“You always get a special kick on opening day, no matter how many you go through. You look forward to it like a birthday party when you're a kid. You think something wonderful is going to happen.” – Joe DiMaggio Although it is taking place in 2015 one day after Easter, Opening Day is a [...]
We have heard that Spring Training does not matter all the time throughout the exhibition season. Some players have tremendous springs, which does not lead to success in the regular season, and some players have awful springs, yet have success during the season. However this Spring Training, the Mets played fairly well down the stretch, [...]
Each year with the predictions column I start by going back to the previous year’s piece. It pains me to say this but last year’s predictions were just plain horrible. Only two of them turned out right and both of those were “negative” ones. Sure there were three or four that came close to being [...]
The St. Lucie Mets recently announced their 2015 roster, and it is chock-full of exciting prospects. First-rounders outfielder Michael Conforto (2014) and first baseman Dominic Smith (2013) headline a group a position prospects that also includes budding prospect darling shortstop Amed Rosario and third baseman Jhoan Urena, who is gaining some recognition as well. Outfielders [...]
Really smart people go into an experiment with no pre-conceived ideas and simply go where the evidence takes them. Opinionated people go into experiments with an outcome already in mind. My opinion was that a first-round draft pick from a four-year college should start his first full professional season in either Hi-A or (preferably) Double-A. [...]
On the eve of the 2015 regular season, the Mets announced that they have signed Gold Glove centerfielder Juan Lagares to a four-year, $23 million contract extension. This move has been hailed far and wide as one of the more intelligent maneuvers the Mets have made over the past several years, buying up all his [...]
The Mets budget has been inflated within the past 72 hours, but it's still more akin to a week-old helium balloon than Harold the Baseball Player. Yes, Fred Wilpon was sighted blowing the dust off of his checkbook and cracking it open for the first time since signing John Mayberry, Jr. back in December. He [...]
As we've learned from the meaningless games of spring training, this Mets team has the potential to fill the stadium with meaningful games in September. This is not a rebuilding team like the Braves or Diamondbacks and it is certainly not a floundering team (Rockies), nor a middling one (Brewers), nor an aging one (Phillies). [...]
People always lament the trading away of Tom Seaver or Nolan Ryan. To me, trading Duffy Dyer for Gene Clines ranks right up there, too. It's tough when one of your favorite players gets dealt away. Recently that disappointment hit home for me again, as the Mets dealt Matt den Dekker for something slightly more [...]
Spring training this year seems interminable. Fans and media members alike are itching for the games to start counting. Mets fans in particular, if we can lobby to get spring training wins to become official. The Mets right now are firing on all cylinders and if you’re reading this, you probably hope against hope that [...]
For the first time in what seems like an eternity, the Mets are heading into the upcoming season with legitimate and justifiable confidence. The only caveat? Two pitchers that the Mets were counting on have gone down with the infamous Tommy John Surgery condition. Zack Wheeler's injury has already been deemed inevitable opening up the [...]
Things couldn't be more different from Curtis Granderson's first Spring Training with the Mets to his performance this year. Over 51 at-bats last spring Granderson hit .157/.241/.353, while this spring he's put up a ridiculous .452/.547/.762 with 12 RBI over his first 42 ABs. Some may preach the gospel of Kevin Long, while others will [...]