Video of Carlos Delgado arriving in PSL

Thanx to Bart Hubbuch of NY Post for capturing Delgado's arrival on video.


Delgado0219 from Bart Hubbuch on Vimeo.

Shea Stadium final demolition - Shea Goodbye!

Thanx to nymdan for shooting this youtube video of Shea Stadium's final phase of demolition.

After the dust and debris settled, Citi Field came into view, much in the way the mythical Phoenix would rise from the ashes.

In addition to the video, check out Paul J. Bereswill photos taken for the NY Times here. There are seven individual frames at various stages of the Shea Stadium Breezeway plunging to the ground.

Feel free to check out the More Shea Stadium Demolition Footage as well as Shea Stadium labels on this site for photos of Shea in different stages of demolition.

NY Mets ranked 3rd in MLB Power Rankings by AOL's Fanhouse

This is actually the first rankings I've come across that has the Mets ahead of the Phillies. Based on their rankings, the Mets are the team to beat in the NL.

Here's what Will Brinson of Fanhouse had to say about the Mets 3rd place ranking:

3. Mets
The moves made by the Big Apple's metaphorical younger sibling were under-reported this offseason. That's understandable considering what the Yankees did, but when you look closely at what the Mets bring to the table in 2009, it's hard to argue with the job Omar Minaya did. David Wright, Jose Reyes and Johan Santana anchor this team again, but Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz are the key bullpen additions. The back-end of the rotation and the lineup are big questions, though.

For complete rankings, click here.

Jose Reyes arrives in camp and sets the record straight regarding the Phillies

Thanx to Bart Hubbuch for shooting this video of Jose Reyes arrival into camp. Reyes is already sporting his Under Armor, on the day his endorsement deal was reported here.

Topics discussed:

• Moving down in the batting order
• How he learned about potential move
• Teamwork
• Relationship with Luis Castillo
• Taking on a leadership role

In addition, check out Jose Reyes unload on the Phillies in Bart's post here.

Here's just a sample of what Reyes had to say - They teased Victorino by putting the words "J. Reyes?" on a picture of Victorino's celebration in his locker.

"I heard that," Reyes said of the Victorino incident. "I don't know why they say that, because I'm not the only one pimpin' when I hit a home run. A lot of people do that. People from Philadelphia, too. They stand for a couple of seconds at home plate [after a homer] and nobody say nothing. So like I said, I don't know why they're so focused on us. We just worry about us."

Reyes0218 from Bart Hubbuch on Vimeo.

Fernando Martinez arrives in camp - "I can hit"

Fernando Martinez arrived in Port St Lucie this morning looking to hit the diamond after being shut down by the Mets, just shy of two weeks ago. F-Mart will meet with team medical staff prior to returning to active duty.

Jessie Sanchez of MLB.com, filed this post about F-Mart's injury as well as his heroic game winning homer.

The Caribbean Series is over for Mets prospect Fernando Martinez.The right-handed-throwing outfielder is nursing a sore right elbow and will fly to New York on Thursday night for a checkup. He said he is taking anti-inflammatory medication.

"I felt my elbow tighten up the day before yesterday [after throwing]," Martinez said. "It was a little swollen. It's better. I feel I can play again. I don't think I need to fly to New York to get a check up but the Mets want me to."

On Tuesday, Martinez hit a two-run pinch-hit homer in the top of the seventh inning to push the Tigres de Licey past Puerto Rico's Leones de Ponce, 2-1. It was his only at-bat of the series. Last season the 20-year old combined to hit .292 in 90 games for the Mets' Gulf Coast League team and Double-A Binghamton. He was also slowed by a hamstring injury.

Flash back to video of F-Mart's Caribbean Series blast here.

Update from Mike Rose - Fernando Martinez just walked by with a big smile on his face saying "I can hit." The doctors must have just cleared him for that and he was headed out to the field with a bat.

Read Mike's post here.

Jose Reyes gets some love from Under Armor

As reported by Andrea K. Walker of the Baltimore Sun.com - Baltimore-based sports apparel company Under Armour has signed New York Mets All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes to a multiyear partnership. Reyes will be featured in a new advertising campaign that begins today and introduces a new lightweight baseball cleat. Other baseball players Under Armour has signed include Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Zimmerman, Jeff Francoeur, Nick Markakis and Francisco Liriano.

Based on the names of Under Armor's signed baseball players, Reyes will be their biggest signing to date. Reyes not only gets Under Armor a foot in the door, he kicks the door wide open in the mega-market of NY. I wouldn't be surprised to see print ads prominently displayed in Citi Field.

Carlos Beltran comes out swinging on Cole Hamels

Thanx to Bart Hubbuch of NY Post for capturing Beltran's arrival on video.

Here's an excerpt from Bart's article:

Beltran said of Hamels upon arriving in camp this morning. "The only thing that I know is that he will be watched every time he faces us and hopefully we kill him. And then he'll have to deal with the situation."

I may be going out on a limb here, I just don't think Carlos gives a flip about the Phillies. Somehow, the Phillies seem to get on the usually mile mannered, Beltran's nerves.


beltran0217 from Bart Hubbuch on Vimeo.


Courtesy of Bart Hubbuch on Vimeo.

Shea Stadium demolition view from Chopper 880

These photographs were taken by Tom Kaminski in Chopper 880 on Tuesday, 17Feb09. As you can see, there is not much left of Ole Shea. I would think a day or maybe two at best, before all that remains are several piles of debris.

Check out Tom's latest photos of Shea from Chopper 880 here.

Don't forget to check out the More Shea Stadium Demolition Footage as well as Shea Stadium labels on this site for photos of Shea in different stages of demolition.

Shea Stadium Demolition - Last Neon Section Comes Tumbling Down 16Feb09

A special thanx to the guyz at BaseBall-Fever.com for providing this excellent video of the latest Shea Stadium demolition work. By the looks of it, tomorrow may be the last day any part of the structure is left standing.

You will be treated to multiple views and angles of the last neon (pitcher) being demolished.

Citi Field most comprehensive construction slideshow - Updated 16Feb09

A tip of the cap to islandxtreme26, for the most up-to-date, comprehensive Citi Field slideshow available...Bar none!

After clicking the arrow, click on next located along the bottom and you're now ready to enjoy this amazin slideshow, courtesy of islandxtreme26.

I'm ready for the season to start! Let's Go Mets!!!




Citi Field 2-16-09

K-Rod, what's up with your eyes, Dude?

Dude, the red eyes are just a bit freaky!

K-Rod explained the red contacts act as a sun shield, therefore making his shades obsolete. K-rod states, "It's like you have sunglasses on," he said. "I don't like wearing glasses."

You can read Bart Hubbuch's article here.

To be honest with you, I don't care what you look like, just keep making the bat miss the ball and the Mets fandom will be happy.

Just one other thing, I nominate Thriller for K-Rod's entry music from the bull pen.

ESPN grading NY Mets a B+ for off season moves

Joe Sheehan gives the Mets a B+ for their off season moves. I can agree with that assessment, however I take exception to his projected win total.

Joe, 88 wins...Really! I may be splitting hairs with you here, but I see the Mets as picking up 90+ wins. By your own admission, the Mets have really upgraded their bull pen by adding K-Rod and JJ Putz...That's gotta a be at least 4-5 additional wins, over last year's total of 89.

Heck, the fact Willie Randolph is gone makes me want to adjust that total upwards.

NY Mets launch Online Citi Field Ticket Registration for Opening Day

Do you feel lucky...well do ya? If so, be sure to Register online, at Mets.com for your chance to pickup Citi Field opening day tickets.

Here are the details:

• Registration begins Tuesday, February 17 at 10 a.m. at Mets.com. The registration for the online random drawing will run through Tuesday, February 24, 11:59 PM.
• Opening day Monday, April 13 against the San Diego Padres at 7:10 p.m. at Citi Field.
• There is a limit of one entry per person.
• A limited number of fans will be selected in the online random drawing and will be notified via e-mail by Friday, February 27 with instructions regarding the online purchase of up to four (4) tickets.
  
• Tickets start at $27 each and must be purchased with a major credit card. Per ticket and per order fees will apply.

To view complete press release, click here.

Don't forget, you gotta be in it to win it!

Shea Stadium Demolition - It's almost no more!

Special thanx to http://myusicinmymind.com/ for posting this awesome video.



Check out additional photos here.

2009 MLB power rankings and NY Mets are 5th

According to Aram Tolegian of Fox Sports.com, adding K-Rod and J.J. Putz gave the Mets one of the better offseasons in the game. Now that the bullpen is stabilized, the big question becomes the backend of the rotation and overall depth.

Check out the complete rankings here.

Second in the NL East behind the Phillies, I don't think so! Personally, I tend to agree with K-Rod's assessment, as reported in Newsday.

"This is a different year, a different ballclub now. We've just got to go out and compete. Like I said before, I don't want to make no controversy. But with this ballclub, the way I see it, with those guys, me and J.J. Putz and the other acquisitions in the bullpen, I think now I feel like we're the team to beat."

Read complete article here.

NY Mets Sign Livan Hernandez to Minor League Contract

I can't make this up.

The NY Mets have signed Livan Hernandez to a $1 million minor-league deal with $1 in performance bonuses, according to a source familiar with the deal. Hernandez is expected at camp this weekend.

Read Christian Red's article here.

It is said, Competition is the whetstone of talent. The signing makes Hernandez the fourth pitcher vying for the fifth starter spot in the rotation. Hernandez will take his place alongside Garcia, Niese and Redding in a wide open competition to join the rotation.

Freddy Garcia expects to be in the 2009 NY Mets rotation

Websters definition of bravado - a pretentious, swaggering display of courage.

Seems like Ole Freddy is filled with bravado, which is a good thing for a pitcher coming off of right shoulder reconstructive labrum surgery. Here's what Garcia said yesterday about heading North to Citi Field - "Yeah, yeah, 100 percent - of course I expect to be in the rotation." In fact, his expectation is to be in the rotation, or in his mind he'll be taking the ball every fifth day for another club.

The quote I most enjoyed, "If I make the ballclub, and everything goes right, we should win the division and why not go to the World Series?" Let's hope his mouth is writing checks his shoulder is able to cash.

Watch the video here.

Although Freddy Garcia was signed to a minor league contract, Garcia could earn between $8 million and $9 million with incentives in 2009 if he makes the club in Spring Training. That's a whole lot of incentive!

Career Stats:

• 118 Wins vs. 77 Loses; that's a healthy 41 games over .500.
• .407 ERA; not bad considering his tenure in the American League
• Starting pitcher in the championship clinching game four of the 2005 World Series. Garcia went a sparkling seven innings, allowing no earned runs.
  

Kevin Burkhardt takes a pie to the grill courtesy of JJ Putz

JJ's somewhat of a prankster. Despite the fact that JJ warned Burkhardt all day he would get him, Kevin never saw it coming. JJ displayed some ninja skills and lets Burkhardt have it.

I must say Burkhardt's a good sport. If JJ really wants to impress me, he should try spraying Tim McCarver with champagne, as Deion Sanders did. What a priceless moment in sports that was.

Watch the video of the pieing here.

You can also watch Burkhardt's interview with JJ Putz and Sean Green, courtesy of SNY here.

NY Mets JJ Putz joins Boomer & Carton on WFAN

JJ is wowing the Mets with his stuff. Under the watchful eyes of Dan Warthen, JJ Putz had an impressive 40 pitch session. Based on his selection to the WBC, JJ has gotten off to an early start this year...and it obviously shows.

BTW, ignore the number you see on the Jersey, he will be sporting 22. JJ has been number 20 for the Mariners, however he didn't feel right demanding highly regarded Mets hitting coach, Ho Jo give it up. Good on you, JJ.

Here's what Ben Shpigel had to say:

Another Mets pitcher, J.J. Putz, has been throwing for a few week, and he had his first session this morning with his new catcher, Brian Schneider. With the pitching coach Dan Warthen watching, Putz threw about 40 pitches, including a few that had some of the nastiest spin I’ve ever seen. The bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello was kneeling a few steps away from Schneider, and he said it was a splitter — “a really, really good one.”

In the interview JJ discusses the upcoming 2009 season and the whole A-Roid situation. I totally agree with his point that all of the other 103 names should be released, instead of 1 out of 104.

JJ seems like a stand-up guy, who will be a breath of fresh air in the club house.

Give a listen to JJ's interview with Boom and Carton, click here.

David Wright and Manager, Davey Johnson of Team USA Discuss 2009 World Baseball Classic

From the MLB Hot Stove archives, Davey Johnson in studio discussing Team USA and the upcoming World Baseball Classic. In addition to Mgr. Davey Johnson, David Wright joins the conversation by phone.

Team USA will begin play on the 7th of March, at the Rogers Center, Toronto, Canada. The participating countries of Pool C are, USA, Canada, Italy and Venezuela.

In case you missed this episode of the Hot Stove, check out the video here.

2009 NY Mets and Xavier Nady a Winning Combination

I’m torn between giving Murph a legit chance of claiming the LF spot and the need for a LFer with some pop. It’s time to do a little house keeping on Mets fans LF wish list.

Manny - Still on the market, however the Mets have made it abundantly clear that they are not a player for his services. IMHO, there are two factors that contributed to the Mets lack of interest.

• Understandably, the Mets reluctance to contribute to MLB’s version of welfare, aka the luxury tax threshold has been huge. With Manny and Boras turning their collective noses up at anything less than a 4 yr contract in the neighborhood of $100M, it’s hard to see how they can fit him into their business plan.

• Let us not underestimate the colossal impact of the Madoff Ponzi Scheme!

Adam Dunn - No longer an option, as he has signed with the Nats. Looks like the Mets will have the misfortune of facing him in 18 games this year.

Bobby Abreu - I’m going to Disneyland.

Raul Ibanez - Seeing how the Phillies acquired Raul’s services, we should be seeing quite a bit of him this season. The Phillies may have interpreted the market incorrectly, by handing the aging left fielder a 3 yr contract for $30M. It is well documented that Ibanez is defensively challenged.

Pat Burrell - Thankfully “Burrell the Met Killer” was shipped not only out of our division, he is now in the American League…Happy, Happy, Joy, Joy! However, Burrell will have his opportunity to torment Mets fans of all ages, when he arrives at Citi Field 19-21Jun. Let’s hope he’s not as cozy in Citi Field as he was in Shea.

If the Mets are looking to make a significant move, it must come by way of a trade. To that end, I’m thinking Xavier Nady would be the best fit.

What will the Mets have to offer??? Im not sure, however it would have to start with relief help. The Yankees have a real problem trying to find a RP who can get the ball to future HOF, Mariano Rivera.

• First and foremost, we know the X-man can play in New York.
• Nady is signed to a one-year, $6.65 million contract. That's not a huge commitment, and perhaps F-Mart emerges to claim LF in 2010. Another way to look at this is, assuming the Mets offer Nady arbitration at the end of the season, he may net the Mets a first round pick, as a Type A free agent
  
• From Omar on down the message has been consistent, the Mets are seeking balance from the right side of the plate, preferably with some pop. Nady's number continue to improve and would be a welcome productive addition in the five, six or seven spot.
• Nady's last year's stats; .305 BA/ 25 HRS/ 97 RBI/ .357 OBP/ .510 SP/ .867 OPS. Now, let's put those numbers up against Adam Dunn's; .236 BA/ 40 HRS/ 100RBI/ .386 OBP/ .513 SP/ .898 OPS. Not too shabby, and there is nearly $3.4M dollars in savings. An added bonus is the advantage Nady has over Dunn in the field.
  
• By trading for Nady, Nick Swisher will no longer be available and the Braves are jonesing for him something awful.

Citi Field Video Interior View

This video is brought to you by the good folks of Tapemastersinc.net & EastWestWorldwide.com, during their visit to Citi Field on the 11Feb09. Thanx guyz!

Be sure to have your volume turned up to listen to a couple of Mets classic songs. In addition, you can hear the jets overhead adding to the ambiance... Sometimes the more things change, the more they stay the same.

First video I've seen with Pepsi Porch in right field 100% completely installed.

The video closes with what remains of Shea Stadium in the distant background. Give it a look.

Carlos Beltran of the Mets your excellence has not gone unnoticed

Earlier this week I asked the question, when will NY Mets fans appreciate Carlos Beltran? Beltran is one of a select few true five-tool players. The Mets have truly been blessed to have Beltran ply his craft in a cavernous center field at Shea Stadium. However, it's unfortunate that many Mets fans can't get past Beltran striking-out to end the 2006 NLCS.

To lend just a bit more credence, have a look at Beltran's accomplishments.

• American League Rookie of the Year (Kansas City Royals, 1999)
• American League Player of the Month (Kansas City Royals, April 2004)
• Tied single postseason record for home runs (Astros-8)
• Won NL Gold Glove (New York Mets, 2006-2008)
• Won NL Silver Slugger (New York Mets, 2006-2007)
• Mets single season record holder for runs scored (127) ahead of Edgardo Alfonzo and current teammate José Reyes.
• Mets single season record holder for home runs (41) tied with Todd Hundley.
• 4-time All-Star (2004-2007)
• 1,000th Run scored (Aug. 12, 2008)
• Highest stolen base percentage in MLB (Min of 250 attempts)

First there was Peter Gammons letting the Mets faithful know how good they have it and now Ted Berg.

Here's columnist for SNY, Ted Berg's take...Carlos Beltran is still really, really good at base ball.

Here's an excerpt from his article:

My favorite esoteric Beltran stat I've noticed this offseason, though, is one that merely supports something many Mets fans already knew. According to The Hardball Times, Beltran made 111 plays out of the center fielder's fielding zone in 2008, the most out-of-zone plays anyone has made since THT started keeping stats in 2004. Anyone watching Mets games could have told you that, though: Beltran, flanked for much of the season by infielders playing out of position, pretty clearly decided he'd be handling every fly he could get to, even if it was far beyond the normal realm of the center fielder. Put me down for thinking that's awesome. What a beautiful player.

Check out the rest of Ted's article here.

1986 Mets World Series Champs - Mookie Wilson and Bill Buckner, forever joined together in history

We all remember where we were on the glorious day the Mets won the 86 World Series.

MLB Productions has put together a video of game six, yeah the ball that gets through Buckner's legs. A lot happened before Vin Scully uttered the words, that forever linked Mookie and Buckner..."So the winning run is at second base, with two outs, three and two to Mookie Wilson. A little roller up along first; behind the bag! It gets through Buckner! Here comes Knight, and the Mets win it!"

In this video the following questions get answered:

1. Why was Buckner still in the game?
2. Would Mookie have beaten Buckner to the bag?
3. How much of a successful career Buckner had?
4. How did it end between Buckner and the Sox?
   

NY Mets sign Jose Valentin To Minor League Deal

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that the Mets have signed infielder Jose Valentin to a minor league contract.

Valentin will be invited to spring training and can earn $800K if he makes the squad. He should provide adequate backup to Luis Castillo this season and could get a good amount of at-bats if Castillo continues to struggle. Valentin was the Mets' starting second baseman in 2006, when he hit .271 and 18 home runs.

I don't know what Valentin has left in the tank, but he is a great clubhouse guy. Valentin has also been credited for mentoring Jose Reyes and bringing the best out of him. I suppose we could do worse for a bat off the bench.

More Shea Stadium Demolition Footage - Gate C

By way of Joe McDonald of NYSD

Joe fills you in on progress, as well as completion date here.

How many games will the current version of the 09 Mets win?

How many games will the current version of the 09 Mets win?
Selection		Votes
100 or more	1%	1
95-99	23%	17
90-94	36%	26
85-89	30%	22
84 or less	10%	7
73 votes total

The results are in and the people have spoken! The 90-94 crowd carries the day, with a 6 pt victory over a determined 85-89 constituency.

What I find most surprising, nearly 60% (59%) of all respondents believe the Mets will be victorious in 90-99 games. The same Mets Nation who continue to clamor for Manny, O-Dog or Adam Dunn...Myself included. In addition, Matt Cerrone of MetsBlog, has a Fan Confidence Rating hovering around 67%.

One die-hard projects a 100 or greater win total. One man's homer is another man's visionary!

Finally, it's clear we have a viewership of trolls, as the 10% for 84 or less would indicate. That's okay, I like to know what the competition is doing as well. Feel free to stop in.

Be sure to vote in this week poll, you'll have two choices and I encourage leaving family friendly comments behind.

But first, here are several comments on the "Win Total" poll:

From Mr Metzylplyk on February 9, 2009 at 11:21 am. IP Logged, 63.117.228.x Report Abuse

We're gonna take the NLE by STORM! Lets go Mets!

From Baron on February 5, 2009 at 8:58 pm. IP Logged, 97.89.17.x Report Abuse

If everything goes right we will win at least 90 games.

From A on February 5, 2009 at 6:46 pm. IP Logged, 67.80.123.x Report Abuse

90-94

Nikkkkaa

From D on February 5, 2009 at 2:52 pm. IP Logged, 208.215.178.x Report Abuse

I say 90 wins tops.

Carlos Delgado of the Toronto Blue Jays, 2003 AL MVP

In the eyes of many, Delgado is now the 2003 AL MVP!

Make sure to vote in the Pollster's Korner, located in the upper left hand corner of this site.

By David Lennon of Newsday

... I'd be pretty angry right now.

Remember, it was Delgado who finished second to Alex Rodriguez in the 2003 AL MVP vote.

A-Rod was first with 242 points, including six first-place votes. Delgado was second with 213 points, including five first-place votes.

Of course, in the past 72 hours we've learned that A-Rod cheated in 2003, and he admitted Monday that he took banned substances -- without specifying the concoction.

Should A-Rod now be stripped of that MVP award? Should Delgado be awarded it by default?

This whole mess just gets messier and messier.

(Thanks to AP for the photo).

NY Mets have good showing on Fantasy Source's All NL East Fantasy Team

By George Winkler of Fantasy Source

With spring training just around the corner, we at Fantasy Source are fired up for baseball. In addition to team previews and positional previews running on the site, the Fastball blog will take a closer look at each division. We start with the National League East, home to the world champion Philadelphia Phillies.

George gives a blurb on each of the following topics: New faces, New teams, same division, Leaving the NL East family altogether, Biggest question, Sleeper Watch, Prospecting gold, Headed for heartbreak.

Check out blurbs and article here.

All NL East Fantasy Team
C: Brian McCann, Braves
1B: Ryan Howard, Phillies
2B: Chase Utley, Phillies
3B: David Wright, Mets
SS: Hanley Ramirez, Marlins
OF: Carlos Beltran, Mets
OF: Shane Victorino, Phillies
OF: Jayson Werth, Phillies
SP: Johan Santana, Mets
RP: Francisco Rodriguez, Mets

NY Mets represented by three of Sporting News Top 50 baseball prospects

It's good to see Daniel Murphy crack the top 10.

Sporting News Top 50 baseball prospects:

8. Daniel Murphy, 2B/OF, New York Mets. Murphy performed well in left field during a late-season call-up, but second base may be a better fit for the Mets' needs. After hitting .313 in his short big-league stint, Murphy was one of the stars of the Arizona Fall League, where he showed great plate discipline and an above average glove at second. Murphy doesn't have much power, but he has a great approach, superb pitch recognition and tremendous bat control.

40. Fernando Martinez, OF, New York Mets. Martinez is a top talent but his impact in 2009 is hard to gauge. Despite plus bat speed and great hands, he has been plagued by injuries and inconsistency. If Martinez can stay healthy, he could realize his potential and eventually win a big-league job.

43. Jonathon Niese, SP, New York Mets. The Mets' rotation could have at least one open slot and Niese is the best internal candidate for the job. While he's not overpowering, Niese has three effective pitches and is learning how to mix his offerings and set up hitters.

2009 Mets Win Division By Five Games According To PECOTA Standings

CAUTION!!!

If the last two seasons have taught Met fans anything, it's that games are not played on paper. Don't forget last year's projection was even larger than five games and what did that get us Mets fans? Nada, Zip, Squadouche, Jack Squat, Zilch!!!

Check out the rest of 2009 PECOTA Standings here. For more in depth analysis, a subscription is required and is available on their site.

East W L RS RA AVG OBP SLG
Mets 93 69 834 712 .260 .340 .420
Braves 88 74 819 740 .270 .340 .420
Phillies 88 74 839 754 .260 .340 .430
Nats 78 84 786 805 .260 .340 .410
Marlins74 88 769 822 .250 .330 .420

Mets Early Arrivals Raring To Go!

Here's a list of players arriving at Tradition Field ahead of Friday's official report date for pitchers and catchers: (Pitchers) Johan Santana, Duaner Sanchez, Oliver Perez, John Maine, Mike Pelfrey, Eddie Kunz and catcher, Brian Schneider. In addition, two position players made the early trip, Ryan Church and shocker....David Wright.

You can check out Bart Hubbuch's accompanying article here.

Johan Santana to skip World Baseball Classic at request of Mets

According to Adam Rubin, Johan Santana plans to withdraw from the World Baseball Classic at the request of Mets officials and remain in camp during spring training, the Daily News has learned.


Santana, who worked on his conditioning at the team's complex in Port St. Lucie Monday, hasn't stepped on a mound this winter but "feels great," according to a Mets insider. He underwent arthroscopic surgery on his left knee on Oct. 1 to repair a torn meniscus cartilage, four days after a heroic effort against the Marlins during the second-to-last game of the season.


Check out the rest of the article here.

Bravo!!! Holding Santana back may prove to be the best move the Mets make this off season.


Santana hasn't even thrown off a mound since his amazin game 161 performance, when he shut out the Marlins. What made this feat more remarkable, it came on the heels of a 125 pitch outing on short rest.

It's good to see the Mets brass make the right call.

When Will NY Mets Fans Appreciate Carlos Beltran?

It's not often I agree so strongly with Peter Gammons, which is why I'm dedicating this post to share our common ground on two excellent points he makes in his article.

First - Beltran is a unique talent...A five tool player

Nowhere is it more evident than in center field. Most of the clubs that discussed the subject had Minnesota's Carlos Gomez rated the best defensive center fielder in the game last season, in most cases followed by the Mets' Carlos Beltran. Now, although Beltran's low-key personality sometimes frustrates fans, he is a tremendous five-dimensional player -- a top-three defender and great baserunner who's reliable and so much an offensive weapon that during the past three years he has averaged 34 homers and a .912 OPS.

Second - Economic uncertainty vis-a-vis baseballs need for cost certainty.

"The sports media has no concept how layered this recession is in terms of our industry," one official says. "We always hear about the need for cost certainty. Right now, more than half the teams are going to spring training with few economic certainties."
Which makes one laugh at those who criticize the Mets' Fred and Jeff Wilpon for not shelling out another $100 million for Ramirez. The Mets have the highest payroll in the National League. They have arguably the league's best pitcher in Johan Santana, three of its best players in David Wright, Jose Reyes and Beltran, and a reconstructed bullpen.

Sayonara - Beloved Mets All-Star, Edgardo Alfonzo on his way to Yomiuri Giants of the NPB

I'm somewhat surprised Fonzi didn't end up with Bobby V's, Chiba Lotte Marines.

MIYAZAKI, Japan -- The Yomiuri Giants of Japan's Central League have signed former major league infielder Edgardo Alfonzo to a one-year contract worth $380,000.

The Giants signed the 35-year-old Venezuelan after giving him a tryout at their spring training camp.

.

"It's an honor to become a member of the Giants and I'll play my hardest to contribute to the team," Alfonzo said Monday.

Alfonzo has 1,532 hits and a .284 batting average over 12 seasons in the major leagues, mostly with the New York Mets with later spells with the San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels and Toronto Blue Jays.

His last season in the majors was 2006 when he had 11 hits and five RBI in 30 games with the Angels and Blue Jays.

Since leaving the majors, he had played in Mexico and in the independent Atlantic League.

Source: AP

Shea Stadium Demolition view from deep within the bowels

Do not attempt to follow in the footsteps of these two knuckleheads!

This is an incredible video of Shea demolition shot from inside the stadium. I can't figure out why this demo site is not being secured.

Citi Field and Shea Stadium Photos

A very special thanx to Stadium Page for their excellent photos of Citi Field construction and Shea Stadium demolition. These photos were taken Saturday, 07Feb09.

The work has begun on Pepsi Porch.

Click on link to view current photos as well as their extensive catalogue http://stadiumpage.com/

Citi Field Dimensions and its Taller Walls

Click on graphic to left to enlarge photo for ease of viewing. The graphic lays out Citi Field dimensions from home plate, wall heights and who can be affected most by the deeper power alleys. This graphic also does a good job of a compare and contrast of Citi Field vs. Shea Stadium.

Click here to read Ben Shpigel's accompanying article.

A-Rod takes his place alongside Bonds, Sosa and McGwire in the Hall of Shame

Feel free to insert your own caption!

Check out this opinion piece from Richard Justice of the Sporting News. He does a decent job of explaining why the numbers put up by A-Rod and Bonds, forever will be tainted. IMHO, Justice is more crucial of Bonds than A-Rod.

There's one thing I'm having trouble with...Why are we only learning of A-Rod, when he was one of 104 players who have been reported to have tested positive for PEDs in 2003? Believe me, I'm not defending A-Rod in any way. In fact, it's about time he gets his comeuppance. I just feel if one name is released, they all should be released and let the chips fall where they may. By doing so, the probability of linking all players from that era as cheats with a broad brush will be muted somewhat.

Below are a couple of excerpts. You can also read the entire article by clicking here.

Alex Rodriguez's good name is gone forever, and there is nothing he can say or do to get it back. Instead, he can go stand on the other side of the room with Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens and baseball's other alleged cheats.
At least that's a reasonable conclusion in the wake of Sports Illustrated's report that Rodriguez tested positive for two anabolic steroids in 2003.
Rodriguez's every accomplishment is tainted. Even if he used steroids just one time in his life, there will be doubt about every one of those 553 home runs. That 2003 American League Most Valuable Player Award is worth a bucket of warm spit.

Here's a sample of what Justice had this to say about Bonds.

Does Bonds deserve to stand on that stage on induction Sunday with Bob Gibson and Frank Robinson and Hank Aaron? Those three men played the game the right way. Their amazing accomplishments were achieved through hard work and God-given talent.

Aaron was baseball's home-run king for 33 years, until the summer of 2007, when Barry Bonds broke his record. Aaron's 75th birthday came the day after the government unsealed the evidence in the Bonds perjury case. Included in the evidence is a positive urine sample.

NY Met Jesus Feliciano's lead-off homerun propels Puerto Rico to victory

NY Mets farm hand, Jesus Feliciano helps the Lions of Ponce snap 11-game losing streak dating back to the 1982 Caribbean Series.

Center fielder Jesus Feliciano led off the game with a solo home run off Tigres starter Julio Mateo, and the Leones tacked on a run in the third inning, when third baseman Gabriel Martinez scored on a single by shortstop Luis Figueroa to extend the lead.

To read complete article click here.

Source: Jesse Sanchez, MLB.com

Check out the video here

Citi Field Homerun Apple Arrives From Minnesota

Thanx to the good folks of SNY for making this video available. This clip show the early stages on installation.

Don't know about you, but I'm jonesing to see the apple come out of the hat for the first time, after a Mets homerun. I'm thinking it'll be Beltran.

The new Apple is four times the size of the original Home Run Apple, at 19ft in diameter and weighs in at 6,000 pounds. This Apple shoots up in the air in three seconds flat.

Mets Involvement In Madoff's Ponzi Scheme Prompts Fears of Extensive Losses

Several of Madoff's high-powered victims can be seen here.

As reported by Greg B. Smith, Daily News Staff Writer: Newly released documents make clear that New York Mets' money got caught in Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff's web of deceit.

Mets Chief Operating Officer Jeff Wilpon had admitted that his family and business partners lost money to Madoff's $50 billion Ponzi scheme, but he's always insisted the team won't be hurt in any way.

"It's truly two different things," Wilpon said.

But documents reveal that 13 accounts with direct ties to the Mets show up on a list of Madoff client victims filed in Manhattan bankruptcy court.

The Mets' accounts include one called Mets II LLC; six accounts for Sterling Mets Limited Partnership, listed as "care of" Mets Vice President Leonard Labita, and six accounts for Sterling Doubleday, the company that used to own the Mets.

There's also an account for the Brooklyn Baseball Co. and one for Coney Island Baseball, business entities that own the Mets' Brooklyn minor-league baseball team.

The Mets have repeatedly tried to distance themselves from investments their parent company, Sterling Equities, placed with Madoff.

A big worry would be if Sterling had acted as a so-called "feeder fund," placing other people's investments with Madoff without telling them. Several such funds face multibillion-dollar lawsuits.

Thursday, Sterling said it was never a feeder fund for Madoff. Instead, the company said, "Sterling's partners, as well as various friends and family members of those partners, are among the scores of unfortunate victims of the Madoff fraud."

Records show many Wilpon family members and Sterling executives and their families placed money with Madoff.

Sterling won't disclose how much money it put with Madoff over the years. But records show Sterling Equities alone appears to have more than 180 accounts.

Fernando Martinez out of Caribbean Series with sore elbow

MEXICALI, Mexico -- The Caribbean Series is over for Mets prospect Fernando Martinez.The right-handed-throwing outfielder is nursing a sore right elbow and will fly to New York on Thursday night for a checkup. He said he is taking anti-inflammatory medication.

"I felt my elbow tighten up the day before yesterday [after throwing]," Martinez said. "It was a little swollen. It's better. I feel I can play again. I don't think I need to fly to New York to get a check up but the Mets want me to."

On Tuesday, Martinez hit a two-run pinch-hit homer in the top of the seventh inning to push the Tigres de Licey past Puerto Rico's Leones de Ponce, 2-1. It was his only at-bat of the series. Last season the 20-year old combined to hit .292 in 90 games for the Mets' Gulf Coast League team and Double-A Binghamton. He was also slowed by a hamstring injury.

Source: Jesse Sanchez of MLB.com

NY Mets need impact player like Orlando Hudson

Marty Noble of MLB.com, shares his thoughts on the O-Dog.

My sense of it is that Hudson is an ideal player for the Mets. Good glove, as you noted. A legit No. 2 hitter who would provide what Paul Lo Duca provided in 2006. Hudson is a terrific clubhouse guy; for all accounts, quite stand-up. Moreover, he wants to play for the Mets.

But Hudson's not going do pro bono work at second base. And the Mets have said they have no intention of adding more high-profile personnel. He would be an impact player for them, in my estimation; the kind of player who helps make a team greater than the sum of its parts. The Mets were that way in 2005 and '06 and not so much since then.

The Mets' $18 million obligation to Castillo is blocking second base the way Mike Scioscia used to block the plate. The club is counting on a renaissance season from Castillo.

Well said, Marty!

By now, you've probably guessed I'm the biggest shill for Orlando "O-Dog" Hudson, in Mets fandom. I promise you, I'm not on his payroll.

Here are a couple of excerpts from posts I've made regarding Hudson:

Castillo's infamous four year, $25M contract handed to him last off season is like an albatross hanging around the Mets collective necks. The O-Dog is there for the taking, however Omar will have to swallow his pride and somehow get the Wilpons blessing. A lot easier said than done.

While O-Dog's defense has slipped slightly, to think that Kelly Johnson is as good as Hudson is just INSANE and LAUGHABLE!!! If reports are true and the Braves are not interested in O-Dog, it's a tremendous relief for this Met fan.

Can you think of a more suitable representative than O-Dog? He fits the quintessential profile of what Team Wilpon is looking for and can flat out play ball. I believe he will thrive in the limelight of NY sports and take pressure off D-Wright, being the lone soldier answering questions at the end of a game. O-Dog is active in the charitable works arena, specifically with his passion to fight autism. Did I mention he wants to play for the Mets?

Mets & Phils Interested in Will Ohman

According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, Mets GM Omar Minaya contacted Will Ohman's agent Page Odle for the first time this winter. Crasnick says the Mets hope to jump in and get a bargain on the lefty reliever.

Additionally, Crasnick counters the Ken Rosenthal report that the Phillies decided not to pursue Ohman. The Phillies are still talking to Odle about Ohman, but don't have much more than $1MM to spend unless they move a contract.

I'm in favor of picking up Ohman at bargain rate even if it means offering a 2-yr contract. The Mets must have two lefties in the bullpen, given Manuel's proclivity of using all hands on deck.

With Atlanta, Ohman enjoyed a successful season out of the Braves' bullpen, appearing in 83 games. He finished the season as one of the team's most successful relievers, with a record of 4-1 and an ERA of 3.68.

NY Met Fernando Martinez not in lineup day after hitting game winning 2-run BLAST

After his pinch-hit homer Tuesday, Fernando Martinez was not in the Domincan Republic lineup Wednesday in the Carribbean Series. Instead, Timo Perez was in left where he went 0-4 and left 4 on base in the DR’s 12-9 loss to Mexico.

Source: Toby Hyde, Mets Minor League Blog

Must Viewing! Three Flights with Remote Control Airplane Over Shea Stadium as it's Dismantled

This is an awesome video I found courtesy of Softee64, that runs 10 minutes. The aerial views of Flushing, Queens Landmarks include Shea Stadium, Citi Field, Arthur Ashe Stadium home of the US Open, Queens Zoo, Terrace on the Park and the World's Fair Globe.

Softee64 does a great job chronicling Shea Stadium's demolition, while using a remote control airplane all from a bird’s eye view.

Here are the flight dates:

1. October 19, 2008
2. November 24, 2008
3. February 2, 2009

Make sure to leave yourself 10 minutes to watch complete video.

Sandy Koufax Scammed by Madoff in Ponzi Scheme

NEW YORK -- Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax, a high school baseball teammate and friend of Mets owner Fred Wilpon, was among the clients who lost money investing with Bernard Madoff, according to a court filing released Wednesday night.

More than two dozen accounts involving the Mets, their owners and companies affiliated with their owners were listed, many with addresses at Shea Stadium. Koufax was the only immediately recognizable big-name player on the list.

Koufax attended Lafayette High School along with Wilpon in the 1950s and the two remain close. Koufax usually shows up each year at the Mets' spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Sandy's career highlights and awards provided by Wikipedia:

Career highlights and awards
6x All-Star selection (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) 3x World Series champion (1959, 1963, 1965) 3x Cy Young Award winner (1963, 1965, 1966) 1963 NL MVP 2x World Series MVP (1963, 1965) 4x NL TSN Pitcher of the Year (1963, 1964, 1965, 1966) 2x Babe Ruth Award (1963, 1965) Pitched a perfect game on September 9, 1965 Los Angeles Dodgers #32 retired
Member of the National
Baseball Hall of Fame

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Source: AP