Daily Archives: February 21, 2008
In a post to his blog for Newsday, David Lennon quotes Willie Randolph on why modern-day rivalries never last very long, and why the supposed Mets-Phillies rivalry has a long way to go before getting to that level.
Carlos Beltran told reporters that he intends to speak up a bit more this season, saying “You don’t always lead by what you do on the field,’’ reports John Delcos in the Journal News.
For hi-res pictures of Billy Wagner pitching in camp today, check out Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News, where he also captures a great exchange between Randolph and Pedro Martinez, and how they would have faced off against one another had they both played at the same time.
In a report for WFAN.com, Ed Coleman brings us up to speed on the health of Moises Alou, Beltran, Luis Castillo, Endy Chavez, Damion Easley, Carlos Delgado, Martinez, and others.
Lastly, at the blog for Gotham Sports Radio, Tom Starita equates the Mets to Rocky Balboa.
Jack is back with more great photos from Tradition Field, which you can check out by clicking here.
In his e-mail, Jack also explains how the team’s pitchers tend to work out each day, writing…
“All the pitchers and catchers stretch and then work on several hours of fundamentals drills, from fielding bunts to pick-offs to bunting. The pitchers break up into groups of six or seven and split up over four different fields. Guy Conti coordinates the drills by blowing an air horn to signify starting and finishing of the drills. At the end of each drill, the pitchers jog off the field and cross the sidewalks among all the fans to the next adjacent field. All the kids line up along the paths and get high-fives from the likes of Pedro, Johan, Oliver Perez, Johnny Maine, Billy Wagner, etc.”
…great work as always, jack…thank you…
Tagged MetsBlog |
Mets COO Jeff Wilpon will be a guest tomorrow at 8 am during WFAN’s morning show, hosted by Boomer Esiason and Craig Carton.
To stream the program live, go to WFAN.com.
Tagged WFAN |At his blog for Newsday, David Lennon reports 
that Orlando Hernandez did not have a bunion removed as the Mets said he did.
Instead, “He had surgery to fix a dislocated second toe, which is now actually shorter, affecting his balance,” Lennon explains. “Because of that, Hernandez is lagging behind the other pitchers as he tries to adjust.”
…so, basically, the guy is hurt so often, even his employer can’t keep track of what pains him…good grief…
In a second post, Lennon recaps lunch plans between Joe Smith and Mike Pelfrey.
Meanwhile, according to Adam Rubin in the Daily News, Jose Reyes may not be doing the Professor Reyes segment for Shea Stadium this season.
“I did it two years in a row already,” Reyes tells Rubin. “But I’ll think about it. I haven’t said no yet.”
In the report, Rubin also writes of Shea’s alternate plan, using John Maine instead; as well as the latest on Oliver Perez’s contract status; and talks, or the lack of talks, with Freddy Garcia.
Speaking of Rubin, at his blog for the Daily News, he has posted a great Q&A with Carlos Delgado.
In the New York Times, Ben Shpigel profiles Jose Valentin, who has had a big influence on Reyes.
Lastly, at MLB.com, Marty Noble takes a closer look at Brian Schneider, who looks forward to having ‘a hand in everything.’
Tagged Orlando Hernandez |Last night on 
, Kevin Burkhardt talked to Willie Randolph live on Geico’s SportsNite, during which he discusses having been impressed so far with Duaner Sanchez, Fernando Martinez and Mike Pelfrey; any available roster spots; getting Jose Reyes more days off; the emerging rivalry with the Phillies; and naming his opening day starter; among other things.
To watch the six-minute interview, click play below…
Tagged SNY, Willie Randolph |
In his blog for the Star-Ledger, and his blog Newsday, Jeremy Cothran and David Lennon check in with quick hits from the day so far at camp.
According to Lennon, “It was no contest. Pitchers are clearly ahead of the hitters at this point and Billy Wagner proved that emphatically this morning.”
…the pictures in this post come courtesy of Luke Halpert’s phone…the first is of wagner and 
Tom Nieto getting ready to throw batting practice…the second photo is of prospect Brant Rustich getting interrupted to sign autographs while on route to the port-o-john…thanks, luke…
…speaking of pics, this morning, cothran used a screen capture of Tecmo Super Bowl in his post…in lennon’s recent post, he uses a screen capture of Glass Joe from Mike Tyson’s Punch Out…is NES cool again…
…recently we’ve have received several emails asking when those selected from the random drawing for tickets to select Mets games this season would be notified…
According to Mets.com, winners will be notified by the email address provided in entry form by Friday, February 22.
Tagged Mike Nichols |The Mets are sending an e-mail pushing NL East-centric ticket plans, as well as single-game tickets, with the subject line: “It’s Your Turn to Join the ‘Team to Beat’”
…that, right there, that is exactly what i was talking about in my post titled Stop Leading with Your Chin, from January 18…
…it’s one thing for the players, or even the fans, to be confident, but when the slogans start reflecting it, it puts us all in a vulnerable position…ugh…they just don’t get it, do they…
At any rate, to learn more about buying Mets tickets, from regular season games to ticket plans, click here.
Tagged MetsBlog |Last week, WFAN announced that Wayne Hagin will join Howie Rose as part of the Mets radio broadcast team.
In case you’re interested, Hagin will appear live at 11 am during today’s mid-day show on WFAN to talk about his career, broadcasting and the Mets.
Tagged WFAN |Moises Alou made his first appearance in camp yesterday, and 
talked with reporters after taking an early batting practice – making him, you guessed it, the Profile du Jour.
For more on Alou, who may play until his 45 years old, explains Adam Rubin in the Daily News, read Newsday, the Bergen Record, and the Star-Ledger.
Willie Randolph, on budgeting Alou’s playing time, as quoted by Rubin:
“We’re going to make sure we communicate a lot about how he feels and where he is. We’ve already had that conversation…In a perfect world, I’d like to run him out there every day. But that’s not realistic. We’ll just keep the lines of communication open. And even when you communicate with Moises, the way he plays makes it hard, because he just plays all-out all the time. It’s almost like I wish he would loaf or dog it sometimes, because when he gets after it, he’s in overdrive a lot, and that’s when he gets hurt.”
…interesting theory…of course, if he plays soft, that’s probably when he’ll pull something…the way i see it, much of alou’s ability to get rest will hinge on whether Carlos Delgado makes a solid rebound, and how Ryan Church develops…last season, there were times when alou was the most important hitter on the team…that can never happen again…because if he gets hurt, well, you know what happens…however, if others are carrying their weight, his time on and off the field will be easier to navigate…
In just 87 games for the Mets last season, Alou hit .341 with 13 HR and 49 RBI through 328 at-bats.
Tagged Moises Alou | ← Older posts
