"But it's incumbent on us to make sure those issues don't arise and they're managed," Alderson said. "People are going to be disappointed, but it's important for us to make sure that those who do remain with the organization feel as if they are valued in whatever role they have." Sandy Alderson, on the prospect [...]
"But keep in mind that Pedro Feliciano and Hisanori Takahashi are both free agents, and that leaves the Mets badly in need of lefty relief. This is not what you imagined Perez would be doing for $12 million in 2011, but the Mets are spending the $12 million already. Perez did hold lefties to a [...]
"It's Tuesday, Game 5 of the Rangers-Rays ALDS series; the winner plays on, the loser is done. It's 1-1, two out, none on, top of the fourth. Nelson Cruz, who has good legs (37 stolen bases the last two seasons) hits one to deep left-center . . . then stands admiring his blast. The ball [...]
"I've been looking forward to [the AFL] a lot. That was the biggest thing toward the end of the year," Holt said. "I knew it, the coordinators knew it -- it was a mental year, I got caught in the quicksand and it's hard to come out of it. It was just all in my [...]
"But the Mets have lacked ability to self-assess and look at the big picture. Are the Wilpons ready to hire someone who will tell them hard truths — and to listen when those hard truths come? This cannot be about buzzwords. For real this time, the skills sets must be gravitas, vision, creativity and fortitude. [...]
"The answer to this question is more difficult to answer, but to do so I must first dispense with a common statement i've seen on this blog: Pelfrey is the same this year as before. This is an incorrect statement. Pelfrey's xFIP is usually the root cause of this assertion, but there are several reasons [...]
"He's run into some tough luck," catcher Josh Thole said. "I'm sure he doesn't have as many wins as he would like or should have. But I'm telling you, I can [only] think of one time where he went out and just had no feel for the knuckleball. Other than that, he's been unbelievable." Thole [...]
"But they have hit merely eight [grand slams] since '06 and none in the 202 games since Angel Pagan slammed the D-backs at Citi Field on Aug. 1 last year. And they have allowed 15 since Pagan's, the 15th coming on Labor Day in Washington. One other team in history has allowed as many as [...]
"Here is another way to look at this: The Yanks felt similarly after the 1995 season about a young corner infielder with power (Russ Davis) and a talented lefty starter (Sterling Hitchcock) as the Mets feel now about the powerful Ike Davis and lefty Niese. The Yanks turned their duo into dynasty cornerstones Tino Martinez [...]
"I can't blame Omar for this. This is one snake bit team. If I were the Wilpons, I would start taking the whole family to church or to synagogue. Perhaps God will come into their heart and soul and whisper SELL... SELL ... SELL" Commenter vman650 on what it will take to turn the Mets [...]
"We put very good players in place who didn't play very well. It's best to jump-start and get a manager to motivate these players and get the best out of the veterans and the young players," owner Fred Wilpon said at a news conference. "I believe these guys are as good as we all thought [...]
"Josh Thole crowds the plate A LOT. He’s right on the line. Yet, he some how manages to pull the ball foul anytime they pitch him in. I also enjoy his pre-bat routine, with the crouching and repeatedly tapping the bat on the plate… it’s not exact, but, for some reason, it reminds me of [...]