Benjamin Grimm

This was in an e-mail that I received from the Mets this morning: Ike Davis is projected by Bloomberg Sports to bounce back this season, with 22 homers and 83 RBI. I'm actually hoping for a bit more than that. Those numbers don't seem like much to crow about.

Edgy DC wrote: WOW!

bmfc1 wrote: Nicely done A Boy Named Seo. Almost as sad as how much Pelfrey stinks is the fact that the only backup starter is Batista. Given the fact that Johan isn't a sure thing, you wish that the Wilpons would have allowed Sandy to spend a some money on backup starters. Well, there's also Schwinden. Maybe the Mets can pick Dontrelle Willis off the scrap heap, but I think the only thing he has going for him would be his low salary. Matt Harvey shouldn't sign any long-term leases in Buffalo.

Since I only watch Mets games, it's pretty rare that I see a game played with the DH rule, but when I do, I always feel as if the game had been somehow lobotomized.

Maybe. But I have to think that it's likely to wear thin before too long.

Ron Hodges. That's all I got.

I think that working for Terry, or just being around him, would be mentally exhausting. I also think that, over time, I would have a harder and harder time hiding my disdain for him. I can see glimpses of how he wore out his welcome in Houston and Anaheim, especially if his personality was, as has been said, even more intense then. My prediction: There will be a new manager before the end of the 2014 season, if not sooner.

metirish wrote: Out of the rotation after four starts and on the DL..... 1-2 ERA over 7 Are you trying to dethrone Ceetar as the Optimistic Mets fan?

I agree with Johnny; if we don't see him in April or May we're probably not likely to see him until September, at least for any continuous stretch. My prediction: A full season at Buffalo, and two spot starts for the Mets.

Frayed Knot wrote: Listed by BB-Ref as the only player ever drafted out of Suffolk Community College, which they cite as being in the town of Suffolk, NY I just realized that I've totally forgotten where in Suffolk County that college is. I'm thinking maybe somewhere along Route 112, but I'm really not certain.

25 starts. 11-8, 3.90 ERA.

Today is Darryl Strawberry's 50th birthday.

ERA over 5. Forgotten by mid July.

According to various sources, David Wright is to miss "at least another week."

80 games. 3.20 ERA. Schaefer Mets Reliever of the Year.

To me, he looks more like Jesse Jackson wearing a Pedro Martinez wig.

If this happened to a Met, we'd all be saying that the cheap-ass Wilpons hire incompetent laundry people who don't know how to use fabric softener.

This is kinda bizarre: NY Mets must address Frank Francisco's problems throwing to bases Team knows new closer struggles with short tosses JOHN HARPER New York Daily News PORT ST. LUCIE -- In Frank Francisco�s first spring training appearance for the Mets on Monday, he gave up a single and, on the next pitch, pinch-runner Eury Perez took off for second. In a conversation about his new closer a few days later, Terry Collins said he knew the runner would go on the first pitch. Why? "Because they know Frankie doesn't throw over," Collins said. Huh? "It�s something we�re working on," said the manager. There was no play at second on Perez Monday night as Steve Lombardozzi singled on the pitch. The point is, though, that he ran because, well, the numbers say it all: base-stealers were successful in 13 of 14 attempts against Francisco last season. Over the last four seasons, the success numbers are 33-for-36. So it turns out the Mets have a closer whose reputation is that he doesn�t like to throw to first base to hold runners on, apparently because he can be wild. A few phone calls to scouts confirmed that its no secret around baseball. Teams run on Francisco at first opportunity, and they bunt on him at times too, believing he's not comfortable making throws -- especially shorter ones -- to bases. "It�s pretty common knowledge," said one scout. Meanwhile, a player who played against Francisco in the American League said "everybody knew" that the reliever has had trouble making throws. So that reminded me: Several days earlier I had seen Francisco make two awful throws to third during drills as the Mets were working on fielding bunts. I had not thought much of it at the time, but Francisco fielded a bunt and fired his first throw into the ground, skipping it past David Wright. When his turn came up again, he again fielded one and this time sailed the throw well over Wright�s head. When I went back to Collins to ask about Francisco�s throws, he admitted the Mets knew there was an issue when they signed him as a free agent during the winter for two years, $12 million. "It�s something we've talked to him about, something he's working hard on," said Collins. "He works on it every day because in the National League, teams are going to run and they�re going to bunt. He's going to be fine." Even so, Collins acknowledged that he didn't have Francisco throw over to first in that Monday outing against the Nationals, because he wants to give his closer more time to "get comfortable" before asking him to do so in games. This is not exactly a minor issue, especially for a closer who will be asked to protect his share of one-run leads in the ninth inning, when a stolen base can change everything and bunts can be crucial. Even so, Francisco has been able to establish himself as a solid reliever and sometime-closer, as he prepares for his eighth year in the big leagues. A year ago with the Blue Jays he blew three saves by late May, losing the closer role, but he didn�t blow a lead after July 1 and had a strong finish, regaining the job and converting all seven of his save opportunities from late August to the end of the season. "I know I have the ability to do the job (as closer) here," he said on Thursday. "And most important, I�ve got the heart." Francisco insisted he doesn�t have a problem making pickoff throws but said he knows it's important to hold runners close. "Because I didn't throw over the last couple of years," he said, "(the Mets) probably think I don�t like it. So we�re working on it. That�s OK. In the National League you�ve got to be able to control the running game." Pitching coach Dan Warthen said that in the work they have done with Francisco making pickoff throws, "it hasn't been an issue. But he has a little trouble with the bunt plays. We�ve got to keep working on it." Collins said he is determined to make sure Francisco gets comfortable on both fronts. He said Francisco fields bunts and makes the throw to first routinely, as long as it�s a long-enough throw where he can cut it loose. He said it�s the shorter throws that give him trouble, such as fielding a bunt to the third-base side and making a throw to third for a force play. "We�re going to keep working on it because we're not going to give away a force out if we can get it," said Collins. "That can make the difference between winning or losing a game." In a division where teams like the Marlins, Nationals, and Braves can play small ball, it could also be the difference between success or failure for a closer.

3-8, 4.80 ERA. If he pitches reasonably well, I think he'll be traded. And if he doesn't, he'll be bumped by Matt Harvey or someone else. My prediction is that he's out of the Mets rotation before August 1.

I'm not sure I remember how to mong.

Do we really think that people are more interesting when they're drunk?

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Any reason the Marlins new SS isn't playing? Thyroid? Hamstring?

Edgy DC wrote: They have enough chinks in their defensive armor. Is it time for a "Fire Edgy" rally?

She kept her job until the age of 68! That's awfully good in an industry where women are* often considered "old" not long after they turn 40. *Or is it "were"? I pay little attention to TV newscasters, so I don't know if things have changed in the last couple of decades.

Roster issues may cause him to start the season at Buffalo, but I'll predict that Bobby spends the bulk of the year with the Mets. I'll say 60 games, 3.80 ERA, two saves. I'll also say that by the end of the year there will be less uncertainty about whether or not he's the "closer of the future." He'll either do well enough that it will become pretty much the official plan, or poorly enough that he'll be out of the conversation.