As we all know, Spring Training statistics mean next to nothing. The hot young hitter finds all his power sapped when the wind shifts from left field to right. The normally rubber-armed hurler runs into a “dead arm” period. Some players simply don’t perform well in the Florida or Arizona sunshine, but thrive under October [...]
As my dad used to say – and he’s been quoted by so many – “Some are born to greatness; others have greatness thrust upon them.” Often we find ourselves in situations not of our own making, that result in us as human beings taking a step forward and producing results surprising to even ourselves. [...]
The readership of this site seems to skew toward a younger demographic. Every now and then, a history lesson is in order. Now is one of those times. There was a time when highly-touted rookies could make a team right out of Spring Training. Heck, there were a couple of notable players from the 1960s [...]
Much has been made about the outfield – or lack thereof – situation. Coming into Spring Training, the Opening Day lineup looked like it would include Lucas Duda in left, Kirk Nieuwenhuis in center and Mike Baxter around in right. During the first two weeks of camp games, however, a slightly different narrative seems to [...]
The Mets’ first spring telecast from Port St. Lucie was this past Saturday (2/24). This was good news on several fronts. It pointed out that spring – the actual season, spring – is, indeed, on the way, that we here in the chilly Northeast will shortly be freed from this bleak midwinter. It evoked a [...]
Just before Thanksgiving 2010, the Mets hired Terry Collins to shepherd the Mets into their new era. The talk at the time was based in GM Sandy Alderson’s history – apocryphal though it might be – of disdain for the position. There isn't a copy of Moneyball handy, but the quote was something about the [...]
The word came down last night: Michael Bourn – the last “real” outfielder on the free agent market – had signed a four-year, $48 million contract with the Cleveland Indians. The pact also included an easily-achievable incentive option for a fifth season, which could bring the total figure to $60 million. In other words, a [...]
Your intrepid columnist tends to tread carefully around comparing young pitching staffs. I was there for star-crossed, hopelessly doomed Generation K. Bill Pulsipher, Paul Wilson and Jason Isringhausen were supposed to lead the Mets to the promised land in the mid-90’s. A combination of foul luck and inept training/coaching in the Metsian bushes scuttled that [...]
Surprisingly, these Mets might be a player for a major free agent. That’s good news. It speaks to the overall financial health of the organization – as a separate entity from Sterling Equities or SNY – in a favorable light for the first time in four years. That the Mets are in a position to [...]
I’ve been as guilty of it as the next guy. I’ve had my patience wear thin with the seeming sloth-pace of a couple of off-seasons. I’ve been clamoring for the Mets to DO. SOMETHING. I’ve actually been missing the nonstop headline-mongering of Omar Minaya’s early days. And then I realize where it’s gotten me, as [...]
A true Mets hero begins what we all hope will be a short journey this afternoon. You may have read somewhere that this is Mike Piazza’s first time on the Hall of Fame ballot and it remains to be seen if his on-field accomplishments will be enough to usher him through the doors on his [...]
The confetti has gone limp & damp. What was once an exuberant symbol of all-night revelry is now simply so much more Times Square litter. As we rouse ourselves and shake whatever cobwebs exist between our respective ears, we realize it’s a day for fresh starts, clean slates, new beginnings. It’s almost like Opening Day [...]