8 days until pitchers and catchers

If you haven’t seen the video of Keith Hernandez working with Daniel Murphy and Nick Evans at first base, click here. Again my opinion on Murphy is certainly biased but if the other 24 players on the Mets roster that comes North has the same desire and work ethic as Murph, things may be a lot better than we think this summer at $iti Field. At the end of the video Hernandez tells Murphy and Evans that if they ever need him for anything to tell Jay Horowitz and he will drive up to St Lonesome to lend a hand.

Two things here, one what the hell took so long for the Mets to utilize Mex in this capacity and two, if Mike Piazza never asked Hernandez’ advice when the Mets were looking for him to make the transition for catcher to first baseman, then he’s a bigger asshole than I think he is.

Nice to see Mike Jacobs back in the org. I hope he likes chicken wings.

The biggest problem I have with Mets management is not so much with it’s ineptness of its baseball ops but more with its dishonestly. When it comes to the teams finances someone is lying  either the media or the team and most likely it’s the team.  With the management not being aggressive on free agents and not making deals that would make the team better by taking on pitchers like Aaron Harang, Bronson Arroyo, or Gil Meche, who have big contracts that teams would love to get out from under, it proves that the coffers of the Skill Sets are not as robust as they claim.

It seems that’s the only reason Omar and Jerry Manuel are still here, it’s more of a “it’s cheaper to keep ‘em” scenario than a performance  factor. The Skill Sets can’t afford to pay Minaya and go out and hire a top of the line GM, so what we get is lots of layers of front office types that makes dealing with the Mets tedious and exhausting.

Everyday there are more and more stories about the teams finances and I’m sure there will be more and more of the cash flow stories throughout the season.  All it will take is for one snitch to blab the inside scoop on what’s going on in the back rooms of $iti Field to bring this to light.

Perfect example of the Mets money woes, Chein- Ming Wang is ready to sign with the Washington Nationals who are putting together a nice team for 2010.

Just sit back and listen to this song and enjoy your snow day!

Isn’t this great?. The first day of Vernal Equinox and it is snowing like a mutha’ here in NYC. Thankfully, it’s not sticking and the forecast tomorrow is for sunny skies and 50 degrees which is fine to conduct my first practice of the baseball season with my 13 year old Babe Ruth League team and to show that I’m more Gansta’ than Jerry Manuel I’m holding practice at a park next to the Berry Projects on SI. I might even wear my sweatpants down to my knees.

Last night on Pro Baseball Central we talked about the Mets roster, the Mets announcer’s tournament at Amazin’ Avenue, St Patrick’s Day, Kilts, what’s under the kilt, booze and rubber ducky’s. To hear what you missed check out the podcast at Pro Baseball Central web site.

Jon Niese was sent to minor league camp today and that sucks for the kid who had visions of making the team as the 5^th starter. So now it’s just about in stone that Livan Hernandez will get that spot but you can be sure we will see Niese sooner rather than later this season.

Ollie P makes his first spring start for the Mets and from what David Lennon says his mechanics while with Team Mexico were so messed up that Old School Dan Warthen had to deconstruct Ollie through video, instruction and a good old fashion ass kicking (ok I made that one up) just another reason for teams to get together and abolish the WBC.

Brain Costa at the Star Ledger has a nice piece on Bobby Parnell and his quest to make the Mets in the bullpen. What will be interesting to watch as the cuts come down is how much influence J-Man has on whom goes and who stays. Manuel has talked up Parnell and Nick Evans as two kids he adores and wants on his squad but money and player options may determine who comes North and  who keeps going further North to Buffalo.

It’s hard serving to masters isn’t David?  But not to worry as help is on the way for Team USA as Evan Longoria is headed to LA to fortify the Team of the Land of the Corporate Bailout. Craig Calcaterra of the fabulous Shyster Ball site explains with some kind of fantasy mumbo-jumbo. I could never get into that si-fi stuff all that make believe crap as I live in the here and now in real life, oh shit is tonight my fantasy baseball draft? Yikes! Got to go prepare!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Lot’s of Mets news today and I have to peruse my brackets. I miss the days of the great NCAA Tournament contest at Jody’s on Forest Ave in Staten Island. Jody ran a pool where you played a ticket for 10 bucks and you had to pick the Final 4, the Championship game. The tie breaker was the total combined score of the championship game. The pool started out as something for the barflies to do while wiling away their time at the bar and through word of mouth on the Island kept growing and growing. Friends and relatives started sending in picks and before you knew it there were over 100, 000 entries and the cash prize went over $1mil bucks.

But of course some dumb fuck who one a boat load of dough reported this on his Income Tax which got the attention of the IRS and due to the hot spot light on the US Government the pool is no more. Sad so so sad.

Who’s better than Toby Hyde when in comes to knowing the baseball farm hands? No one. Here is his write up on newest Mets chucker, Fernando Nieve.

Nick Evans has been an after thoughT all off season and early spring as the right handed bat the Mets need off the bench but with a very productive spring due to increased playing time with the Wright, Delgado and Tatis off playing in the Patriot Games, Warlord Jerry is starting to think that Evans will head to Cincinnati with the team come April 6. I still feel the same about Evans as did the first time I saw him play, he looks and plays like Dave Magadan clone

On this date in 1961 the State of NY voted to approve a bond issue to develop a parcel of land that was used for the 1939 Worlds Fair in Flushing Meadow for the construction of a new multi sports stadium. That stadium would become <bows head> Shea Stadium

Speaking of ball parks, Paul Goldberger has a piece in the March 23^rd issues of New Yorker magazine looking at $iti Field and that ornate piece of shit they are building in the Bronx. 

I’m close to the point where I’m ready to demand the Mets give Jon Niese the 5^th spot in the rotation and tell everyone else to go the fuck home. That includes Petey as well. Enough already with the retreads and old men give the kid the job show him some confidence and guidance and bet the results will be better than anything Livan, Freddie, or Rotund Redding will give you.

Just a couple of items before I head out for the day to enjoy the 65 degree day today in NYC, so with Roy Orbison’ Black and White Night coming through my headphones let’s look at some Mets scuttlebutt:

Looks all the angst over Johan Santana’ elbow was wasted energy by the media and fan base as Santana threw another BP session today and looked sharp and looks to be on track for opening day in Cincinnati:

“I feel pretty good,” Santana said. “I don’t see any reasons why I would not be ready for it. We have been working out, getting everything in the right way, right track, and I don’t think there will be any problems.”

David Lennon watch the session closely:

Of his 36 pitches, Santana threw 22 strikes. He got six swings and misses, with five of them coming on change-up. Even when his change-up was high in the strike zone — a dangerous spot — the group of Mackowiak, Nick Evans, Rene Rivera and Cory Sullivan couldn’t touch it.

Jose Reyes is riding the pine in today’s WB (S) C game between the D.R and the Flyin Dutchmen. Have I told you how much I hate the WBC?

Bye-bye Dirty Duaner? Could be since the Mets came save some coin by dropping him by April 1. Add in the fact he has not been the same Dirty Duaner since his infamous Rice and Beans run car crash in South Beach as he still can’t hit 90 on the JUGGS , it could be the end of the line for Sanchez as a Met

The more you look at the fight for the 5^th spot in the Mets rotation the more I won’t be surprised if Petey signs with the Mets after the WBC

Wilmer Flores parents have submitted a permission slip to Jerry Manuel so Flores will play shortstop today against the Nationals (1PM Ch. 11) Flores was spotted in the clubhouse this morning with his Menudo lunch box and baseball shoes that light up when he runs (ahhhhhhhhh how cute)

not a good song a GREAT song by Roy Orbison watch the video here.

1. Brian Fuentes will meet with the Mets at the Winter Meetings, accoring to a number of sources.
2. The Mets offered arbitration only to Oliver Perez, meaning they will get draft picks if he signs with anyone else.
3. Nick Evans is back from Puerto Rico with a quad strain.

I will have more later after the tour, including pictures of the new Mets digs.

I wonder if the Mets are hoping that Oliver Perez turns down arbitration and would be happier with the draft picks than with OP. With all the non activity that has brought the Hot Stove to a crawl as I stated on Saturday I can not figure out Omar Minaya’s game plan at all. But this much I am sure of the natives in the Blue and Orange village are growing very restless and want to see some kind of move being made.

Toby Hyde on his Mets Minor League Blog posts about Nick Evans missing in action in the winter leagues. Hyde speculates that Evans who has been ineffective with the bat has been sent home. That’s not a good sign.

I find it very interesting that this morning at work we received our yearly e mail on how city workers are not to take tips or gratuities from the public and if you do we risk losing our jobs. Same thing with giving gifts to subordinates and bosses that is a no-no as well. But jacking up baseball executives for free use of a luxury suite with free grub and booze is fine for those employed at City Hall. As I always say never trust a guy in a shirt and tie.

From NY Baseball Digest by way of Baseball Prospectus it looks like Manny Ramirez could be on Omar Minaya’ mind come the Winter Meetings next week in Las Vegas. With over 4million fans packing the late Shea Stadium last year, there own state run television network and a brand new pleasure palace that has all it suites filled with New York City’ finest stuffed shirts the last thing me or any other Mets fan wants to hear from the Omar and the Skill Sets is cost cutting. My patience which is in short supply to begin with is getting depleted every day .

On this date in the year 2000, Turk Wendell signed a three year deal with the Mets for $9,999,999.99 to go along with his #99 on his jersey.

Nice little feature on Jon Matlack in yesterday’s Daily News. I wish it went a bit further as it would have been interesting to read Matlack’s recollection of the 1973 Ya Gotta Believe regular and his  post season performence especially the World Series where Matlack  lost game 1, then came back to win game 4 but lasted just 2 2/3 innings in game 7 .