Benjamin Grimm

You probably know it by now, but you (Greg) were quoted in the Daily News today, on the second-to-last page.

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Ralph really was the best. When I first encountered Jayson Stark in the 80s he was doing the Philly Inquirer's baseball columns I could barely believe how he'd call out "Kinerisms" as though Ralph were some kind of clown like Bob Uecker or an idiot jock who couldn't communicate, when Ralph was neither of those things. His malaprops were relatively few even among actual broadcasters. I remember that too, and agree that it was a douchey thing for Stark to do. It always irritated me.

I'd be okay with a two-year deal for Drew. I find myself hoping it happens.

I guess I am!

I just checked Google News, and I see a lot of reports that the Red Sox are the team with the two-year deal on the table.

I can totally see Satin ending up playing first base against lefty starters if Duda and Davis both struggle. And the chances for that seem reasonably high.

Eight weeks until Opening Day. And what, three weeks until position players report to spring training? I would think that this has to be resolved fairly soon.

NEXT!

Zvon wrote: Wow, thats the last one. Gj seawolf. I peeked at the UMDB and I still couldn't get it. You probably weren't peeking at the right page. http://leaptoad.com/mets/positions.php?Position=c

I've seen this kind of thing before; some writers seem to think that anyone who arrives along with a high salary is a "free agent".

Is this the first time that this lender-imposed payroll ceiling has become public knowledge? Or did I just miss it somehow? (I confess, I haven't been doing anything more than briefly skimming those thousands of Megdal articles that have been posted here.)

Wow, if this is true, it's terrible news for Howard Megdal.

Any goodwill that would come from a World Championship could easily be gone by the following May. I'd love to poll a large number of Mets fans (much larger than what we have here) and ask the following question: How would you describe your feelings toward the Wilpons? * Entirely negative * Mostly negative * Somewhat negative * Neutral * Somewhat positive * Mostly positive * Entirely positive I know that the negatives would heavily outweigh the positives, but I'd be curious to see the actual numbers. It would be interesting to see proof that any Mets fans, anywhere, have some positive feelings about the Wilpons. Me, I don't despise them like some do, but my feelings are certainly negative and I'd love to see them gone.

Say what? The Mets abandoned using Wilmer Flores at shortstop after the 2011 season in the minors because of a lack of lateral mobility. But Sandy Alderson tells MLB.com that Flores might get a look back at his natural position this spring training. After spending time at a nutrition and agility camp near Ann Arbor, Mich., this offseason, Alderson apparently wants to see if Flores has picked up any range. (He'll need to pick up a lot to convince scouts he could handle shortstop, even in a backup role.) �I don�t want to place too much stock on four weeks of conditioning, but this is a guy who�s never really had the opportunity to develop himself physically the way players here in the United States do, who have a season and then an offseason,� Alderson told the web site. �He�s never had an offseason. He�s always played. So this is a different type of offseason for him -- one in which he�s been able to invest in his career. We�ll see how it pays off for him. �I wouldn�t say [Flores to shortstop] is dead. I think that one of the things we want to see is how well he has done with his training regimen in Michigan. Before this offseason, I�m not sure he ever had any sort of structured, regimented conditioning program. The work that they have done on speed and agility and quickness, etc., may have an impact on his ability to play certain positions -- including second base and conceivably even shortstop. But right now, that�s all speculation.� Flores last played shortstop in 2011 with Class A St. Lucie. If he makes the team, he likely either needs to beat out Omar Quintanilla, Wilfredo Tovar and Anthony Seratelli as a backup shortstop or beat out Josh Satin to back up the corner infield spots. The best bet: Flores opens the season at Triple-A Las Vegas ... not seeing time at shortstop.

Susan Strom Huh?

Hawkins' age was probably a factor.

Obviously, it was "Bill Cosby Sweater Day" at Shea Stadium.

Bishop encounter! I'm curious... were you able to detect how "Mets" became "Bishops"?

In this light I hope we are not in the running come September. That's ridiculous. I think he's being overly optimistic (remember, he had been saying that he'd be pitching in April 2014) and that we won't really see him until 2015. But if he does come back quicker, and the doctors clear him, I don't object to him pitching in 2014. But think about it: He wouldn't come off the disabled list and go right to the Mets rotation. There would be rehab outings, starting at two or three innings, in places like Brooklyn or Savannah, or, if the minor league seasons have ended, simulated games. If he started pitching in September, at most he'd have one start, or two, before the regular season ended. I don't think that a pennant race would dictate where and when and how often he pitches.

I'm glad. I think he does have some remaining upside, and with all the young pitchers the Mets have on innings limits, they'll need a couple of veterans to chew up some innings, especially if they want Wheeler, Syndergaard, and Mejia to pitch until late in the season. Matsuzaka and Lannan can help in that area.

He was also a signer of the Declaration of Independence, if I remember my American History/baseball trivia correctly.

From whom? The Mets?

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: I'm sort of hoping he'd come here for 1 year. Be a potential tradeaway guy at the deadline. I'd be okay with two years. I suspect the Mets are more likely to contend in 2015 than 2014 (and not because of Matt Harvey) so it may make more sense to have the veteran shortstop available for that second year, especially if they're giving up a third-round draft pick to get him. None of the Mets top shortstop prospects seem at all likely to arrive before 2016 (if then) so I'd prefer a two-year solution to a one-year solution.

Harvey pitching in September would be nice. Harvey pitching in October would be fantastic.