Daily Archives: February 19, 2008
Johan Santana is profiled and featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated’s 2008 
Spring Training Issue.
To read the online column, go to SI.com, which reads: “Happy Days: Johan Santana Lifts the Mets Without Throwing a Pitch”
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
…first off, hats off to Lee Jenkins, who is the author of the column, and who use to cover the Mets for the New York Times back when i first started MetsBlog.com…lee was always super supportive of this site…he’s an outstanding writer, which i have said time and again, and i’m glad to see him in SI…
…second, lee is right…it’s amazing how just one acquisition helped lift the spirits of this franchise, from ownership to the fans…so much so, that i still can’t help but wonder what might have happened had santana not been traded to the Mets…and worse, been traded to the Yankees…fortunately, we’ll never know…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
At Mets Refugees, Dan M. provides another great update on the construction of Citi Field, complete with commentary and pictures.
Christopher G. Swann of Stadium Page also provides a terrific photographic update of the construction, including interior photos.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
According to a text message from SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt, Fred and 
Jeff Wilpon met side-by-side with with reporters today and talked about a variety of topics.
Fred Wilpon said that he expects the team to go far in to October, and he is happy that Carlos Beltran showed similar confidence to reporters over the weekend.
For more on Wilpon’s talk with reporters, go t o the Journal News and Newsday.
By the way, Moises Alou will arrive in camp later today. He will talk with reporters tomorrow.
Burkhardt will have one-on-one interview with Jose Reyes, as well as video from the day in camp, and clips from Wilpon’s Q&A, during tonight’s edition of SportsNite on 
.
During last night’s Mets Hot Stove Reports on SNY, Johan Santana talked about how comfortable he is in Mets camp; confidence in the team, and it’s offense; his relationship with Pedro Martinez, and Rick Peterson; and dealing with fans in St. Lucie, among other things.
To watch Santana’s interview, click the play…
…i love those gray spring-training t-shirts all the players were wearing during the first few days of camp…i could not find it on Mets.com…i did, however, find this one, which is pretty slick…i may have to buy this…i swear i had this exact t-shirt as a kid…
Tagged SNY |According to a press release on Mets.com, advance ticket sales for the Mets’ final season at Shea Stadium have already surpassed 2 million.
Ticket sales are pacing 10% ahead of last year’s record-setting year-to-date sales.
…i’m wondering what the spike will be like on game-day ticket sales when Johan Santana pitches…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
…by the way, ‘according to a source with knowledge of the vehicle,’ the mysterious Red Cadillac Escalade belongs to Luis Castillo, like David Lennon in Newsday initially reported…it does not belong to Moises Alou or Carlos Delgado…
For more on the Escalade, click here.
According to SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt, Pedro Martinez threw a side 
session today, under the watchful eyes of Rick Peterson and Fred Wilpon.
…i’m guessing it is wilpon in the golf cart parked behind pedro in the photo, courtesy of kevin…
…kevin explained to me that pedro threw part of his session with his eyes closed – a drill that peterson typically does with his youngest pitchers, not the veterans, to help them reinforce their mechanics…what’s odd in this case, he says, is that a) pedro was doing it, and b) he allowed reporters to watch…of the 15 or so pitches he threw with his eyes closed, only four were out of the zone…and in the dirt…and in the air…etc…but, i guess that’s the point…focus and repetition, so his desired arm slot is automatic…and this is what spring training is for…
Burkhardt will have video of Martinez no-eyes bullpen session during tonight’s edition of SportsNite on .
For more on Martinez, and his prophetic t-shirt from Guy Conti, check out David Lennon and his blog for Newsday.
Tagged Pedro Martinez |According to a text message from SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt, the clubhouse is packed today, with position players taking their physicals.
Burkhardt talked with Fernando Martinez, who has definitely matured and grown in to his body. He seems very comfortable, and told Burkhardt that he wants to be in New York at some point during this season.
…well, i mean, he is a Teenage Hitting Machine…
Moises Alou will arrive to camp later today, and will talk to the media shortly after.
…so, expect a dozen Moises Alou stories in your local newspapers tomorrow morning…
By the way, Burkhardt will have one-on-one interview with Jose Reyes, as well as video from the day in camp, during tonight’s edition of SportsNite on .
Billy Joel has added a second - and final - show 
on Friday, July 18 in The Last Play at Shea.
…so, wait, is this the Last Play at Shea, or is the night before…hmm…
Tickets for the two-night show go on sale this Saturday, Feb. 23 at 9 am at 507Tixx.com, and by phone at 718.507.TIXX.
…i want to care about this, but i don’t…until joel puts on a uniform and strikes out 20 batters, i just can’t get excited about a live greatest hits album in the middle of the season…sorry…
In Newsday, David Lennon writes about Luis Castillo’s Red Cadillac Escalade.
According to Burt Hubbach in the New York Post, Carlos Delgado arrived to camp yesterday, “In a tricked-out red Escalade with a cab that extended into the street.”
However, according to Lisa Kennelly in the Star-Ledger, the mysterious Red Escalade belongs to Moises Alou, ‘though there was no sign of Alou himself.’
…so, either some one is wrong here, or there is an inordinate number of ‘tricked-out’ Red Escalades in Mets camp…
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