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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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 [...]

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Will The Real New York Mets Please Stand Up?

“You are what your record says you are.” – Former New York Football Giants coach Bill Parcells, 2005 “Those were the real Mets.” – Cubs manager Leo Durocher after a Chicago win, June 1969 “I’m afraid we’re starting to see the real team peek out.” – Vince, a Met fan friend of mine, this morning. [...]

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Mets Card of the Week: 2005 Gary Carter

2005 ABSOLUTE TOOLS OF THE TRADE PRIME #29/50 GARY CARTER We all need a little rest sometimes. Imagine in particular that you're a veteran big-league catcher. You've spent years in a squatting position, absorbing foul tips and blocking wayward pitches in the dirt. From Little League to Legion ball, to the Minors to the Show... [...]

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Kirk Nieuwenhuis and the strikeout issue

Coming into the 2012 season, I had Kirk Nieuwenhuis rated as the #5 prospect in the farm system, ahead of both Wilmer Flores and Cesar Puello. I have been a Nieuwenhuis backer long before that, too, having ranked him in 2011 (#5 prospect) and 2010 (#9 prospect). I was excited when he got the call [...]

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Mets Minors: Matt Harvey turning the corner on AAA with his eye on the majors

Wikipedia: Harvey was drafted in the third round of the 2007 MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, yet opted not to sign. He instead attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, where he pitched for 3 years as a Tar Heel. During his collegiate career, Harvey went 22-7 with 3.73 ERA [...]

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