Poor Omir Santos, the guy shows up early to camp looks around at the large stable of catchers the Mets accumulated over the winter and thinks to himself  “none of those guys have anything on me”  Well sorry to burst your bubble Senior Santos but the only squating behind the plate you’re going to be doing is in the International League backing up Josh Thole.

The Mets reach a deal with Rod Barajas for a base of $1mil with incentives that could double his contract.  Barajas and Henry Blanco are now the top battery mates for Mets pitchers and both are a huge upgrade defensively from last years broken down model of Brian Schneider, Shrek,  Ninja Turtle and Santos.

Remember at the end of the season J-Man and Old School Warthen put alot of the blame of the inability of the Mets pitchers to cut down on walks and not hit their spots consistently on the catching corp.

Give the Mets some love here as the got Barajas for their price and upgraded the catching position as well

On Saturday night, The Chicago White Sox had a 5-0 lead over the Detroit Tigers in a game that had a bearing on the AL Central race. The Tigers came back strong to score 12 unanswered runs to win the game 12-5. After the game, the White Sox players retreated to thier clubhouse and to drown their sorrows in college football. The sight of this “who gives a shit attitude” among his players led Guillen to go off:

‘‘The people we have in baseball now let players do whatever they want. My job is to teach the kids that’s not the way it’s supposed to be,’’ Guillen said. ‘‘I never tell my players what to do or how to prepare yourself, but when you lose a game and all of a sudden you look around and they’re watching another thing, that means you are teaching the kids. ‘Don’t worry about it — this is the big leagues. If we lose a game, who cares? We’re out of the pennant race.’

‘‘I’m old-school in the new era of baseball. I have to teach these kids this is not the way we should handle this stuff. If I let that thing go away, then I don’t have the power and the right to tell kids in the future what to do because it was like, ‘Well, two years ago, you let them do it.’ Anyone who is going to play for this organization will learn how to be a professional and how to handle things the right way.’’

‘‘Respect the game and the people who pay to see you,’’ Guillen said. ‘‘You know how many people walked out of here and were embarrassed by how we play? We appreciate their support — I’m a fan too, a Chicago fan, and that’s why I feel this way.’’

Now, that’s Gangsta’

After watching Big Pelf suffer through another bad outing and a partial melt down on the mound where I think it’s now at least three straight stats that D-Wright had to go to the mound early to have a heart to heart with Pelf.  Add the struggle back from injury to John Maine,  Bobby Parnell’ difficulty making pitching adjustments the second time around,  Ollie P being Ollie P, Tim Redding not rehabbing correctly from off season surgery, not dealing with J J Putz injured elbow and back to the reporting to pitchers and catchers in late February when Johan Santana seemed to be on a training schedule that did more harm than good and the whispers that maybe it was a mistake caning The Jacket, Old School Dan Werthen should be squarely in the cross hairs of management to be the first coach relived of duties by the end of the weekend.

As much as Rick Peterson is one of the great pitching minds around it wasn’t a mistake to fire him during the season and when Old School Werthen came on board he made a difference but it seems to me that Werthen is either fed up or just out of ideas on how to get the best out of the Mets pitching staff. The most telling non-move from last night that brings me to this conclusion was the fact that Werthen never left the dugout in the first inning when Pelfrey was struggling with his command especially his fastball that was up, up and away, even Gary Cohen couldn’t believe that Werthen never came out after first Wright then Santos went out to check on the young righty as the situation was crying for an old head intervention. Maybe Werthen has given up, maybe he’s tired of going out there and spewing the same old advice, maybe he’d love to put his foot up Pelfrey’s ass but management is holding him back. Whatever it is, it’s a problem and one that needs to be addressed not for this season as this season is over but for 2010 and beyond.

Are you getting the vibe that J-Man may not want to be fired as Mets manager? Last night during his post game presser Manuel made a joke at the expense of the Mets medical staff, that validated those of us that have questioned the front office, the training staff and the doctors.  When asked about Gary Sheffield leaving in the 5^th with a leg problem, Manuel said “They’re calling it cramps,…. surgery is Thursday” and then he let out a laugh which translates to me Manuel saying to the fans “you guys are right this organization is a joke” After realizing that his boss will not be happy with his comment (J-Man has been called on the carpet about talking about making trades to bring in reinforcements) he tired to get SNY to not air the footage, fat chance Jerry besides you said nothing that we weren’t thinking ourselves.

Last night looks to be Tim Redding’ last appearance as a Met word in the NYDN is Redding will be released and another move in the minus column for Omar. I said back in spring that Redding looked fat and out of shape but just his track record alone should have been a red flag for the Mets to sign him. But don’t worry Julio Lugo is working out at the Mets academy in the D.R. and will be here once he passes waviers. The longggggggggggggggggggggg summer continues.

The headline on Adam Rubin’ story says” Mets Deny Claims That Jose Reyes Suffered A Set Back in Port St. Luice” The Mets are also denying that today is Saturday, water is wet and the organization is in FUBAR (Fucked Up Beyond All  Recogntion) mode.

You know what? I’m going to take credit for last nights Mets win. Yeah that’s right , if the Mets go off and rack off 15 or 17 game in a row I’m taking full credit, in fact if the Mets win the NL East and Carlos Beltran wins the NL MVP Award I want that trophy delivered to me with  a note from Beltran thanking me for my motivational push that made him the best player in baseball in 2009.  The Mets were looking for an “edge” and that’s me THE EDGE.  David Evans better get a new nickname because I earned mine.

Please, please people hold your applause, my work isn’t done yet as one game does not a turnaround make but I’m working on it.

My next pupil will be Sean Green, I have to get into his head and make him a feared warrior when he comes to the mound. My first order to him will be to grow a Fu Manchu moustache and then we are going to a hair salon on Roosevelt Ave to get him hair extensions (goin’ old school mullet here) and before every game I will beat him with a Kimbo stick.

Now all this I’ve done for the Mets have been at no charge, if they want Ollie P straight that will cost them as I’m THE EDGE not JESUS.

You know how I know I love the Mets? I sat through every excruciating pitch of last night’s game. Thank God for Gary, Keith and Ron as they kept us informed and entertained in a four hour root canal of a game, especially Gary coming up with the story of the Rodney Dangerfield day after opening promotion. That’s back in the day when the Mets marketing staff was imaginative.

Big Pelf looked real uncomfortable on the mound, I mean he had that underwear up the crack of your butt look, as he worked soooooooo slow and kept licking his hand. All that stretchimg of his arm and licking of the fingers couldn’t help him gain command of his sinking fastball in the strike zone. But you have to be encouraged that Pelf had nothing in the first inning but either with adjustments by Old School Dan Werthen and Brian Schneider (wow love for Schneider, you know it’s a new year around here) or just that that his hands warmed up to get a better grip on the ball, Pelfrey went on to give the Mets 4 solid innings and saved J-Man going to the pen early.

You know you’re in for a rough night when Angel Hernandez is the home plate ump. Sucking would be an improvement for Hernandez who has no clue of how to call balls and strikes. The man is an embarrassment.

Is it too early to talk contract extension for Carlos Delgado? Forget the monster HR in the top of 1 the hit of the night was his base hit to LF (going the other way is a beautiful thing) in the 7^th

The bottom of the 5th had to give J-Man a few more gray hairs as Pelf was going along strong and steady until Jay Bruce singled and moved Joey Votto to 3^rd with 2 outs and Pelf hitting that magic 100 pitch mark. Manuel made his decision to let Plefrey go after Edwin Encarnarcion. It showed the confidence that Manuel has in Pelfrey and a reward for overcoming a bad first inning and try to get him on the plus side of decision. Plef got out of the inning with the last play in the world you’d think would ever work the fake to third and throw to first that Castillo grabbed and threw home to nail Votto.

Why didn’t the Reds bring in a lefty (Danny Herrera or 87 year old Arthur Lee Rhodes) to pitch to Schneider with the bases loaded and one out? Oh yeah I forgot, Dusty Baker is the Reds manager <doh!>

Bill Welke blew that call in the 9^th as Delgado looked to be on the bag making a difficult outing for Frankie Rodriguez even tougher. As bad as Welke is he doesn’t suck as bad as Angel Hernandez.

Ollie P today at high noon, let’s hope we all don’t lose our lunch.          

There is nothing more deflating than working all day and rushing home to watch your favorite sports team play in a big game and then see them get their ass handed to them. The good thing about last nights Mets loss to the Fish was it was in March instead of the customary Marlins mauling in September.

Another positive was watching Johan Santana, who I may add is a much more relaxed and animated Johan Santana in year two of his Mets career (Santana was running around the clubhouse before the game yelling “You got your tickets for tonight”? “get your tickets” kind of a T.O. Get your popcorn ready scenario) showing that his arm is sound and his command is close as well and he is right on track for April 6 in Cinncy

The uneasy part of the night was watching the train wreck that is Tim Redding take a beating. After the inning I envisioned Sandy Alomar jumpping out of the dugout with water and stool for Redding and Old School Dan Warthen, with Vaseline covered Q-Tips in his mouth, rubbing Redding’s eyes with a cold compress and J-Man in a fedora and a towel around his neck trying to will his pitcher through another inning but Redding never responded and that point Manuel should have just thrown in the towel. Forget the 5^th spot in the rotation Redding will be lucky if he breaks camp with the Mets as I’m sure they can finagle around keeping him in extended spring training due to the toe surgery he had in the off season. J- Man made a claim early in the spring that he doesn’t mange by how much money a player makes well Tim Redding will test that salvo soon.

                                                            MEMORANDUM

Organizational Meeting

Location: Manager Manuel’ Office

Attendees: Jeff Wilpon, Omar Minaya Jerry Manuel, Dan Warthen, Johan Santana,

Time: ASAP

Subject- Time to get on the same fucking page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes I wish I weren’t a Mets fan so I could sit back like the rest of baseball get get a good laugh at this organization. Here we have arguably the best pitcher in baseball someone the Mets have a huge investment in monetarily and emotionally and everyone from the top of the Skill Sets to Omar to the coaches/manger to the players really need to get their shit together as it pertains his Santana’ left elbow.

Old School Wathern says no go for opening day. Santana says he still on track to pitch the opener in Cincy. The Mets are sending Santana to NYC for an MRI. The Mets are NOT sending Santana to NYC for an MRI. The only constant in this whole mess is the churning in Mets fans stomachs waiting for the report that Santana is headed to Birmingham to see Dr. Andrews.

How fucking hard is it to take Santana to a doctor in St. Lonesome or some where in the vicinity to get his elbow in an MRI machine? Sometimes I get the feeling that St Lonesome is a more remote area than any used on the TV show Survivor.

Stop letting Santana dictate what goes on around here, if his elbow hurts get it checked out how god damn hard is this to do.

I can understand not wanting to spend over 45 mil for Manny Ramirez but you mean to tell me that with the first class facilities the Mets crow about down in St Lonesome, they couldn’t purchase or lease a state of the art MRI an fly down Dr. Altcheck for month in sunny FLA.  I still say the only reason that Johan Santana was not flown to NY is due to the 10 inches of snow that’s on the ground and still falling from the sky here in NYC

If you read the Daily News this morning you get the impression that Santana agrees with Old School Dan Warthen that he tried to accelerated his training so he could pitch in the WBC. If you read the NY Post they make it sound like Old School Dan Warthen made Santana throw to much and too soon. I think I‘ll stick with Adam Rubin’s reporting although I do think that it is not a coincidence that both Santana and Tim Redding, both coming off surgery, are both having arm trouble due to compensating from knee surgery in Johan’ case and foot surgery for Redding. Santana I mentioned wanted to make the WBC and Redding wants that number 5 spot in the rotation and sees the completion and looked to rush back a bit too soon. The organization has to tighten up it’s rehab policies here. They may have dodged a bullet here with Santana but hopefully they learned a lesson and look over their training regiment.

Old School Dan Werthen feels that Johan tried to get back faster than he should have because he had ideas of pitching for Team Venezuela in the WBC and if that is not enough to end this ridiculous tournament what else is? If there were no WBC Santana would have come to camp working on getting to opening day but instead he pushed himself to much in early training and now there is a good chance we won’t be ready for opening day. Yeah Bud your doing a heck of a job.