Benjamin Grimm

The opposite version does have a Philadelphia skyline.

Bay. If he plays like he did in 2010 (never mind the injury) that's a big problem. Beltran's health, naturally. Two of the five starters are coming back from serious injury, and so is Santana, or may not contribute much at all this year. We don't really know what to expect from Niese.

Everything will go right and nothing will go wrong.

Mets Ask Isringhausen to Remain in Florida By DAVID WALDSTEIN Published: March 28, 2011 PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. � The Mets have asked the right-handed reliever Jason Isringhausen to remain in extended spring training for a week or two to increase his arm strength and reassure them that his elbow is healthy. Isringhausen, 38, had been against the idea, but he told the Mets he would consider the possibility. He has said he will not pitch in Class AAA once the season starts. The Mets have also discussed the idea of asking another right-handed reliever, Blaine Boyer, to accept a minor league assignment. He has an opt-out in his contract that would allow him to become a free agent if the Mets do not put him on the 25-man roster. Both Isringhausen and Boyer have pitched well this spring. But the Mets are particularly intrigued by Isringhausen because of his experience as an elite closer, and because he reached 92 miles per hour on their radar gun Sunday in his last outing after experiencing soreness in his elbow last week. They also see him as someone who could provide guidance and leadership to younger relievers, especially Bobby Parnell. The Mets, who are likely to open the season with 12 pitchers, including seven relievers, are trying to figure out a way to keep Manny Acosta, too. Their goal is to keep as many pitchers as possible, and they know if they put Acosta on waivers, he will almost certainly be taken by another team.

Name the Met who records the first in the following categories: 1. First hit WRIGHT 2. First double THOLE 3. First triple PAGAN 4. First home run DAVIS 5. First stolen base PAGAN 6. First baserunner caught stealing/picked off PAGAN 7. First guy to hit into a double-play DAVIS 8. First batter to strike out DAVIS 9. First fielder to commit an error EMAUS 10. First guy to score a run REYES 11. First guy to drive in a run DAVIS 12. First Met player to field a batted ball HARRIS 13. First Met to draw a walk WRIGHT 14. First Met relief pitcher to make an appearance BYRDAK 15. First Met to reach base on an error REYES 16. First winning Met pitcher PARNELL 17. First Met to throw a wild pitch DICKEY 18. First Met to be hit by a pitch EMAUS 19. First Met pitcher to plunk an opposing batter NIESE 20. First 2011 Met to become a former 2011 Met (that is, a player on the OD roster who gets 2011 PT and subsequently leaves team by way of trade, demotion or disabled list) BUCHHOLTZ Tiebreaker bonus (if necessary): Date of Terry Collins' first ejection MAY 2

I worry that Izzy's heart isn't fully into it. (A lot of talk about how he misses his wife and kids.) I have a hunch that he'll quit at the first sign of adversity. (I'm getting bit of a David Cone 2003 vibe.) As much as he's a feel-good story, both because of the medical comeback and the return to his original team, I wonder if he's worth losing a younger player for, a player that could conceivably be around for a lot longer than Isringhausen would.

I got an e-mail from Amazon.com suggesting that I might want to read this book. Ummm... no.

Latest buzz suggests that the last bullpen slot is between Boyer and Isringhausen, which seems to imply that Acosta is out of the running.

You can get fired or suspended from your daytime job, as we've seen with some school teachers recently.

Jon Heyman is tweeting that Beato has made the team.

I seem to remember seeing a Mets logo with the word "Phillies" instead. Maybe a year or two ago. I don't know which side is supposed to be insulted by which version.

My take is that he can hit, but that he's not expected to have a lot of power. I'm thinking he's more of a Tim Teufel than a Dan Uggla.

1. Where they will finish in the NL East THIRD PLACE 2. What the final record will be 83-79 3. If you predict a wild card spot, say so NO 4. If you predict a playoff appearance, how far will they go? N/A

I agree. I don't think they've priced the ballpark correctly. Maybe this year's prices make more sense. I don't know, I haven't really looked at the prices yet for this season.

Have you seen the photos of Utley fielding grounders while sitting in a chair? I'm not at all sure what the point of that was.

Edgy DC wrote: ...but coming out and explicitly saying so the way he has been only serves to more greatly empower the boobirds. I was thinking the same thing.

It's not like they were selling out that smaller ballpark.

I'm surprised that Emaus has such big tits.

Any idea what that logo is on his right sleeve?

You guys are far more observant than I am. I wouldn't have gotten any of these.

Keeping a guy who isn't any good doesn't prove that you're a great talent evaluator. I don't think there's an ulterior motive here. I think they like his potential, and want to keep him.

Some of these later cards are so stylized that they seem... masturbatory.

WTF????[/bigpurple] .

Yeah. The bigger HA HA should be directed at the team paying him the $12 million.

I'm so clueless about this stuff that I can't tell if these analogies have made the transition from serious to ironic.