Over the last week or so, Mike Nichols and Regis Courtemanche, as well as Brandon Eddy, Jordan Zakarin and Ted Berg, each stepped up to keep content flowing on MetsBlog.com, all while I took a much needed vacation.
Mike, Regis, Jordan, Brandon and Ted are an integral part of MetsBlog, and, though I do not say it as often [...]

As this guy is reporting over at SNY.tv, an MRI on Billy Wagner’s shoulder showed no structural damage. The pitcher was diagnosed with a muscle spasm around his shoulder and is considered day-to-day.
No word yet on his availability for tonight’s game or the remainder of the series vs. Philadelphia.
…phew… it’s always a little scary when [...]

I wrote a column today addressing this and some other concerns at SNY.tv, but briefly:
Among qualifying second basemen, Luis Castillo has the lowest Revised Zone Rating in the Majors, meaning he converts fewer plays in his fielding zone than anyone else. The only player with more than 100 innings at second and a lower RZR [...]

To watch Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez recap today’s win over the Reds, click play below:

To watch Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez recap last night’s 7-2 loss to the Reds, click play below:

To watch Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez recap the Mets’ loss in last night’s version of Nissan Post Game Extra from SNY, click the play button below:

I wrote a post on the Mets’ upcoming trade deadline decisions and outfield situation today at SNY.tv that goes into much further detail, but I’m hoping to get Mets fans to think about whether Fernando Martinez is really ready for the bigs. An excerpt:
The Teenage Hurting Hitting Machine is batting .294 with a pedestrian .338 [...]

To watch Billy Wagner and David Wright talk to SNY’s Matt Yallof about Yankee Stadium, the All-Star Game and the Mets’ recent resurgence, click play below:

I wrote a column on Pedro Martinez today at SNY.tv. The gist of it was this:

Pedro Martinez is the most dominant starting pitcher of all time. Repeat after me: Pedro Martinez is the most dominant starting pitcher of all time. I won’t say he’s the best ever because that’s unfair to great pitchers with longer, [...]

According to a source close to MetsBlog.com, Matt Cerrone injured his toe while getting ready for work this morning and took himself to the emergency room for x-rays.
Cerrone, who has previously been bothered by knee problems and peanut butter, is expected to miss at least several hours of posting on MetsBlog.
…i get the sense that [...]

In an article for SNY.tv, Ted Berg discusses the New York Post’s desperate need to create a headline out of Jerry Manuel’s “fertilizer” comment.
Berg goes on to note why the Mets shouldn’t mirror that desperation by renting a part-time player before the July 31st trade deadline.
Berg writes:

“Unlike the Post, the Mets are not pitted against [...]

Val Pascucci is hitting .288 with a 1.065 OPS since signing with the Mets and joining Triple-A New Orleans.
Pascucci has more home runs in 32 games with the Zephyrs than the total produced by Mets left fielders and first basemen in 2008.
Ted Berg: You’ve been hitting pretty well down there lately.
Val Pascucci: Yeah, it’s been [...]

Joe Janish’s earlier point on MetsBlog about Nelson Figueroa is hard to deny.
Figgy has been the team’s third-best starter this year, even if he’s only started four games.
But today in the Daily News, Adam Ruben cites a team insider who suggested the Mets could move Figueroa to Triple-A and move Jorge [...]

To watch Part 2 of Matt and Ted’s Adventure in Philadelphia, during which Ted Berg and I take the Pat and Geno’s Cheesesteak Challenge, click here.
…also, in case you missed it, the following is a Part 1, during which ted and i spend time at Citizen’s Bank Park…