By now this is old news. But I know that many of my followers don't know that the world revolves around the Mets and that every blog and media outlet has already reported on this. Still I have my thoughts and here they are.
Mets fans are paranoid and do not do well when circumstances beyond their control go south. But I thrive on Mets adversity. It's interesting that in the rest of my life I prefer to shy away from adversity. Nobody wants trouble in their family or among their friends. Or at work. When adversity strikes I tend to withdraw to the couch. TV reruns are a great escape. Currently, "The Office" is tops on my list.
I didn't mean to digress. Back to baseball. When adversity strikes the Mets, I get excited. I want them to win regardless of the situation. But I dream about them coming through against all odds. I love the underdog. That's why I want them to win with a young, home grown team.
I know that the vast majority of Mets fans disagree with me and probably think I'm crazy. (I'm being kind to myself.) They all want to win at any cost. A $200M payroll. All the $20M/year players. Copycat the Yankees. I want to win it all a different way. I don't want to trade the farm for Adrian Gonzalez. I want Daniel Murphy, Ike Davis, Fernando Martinez, and Jerry Mejia to be the mainstays of a championship caliber team. Then a top free agent here and there along with some mid-level free agents would hopefully catapult the team a World Championship.
I know that if the past is any indication of the future, there is little reason to be confident about our minor leaguers becoming impact players. It hasn't happened lately. But it wasn't that long ago the David Wright and Jose Reyes excited the fans. I want it to happen again.
Trading one or two top minor leaguers for an existing impact player is still on the right track. But trading the entire farm for Adrian Gonzalez, which some have proposed, does not excite me. Furthermore, it is a short-sighted and risky move.
I digressed again. But I guess my initial intention of blogging about Jose Reyes and his potential blood issue was not what I really wanted to do. Anyway, apparently he is fine and has been cleared to play.
Update on 3/5/10 - Adam Rubin says Reyes will not play again today. Possible he has some short of thyroid disorder. Even I am very distressed now.
Friday, March 5, 2010
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
As Of 3/3/10 The Mets are 1 And 1
Yesterday was opening day for the Mets in Port St. Lucie. They won their first game of the spring. It was a 4-2 victory over the Atlanta Braves.
You'll see a lot of unfamiliar names in the boxscore as the regulars did not play. It had rained earlier and Jerry Manuel didn't want to take a chance and have one of his best slip and fall on the damp grass. So be it. The games don't count anyway.
You might have heard of Ryota Igarashi. He is our Japanese free agent signing who will hopefully be shoring up the bullpen. He pitched a scoreless 9th inning, giving up a walk, and was credited with the save. I'm sure you never heard of Bobby Livingston. He is a non-roster invitee who will surely be assigned to a minor league team soon. But he impressed with 2.2 innings of no hit, two walk pitching.
At the bat, virtually all of the starters will play in the minors this season. Ike Davis impressed with two hits, Ruben Tejada had a hit and RBI and Russ Adams hit a long pinch hit home run.
Today, the Braves came back and beat the Mets 9-5. The Mets had led 4-0. Fernando Martinez had two hit including a triple. Other regulars with singles were Daniel Murphy, Rod Barajas, Alex Cora and Angel Pagan. Eddie Kunz did not pitch well as he gave up the lead by allowing 4 runs in his .1 innings of work. Josh Stinson gave up 5 run the next inning and received the loss; however it should be noted that only 1 run was earned as the Mets made four errors while he was on the mound.
Note that tomorrow's game against the Cardinals is at 1:10 PM and will be televised on SNY.
You'll see a lot of unfamiliar names in the boxscore as the regulars did not play. It had rained earlier and Jerry Manuel didn't want to take a chance and have one of his best slip and fall on the damp grass. So be it. The games don't count anyway.
You might have heard of Ryota Igarashi. He is our Japanese free agent signing who will hopefully be shoring up the bullpen. He pitched a scoreless 9th inning, giving up a walk, and was credited with the save. I'm sure you never heard of Bobby Livingston. He is a non-roster invitee who will surely be assigned to a minor league team soon. But he impressed with 2.2 innings of no hit, two walk pitching.
At the bat, virtually all of the starters will play in the minors this season. Ike Davis impressed with two hits, Ruben Tejada had a hit and RBI and Russ Adams hit a long pinch hit home run.
Today, the Braves came back and beat the Mets 9-5. The Mets had led 4-0. Fernando Martinez had two hit including a triple. Other regulars with singles were Daniel Murphy, Rod Barajas, Alex Cora and Angel Pagan. Eddie Kunz did not pitch well as he gave up the lead by allowing 4 runs in his .1 innings of work. Josh Stinson gave up 5 run the next inning and received the loss; however it should be noted that only 1 run was earned as the Mets made four errors while he was on the mound.
Note that tomorrow's game against the Cardinals is at 1:10 PM and will be televised on SNY.
Monday, March 1, 2010
Jerry Mejia Is Not Ready For The Show
It's very annoying when fans get so excited about Jerry Mejia and the possibility of him pitching in the major leagues this season. It doesn't matter how well he pitches this spring. He will undoubtedly be sent to AA Binghamton to start the season.
Jerry Manuel is apparently intrigued by Mejia and has said that he wouldn't object to him making the team as a set up man. Firstly, I have a problem with the word "intrigued". I'm tired of that word being used by so many Mets bloggers. Find a different word, please. Secondly, while Mejia pitched well last season at A St. Lucie, he pitched poorly in AA Binghamton and again this winter in the Arizona Fall League. Mejia is no where close to being major league ready. Rushing him is not the issue. Living in a fantasy world is the issue. I think that Mets fans are so desperate for good news that they overreact to any positive occurrence by one of their prospects.
Like I said, he will surely begin 2010 as a starter in AA Binghamton. Let's see how he does there before Mets fans start jumping through hoops.
Jerry Manuel is apparently intrigued by Mejia and has said that he wouldn't object to him making the team as a set up man. Firstly, I have a problem with the word "intrigued". I'm tired of that word being used by so many Mets bloggers. Find a different word, please. Secondly, while Mejia pitched well last season at A St. Lucie, he pitched poorly in AA Binghamton and again this winter in the Arizona Fall League. Mejia is no where close to being major league ready. Rushing him is not the issue. Living in a fantasy world is the issue. I think that Mets fans are so desperate for good news that they overreact to any positive occurrence by one of their prospects.
Like I said, he will surely begin 2010 as a starter in AA Binghamton. Let's see how he does there before Mets fans start jumping through hoops.
Sunday, February 28, 2010
Meaningful March Games Begin On Tuesday
For all you diehard baseball fans, spring training games start this Tuesday March 2nd. The Mets will play the Braves at 1:10PM and the game will be televised on both SNY and MLBN. No less than seventeen Mets spring training games will be televised locally in New York. The long winter of discontent among Mets fans will be ending.
Of course winning and losing these games is not meaningful. But the games are still important. We fans get to evaluate the players and see how they progress as the regular season approaches. Is Johan Santana healthy and throwing 93MPH again? There are so many questions about the other starting pitchers too. Can Mike Pelfrey, and Oliver Perez rebound from poor 2009 seasons? Will John Maine be healthy and finally come into his own.
We will also get to see for the first time, our newest star left fielder Jason Bay. We are counting on Jason to hit at least 30 home runs this season. But Reyes, Wright, Beltan, and Francoeur must also step up big time. Only then can the chemistry and camaraderie develop and grow which will enable this team to succeed.
It's hard to believe that all MLB teams play about 30 exhibition games prior to playing 162 regular season games. That's a lot of games. But for the diehard fan, it doesn't matter. The more the merrier.
Of course winning and losing these games is not meaningful. But the games are still important. We fans get to evaluate the players and see how they progress as the regular season approaches. Is Johan Santana healthy and throwing 93MPH again? There are so many questions about the other starting pitchers too. Can Mike Pelfrey, and Oliver Perez rebound from poor 2009 seasons? Will John Maine be healthy and finally come into his own.
We will also get to see for the first time, our newest star left fielder Jason Bay. We are counting on Jason to hit at least 30 home runs this season. But Reyes, Wright, Beltan, and Francoeur must also step up big time. Only then can the chemistry and camaraderie develop and grow which will enable this team to succeed.
It's hard to believe that all MLB teams play about 30 exhibition games prior to playing 162 regular season games. That's a lot of games. But for the diehard fan, it doesn't matter. The more the merrier.
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Focus On The Field - Mets Baseball
It could be called the winter of discontent for Mets fans. Many were frustrated every time another free agent signed elsewhere. But we did get Jason Bay and that's not too shabby. Omar Minaya and Jeff Wilpon were constantly getting battered in the media. Omar being incompetent and Jeff being a liar and a lousy chief of the Mets.
But that's all behind us now. Spring training has started. The first exhibition game is this Tuesday. Yes, baseball is back. It's finally time to focus on the field. Who will and won't make the opening day 25 man roster?
Let's take a look at what's happening down in Port St. Lucie. Pitchers and catchers had reported last Thursday February 18th. Many others reported at that time too ahead of schedule. Carlos Beltran arrived to help support the team even though he will only be rehabbing his knee.
Morale is starting out very high. Johan Santana has claimed to be perfectly healthy after his off season elbow surgery. He quickly announced himself to be the best pitcher in the NL East. Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez are "in the best shape" of their lives. Hopefully that will translate into effective pitching. John Maine is also healthy for the first time since 2007. They all seem very eager to prove themselves.
Mets players seem to have a new energy and excitement. They seem pumped and have the energy of rookies. David Wright of course, wants desperately to rebound from last year's power outage. Jason Bay seems ready to lead by example. Jeff Francoeur has that perennial smile. He is planning on being a real force and impact player. How can you not root for him.
Mets fans can't even remember what it was like when Jose Reyes was healthy. But Reyes is healthy and seems giddy to be back on the field. As Jose goes, so goes the Mets. And if he is indeed back at full strength, the Mets should do well. It will be such a refreshing change from the disaster on the field last year.
Mets fans need to support their team, not booing at every failure. And no more negativity about our owners and GM. We fans will be focused on the field. Hopefully our second season at Citifield will be one for the record books.
But that's all behind us now. Spring training has started. The first exhibition game is this Tuesday. Yes, baseball is back. It's finally time to focus on the field. Who will and won't make the opening day 25 man roster?
Let's take a look at what's happening down in Port St. Lucie. Pitchers and catchers had reported last Thursday February 18th. Many others reported at that time too ahead of schedule. Carlos Beltran arrived to help support the team even though he will only be rehabbing his knee.
Morale is starting out very high. Johan Santana has claimed to be perfectly healthy after his off season elbow surgery. He quickly announced himself to be the best pitcher in the NL East. Mike Pelfrey and Oliver Perez are "in the best shape" of their lives. Hopefully that will translate into effective pitching. John Maine is also healthy for the first time since 2007. They all seem very eager to prove themselves.
Mets players seem to have a new energy and excitement. They seem pumped and have the energy of rookies. David Wright of course, wants desperately to rebound from last year's power outage. Jason Bay seems ready to lead by example. Jeff Francoeur has that perennial smile. He is planning on being a real force and impact player. How can you not root for him.
Mets fans can't even remember what it was like when Jose Reyes was healthy. But Reyes is healthy and seems giddy to be back on the field. As Jose goes, so goes the Mets. And if he is indeed back at full strength, the Mets should do well. It will be such a refreshing change from the disaster on the field last year.
Mets fans need to support their team, not booing at every failure. And no more negativity about our owners and GM. We fans will be focused on the field. Hopefully our second season at Citifield will be one for the record books.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Danny Baseball Is Back
I'm back. It's been a good winter. Best news is that Spring is less than one month away. Baseball is back. Actually baseball was never gone. Hot Stove baseball was going on all winter long.
So what have I been doing? A lot of things actually. Firstly, I've been doing my physical therapy for both of my shoulders and both of my knees. This is in preparation for the upcoming 48+ baseball season. I rehabbed a partially torn rotator cuff last season and was able to throw pain free. That's a major accomplishment. The problem was that I caught like 15 out of our 18 games, and by the end of the season my knees were totally shot. My right knee is better, but my left one is still hurting. I still hope to catch this season, at least half the time.
I've decided to step down as Manager and G.M of the Mariners. It was too much stress and I don't like stress. I've worked hard to reduce my level of stress. Now I can just play ball, bring my own equipment bag and have a lot of fun.
I've also been writing for Mets Merized Online
It's a Mets fans blog. I've had my articles posted once or twice a week. Check it out. Click on "Authors" and my name will pop up first on the list. And you can read all my stuff. I'd like to think that I have some Mets Merized fans who like my stuff quite a bit. But I know for sure that I have my critics too. I wouldn't want it any other way.
I've been reading quite a bit too. I'm into non-fiction/historical fiction. Ted Kennedy's autobiography was a great book. So was the Harry Truman biography by David McCullough. I've read a bunch of baseball books too: "Seasons in the Sun", by Roger Kahn, and "Eight Men Out", by Eliot Asinov - to name two. Now I'm reading the classic by James Michener, "Alaska".
More about me and more about baseball to come all spring and summer long. And don't forget to look for my stuff at Metsmerizedonline.com.
Danny
So what have I been doing? A lot of things actually. Firstly, I've been doing my physical therapy for both of my shoulders and both of my knees. This is in preparation for the upcoming 48+ baseball season. I rehabbed a partially torn rotator cuff last season and was able to throw pain free. That's a major accomplishment. The problem was that I caught like 15 out of our 18 games, and by the end of the season my knees were totally shot. My right knee is better, but my left one is still hurting. I still hope to catch this season, at least half the time.
I've decided to step down as Manager and G.M of the Mariners. It was too much stress and I don't like stress. I've worked hard to reduce my level of stress. Now I can just play ball, bring my own equipment bag and have a lot of fun.
I've also been writing for Mets Merized Online
It's a Mets fans blog. I've had my articles posted once or twice a week. Check it out. Click on "Authors" and my name will pop up first on the list. And you can read all my stuff. I'd like to think that I have some Mets Merized fans who like my stuff quite a bit. But I know for sure that I have my critics too. I wouldn't want it any other way.
I've been reading quite a bit too. I'm into non-fiction/historical fiction. Ted Kennedy's autobiography was a great book. So was the Harry Truman biography by David McCullough. I've read a bunch of baseball books too: "Seasons in the Sun", by Roger Kahn, and "Eight Men Out", by Eliot Asinov - to name two. Now I'm reading the classic by James Michener, "Alaska".
More about me and more about baseball to come all spring and summer long. And don't forget to look for my stuff at Metsmerizedonline.com.
Danny
Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Former Mets Greats Around The League
This is a list of former Mets and the team that they played for in 2009.
Orioles
Melvin Mora, Ty Wiggington
Red Sox
Jason Bay, Billy Wagner, Chris Woodward, Billy Wagner, Paul Byrd, Billy Traber
White Sox
Freddy Garcia, Octavio Dotel
Indians
Joe Smith
Royals
Mike Jacobs
Brian Bannister
Bruce Chen
Angels
Scott Kazmir
Darren Oliver
Twins
Carlos Gomez
Philip Humber
Kevin Mulvey
Yankees
AJ Burnett
Xavier Nady
Mariners
Mike Carp
Jason Vargas
Rays
Dan Wheeler
Chad Bradford
Jason Isringhausen
Rangers
Darren O'Day
Blue Jays
Marco Scutaro
D Backs
Yusmeiro Petit
Scott Schoenweis
Tony Clark
Braves
Ryan Church
Cubs
Aaron Heilman
Rockies
Glendon Rusch
Marlins
Matt Lindstrom
Luis Ayala
Astros
Jeff Keppinger
Kaz Matsui
Mike Hampton
Dodgers
Doug Mentkiewicz
Brewers
Mike Cameron
Braden Looper
David Weathers
Phillies
Miguel Cairo
Pedro Martinez
Chan Ho Park
Tyler Walker
Pirates
Tyler Yates
Lastings Milledge
Padres
Heath Bell
Nationals
Jesus Flores
Livan Hernanadez
Jorge Sosa
Orioles
Melvin Mora, Ty Wiggington
Red Sox
Jason Bay, Billy Wagner, Chris Woodward, Billy Wagner, Paul Byrd, Billy Traber
White Sox
Freddy Garcia, Octavio Dotel
Indians
Joe Smith
Royals
Mike Jacobs
Brian Bannister
Bruce Chen
Angels
Scott Kazmir
Darren Oliver
Twins
Carlos Gomez
Philip Humber
Kevin Mulvey
Yankees
AJ Burnett
Xavier Nady
Mariners
Mike Carp
Jason Vargas
Rays
Dan Wheeler
Chad Bradford
Jason Isringhausen
Rangers
Darren O'Day
Blue Jays
Marco Scutaro
D Backs
Yusmeiro Petit
Scott Schoenweis
Tony Clark
Braves
Ryan Church
Cubs
Aaron Heilman
Rockies
Glendon Rusch
Marlins
Matt Lindstrom
Luis Ayala
Astros
Jeff Keppinger
Kaz Matsui
Mike Hampton
Dodgers
Doug Mentkiewicz
Brewers
Mike Cameron
Braden Looper
David Weathers
Phillies
Miguel Cairo
Pedro Martinez
Chan Ho Park
Tyler Walker
Pirates
Tyler Yates
Lastings Milledge
Padres
Heath Bell
Nationals
Jesus Flores
Livan Hernanadez
Jorge Sosa
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