Monthly Archives: March 2010
In addition to talking about the Mets, the guys from Mets Paradise asked me several questions about writing MetsBlog.com, how it works and how it was started, such as:
Brandon Lee: I try to model myself after people like you. I’m probably one of many young sport writers out there that started a website about their favorite team. Any advice you could offer to me and the other young writers?
Matthew Cerrone: How old are you?
Brandon Lee: 20
Matthew Cerrone: Best advice: Be 20. Write from the view of you, a 20-year-old Mets fan. Write about what interests you, tell me your thoughts, your passions, etc.. There are already a dozen beat guys. There are too many people on talk radio. There are hundreds of blogs, lots trying to do what I do. But, there is only one you. I know, it sounds cheesy, but it’s true. I write about this a lot on www.matthewcerrone.com, but it’s SO important. The key to building an audience is authenticity, and having a strong connection with the reader. There are sites like Mashable.com that have a stable of writers, but when I go to it I still think of Pete Cashmore, because he’s the guy who started it and the guy I bonded with in those early days. HE is why I read the site. Information is everywhere. It’s not worth what it was. The key is WHO is delivering the info, and do you care about what person has to say about it.
Brandon Lee: Yeah, that’s what I try to think about when ever I article an article; how can I make this story unique.
Matthew Cerrone: You shouldn’t over think it. The fact that you are writing already makes it unique. Everyone is so caught up in being perfect, or being an expert. It’s OK to be wrong, or be curious. Just write what you feel, what is natural…that is what people will connect with. Why do you think Joe Benigno is so damn popular and frustrating.
Jon Heyman of SI.com says the Mets plan to have Jose Reyes miss Opening Day, though he’ll be back five games later to play against the Nationals.
…if true, this means he will not play in a Grapefruit League game this week… instead, he’ll keep on in minor league games, so he can start the season on the disabled list, and miss just the five games to start the year… remember, if he plays this week and hits a roadblock, he needs to miss more time to begin the year… and so, the Mets are just being cautious, and i think that is the right move…
…i’d love to see him in there Monday, but i’m far more concerned with him playing in 155 games, than i am in playing in just one…
Omar Minaya described Mike Jacobs as the front-runner to replace Daniel Murphy as the team’s starting first baseman on Opening Day, as Ike Davis is slated to begin the year in Triple-A.
…so, now it seems that final bench spot could be between Chris Carter and Frank Catalanotto…
Updated at 4:24 pm:
The Mets are telling reporters Daniel Murphy could miss two to six weeks with a sprained MCL in his knee.
…man, that sucks for murph… he really picked the absolute worst time to get injured, considering Mike Jacobs is standing over his shoulder, and Ike Davis is pacing over on the minor league field…
Jerry Manuel confirmed to reporters today that Johan Santana will start Opening Day for the Mets, followed by John Maine on Wednesday and Jon Niese on Thursday against the Marlins, then Mike Pelfrey on Friday and Oliver Perez on Saturday against the Nationals.
“Based on the schedule, this gives us the best chance to get off to a good start,” Manuel said.
Manuel also said, though they are still discussing whether to keep Jenrry Mejia on the roster for Opening Day, today, he doesn’t see a way they can leave St. Lucie without him.
However, in either case, he will use a Bullpen-by-Committee approach for the eighth inning.
The Mets (14–13) defeated the Marlins (13–14), 6–3, in St. Lucie today.
For a full boxscore, go to SNY.TV.
- Nelson Figueroa pitched three scoreless innings, while striking out three and giving up three hits. He has allowed seven runs in 13 innings this Spring.
- Raul Valdez and Hisanori Takahashi each pitched a scoreless inning in relief.
- Jenrry Mejia pitched a perfect sixth inning, and likely would have escaped the seventh without allowing a run, had it not been for a dropped pop up in deep center field by Angel Pagan.
- Mike Jacobs hit two doubles.
- Daniel Muprhy is wearing a leg immobilizer.
- Jeff Francoeur was hitless and is batting .208.
- Jason Bay, David Wright and Chris Carter each hit a home run.
The Mets play the Nationals tomorrow in St. Lucie at 12 pm.
The game will air live on SNY and WFAN.
WFAN hosts and callers, and commentors on blogs, and bloggers, and reporters, and most fans, it seems, are all getting very, very down on the Mets… and the season has even started.
I mean, earlier today, even I started dipping in to this end of the discussion.
Frankly, the Mets need to get the show on the road. Seriously. They need the season to start, and they need to start winning baseball games again. It’s been so long since we’ve all had something to smile about. Winning is the only way they can stop this downward spiral of bad news, the negative perceptions, and the doom and gloom and pessimism surrounding all of us. I mean, this is the one week in baseball when every team’s fans can hope and dream that things will be better… yet, I’ve listened to 180 minutes of non-stop hopelessness for this team on WFAN. In listening, it sounds like the Mets are already 10 games under .500… but they haven’t even played a game yet.
And that’s the thing, if they don’t win, if things don’t go well, if they get off to a slow and uninspired start, the negativity, the doom-and-gloom, it’s all going to get so much worse… and rightfully so.
I really hope they start strong, kill this conversation and make me smile again… soon.
In my final few days at Tradition Field in early March, I shot a lot of video with SNY.TV touring the Mets minor league camp, learning about the facility and the team’s youngest prospects.
In this most recent video, which you can watch here, I talk about 2B Jordany Valdespin and SS Wilmer Flores with Toby Hyde, from MetsMinorLeagueBlog.com, and Adam Wogan, the team’s Director of Minor League Operations.
…there is LOTS of footage of valdespin and flores in action in this video, so if you want to see these guys play, check it out…
To watch this second episode, go here, to SNY.TV.
In case you missed it, in the first episode, I did a video tour of the Mets minor-league complex in St. Lucie, including rarely-seen parts of the facility, which you can watch here; and in Episode 2 I talked with Wogan abd Hyde about Lucas Duda and Jefry Marte, which you can watch here.
Pat Misch cleared waivers and has been sent to Triple-A.
“I’m cheap,” Shannon explains. “I park in Corona. It’s not scary and it’s not far.”
The Mets (13–13) will play the Marlins (13–13) in St. Lucie today at 1 pm.
Here is today’s batting order:
- CF Angel Pagan
- 2B Luis Castillo
- 3B David Wright
- 1B Mike Jacobs
- LF Jason Bay
- RF Jeff Francoeur
- SS Russ Adams
- C Omir Santos
- SP Nelson Figueroa
Today’s game will be televised on SNY.
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