Yesterday, on 1050 ESPN Radio in New York, former Mets GM Steve Phillips had the following to say about Mets management:

“Tony Bernazard is very close to Jeff Wilpon, and that, in some ways, can be difficult for the GM, when there’s that sort of relationship between an underling and the GM’s boss… The Mets don’t necessarily [...]

According to Andrew Marchand, in a report for ESPN 1050, Bobby Valentine would be interested in managing the Mets again.
In the report, Marchand quotes Valentine as saying:

‘I am working for a team that needs me and wants me as their man.  I love it here, but I am an American and love great challenges.  I [...]

The Mets-Phillies game at Shea Stadium on September 7 has been moved to 8 pm to accommodate ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball.

Today at 6 pm, I will be a guest on ESPN Radio in South Carolina to talk about the Mets, the NL East and the trade deadline.
To listen live, click here.

Click play below to watch ESPN’s Baseball Tonight crew preview the Mets/Phillies series, which begins tonight at Shea Stadium.

One of the few bright spots in last night’s game was Jose Reyes, who had two hits, two steals, a walk and a run scored.
In this week’s installment of “The Starting Nine” on ESPN.com, Jerry Crasnick pays tribute to MLB’s top base-stealers and ranks Reyes as numero uno.
Crasnick writes:
“Rickey Henderson, Vince Coleman and [...]

At his ESPN.com blog, Buster Olney writes that Carlos Delgado’s blown home run call by home-plate umpire Bob Davidson was one more example why instant replay should be used.
Olney explains:
“The Mets wound up smoking the Yankees and so the blown call was not pivotal, but so often disputed home run calls can be pivotal. I [...]

Click play below to watch Jose Reyes‘ new SportsCenter commercial for ESPN.

At the ripe age of 49, former Met Julio Franco finally decided to retire on Saturday.
ESPN.com ’s PAGE 2 put together a pretty interesting list of tidbits that were happening in 1981, which was the last time Franco was officially out of MLB.
Some of the items listed:
• Reggie Jackson was the highest paid player in [...]

At the ESPN.com PodCenter, David Wright made a guest appearance on Baseball Today.
Wright discussed subjects such as working on being more consistent and making adjustments at the plate, the brewing rivalry with the Phillies and his responsibility as a star baseball player in New York.
…at 25-years-old, it really is amazing to hear the maturity [...]

The ESPN Insider’s “Three Things To Watch” series examines John Maine’s ability to hold down the Phillies’ big hitters.
Last season against Philadelphia, Maine posted a 2.29 ERA and one win in three starts.
And as far as the bats of Jimmy Rollins, Ryan Howard and Pat Burrell are concerned, they collectively hit .192 in 26 at-bats.
…the [...]

While standing on top of the plate yesterday, Phillies 2B Chase Utley pulled off a rare hit-by-pitch hat trick.
In a chat for ESPN.com today, Utley was asked by a reader, “Hugging the plate a little too close yesterday don’t ya think?!”
Utley responded:

“As far as hugging the plate, yes, and that’s not gonna change!”

…that [...]

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com gives his take on Johan Santana’s opening day start by calling him the ‘the perfect cure for the 6-month-old nightmare that won’t go away.’
According to Stark:
“With every astonishing pitch that came out of Santana’s hand Monday, those messy September headlines seemed to gravitate a little closer to the nearest [...]

Of the 19 experts at ESPN.com, from Steve Phillips to Jayson Stark to Peter Gammons to Buster Olney, 10 pick the Mets to win the National League East, while five pick the Mets to win the Wild Card.
Of the nine who did not pick the Mets to win the division, only two picked the Phillies [...]

At his ESPN.com blog, Buster Olney believes it time for the Mets to discuss signing Barry Bonds following the recent wave of injuries.
Olney writes:
“Among all of the alternatives the Mets will discuss, the acquisition of Bonds would be the only way the team would acquire a high-impact hitter without gutting a [...]