1978 TOPPS BRUCE BOISCLAIR #277 Deadline was approaching, and I was looking for a Zen route out of a writer's rut. I resolved to do a Google image search on “Topps Mets cards” and write a piece on the first hit. And the internet being the magnificent animal that it is, the initial image this [...]
With the signing of Chris Young, the Mets rotation appears to be set in 2011. Young was not my first choice for a bargain-basement pitcher, but at least if I squint real hard I can imagine him being a useful pitcher this season, which is more than I can say for Kevin Millwood. Now, we [...]
My brother Mike took me to my first baseball game in 1970. In the lineup for the Mets that day were Joe Foy, Ken Singleton and Cleon Jones. Tommie Agee later came on to pinch-hit and Donn Clendenon was sitting in the dugout. Even though I grew up in perhaps the whitest place in New [...]
"He's a run producer, I think he needs to hit in the third spot," Collins said. "We did it in Houston with Jeff Bagwell. In 1994, we moved him from fourth to third and he won the MVP that shortened season. I want David to be himself, go hit and have some fun. I think [...]
Recently at BTF we were discussing all-star teams for franchises made up of guys who made their marks elsewhere but who had a cup of coffee with the team in question. I made a list of hitters for the Mets and thought it was interesting enough to do pitchers, too, and write it up here. [...]
I looked at my calendar the other day, did some quick mental math and realized that 2011 will be the 50th season of New York Mets Baseball. There will be a lot of lists going around – they’ve already started – listing and linking the 50 Greatest Mets, the 50 Worst Mets, the 50 Nondescript [...]
Perhaps the biggest decision new Mets general manager Sandy Alderson has made so far was to pick up the $11 million option for 2011 on
1970 TOPPS NL BATTING LEADERS #61 Mets’ fans of the ‘60s must have thought that Topps league-leader cards were designed to be cruel. These cards just rubbed it in the face of the orange and blue. “Where are your Koufaxes and Mantles and Gibsons?” they shouted mockingly from multi-paned windows. And out in the street, [...]
While there are several jobs up in the air, the Opening Day roster is starting to take shape for the Mets. There are 17 positions which seem set and another four which seem likely. And the remaining four are possibly already on the team, it is just a matter of which direction Terry Collins and [...]
After avoiding platoons for most of the past few seasons, the Mets could be moving back to this strategy in 2011, with potential platoon situations at both catcher and second base. With the LaRussification of bullpen usage, platoons have fallen out of favor throughout the majors in recent years, as spots that would go to [...]
"I really believe, personally, this is his time. I'd be very confident that if he continues on the path he finished last season, he'll have a nice year. He's incredibly diligent. His fundamental skills are an A. He's in phenomenal condition. He's had some injuries, but he's strong-minded and strong-willed. He's in a great place [...]
Before moving into brand new Shea Stadium in 1964, the Mets played their first two seasons in the Polo Grounds, the former home of the New York Giants. The Polo Grounds were located in Upper Manhattan and one of the reasons the Giants wanted to move is that the neighborhood was not exactly five-star quality. [...]