This time last year, few expected Bobby Parnell to open the year with Triple-A, figuring he had a bullpen spot locked up. But a poor Spring led to an assignment to Buffalo, where he spent the first two-and-a-half months of the year. Could it be déjà vu all over again for Parnell here in 2011? [...]
Fans tend to be either overly optimistic or pessimistic. That is why it is important to look at unbiased, systematic approaches to projections. One of the best sets available are the ZiPS projections from ESPN Insider and Baseball Think Factory Editor-in-Chief Dan Szymborski. Recently Szymborski, an Orioles fan, agreed to a Q&A about his projections [...]
Most Mets fans view Francisco Rodriguez’ contract in the same way they think of Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez – bad deals that they just can’t wait to end. My friend Eno Sarris wrote a story recently about how the Mets could utilize Rodriguez in a way to ensure that he did not finish 55 [...]
The Mets have already had their team Christmas party but they must have decided this year not to exchange gifts. Now, you may be wondering what millionaires give as gifts or what millionaires want to receive as gifts. I cannot answer that question. But I can tell you what players on the Mets really need. [...]
For a season that opened up with hope, and which was carried to the All-Star break, the Mets once again flamed out and disappointed their fans and had their second consecutive losing season (79-83). Change is now on the horizon as GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel were given their pink slips on Monday. [...]
In what has been an exasperating year and half of duty with the New York Mets, Francisco Rodriguez (K-Rod) may have written his last chapter with the team after last Wednesday’s altercation with the father of his girlfriend. In K-Rod’s brief stint with the Mets, there have been plenty of highs and lows, with this [...]
The Mets’ impossibly long odds of making the playoffs just got longer with the news that closer Francisco Rodriguez will miss the rest of the season with torn ligaments in his thumb. Monday night we got the answer to the obvious question of who closes: Hisanori Takahashi. I still think Takahashi belongs in the rotation [...]
The All-Star break is upon us and it’s natural to look forward. The Mets at 48-40, four games back of the Atlanta Braves in the NL and one game behind in the wild card race. Below is a list of Mets players with a grade given to each hitter and pitcher on how they have [...]
The New York Mets (46-36) plated eight runs in the first four innings on their way to a 9-5 win over the Washington Nationals Sunday, ending a seven-game road trip. "That felt like it was more than seven days," said Jason Bay after the game. The Mets completed the trip 3-4. They are now 18-24 [...]
Here's what happened on this day in New York Mets history: 1998: New York Mets traded John Hudek to the Cincinnati Reds for Lenny Harris. 2008: Cincinnati Reds claimed Andy Phillips of the New York Mets on waivers. 2010: The New York Mets (45-36) reached the official halfway mark of the season, losing 6-5 to the [...]
Here's what happened on this day in New York Mets history: 1966: New York Mets selected Duffy Dyer in seventh round of free agent draft. 2010: Jonathon Niese pitched seven innings, allowing one run and striking out eight to tie his major league career high, the New York Mets beat the Washington Nationals 5-3. Alex [...]
The New York Mets (44-34) salvaged their three-game series in San Juan, holding off the Florida Marlins 6-5. The Mets are now 16-22 on the road this season and 1-6 against the Marlins away from Citi Field. The win pushes the Mets two games ahead of the Philadelphia Phillies (41-35), who lost 4-3 to the Cincinnati Reds, [...]