Being stingy with walks fuels Jonathon Niese’s hot stretch

In the last five games the Mets are 4-1 while the Phillies are 0-5. Combined with New York being six games over .500 and Philadelphia nine games under, it’s understandable why the Mets come into their three game-set with the defending NL East champs almost a bit cocky. Josh Thole is shooting to go 5-1 [...]

Omar Minaya, Sandy Alderson share credit for 2012 Mets success

This year has been a lot of fun for the Mets and their fans. Expectations were low coming into the season and the Mets have instead played like a team that has designs playing in the postseason. After what the team has been through the past three years, 2012 feels like a cool breeze on [...]

Mets in the market for an ace like Cole Hamels or Zack Greinke?

The Mets are 42-36 as the All Star break draws nearer.  It’s become clear that they will be in the market for one or more relievers, with their eyes on a closer who might be more effective than the hit-or-miss Frank Francisco.  They also need to be a little worried about the rotation as pitchers [...]

Will Bobby Parnell seize this new opportunity at closing games?

In his first chance at closing a game in the absence of Frank Francisco, Bobby Parnell threw a flawless ninth inning and slammed the door shut, preserving the Mets 3-2 win over the Dodgers on Thursday night and recording his first save of the season. So the age-old question arises once again. Is Parnell ready [...]

Tim Byrdak’s dominance, Torres’ BB rate, Wright’s records

If you ask most National League lefty batters which southpaw they hate to face in the late innings, undoubtedly most would say Aroldis Chapman of the Reds, who has limited LHB to a .367 OPS while recording an 8.67 K/BB ratio. But the Mets have quite a weapon of their own to neutralize big lefty [...]

Mets Still Struggle (Slightly) in Toss-Up Games

Well that was fun, wasn’t it? A day after the immediate future of the Mets was bemoaned in some circles – this one, in particular – they blasted four homeruns, stroked six doubles and posted a 17-1 rout of the Chicago Cubs. (I almost called them the “Flubs,” but then I remembered the Metsian follies [...]

Ike Davis breaking out of slump in big way

Well, that 17-1 trouncing of the Cubs on Wednesday was exactly what the Mets desperately needed in more ways than one. First, the Mets ended a four-game losing streak and expunged the bad taste left in their mouths by losing their last two games to the Yankees, while also exorcising their demons of comic mishaps [...]

Through the Looking-Glass with the Mets’ bullpen

Sunday night Terry Collins was faced with a dilemma: Use Miguel Batista for a second inning or bring in Tim Byrdak to face more than one batter.  Collins opted for Batista, who promptly gave up the game-winning home run to Robinson Cano, a lefty.  The Yankees had Cano, Mark Teixeira and Nick Swisher due up [...]

Should the Mets sign Manny Ramirez?

Jason Bay is done.  I’m going to say that he should probably just retire at this point because he’s not helping anyone by playing baseball.  He’s hurting himself and the organization that pays him.  Retire, go to Canada and drink some maple syrup.  The Mets might be better off with Hairston/Valdespin, Nieuwenhuis and Duda in [...]