Spring Training Countdown

I have come to the realization that there are not nearly enough players who wear the #18. So, to countdown to Pitchers and Catchers today we will have to semi-improvise.

First, there is the player that contributed to the most-terrifying moment I can remember in my baseball fan career. Matt Cain. He's the one who the sent the 94 MPH fastball spiraling towards David Wright's noggin. Thankfully, David returned to the field on September 1 and played the rest of the season healthily.


The other player is Australian pitching hottie, Ryan Rowland-Smith. He is on twitter @hyphen18. He pitches for the Mariners and in 2008 I would mix him up with R.A. Dickey. I'm not really sure why I would do that, but now Dickey is on the Mets and Hyphen is still with the Mariners.


Tomorrow it will be easier to find players with #17. Spring Training is so close.

All For Naught

I guess I can be pretty convincing. Too bad I convinced the wrong team. Xavier Nady finally signed a contract today. With the Cubs. Yup. The team in Chicago I previously had no interest in ever rooting for. The Cubs are signing Xavier to be a fourth outfielder and possibly backup first baseman. What they are getting is a possibility that their fourth outfielder could become a major run producer and be a very capable starting outfielder. Xavier is also one heck of a clubhouse presence that any team would be thankful for.

I was obviously really hoping the Mets would sign X. But the Mets don't seem to be making any more moves.

I wanted to know how the fans were accepting the news, so of course I went to Twitter. First of all, there are a lot more Xavier Nady fans out in the world than I ever could've imagined. But, anyway, the Cubs fans were mostly excited about the move. They see that if X is healthy he would be quite the bench player. I'm glad he will be welcomed by the Cubs and their fans.

Let's Go Mets!
... and Cubs!

Mike Nickeas Still Exists!

Well, I was pretty sure he still existed. But he still plays baseball with the Mets! Thanks to Twitter I found out Mike Nickeas is at the Mets 3-day mini camp in Port St. Lucie. Surfing the Mets has this tidbit on Nickeas:

Catcher Mike Nickeas is back after August surgery to remove a bone spur from his elbow that was irritating a nerve. Nickeas spent the fall semester taking classes at Georgia Tech, leaving him one semester shy of a management degree. He was in the same recruiting class at David Wright with the Yellow Jackets, although Wright obviously signed with the Mets instead and Nickeas and Wright didn't become roommates at the school, as had been planned. "He probably made the right decision," Nickeas quipped.

I cannot express in words how happy this makes me. It's been a long day and I probably won't be online for long but this makes me happy.

The New Case For Xavier Nady

I previously had a brief post about why the Mets should sign Xavier Nady. Now, I have to add to that. Kinda like a new way to convince the Mets that Xavier Nady is a good idea.

Now that the Mets have a left fielder they don't need Xavier for that. But the Mets are still hung up on the fact that Daniel Murphy didn't hit well against left handed pitchers. I think the Mets should give Murph another shot at having the full job at first base. After all, he was basically a rookie and spent very little time in the minors. But this post isn't about Daniel.

Xavier Nady has hit .308 in his career against left handed pitchers. He has also played in New York on both the Mets and Yankees. He doesn't have much of a history at first base but he played 3B before he played the outfield in the Padres organization. He was never ever a liability in the outfield and I can't imagine him being a liability at first base. When he's not playing first base he could give any of the outfielders a rest without detracting from the outfield defense or offense.

Xavier also has the part of the game that can't be measured with stats. He is a great personality to have in the clubhouse. The link I have no longer works, but former Pirates closer Matt Capps called Xavier the funniest guy on the team. Also with the Pirates, it was his job to bring candy and snacks for the entire team. He also played a big role in the Yankees famous Kangaroo Court during the time he was with the team last year. Xavier got along well with David Wright (who doesn't?) and was looking forward to the Mets clinching 2006 in Pittsburgh. Although that didn't happen, he still wanted to celebrate with them and would've gotten a ring had the Mets won anything. He has a good sense of humor and brightens a clubhouse. What's not to like?

The Mets should really give him a chance. Why not? Low risk, high reward.

Let's Go Mets!

Zach Parise Is Cuter Than Puppies

The Rangers are sucking right now so I thought I should introduce you to Zach Parise of the New Jersey Devils.



No words are needed.

My Goodbye To Brian Stokes

I know he wasn't the best reliever the Mets ever had. I also know he wasn't everybody's favorite reliever. But he was one of my favorite relievers. And he is the reason for one of the most amusing batting practices ever.

It was a game in June and it rained before the game so batting practice was a bit modified. The pitchers were stretching in right field. I went over to get pictures and wanted to get the attention of Bobby Parnell or Brian Stokes or anybody else. I'm not usually a loud person I ultimately failed at their attention but my attempts were interesting. I don't really know why I like Brian Stokes but I do. So, I first wanted Bobby Parnell's attention so I decided I was going to say something along the lines of "Bobby! You're my favorite!" and did at a semi-loud level. I also wanted to say something for Stokes. So, Brian became my "second favorite". Of course, these favorites were only for the bullpen. I love Brian but I put Xavier Nady and many others ahead of him. But there was something about that evening that really made me life Brian Stokes. He was fooling around with Pedro Feliciano and just having fun.

I'm going to miss him.

Let's Go Mets!
Good luck Brian!

Let Me Introduce You To My Little Friend(s)

Without baseball season I need something to do. Of course, I have school and my friends but when I'm bored and don't feel like watching the new or popular TV shows (excluding Glee, I love Glee) I need something to do. I have been a very casual football fan since 2007 but then Chad Pennington went to the Dolphins and I didn't have any interest in Brett Favre (even if Joe Smith is a fan). Then the Jets drafted Mark Sanchez and that gave me some more eye candy and a fresh face to root for. But my relationship with football is very on and off. I can't stand the fact that there is 16 games and every one of them can be predicted. Seriously, you can't do that in baseball.

So, I watched some hockey. The first few games I watched were hard to get interested in but the broadcasters kept using baseball analogies so I kept watching. And eventually I started enjoying it. Then I found Henrik Lundqvist. Then Brandon Dubinsky. Then Michael Del Zotto. And I became a Rangers fan. There's something cool and fun about hockey. For one, you are guaranteed at least an hour of playing time. In football the clock is winding down while the players are doing nothing. It's also amazing that people have the ability to play ice hockey. I do get sick of hockey at times when I realize hockey season means it's not baseball season. But there's more games than football and more playing time than football. It's just more fun for me to watch.

Basically, the Rangers have kept me from going completely insane without baseball. But I still miss baseball more than anything and I can't imagine myself ever being more of a hockey fan than baseball fan. Even if the Mets continue making themselves look like fools.

Let's Go Mets!

It's That Day Again

There hasn't been much to report in the Jewish hottie department of late. But, today it's a birthday.

Today, Ryan Braun and his abs turn 27 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY RYAN!!!!!!!!

My Thoughts On "The Situation"

Yesterday everything around the Mets blew up. Perhaps their best player may or may not have disobeyed the requests of the team on whether or not to have knee surgery. And the Mets front office may or may not have verbalized their wishes for said player.

Of course, I'm talking about Carlos Beltran v. New York Mets. Since the news came out on Wednesday night that Beltran had surgery and is away from all baseball activities for 12 weeks their has been chaos and embarrassment from the Mets as an organization. For one thing, how could the team not know one of their best players was in surgery? Also, what are they gaining by continuing the back and forth with Beltran? The truth of the situation may never come out. And for all we know, the truth may already be out. Maybe it simply was a complete failure to communicate between the two sides. I don't know. I do know that the Mets seriously need to clean up this mess.

I am embarrassed. I would not be surprised if the other players are embarrassed. Everybody involved with the front office should be either hiding under their bed or coming out and making some sort of statement that they are moving on and will welcome Beltran back when he rejoins the team during the season. I know Beltran was in the wrong doing this without 100% consent from the team but oh well. It happened and it's time to move. The Mets can deal with this. Not now. Not when so much hangs on the beginning of the season and the players on the team.

I can't fathom what free agents think of the Mets right now. I know I would be running as far away from this organization as possible.

Let's Go Mets!
... I think?

One Last Hurrah

Our birthdays are coming to a close but I wanted to leave you with this video of Mike Pelfrey on Boomer and Carton of WFAN from this morning. Mikey P. is beyond adorable, especially towards the end when he sang Livin' On A Prayer.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEY!!!!!!!

Let's Go Mets!

Happy Birthday Mikey P!!!!!

Today, Michael Alan Pelfrey turns 26 years old.
He is just so special that I thought he deserved his own post.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY MIKEY!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME, MIKEY P, AND You'll see!

Today, Michael Alan Pelfrey turns 26 years old.
Today, Erick Aybar turns 26 years old.
Today, I turn 16 years old.
Today, Caleb Followill turns 28 years old.
Today, Dave Grohl turns old.
Today, LL Cool J also turns old.
Today, Hakeem Nicks turns 22 years old.

It's a pretty awesome day!

Drumroll Please

The big bad Mets news is that Carlos Beltran had surgery on his knee. I'm not really sure what to think of this. I'm just sick of all the injuries and all the delayed surgeries. Beltran is reportedly out of baseball for 12 weeks.

It's the offseason. Why in the world was this not done months ago??

Let's Go Mets!
... whatever.

I'm Completely Freaking Out!

On Twitter:


Thanks to The 'Ropolitans for the picture because I was too lazy/freaked out to put that in words myself.

Let's Go Mets!
... I hope.

To Stay Updated

I know posting has been thin during the week but I tend to get a ton of work and wouldn't be able to post anything worth reading if I attempted to when my mind was in so many other places. But I do still have the capacity to post stuff on Twitter during the week. You can follow me on Twitter or just keep up with the widget on the side. And I'll be on everyday to update the countdown on top.

Let's Go Mets!

I Miss Summer

There's only 39 days until pitchers, catchers, and injured players (meaning the majority of the Mets) report to Port St. Lucie. But that's only in February. I want July.

I want the All-Star voting. I want Gary, Keith, and Ron to discuss which Mets will be heading to Anaheim for the All-Star game. Will Jason Bay be in the Home Run Derby? Not likely, but it's nice to hope. I want to be able to come on the computer at 4:30 and see the Mets lineup. Turn on the TV at 7:00 and see the Mets. I want to take the 7 train and see Citi Field in the distance. I want to know there will be a game that night. David Wright will be in his familiar confines of the 3rd base "territory". Josh Thole or Omir Santos or maybe Bengie Molina will be behind home plate waiting for the fist pitch. Johan Santana or Mike Pelfrey will be waiting on the mound, ready to throw the first pitch. And then it will all start. The first pitch. The strikes, the outs. The hits and the runs from the Mets. Who knows if the wins will come with all that? Right now I don't really care. I just want baseball.

39 days.
Let's Go Mets!

Happy Birthday Jeff!

Today, Jeffrey Brandon Francoeur turns 26 years old.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY JEFF!!!!!!!!!!!!

I Know What I Want To Do On Saturday

Click here.

Now maybe somebody that can drive me to New York City on Saturday morning is reading this and will drive me.

That is all.

Let's Go Mets!

Celebrity Mets Fan Update

It's not often that there is celebrity Mets fans walking around showing off their fandom. And it's even more rare for there to be an absolutely gorgeous celebrity Mets fan. And he's on Glee.

Mets + Matthew Morrison = WIN.


Let's Go Mets!