MFS62

One of the radio reports from spring training said that Kevin has been working out at first base. Later

Red Sox sign Cuban prospect: http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2015/02/red-sox-to-sign-yoan-moncada.html Later

.285-17-85, with a marginally Plus dWAR. And by mid year, some NY writer will admit that his defense is better than the last few years of Derek. And I will gladly cut that article out of the paper and staple it to the forehead of that very annoying YLDB (I guess that was redundant) in my office. Later

Lefty Specialist wrote: Benjamin Grimm wrote: He'll take over the closer job by August 1, if not sooner. 13 saves, mostly in the second half of the season. Six wins. This. Parnell won't be ready to be a full-time closer and Jenrry will be too inconsistent. He'll handle the 8th until about June, then slide into the closer role. 3-1, 2.08, 1.12 WHIP, 18 saves. This looks good to me, too. Later

This is a tough one because I have no idea how many times Terry will go to him this year. But however many times, the ERA will be under 3.00 and the WHIP under 1.20. Based on use, the other numbers will fall into alignment. Later

Yep. You're right. Missed it. (insert blushing emoticon here) Later

Edgy MD wrote: Not only is Syndergaard the #11 prospect according to Baseball Prospectus, but a publication called BP has ranked a Mets prospect named Thor in their 11th slot. When we report the same news a second time, it's like a fake validation of the earlier post. YEAH! My post was about Baseball America, not Baseball Prospectus. And earlier reports I heard had BA having six players in their top 100. According to the MLB report, BA had seven. That's why the repost. And BA is not BP. Later

Mets in the BA top 100, as reported on the MLB network: 11. Thor 33. Matz 45. Nimmo 46. Herrera 63. Plawecki 80. Conforto 98. Rosario Tied with the Red Sox for most playrs in the Top 100, with 7. Later

He'll start to figure out left handers and get more at bats this season. More at bats = more production: .272-34-106 Later

14-11 3.10 Later

snarky comment] Hardy used[/snarky] one might say. Let's see someone turn up with THAT on the Oscar night runway! Q: "So, who are you wearing?" A: "Lucas Duda" Did the players autograph them while she was wearing the dress? Later

He'll have to soothe that pain in a spa in Las Vegas for the early part of the year. Then he will be recalled mid year and hit .247/.287/.386 in 35 games. Later

When I heard the charges against me, I never thought they would have evidence. I'm sorry for believing that my information would be protected under HIPAA. That'll tech me for believing in the law. It will never happen again. And to my supplier who will be looking at striped sunlight for the next four years, I promise to visit you in the slammer. Alex

breakout! .288-17-83 Later

.292-18-76 Later

8-6 4.25 traded late in year to make room for a younger arm. Later

Frayed Knot wrote: MFS62 wrote: One writer on the Mets Inside Pitch (subscription required) has called him "Bustchini", although that writer has been known to occasionally write with pen in cheek. In any event, I don't see him making it to the majors this year, and he may be passed by Rosario at some point. Maybe someone should explain to this "writer" how stupid it is to stick a 'Bust' label on a 20 y/o player just two years after his draft out of high school. I think he was trying to do just that, showing how early a player can get a tag like that. From his other comments, I'm pretty sure he was being sarcastic toward the fans who would label a player like that. I used pen in cheek to mean tongue in cheek. Later

One writer on the Mets Inside Pitch (subscription required) has called him "Bustchini", although that writer has been known to occasionally write with pen in cheek. In any event, I don't see him making it to the majors this year, and he may be passed by Rosario at some point. Later

Meanwhile, A-Rod is getting ready for Spring Training, as noted by Carrie Underwood: Enjoy, Later _____________________________________________________________________________ Right now he's probably romancing some baseball Annie And she's probably getting frisky Right now, he's probably wishing That he didn�t have those shots 'Cause his lovin� has been risky Right now, he's probably up behind her With a fungo Cause his own �bat� don�t work Why? Now he knows He stuck that needle into his side For his down-the-stretch Hall of Fame drive Thought each homer would be a record feat He swung a Louisville slugger both day and night While he called the finger pointers liars But maybe next time he'll think before he cheats Right now, he still thinks its okey dokey While all his suppliers are serving time in the pokey Right now, he's probably thinking, I'm a hunk And he's a thinking that he's gonna get away with that junk Right now, he's probably dabbing on 20 dollars Worth of that new cologne from Derek Oh and he don't know He stuck that needle into his side For his down-the-stretch Hall of Fame drive Thought each homer would be a record feat He swung a Louisville slugger both day and night While he called the finger pointers liars But maybe next time he'll think before he cheats Oh, maybe next time he'll think before he cheats Oh, before he cheats Oh, the next time ...

Go Go Viggo (Mortensen): http://nypost.com/2015/02/15/mets-fan-viggo-mortensen-makes-predictions-for-2015/ �The Mets are always going to be fighting the Yankees for attention in New York because they don�t have the money the older, wealthier club has. There have been times when the Mets have outshone the Yankees by virtue of sporting excellence, but there is probably always going to be an underdog quality to this franchise. As a fan, that suits me fine, wouldn�t have it any other way. �I thrive on the difference between us and Yankee fans. The equivalent in big-time professional soccer is the rivalry between Real Madrid and Atl�tico de Madrid. Or, in Argentina, where I was raised until the advent of the Amazin� Mets of 1969, Boca Juniors and San Lorenzo. Like the Mets, Atl�tico and San Lorenzo teams and fans pride themselves on their grittiness, on not only getting by but sometimes achieving greatness with far less means and talent than their crosstown rivals. It�s a question of attitude, of traits that are ingrained in supporters, managers, and players alike � an attitude that often translates into a come-from-behind, uniquely passionate style of play. �I doubt that the Big Apple will ever be entirely a Mets town, no matter how much success the club has. That would be boring, really, just as boring as if the only thing New York baseball fans cared about was the Yankees. I�d love nothing more than a re-match of the 2000 World Series. That one still smarts. The rest of the country would probably hate that, but I think it would be great for the city and for baseball as a whole. At this moment, I am not worried about the Mets doing well in 2015, but I am not sure the Yankees will be up to the task. We�ll see. �Something that jumps out at you when you look at the way the Mets� roster is shaping up for the upcoming season is the fact that GM Sandy Alderson managed to hold onto most of the important pieces of the 2014 team. Matt Harvey is coming back, and will hopefully pick up where he left off. If his recovery is sound, there is no reason why he will not continue to be a nightmare for opposing pitchers. Add rookie sensation de Grom, plus rock-solid Col�n, Wheeler, Gee, Niese, Torres, Mejia, Familia, Montero, Edgin, Black, Syndergaard� could be an intimidating pitching staff. Don�t count Parnell out either; he could come back with a vengeance as a closer. Sorry if I am leaving anyone out. Bottom line is that the Mets have a lot of talented young pitchers. �People tend to overlook the team�s offensive capabilities, with veterans Granderson and Wright under-performing in 2014, but they�ve got other guys who can hit, too: Duda, Murphy, Lagares, d�Arnaud, Tejada, Campbell, Flores, among others. As with the pitching staff, the hitting line-up for the Mets is quite young, full of potential. Many are patient enough to get on base a lot, and know what to do when they get there. Hopefully the loss of fleet-footed Eric Young, Jr. won�t be too noticeable in the base-stealing department. �Wright is the natural team leader; hopefully he�ll have recovered from his nagging shoulder problem and be able to once again lead with his renowned mental toughness and athletic ability. I�m hoping Granderson will be able to hit as well for the Mets as he once did for the Yankees. New addition Michael Cuddyer is someone Mets fans are hoping will provide more runs and lift the overall team batting average against left-handed pitching. Mayberry will hopefully also be valuable in that respect. �What is going to happen in 2015? Who knows. The thing to do is to keep an open, positive mind-set and do one�s best. Even though she unfortunately is a Yankee fan, something that Associate Justice of the Supreme Court Sonia Sotomayor once said applies to all Mets fans � much more than to Yankee fans in my opinion: �I have never had to face anything that could overwhelm the native optimism and stubborn perseverance I was blessed with.� Whatever happens this coming season, Mets fans and players go into it, as they do every season, with that psychological advantage. To Sonia and the team she inexplicably supports I say, �Te esperamos�� (we�re waiting for you�).� Later

I still wish they had found a way to keep Juan Centeno for the emergency call-up role. But if they (shudder) have to go that far down in the organization, I think they'd look to acquire a veteran catcher to work with their young pitchers rather than bring up Carrillo. He stays in the minors this year. Later

Memories? he was fast and, um, ..., he was fast. Later

Edgy MD wrote: Well, it's not like carrying Campbell will mean there won't be anyone who can play adequate middle infield defense. There'll be two infield backups, and unless something modestly dramatic happens, one of them will be Tejada. I dunno. I just get the feeling that he will be (to channel Dizzy Dean) squozed out of a spot on the 25 man because they need the spot elsewhere (another LOOGY? a backup center fielder?). You are probably right, but Eric should do his own laundry around the final cut downs in training camp. Later

Edgy MD wrote: Who breaks camp with his job? With all the stories about how Flores can't play short (and I don't believe any of them) they'll give his spot to a player who can play adequate middle infield defense. Then, when they find out that Wilmer can do a good job, Campbell will be on some other team. Later

When he found out they weren't giving him a car or a rocking chair, he decided not to go. Later