October 23, 2008 at 5:19 pm
·
123 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
According to a team press release, Jerry Manuel today announced that Howard Johnson, Dan Warthen, Sandy Alomar, Sr., and Sandy Alomar, Jr. will return to his coaching staff in 2009.
Additionally, Randy Niemann, who was the Mets Minor League Rehabilitation Coordinator, will serve in his third stint as the team’s bullpen coach.
Lastly, Razor Shines, who managed the Phillies Single-A team, will become the team’s third base coach.
Guy Conti, Luis Aguayo and first base coach Ken Oberkfell will be reassigned within the organization.
The first base coaching position is yet to be filled.
October 23, 2008 at 3:33 pm
·
92 comments
by Regis Courtemanche
At his blog Always Amazin’, Matthew Artus asks the question of whether Aaron Heilman should stay or go.
Artus writes:
“Heilman endured a knee injury in Spring Training and then went on to be overworked something horrific in 2008 by Randolph and Manuel.”
“But, Heilman’s ground ball ratios changed for the worse. He gave up homers at a progressively worse clip since joining the pen in ‘06, and couldn’t keep the ball on the ground in 2008.”
“Stay. The Mets can take a gamble on 2008 being an aberration in Heilman’s career and get a decent shot at a rebound season for a great price.”
…as i wrote previously on Metsblog, i like heilman and think that if he could return to form he would be a valuable asset, but i wonder if the psychological pressure he seems to be under is reversible while he is a member of the Mets…
…added to by Matthew Cerrone…
…the thing with heilman is that, if the Mets are unable to trade him for anything of value, why cut him…i mean, he’s still under contract…instead, i would rather see the team finally give in and work him as a starting pitcher, essentially trading Aaron Heilman the Relief Pitcher for Aaron Heilman the Starter…
October 23, 2008 at 2:36 pm
·
101 comments
by Regis Courtemanche
In a vote by his peers, Fernando Tatis has won the MLB Players Association’s National League Comeback Player of the Year Award.
Tatis hit .292 with 11 homers and 47 RBI in 92 games for the Mets this year before seperating his shoulder on September 16th.
October 23, 2008 at 1:46 pm
·
65 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
In a post to his blog for the Sun Sentinel, Mike Berardino talks with a scout about seven players who could be traded by the Marlins, 
including 1B Mike Jacobs, 2B Dan Uggla, RHP Kevin Gregg and LHP Scott Olsen.
…i have been sent several e-mails from fans suggesting the Mets acquire gregg from the Marlins to be their closer…
According to the scout, “Gregg has those knee problems… He’s not a closer. Not for me. Maybe you stick him back in the seventh inning like he used to be for the Angels, but the arbitration number ($4 million or more) is too high for that role.”
In 72 appearances for the Marlins this season, Gregg was 7–8 with 29 saves and a 3.41 ERA.
October 23, 2008 at 12:11 pm
·
190 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
In a report for the Daily News, Bill Madden quotes Phillies GM Pat Gillick as saying:
“If you want to know the best thing we had going for us this year, it was the fact that all the other teams in our division hated the Mets’ guts. It started with Atlanta and all the hostility they had with the Mets through the years. Then Fredi Gonzalez left Bobby Cox to manage the Marlins and he didn’t forget everything that went on between the Braves and Mets. Look what Florida did for us the past two years… Washington doesn’t like them very much either, and all those teams seemed to really get up for the Mets.”
This is the same irrational idea that we heard on the final weekend of 2007, when print journalists and talk-show hosts said, ‘Lastings Milledge woke up the Marlins.’ As if Florida had been a great team all season, but 
had been sleep walking and losing, and needed Milledge to wake them up in order for them to realize their potential. Give me a break?
Correct me if I am wrong, but the 1986 Mets won a World Series, not Miss Congeniality, right?
So, does this mean the Mets can now only win if teams love them? What does that even mean?
Seriously, who cares if teams hate the Mets?
Hey, how about the Mets just play better baseball and win on their own effort, and not spend time worrying about what other people think of them. How about that? How about, instead of backing down, the Mets fight back.
October 23, 2008 at 8:28 am
·
42 comments
by Matthew Cerrone
The following video, sent in from a reader of MetsBlog.com, is of the scoreboard at Shea Stadium being knocked to the ground, and, I will not lie, it is sad and surreal to see:
Ouch…now that is a collapse.
Anyway, to move forward, and get a look at the infield, seats, locker room, among other places, in Citi Field, click here.
…thanks to the great Metsiac for the link…
