February 26, 2008 at 8:41 pm
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37 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Last night on NY1, Tom McDonald talked one on one with Pedro Martinez, who had the following to say about:
His overall health:
“Right now my health is exactly where I’d like it to be all year. That’s how good I feel. If I’m this way all year, you’re gonna see lots of smiles and you’re gonna have a lot of fun with the things that I’ll probably be able to do.”
Pitching alongside Johan Santana:
“We actually met a long time ago. Minnesota and Boston shared the same town in spring training. I remember exchanging a lot with Santana,a especially with my arrival to Boston. Santana was a young kid, a young rookie, he asked me a couple of questions about the change-up and right now I’d say that’s probably the best change-up you can find out there. I’m glad I was able to talk to him back then and keep the closeness with each-other. It’s not only because Santana is so good as a player, but because he’s such a great human being.”
If it will be odd not being the team’s ace:
“No, not at all. To be honest, I’ll talk to you from my heart like I always do. I’ll tell you there was a time when I first came up and it didn’t matter who was in front of me, when I was given the ball and called ‘the guy,’ ‘the headliner,’ or whatever you guys wanted to call me. I was that guy and never stopped to look back about what other guys felt and I don’t expect Johan to do anything like that either. I expect him to come and perform and do what he’s got to do like he always does. I wish him the best and I wish I could help him ease into it even more. I don’t really care what spot I’m on, I believe my spot will be the headline for me. He’s gonna be the headliner on the first day and I’m gonna be the headliner on the second day…
“So, it makes no difference to me when I pitch, today or tomorrow. I’m a professional, I understand what I have to do. I’m so thankful that we have someone like Johan, that could probably be in my spot today or in anybody’s spot.”
…interesting…it sounds to me like pedro just assumes that santana will be the team’s opening day starter…
…added to by Peter Wade, who provided the quotes…
…as always, it’s a total pleasure to listen to pedro…he’s interesting and engaging…some of the stuff about being the number two starter may come across in print as pedro just trying to say the right thing…but watching and listening to the interview, i believe he really has no problem with it…now, the recent comments made by reporters about his health issues, i believe it does bother him despite his denial…you can tell he takes it like they are questioning his heart…
February 26, 2008 at 5:14 pm
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27 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
I will be Port St. Lucie from Saturday, March 1, through Friday, March 7, live blogging my experience at Tradition Field.
…if you have any questions about camp, game day, the 
players, practice, whatever, that you’d like to see my answer, let me know via e-mail and i’ll do my best to track them down…
Also, on Saturday night, March 1, me and few other bloggers, as well as 20 or so Mets fans, are planning to hang out at Duffy’s Sports Grill.
…if you’ll be in St. Lucie, and would like to hang out, send me an e-mail so i can put together a rough count…
February 26, 2008 at 4:58 pm
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24 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
…in a previous post at the end of today’s tie against the University of Michigan, i wrote that Willie Randolph argued the game’s final call, 
which was was reversed…apparently that was inaccurate…
However, according to David Lennon in his blog for Newsday, that was not the case at all.
In fact, as Lennon describes it, it was Sandy Alomar who argued the call, adding, “Randolph came out as well, only he was laughing.”
February 26, 2008 at 4:07 pm
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36 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
In a fantastic report for the Daily News, John Harper talks with Howard Johnson, Willie Randolph and Jose Reyes, who is trying to slow himself down at the plate to help avoid the type of slump he had at the end of last season.
Randolph, on Reyes’s slump, as quoted by Harper…
“Jose tried harder, harder, harder – and more was worse for him. But we forget that he’s still young, and the reality is that you’re going to struggle. People are making adjustments on you, and Jose is such a free swinger that he doesn’t make adjustments on the fly… We need to slow him down. It’s hard because he’s in attack mode all the time. Jose’s all go-go-go, and you love that, but good pitchers exploit that aggressiveness… Jose knows he’s a better hitter when he hits the ball down, but when you struggle the way he did last year, you don’t think about those things. I think Jose will be fine.”
…i think jose will be fine, too…as long as they don’t fill his head with too much information…he’s such a delicate case, because what makes him great, i.e., his quick, reckless abandon, is also may lead to his struggles…
…that’s part of maturing, though…learning how to balance it all…when to turn it one…when to turn it off…etc…and i believe, especially based on some of jose’s quotes to harper, that last season helped push along that maturation process…
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February 26, 2008 at 3:02 pm
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16 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
As noted earlier, Julie Donaldson recently left SNY to join WHDH-TV in Boston.
According to the New York Post, Donaldson will be replaced by Jocelyn Pierce as the host of Mets Weekly.
Pierce is the soon-to-be wife of Giants LB Antonio Pierce.
…i’d provide a picture, but a) i can’t find one, and b) even if i could, i would not post it, for fear of what antonio might do…
February 26, 2008 at 2:56 pm
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36 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
The Mets and the University of Michigan tied today by the score of 4 to 4 in St. Lucie this afternoon.
- Jason Vargas and Aaron Heilman each allowed one run, while Ryan Cullen allowed two runs on three hits.
- Billy Wagner, Nate Field, Ricardo Rincon, Nelson Figueroa and Eddie Kunz each pitched a scoreless inning.
- Brady Clark was hitless in four at-bats.
- David Wright hit a two-run home run.
- Michel Abreu hit a game-tying, two-run home run in the botton of the ninth inning to make the game a push, since no other pitchers were scheduled to throw today.
- The home run was initially ruled a double. However, after Willie Randolph argued the call, in a practice game, it was reversed and the tie was agreed upon.
…how perfect for Fred Wilpon…neither his alma mater nor his own team lost…amazing…
For more information on the game, check out the Adam Rubin’s updates at his blog for the Daily News.
February 26, 2008 at 2:33 pm
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60 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
In a post to his blog for the Star-Ledger, Jeremy Cothran recaps this 
morning’s bullpen sessions by Pedro Martinez and Orlando Hernandez, who, according to Cothran, is throwing at ‘Wiffle Ball speed.’
Speaking of pitchers, according to the Associated Press, Scott Kazmir missed a scheduled intrasquad game today after feeling discomfort in his elbow on his final warmup pitch.
Lastly, at A Citizen’s Blog, a Phillies blog, Mike explains why the Mets are not the team to beat.
February 26, 2008 at 1:22 pm
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13 comments
by Chris Mazzone
According to Marty Noble at MLB.com, “Pedro Martinez will not approach the team about a contract beyond 2008 – though he would be willing to discuss the matter if the club broached the topic.”
…it’s no mystery that pedro’s future will be contingent upon his health and performance this year…i don’t expect the Mets to take the risk of re-signing him before seeing how he holds up this season…
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
…the way i understand this is that, once the season starts, pedro is focused on pitching and winning baseball…not contract talks…so, he is not inclined to start up a dialogue…of course, should the Mets approach him, he’ll listen…
February 26, 2008 at 11:53 am
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247 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
The Mets will play the University of Michigan - Fred Wilpon’s alma mater - today at 12 pm at Tradition Field.
To listen live to today’s game, go here.
…keep in mind, if you tune in and only hear soft music and ambiance, it’s because they’re in between innings…
To follow the game online using CSTV’s Game Tracker, go here.
For live updates straight from the pressbox, keep an eye on Adam Rubin and his blog for the Daily News, David Lennon at Newsday, and John Delcos at the Journal News, who have already started blogging.
February 26, 2008 at 10:10 am
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14 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
‘s Ted Berg and I recently took a guided tour of Citi Field, along side several other reporters from the New York area.
To watch our video of the tour, click play below:
February 26, 2008 at 10:01 am
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25 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
Willie Randolph talked to reporters after yesterday’s intrasquad game, and had the following to say regarding…
…Duaner Sanchez, who threw 26 pitches during the game…
“It was good to see Sanchez let it loose a little bit. I thought he ran out of gas a bit, since it was his first time on the mound in a while. So, his legs got a little heavy. But, it was very encouraging to see him out there moving around…He threw back-to-back change ups at times, and he looks like he’s on the way back…It’s just very positive to see him go out there and get his work in…It’s not easy facing hitters for the first time in a year and a half. It’s a different feel…He is in better shape (than before the taxi cab accident), but he still needs to get that real good feel back. I’m sure he’s optimistic, and he should be, he’s worked real hard, and if all of this stays together and translates into him feeling good about himself, and if physically he feels better, than that could make him a better guy. I hope that’s the case, but we’ll have to wait and see.”
…Jon Niese, a left-handed prospect who threw a shaky inning…
“He’s a cool customer from what I’ve seen, and I think he was a little bit nervous before he started. We were getting ready to start the game, and he was sitting in the dugout, I’m looking at him like, ‘Hey, let’s go, are you gonna go out there and pitch.’ (Laughing). It was like he didn’t know the game was gonna start. So, it was probably just a little bit if jitters…But, yeah, he’s impressed me all spring with the way he’s used all of his pitches, especially his curve ball. You don’t see a lot of curve balls from lefties, and it had a nice little break to it.”
February 26, 2008 at 9:35 am
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57 comments
by Brandon Eddy
According to the San Francisco Chronicle, free-agent Mike Piazza may retire if he doesn’t sign with a team before the end of spring training.
Piazza, who missed half of last season with a shoulder injury, hit .275 with eight HR and 44 RBI.
…this is very sad for me to see piazza retire even though i knew this day was coming…he was my favorite player even before he turned around the Mets…i can’t wait for the day to see his No. 31 retired in Citi Field…
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
…i still have doubts that piazza’s number will actually ever be retired…i’d do it, but i have doubts the Mets will…
