Die Hard Sports Fan

The Amazins’ are smoking hot right now.  They are getting healthier even though they won’t begin the season with some critical components, but it is what it is.  I just hope that the hot streak continues when it counts.  In the meantime, the team that is on the field at the beginning of ‘08 will need to win as many games as possible until the injured players can return.  At least the Mets aren’t playing crappy ball and don’t have to come out of a funk in March with players out.  It could be much worse.

Mets.com:

Mets make all the Wright moves vs. Nats - Anthony DiComo summarized today’s game between the Nationals and the Mets.  New York beat Washington 8-2.  John Maine got the start on the mound.  The Mets are 16-7-1 in the Grapefruit League standings.

Santana goes six scoreless vs. O’s - Anthony DiComo summarized last night’s game between the Orioles and the Mets.  New York beat Baltimore 7-0.  Johan Santana got the start.  The Mets are 15-7-1 in the Grapefruit League standings.

Johan a hit on the mound, at the plate - Anthony DiComo tells us about Johan Santana’s performance last night.

Delgado returns to Mets’ lineup - Anthony DiComo lets us know that Carlos Delgado played last night, as well as how he did.  DiComo also thinks that Delgado should be healthy enough to finish the Grapefruit League schedule and make the Opening Day roster.  As a sidenote, Anthony reported that Olmedo Saenz was assigned to a Minor League camp.

Sanchez not ready to go back-to-back - Marty Noble stated that Duaner Sanchez is not willing to attempt back-to-back days yet which will probably land him on the DL when the season begins.

Minor League Report: The Final Five - Marty Noble pointed out that the Mets created their own version of March tourney madness, and he explains how it goes.

Newsday:

Johan will have to get used to hitting

Sanchez takes big step toward comfortable role - David Lennon covered the status of the bullpen.

New York Daily News:

Mets vulnerable to lefthanded pitching - Adam Rubin explains why the Mets are vulnerable to lefthanded pitching.

O’s baby, Johan Santana shuts down Baltimore

New York Post:

IT’S TIME TO REGISTER - Bart Hubbuch believes that Steven Register is making a great impression, and has a legit shot to wiggle his way into the Bullpen.

SANTANA HAVING ‘DOUBLE’ THE FUN

The Star-Ledger:

Game 22: Mets vs Nationals - Lisa Kennelly provided the lineup for today’s game between the Nationals and the Mets.

Mets Huber-is Holding Back Catcher - Matthew Artus takes a look at the ailing Catcher situation.

For Latinos, English can be a real curveball - Lisa Kennelly tells us what the Mets’ Latino players do to learn English.

Santana shows some punch with the bat

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The injury list is up to 16 now.  The Mets are downplaying the status of the injuries.  I’m getting more and more concerned about the ‘08 season.  All of these injuries are overshadowing our acquisition of Santana.  It was supposed to be an easy season, but we need our A-team to play for that to happen.  It seems realistic now that our B-team will be on the field a lot this year.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn’t.  Being a Mets fan, it just seems like nothing goes our way.  All we can do is hope.

Mets.com:

Minaya preparing for Alou-less Mets - Marty Noble explains why Omar Minaya will use use other Mets’ players until Moises Alou returns.

Alou likely out until May - Marty Noble further discusses the status of Alou.

Pedro set for first spring start - Anthony DiComo pointed out that Pedro Martinez is scheduled to make his Grapefruit League debut in tonight’s game against the Washington Nationals.

Newsday:

Kenny Lofton could help solve Mets’ problems - Jim Baumbach explains how Kenny Lofton can help the Mets.  When I think of Lofton, I crack up.  I once worked with a Yankees fan named Frank (from Brooklyn).  Frank would always mock me because I’m a Mets fan.  Each day he would say something like, “Hey Keith, the Mets suck!”  So once upon a time, the Yankees got Lofton.  When arguing the lineups heading into that season, Frank said to me, ”We got Lofton!”  I said, “You should be fine then.”  We all know how that turned out.  It cracked me up that a Yankees fan would try to use Lofton as the selling point when they had a ton of talent.  So Lofton makes me chuckle, but I don’t have a better answer than that for the Metropolitans.  Lofton was pretty good in the Playoffs last year on the Indians.  It made me think of Frank all over again.

Alou’s hernia adds to Mets’ injury woes

El Duque hopes new windup will work out - According to David Lennon, Orlando Hernandez said this when asked if he thinks the new delivery will work, “I don’t know - good luck! When I throw in the game, please, everybody cross their fingers.”  What kind of answer is that?  I want Pelfrey out there!  Lennon believed that Johan Santana had a good outing yesterday.  Willie Randolph said that Duaner Sanchez may not be ready in time for Opening Day.

E-mail from Port St. Lucie - David Lennon stated that Martinez a Double-A prospect named Daniel Murphy.

New York Daily News:

Moises Alou diagnosed with hernia, could be sidelined until mid-May

Omar Minaya’s plan shows its age

Johan Santana’s off-speed is on - Adam Rubin was also complimentary of Santana’s performance yesterday.  Also, Olmedo Saenz resolved his work-visa issue.  Brady Clark is also going to try to learn to play first base in his effort to make the team.

New York Post:

AMAZIN’ BODY COUNT RISING

EL DUQUE GETS SET TO KICK-START HIS SPRING

JOHAN REBOUNDS; PEDRO IS UP NEXT

IN DENIAL: INJURY FLURRY CAUSING NO WORRIES

The New York Times:

The Mets From A to Z: One Fan’s Perspective - Vincent M. Mallozzi told the story of a Mets fan named Matthew Silverman.

Alou Out 4 to 6 Weeks, Making Mets’ Injury Report Complete

The Star-Ledger:

Rain washes out Pedro’s start - Lisa Kennelly reported that storms cancelled tonight’s game between the Mets and the Nationals.

Maybe An Answer’s Under Our Nose - Matthew Artus tries to find solutions for the injured Alou.

Santana is sharp in start

Alou to have hernia surgery

Milledge determined to prove Mets wrong - He can’t prove them wrong by what he does on the field.  The Mets acquired him because he was good on the field.  It is off the field where Lastings Milledge has to prove them wrong.

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Major League Baseball continued to make a mockery of itself today in Congress.  Clemens is toast, but I knew that already.  Every time he says a sentence, he makes the situation worse.  I enjoyed the mockery because I always thought Clemens was a piece of crap since he cried after losing to the Mets in the World Series in 1986.  All he does is whine.  Then he threw the bat at Piazza.  He has always been scum.  The simplest reason why they were in Congress today was because there were discrepancies in the Mitchell Report.  If Clemens admitted it like everybody else in the report then Congress would not have held the session today.  It should never be in Congress because MLB should be able to police themselves as everybody suggests, but Bud Selig is too incompetent to police anything.  He had to hire a Senator to create a report just to discover that a steroid problem existed.  Selig needs to step down. 

Mets.com:

Sanchez aiming to play pivotal role - I agree with Marty Noble 100% about Duaner Sanchez.  Sanchez was a stud prior to his injury.  We need to see if he can get back to being a stud.  If Duaner can then the Mets are going to have a great season because he’s the one that will fill the void from the starter to the closer.

Notes: Santana makes first appearance - Marty Noble notes that ”Johan Santana made his first appearance at the Mets’ Spring Training headquarters and, in relative privacy, threw for about 15 minutes. Niemann caught, while Rick Peterson, the big league pitching coach, observed. Later Peterson and Santana auditioned each other. And all was right in the Mets’ world.”

Around the Horn: Bench - Marty Noble examines the Bench in the final article of his weekly column ‘Around the Horn’.

Newsday:

Citi Field, Mets new home, quickly taking shape - Roderick Boone lets you know all about the status of Citi Field.  I’m excited about the new stadium.  I do not like the corporate name, and I will miss Shea…who won’t?  But, I’m excited about the new stadium.

New York Daily News:

Major League Baseball acts on John Rocker’s steroid curve - Ian Begley points out that former Brave, John Rocker, stated that baseball doctors as well as union doctors basically informed players in Texas how to use steroids safely.  Due to this claim, Major League Baseball is investigating the situation.

Citi Field making progress - Oren Yaniv also reports on the progress of Citi Field.

Infielder Olmedo Saenz with Mets - Adam Rubin further discusses the Mets acquiring Olmedo Saenz.

New York Post:

WILPON EAGER TO SIT ON CITI PORCH - According to Mark Hale, “Mets COO Jeff Wilpon is such a fan of the right field porch at Citi Field that he’s going to personally own seats there. Right field may be far away from the batter’s box, but for Wilpon, being in the porch is worth it. The porch will stand approximately 30 feet tall and extend over the field for 8 to 10 feet.”

New York Times:

An Uneven Year Over, a Met Seeks the Grind - Joe Smith says he’ll do whatever the Mets want to help out the team, according to Ben Shpigel.

New Home for Mets: On Time, On Budget

The Star-Ledger:

The Mets Close To Adding Another… - Jeremy Cothran points out that the Mets may bring Ben Johnson back.

Who Picks Up the Call to the Bullpen?

Citi Field honors past

Reliever seeking new start with Mets - Jeremy Cothran also discusses Joe Smith.

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3 days until pitchers and catchers.  Omar is staying busy by making deals right down to the final days before pitchers and catchers report.  He signed Saenz and Armas Jr. as you will see below.

Note, you can purchase your Spring Training Tickets now on Mets.com.

Mets.com:

Mets ink Saenz to Minor League deal - Marty Noble reports that the Mets signed Olmedo Saenz to a Minor League deal.  Noble feels like Saenz, 37, is a veteran that can back up Carlos Delgado at first base if he makes the roster.  Marty points out that Franco and Conine were the players that backed up Delgado last year, so that is essentially how Olmedo would be utilized by the Mets.  Saenz last played for the Dodgers, and Noble covers all of that in the article.

Newsday:

Mets sign pitcher Armas to beef up rotation - David Lennon reports that the Mets also signed Tony Armas Jr. to minor league contract yesterday.  Lennon states that the Mets hope that Armas Jr., 29, can strengthen the back end of the rotation at minimal cost.  Tony pitched for the Pirates last year, and spent 8 seasons with the Expos/Nationals prior to that.  David provided Armas Jr.’s 2007 stats and his career stats in the article.  Last season’s numbers don’t look good, but how can they when he pitched for the Pirates.  His career numbers are a bit better than his 2007 numbers.  I hope it works out because my expectations for the Mets are high going into the season.

New York Daily News:

Home run apple will follow Mets to new Citi Field ballpark - The AP found out that,

“The big home run apple is coming,” the team’s chief operating officer, Jeff Wilpon, said Tuesday during a media tour of Citi Field, the new stadium.

An apple is coming, at any rate. Mets officials said they did not know whether it would be the same fiberglass apple that has popped up like a Champagne cork following Mets homers since 1980.

Conceptually, I like it.  They need to create a new one though.  The old one looks beat up.  The new one needs a little more pizzazz to it.

New York Times:

Pelfrey Looks to Make Mets’ Decision Difficult - Ben Shpigel points out that Mike Pelfrey is the only player that didn’t get traded that is still fighting for his spot on the field.  Pelfrey believes that this is his year.  After a really bad season in 2007, except for September, Mike still has a lot to prove.  He is still young.

The Star-Ledger:

Q & A with Always Amazin’

Mets Bring Armas Into the Fold

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