t quite work out so well once the regular season begins.

Considering that the Mets are entering a rebuilding year centered around their youth, one would think that this is a good opportunity for at least one “phenom” to emerge. Who might that be?

The best guesses are Jordany Valdespin, Reese Havens, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, and Zack Wheeler. But those are easy, right? OK, I’ll pick a few “no-names” to throw in the mix: Kai Gronauer, Zach Lutz, Matt Den Dekker, and Cesar Puello. Those last four have no pressure on them, not much in the way of expectations, and nothing to lose, so my bet is that they’ll be aggressive, feel loose, and as a result have a good shot at gaining spring training stardom.

What say you? Who do you think will establish himself as the “phenom” in Port St. Lucie this spring? And what phenoms do you remember from spring trainings past? Answer in the comments.

Posted in 11-12 Offseason | Tagged , , , , , , | 13 Comments

Mets Spring Training Question 11: Infield Wheels

With 11 days before pitchers and Molinas report, let’s quickly examine the #11 question to be answered during Mets spring training: how will the wheels of the right side of the infield heal? Continue reading

Posted in 11-12 Offseason | Tagged , | 7 Comments

Blog Roundup: Post-NFL Edition

Football season ended in spectacular fashion (if you’re a fan of the non-baseball Giants), and baseball season approaches.  Pitchers and Catchers report later this month, and, like the cycles of the sun and the moon, America’s Original Pastime will move to the forefront once again.  Are Mets fans looking forward to the new season, or dreading it?

The Blogs have the answer:

  • Faith and Fear in Flushing is thinking playoffs after seeing the Giants win the Super B…er…Big Game.  In particular, Greg outlines just how many New York teams have made the playoffs since the Mets last postseason visit.  (The Islanders?  Really?)
  • Amazin’ Avenue looks at minor league free agents that left the Mets this offseason.  Hu was that guy?
  • Eddie Kranepool Society sums up the restlessness of Mets fans nicely.  The season better start soon, or else we might riot.  Then again, once we see the on-field product, we may be more likely to riot.
  • Metstradamus isn’t happy about how the Mets pulled writer Howard Megdal’s credentials, after he wrote a critical book about the Wilpons and their finances.
  • Paul’s Random Stuff brings our attention to a bottle of Dom Perignon signed by Bill Buckner.
  • MMO reports that the Mets farm system is ranked #22 in MLB.  Optimistic yet?

Well, at least we can look forward to the offseason drama dying down, and the on-field drama ramping up.  Right?  Oh yeah, and more great reads on Mets Today.

Posted in 11-12 Offseason, Around the Blogs | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments

Mets Spring Training Question 12: Shortstop

With a dozen days left before pitchers and Molinas report to spring training, the Mets have a question to answer at shortstop.

For those who just came out of hibernation, last year’s starting shortstop — Jose Reyes — left the team for the warm winds of Miami. It is presumed that youngster Ruben Tejada will step right in and be the Mets’ 2012 shortstop. But is it that cut and dried? Is there a possibility that the Mets break camp with someone else standing next to David Wright on the diamond? Continue reading

Posted in 11-12 Offseason | Tagged , | 5 Comments