Benjamin Grimm

Mike Puma of the Post is apparently now saying that the Mets might allow Luis Hernandez to bump Hu from the roster, and go with Murphy and Emaus as the reserve infielders.

Actually, I just checked and his September numbers weren't at all bad. What's sticking with me is how he sat out the last six games of the season. I've probably magnified that in my memory over the last twenty years. (Holy crap! It's been more than TWENTY YEARS since Darryl Strawberry has appeared in a game for the Mets. Jeez!)

I sense that Turner has a real opportunity here, if he can take advantage of it.

I may be wrong, but I seem to remember Darryl really dogging it in September of 1990, when he decided he was fed up with New York and was longing for L.A.

Sure we'd all like it to be Seaver, but I'd have to include Gibson and Koufax in that conversation.

I don't recall Darryl being especially hard-working in 1990.

I'm with Edgy on this one. Mantle over Williams? I don't see it.

Edgy DC wrote: But the wordy build-ups to the punchlines, with no incidental humor along the way, made you do more work than the punchline was worth. It's not that I'm too lazy to read. It's just that humor needs rhythm. Absolutely.

Like Cathy!

I've been thinking this morning about depth perception. I remember I knew a girl in high school who told me that she was blind in one eye, and without depth perception she couldn't get a drivers license. (Is that true? I didn't question it then, but I was but a callow youth.) I did some experimenting. Where I'm sitting, there's a half wall ahead of me, with a plant sitting on that wall. A ways behind that is a fireplace. If I look at the plant with both eyes open, I can tell that the fireplace is well behind it. But when I close one eye, I lose all sense of the distance between the fireplace and the plant. But I can simulate depth perception by moving my head from side to side. I can see that perceived movement of the plant in the foreground is greater than that of the fireplace behind it. If there were several more objects between the plant and the fireplace, I could distinguish the relative distances by comparing the rate of perceived movement. Long story short, I think I see how people who lose an eye, or the use of an eye, can learn to compensate. I feel bad for Salazar. I hope he makes the necessary adjust as quickly as possible.

The Mets will have two openings for reserve infielders, and of course there will be the guy who ends up as the starting second baseman. So who will these three players be? I'm thinking either: Murphy-Hu-Emaus, Murphy-Hu-Hernandez, or Murphy-Hu-Castillo. If the Mets are determined to keep Emaus, it's not inconceivable that Hu ends up doing a Warren G. Harding thing, winning the starting job.

I'll nominate Carlos Beltran, 2006, for center field.

I was thinking pretty much the same thing. If Luis Hernandez wins the job, he'll only keep it for as long as he demonstrates that he's the best option. Emaus may end up back in Toronto's organization, but there will still be Murphy and Turner and Tejada and Valdespin and others.

Twelve! He has appeared in six games this spring and is 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate.

Is a dark horse emerging? Mets to tab unheralded Hernandez for second base By MIKE PUMA Last Updated: 9:40 AM, March 15, 2011 Posted: 1:46 AM, March 15, 2011 PORT ST. LUCIE -- The Mets are ready to shred their final four bracket and chart a different course at second base. Disenchanted with what he has seen from Luis Castillo, Daniel Murphy, Brad Emaus and Justin Turner this spring, manager Terry Collins is preparing to name Luis Hernandez the starter at second base, a source with direct knowledge of Collins' plans told The Post yesterday. The move will be contingent upon Collins convincing the front office to find roster space for Hernandez. The 26-year-old Hernandez played 17 games for the Mets last year before breaking a toe on Sept. 18. He has appeared in six games this spring and is 5-for-12 (.417) at the plate. Hernandez began camp on the periphery of the second-base derby and has gained traction almost by default. Though Castillo is having a solid spring offensively, the source said Castillo's limited defensive range is problematic for the new regime. The Mets still do not view Murphy as an everyday second baseman, and many in the organization are not convinced Emaus and Turner are major-league players. Hernandez is considered the best athlete and defensive player among the group. As the organization's minor league field coordinator last season, Collins saw plenty of Hernandez. The 35-year-old Castillo, who is owed $6 million this season, could be dumped by the end of the week. On Sunday, Castillo told The Post he has already informed Collins he wants to be released if he isn't going to be the starting second baseman. "I know I can still play," Castillo said. But Collins' plan to install Hernandez at second base could hit a snag if the front office insists upon keeping Emaus, a Rule 5 selection last winter. Emaus must remain on the Mets' 25-man roster for the entire season or be offered back to the Blue Jays, who left him unprotected. If Collins is told he must carry Emaus, the Mets would then likely have to decide between Hernandez and Murphy for one roster spot. Murphy is viewed as a solid lefty bat off the bench and utility player who could occasionally start at second or third base. Emaus can also play third base. Collins, the source said, is confident he will have final say in the matter after hearing opinions from his coaching staff, general manager Sandy Alderson and special adviser J.P. Ricciardi, among others. But Ricciardi was also the driving force behind selecting Emaus in the Rule 5 draft and could provide a roadblock to Hernandez's ascent. The Mets signed Hernandez before spring training last year -- he was released by the Royals in January 2010 -- and summoned him to the majors in August after he had split time between Double-A Binghamton and Triple-A Buffalo. In 265 career at-bats with the Orioles, Royals and Mets, he is a .245 hitter with three homers and 20 RBIs. Hernandez's career highlight came in his final at-bat of last season. After fouling a pitch off his right foot and breaking his big toe, he homered against Atlanta's Tim Hudson.

Holy crap. I remember a kid in my neighborhood was a big fan of Mitchell Page. That "59" after his name came as a surprise to me. When you go a long time without thinking of someone, you tend to think that they haven't been aging.

I'm guessing David's undershirt is probably orange, but it does look to be on the red side of the spectrum.

To: Anyone who's been paying more attention than I have Re: Jason Bay How's he been doing this spring? Any reasons for optimism yet?

Fman99 wrote: Sorry, I was taking a nap. Seriously, I've yet to watch any spring training baseball on TV. I need a night game. I haven't watched any either, although I've had the opportunity. I'm surprisingly disinterested. I am very much looking forward to watching the April 1 game. (My wife will be visiting a friend that evening, and she's bringing the kids with her. I'll either settle down in front of the TV with a corned beef hoagie, or I'll throw a Charlie Sheen-type party. I'll have to firm up my plans over the next couple of weeks.)

Ashie62 wrote: Does Santana get the 77 million or so owed if this injury is terminal? Yup.

Or maybe Jordanny V.

G-Fafif wrote: And thank god the Mets announcers express opinions, not propaganda. Word!

Space Ghost Stadium?

I thought it was about the Wilpons buying into soccer, not soccer buying into the Mets.

Edgy DC wrote: Can there be any doubt that sports fans hold (and are encouraged to hold) a grudge merely for the grudge's sake? I don't doubt it.