Spring training is a time for newbies and newcomers to make an impact on their team and the fans. For the first time since October, rookies and veterans put on their uniforms, and play in front of a crowd in order to make their mark and reserve a roster spot. So, without any furthered ado, [...]
1992 DONRUSS ELITE HOWARD JOHNSON Howard Johnson was once elite. And no, I'm not talking about the orange-roofed motor-lodge chain that paid me to wash their dishes, lo those many years ago. The elite HoJo was our own number 20, obtained in late 1984 in exchange for thoroughly serviceable right-hander Walt Terrell. (Side note: Johnson [...]
Defense is consistently overlooked when assessing how good a ball club is, especially when the team is known for their offense. Cinderella teams over the past few seasons have all had above-average defensive players contributing in the field. Including the 2014 Royals, 2013 Pirates, 2012 Athletics, and most notably the 2011 Rays. None of these [...]
David Wright’s overblown reaction to Noah Syndergaard eating his lunch inside rather than being on the bench with his teammates was a big story for the wrong reasons. It was one of those funny little anecdotes that gets tossed around in the fairly calm early days of spring training. Unless there is a major injury [...]
At each position this year, the Mets have at least two or three guys that could start that position on Opening Day. This Spring Training has proved that having that kind of depth is a good problem. Injuries are something that happen to every team and they need to be prepared to handle that kind [...]
Most of the focal point of the Mets offseason was the pressing need to upgrade the shortstop position, with Wilmer Flores and Ruben Tejada appearing to be the only two viable options. Through the first five games of the spring training schedule, it seems there might be a third player in the mix for the [...]
Ah, Spring Training! The time when managers, scouts and fans get to see prospects and veterans compete in an exhibition season. As Mets fans, we know the future is bright when looking at prospects the team will call up in the next couple of years. Michael Conforto had a great game against the Atlanta Braves, [...]
According to Baseball-Reference, since 2002, the first year for which we have reliable velocity ratings for all pitchers, only four U.S.-born righty starters in their rookie season (min 125 IP) at age 25 or above have posted an ERA+ of 120 or more. And two of those came last year with Jacob deGrom and Collin [...]
Mets manager Terry Collins has made it clear that the leadoff spot in the lineup will come down to either Curtis Granderson or Juan Lagares. His preference, as of last week, is Lagares. That's not much of a surprise considering Lagares is the only starter on the team with any kind of speed. The team [...]
If you tuned in to the first Harvey Day of 2015 and stuck around after he left the game, you got to see Noah Syndergaard, too. Not a bad Spring Training game. Anyway, you got to see what has everyone excited and you got to see why he still needs more seasoning, too. It’s hard [...]
By the end of the National League Championship series in 1970, it was the clear that the Mets were here to stay. Back to back NLCS appearances and a young roster full of talent made the Mets, former laughing stocks, into a force in the National League. Heading into the 1971 offseason, off of back [...]
