Daily Archives: February 20, 2008
According to Burt Hubbach, at his blog for the New York Post, 
Mets GM Omar Minaya said he is not interested in Freddy Garcia, who was only in town to say hello to his friends Pedro Martinez and Johan Santana.
Earlier today at SI.com, Jon Heyman wrote that Garcia has been seen with his agents at Mets camp in Port St. Lucie.
Garcia is represented by the Greenbergs, the same people who represent Jose Reyes and Santana.
Minaya also said it continues to look like the team will go to salary arbitration with Oliver Perez, who is a free agent after this season, reports John Delcos at his blog for the Journal News.
Delcos also provides a quick update from Willie Randolph, who talked with reporters today about Scott Schoeneweis, who left camp; Moises Alou and Jose Valentin; and his talk with the team, which did not reference ‘the Collapse,’ and will not do so until a 25–man roster is finalized later in camp.
…thanks to the invaluable Peter Wade for the links…
Tagged Oliver Perez |By the way, be sure to keep checking David Lennon’s blog for Newsday, as he has been updating the site several times a day, complete with all sorts of news and notes from Tradition Field.
For instance, today, he writes about Duaner Sanchez’s and Johan Santana’s bullpen session, Freddy Garcia, Raul Casanova’s 450–foot home run, and the popular Jay Horwitz.
…i still can’t believe Raul Casanova is in Mets camp…
…also, any time i hear his 
name, i laugh, because i think of the very bad, yet very catchy song from the 1980s by Ultimate Kaos…
Also, for more on Fernando Martinez, who hopes to be in New York at some point during this season, check out the New York Post and the Bergen Record.
In the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes that Ruben Gotay is out of options, which is one of a few reasons why he is likely to make the team’s opening day roster.
Lastly, also in the Daily News, Rubin and Nicholas Hirshon catch up with Gary Carter, who believes he could have helped prevent the team’s collapse during last September.
According to Carter, who turned down an opportunity to manage in Double-A last season, he was in line for the first-base coaches job last season, which eventually went to Howard Johnson.
…in line…what is this, the throne of England…i’ll be honest, carter is starting to sound like a cry-baby of late…i get it, you want to manage…and you’re not managing…the way i understand life, though, when you’re given an opportunity to move up, like, you know, go from Single-A to Double-A, it’s probably not wise to turn it down and wait for something better…sometimes, like it or not, the door only opens once…
During a recent interview with Sports Radio 950 in Philadelphia, 
ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark had the following to say, when asked if the Mets and Phillies genuinely do not like one another, given their public comments of late:
“I think there’s defintely something going on there. I don’t really think this is for the fans. I think it’s for each other. I really do…There were guys in (Philadelphia’s locker room) the other day, suggesting, ‘There will be a brawl,’ and we sure hope we’re all there for that.”
To listen to the entire nine-minute interview, click here.
…it’s amazing how fast this has all gone down, too…because, it was only a couple of seasons ago we were all talking about how there is so little rivalry between these two teams, because they never really competed for first place at the same time…until last season…and so, bam, here we are…collapses…war of words…talk of brawls…it’s exciting…and long overdue…
Tagged Phillies |
SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt sent in the following text message…
…sight of the day has got to be Duaner Sanchez, who got a buzz cut and who threw live batting practice…he was throwing gas…just two swings against him in his session: a David Wright foul tip and a swing and miss by Damion Easley…
…as you can see in the photo from kevin, Moises Alou is set to step in to the box…remember, go slow mo…go slow…
Burkhardt will have clips from the day in Port St. Lucie, as well as a one-on-one interview with Willie Randolph during Geico’s SportsNite tonight on 
.
In an article for Newsday, David Lennon writes that Jose Reyes will be much more serious this season. Reyes, as quoted by Lennon…
“No more handshakes. People kept saying we got teams fired up when we did those handshakes, so now I want to focus more on baseball. Nobody said anything to me, but it’s because of what happened last year. That’s why I’m taking this year more seriously. In 2006, everybody loved [the handshakes], but now it’s different. I’m going to enjoy the game, but I’m not going to do the handshakes with the guys. I don’t want people to talk about that. I just want to play baseball. I want to take care of business on the field.”
Brian Schneider, as quoted by Lennon…
“For some guys, it’s all right if they do it in the dugout, but if they do it outside… sometimes people have a problem with it.”
…our little boy is all grown up now…honestly, i feel two ways about this…first, it is nice to see reyes maturing and taking his role on the team more seriously…the dancing and the handshakes outside of the dugout were sometimes a bit much…on the other hand, i always love his celebratory dances…they were part of the fun of watching him play, and i hope he doesn’t become too serious where it takes away from his enthusiasm for the game…it’s too bad that players on other teams are influencing his behavior with how they feel about his “antics”, but it seems that the whole team seems much more focused this year, including David Wright who has cut-off his promotional appearances, and polls regarding which song he should approach the plate to…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche |
According to a text message from SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt, Moises Alou is in camp and took part in the team’s first official full-squad workout this morning.
Earlier today, Willie Randolph talked to his entire team for the first time this spring.
…the conversation was in private, but as the day goes on, usually, 
word leaks out regarding what willie talked about…
…kevin also sent in the following two photos…the first features the entire team stretching before the workout…the second is of Juan Lopez hitting infield practice to David Wright, Jose Reyes, Carlos Delgado and Luis Castillo…
By the way, Burkhardt will have a one-on-one interview with Randolph during Geico’s SportsNite tonight on .
…as usual, the Phillies sent fans a back-door link via e-mail to 
purchase single-game tickets in advance of tomorrow’s official sales date…
To access the link, and purchase single-game tickets to Citizen’s Bank Park before the general public, click here.
…thanks to CoreyNYC for the link, and god bless the blogosphere…
As noted in an earlier post to MetsBlog, according to their Facebook Group, more than 500 Phillies fans are planning a ‘Take Over’ of Shea Stadium during the Nationally-televised Phillies-Mets game on September 6, because they are ‘sick and tired of stupid Mets fans taking over Citizen’s Bank Park.’
For what it’s worth, the Mets travel to Philadelphia on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20, both of which are Nationally televised games.
…Update…10:40 am…
…MetsBlog’s Brandon Eddy has already gathered 24 Mets fans to attend to the Saturday, April 19 game, which will air on FOX…they will be sitting in Section 421…
…additionally, another reader of this site has organized 40 Mets fans to take a bus to the same game…
…so, if you’re thinking of buying tickets, go Saturday…maybe we can get a MetsBlog tailgate going…
…this is going to be a crazy season, isn’t it…oh, man…
Tagged MetsBlog |According to Jon Heyman at SI.com, free-agent RHP Freddy Garcia has been seen at Mets camp in Port St. Lucie.
…if you recall, through much of the off-season, i had been writing that the Mets had been viewed as the front runners for garcia…so, either that continues, or he has resulted to begging…
Garcia, 32, is rehabbing from shoulder surgery on his labrum and rotator cuff and should be ready to pitch by midseason.
During his nine-year career, he is 117-76 and has a 4.07 ERA – though he was just 1–5 last season for the Phillies.
According to their Facebook Group, a large group of Phillies fans are planning a ‘Take Over’ of Shea Stadium during the Phillies-Mets game on September 6.
…thanks to our old friend Luke Halpert for the link…
The following appears on their webpage…
“Are you sick and tired of stupid Mets fans taking over Citizen’s Bank Park? Well its time to return the favor! On Saturday September 6th Philadelphia will be taking over Shea Stadium. Right now we are in the process of talking to sales reps at Shea Stadium to get group tickets available. As soon as they are available we will post a log-in id and password so you can order your tickets! This game will be a FOX SATURDAY BASEBALL GAME which means its on NATIONAL TV!!!! I want as many Phillies fans there as humanly possible! Lets send Shea Stadium out with a bang! F@#K THE METS!!!!!!”
…from what i can gather, more than 500 Phillies fans say they will try to attend the game…ugh…
For what it’s worth, the Mets travel to Philadelphia on Saturday, April 19 and Sunday, April 20, both of which are Nationally televised games.
Single-game tickets for Citizen’s Bank Park go on sale tomorrow, Thurs., Feb. 21, and can be purchased at Phillies.com.
Tagged Phillies |
According to ImpactoDeportivo.com, RHP Bartolo Colon has agreed to a one-year deal with the White Sox, pending a physical.
…hat tip to Rotoworld.com for the link…
…Update…3:30 pm…
According to the Chicago Tribune, White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen said there is no agreement with Bartolo Colon.
…haven’t we seen this movie before with the White Sox, previously starring Octavio Dotel…
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