Is Lastings Milledge a Tom Petty Fan?

My love for the Mets is only comparable to my admiration for the music of Tom Petty. So, imagine my excitement when I heard Lastings Milledge make a comment that indicated he might be a fellow Tom Petty fan. During an interview with WFAN's Schmuck and His Lap Dog, Lastings was asked why he chose to wear #44. Milledge made it clear it was a nod to Reggie Jackson, apparently a role model of his. Francesca joked that Reggie had as much trouble with the Fenway Green Monster as Milledge. "Don't Do Me Like That!" Milledge responded, laughing. So, is Milledge a Tom Petty fan? Well, if we hear him striding to the plate to "Running Down a Dream" we'll know for sure...

Transplanted ex-Mets News - Clem Labine

Clem Labine, an original Met, and a relief pitcher most famous for throwing a World Series shutout against the Yankees for the Dodgers in the 1950s, died yesterday at age 80.  Check out Mets Guy In Michigan for a nice personal story about Clem.

Have You Been To WFAN.com Lately?

If you're a transplanted Mets fan like me, one of the toughest things to adjust to after moving is the loss of a 24 hr sports station that spends a lot of time on baseball, and specifically the Mets. There is a sports station here, but they mostly talk about college hoops, with occasional Braves references.

WFAN.com started webcasting their broadcast (except for games) last year, which is great, but I always listen to the 'FAN while in the car, and the internet just doesn't work that way, yet. At night, I can get an OK signal, so I can sometimes listen to Steve Sommers on the way home from class, but when baseball season rolls around the days get a lot longer and it's not until 8:30 or 9:00 at night before 660 comes in.

At the suggestion of Matt Cerrone, I ventured over to WFAN.com today to check out an interview Schmuck and His Lap Dog did with Lastings Milledge this afternoon. WFAN has done a major overhaul of their site since the last time I was there. Now, all their audioclips are available for download, instead of just streaming, and they've assigned their beat reporters to do blogs. So, there's yet another Mets blog on the Internet now, this one by Eddie Coleman.

One note: the website advertises that the audioclips are available for listening via Play (streaming), Download, or "Podcast". But, I don't know what they think podcast means. When you click on podcast it takes you to an RSS page of the audioclips that you can subscribe to in your live bookmark folder. It's a list of the same files that are linked by clicking "download." Odd. Maybe I'm the one that's confused?

Anyway WFAN was way behind on their website for a long time. It's taken them this long just to put scores and news on their homepage!

As much as I complained about WFAN when I lived in New York, it's being away from the station that makes me appreciate what I'm missing. Head on over and see what you think.

Transplanted Ex- Mets Update: Gary Matthews Jr Named in Steroids Probe

For the record, Gary Matthews Jr appeared in just 2 games for the Mets back in 2002, but he is an ex-Met nonetheless and he was one of the players named, along with Jose Canseco and Evander Holyfield, in a steroids bust made up in Albany yesterday.

Matthews, apparently a stand up guy, faced the allegations head on, with vigor, saying, "I do expect it to resolve itself here in the near future. ... Until we get more information, I just can't comment on it," he said Wednesday. You tell 'em Gary!

Mets First Spring Training Game of 2007

Can you smell it? Opening Day is just 31 days away, and we had a real live Mets baseball game played yesterday!

Some notes:

Hey Ronny Darling, I know it's Spring Training, but maybe you can brush your hair when you're appearing on television? Was it just me, or does Ron Darling look just a bit out of shape? Putting away a few too many cold ones in the Florida sun perhaps? He did provide some terrific insight though during the game. SNY really has a terrific trio with Gary Cohen and Keith Hernandez... Hey look, it's HoJo!

The Mets in their regular home white uniforms took on the Detroit Tigers B-Squad, headed by Transplanted ex-Met Vance Wilson. Vance had some nice swings and looked good. Gotta be happy for the guy.

Oliver Perez made the start and looked rather lousy, actually. Darling commented that Perez needed to work on reducing walks and homers, and O'Perez walked the second batter of the game and allowed a homer to the leadoff man in the second. Way to try and win a job. OK, it's the first start of Spring. Let's not get too hysterical just yet. Still...

Alay Soler, the forgotten man in camp looked pretty decent. He threw two innings of good ball and looks like he's lost some weight. Billy Wagner followed up with one inning where he tested out a new pitch to complement his fastball which has lost some oomph. See what I did there? Anyway, he's 36 now. Who is our closer-in-waiting?

Speaking of trying to win a job, Damion Easley got the start as Jose Porn Star Mustache Man Valentin is ailing. Easley looked good in the field and had some solid swings, which iss a nice way to impress his new bosses and teammates.

Fellow old man Moises Alou gave a clue as to why he gets injured so much. The guy slides into a wall in the first, gets hit during his first turn at bat, and then bangs into a wall trying to save a homerun. Ease up a bit, man! It's early, and you don't have to worry about your job, OK? Just stay healthy!

Lastings Milledge also took a beating, getting nailed in the hand by Zach Minor in the sixth. Milledge stayed in the game and even managed a single in the 8th. It would be great if this kid could make the Opening Day squad. By all accounts, he's matured a ton since we last saw him and it would be nice to have some more youth on the big team. Plus, with all the hype around F-Mart and Carlos Gomez, it would be good for Lastings Milledge to get a leg up on those guys and prove he's big-league ready before they get called up.

A lot of discussion took place about the 2007 bullpen. The 'pen was a strength of the Mets in 2006, and they've lost Darren Oliver and Chad Bradford to free agency, two guys who ate up a lot of solid innings last year. Also, Gary Cohen reports that Duaner Sanchez "is not as far along as the Mets would like," in recovering from the shoulder injury.

The scores don't really matter in these contests, though Bobby Valentine used to say that ideally the club finishes at .500 for the Spring. This way, they get used to winning, but don't waste too much energy on games that don't matter. But, for posterity's sake I'll report that the Mets lost, 5-4.

Tom Glavine takes the hill against the Cardinals and Chris Carpenter this afternoon, when we'll also get a look at Jorge Sosa, Pedro Feliciano and Ambiorix Burgos.

We've Survived!

Competitive Spring Training action begins today, as the Mets face Detroit at 1PM. For those of you lucky enough to get SNY, you can TiVo it this afternoon or watch the replay at 6.

Oliver Perez will make the start, probably pitch about two innings, and be followed by Alay Soler (he's still on the roster?), Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Jon Adkins.

The starters for the next four games are Tom Glavine, Chan Ho Park and Mike Pelfrey. Remember, all eyes are on which five guys will start the season off in the rotation.

Rotation battle speculation update:
Dayn Perry says the 5th spot is Chan Ho Park's to lose. Matt Cerrone concurs.

As for the bullpen, there are way too many guys to even speculate who will make the team, other than Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis. Duaner Sanchez may or may not be ready in time. Other candidates include Pedro Feliciano, Jon Adkins, Ambiorix Burgos, Jorge Sosa, Joe Smith, Juan Padilla, Jason Vargas and Dave Williams.

The other battles are for the 4th and 5th outfield spot, and the backup infielders.

The projected 25 man roster:

C Lo Duca
C2: Ramon Castro or Sandy Alomar
1B: Carlos Delgado
2B: Jose Valentin
3B: David Wright
SS: Jose Reyes
IF: Julio Franco
IF: Damion Easley or Anderson Hernandez
RF: Shawn Green
CF: Carlos Beltran
LF: Moises Alou
OF: Endy Chavez or Ben Johnson or David Newhan or Lastings Milledge
OF: Lasting Milledge or Endy Chavez or Ben Johnson or David Newhan
SP: Tom Glavine
SP: Orlando Hernandez
SP: ?John Maine?
SP: ?Oliver Perez?
SP: ?Chan Ho Park or Aaron Sele or Jorge Sosa or Mike Pelfrey or Philip Humber or Jason Vargas?
RP: Billy Wagner
RP: Aaron Heilman
RP: Scott Schoeneweis
RP: ?Pedro Feliciano?
RP: ?Duaner Sanchez?
RP: ?Jorge Sosa?

Of course, that's assuming the Mets go with 11 pitchers. If they are worried about the ability of their starters going deep and want to have a 12 man staff, then they'll have to go with just 4 outfielders (Can you really imagine Endy Chavez not making Willie Randolph's team?), or 5 infielders (Damion Easley, we hardly knew ye).

Let's get on with it!

Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: Art Shamsky

Hat Tip to Regis at Mets Heads for pointing out that 1969 Met Art Shamsky will serve as coach for one of six teams in the new Israeli baseball league.  fans of Everybody Loves Raymond will recall that Raymond's brother Robert (Brad Garrett) had a bulldog named Shamsky on the show.  Jon Stewart also has a pit bull named Shamsky.  Call me an anti-Semite, but I decided to name my French Bulldog Mookie. 

My cousin named his dog Piazza, which also works pretty well as a dog name.  Unfortunately, none of the current era of Mets have names suitable for canines, at least that I can think of.  Moises?  Milledge?  Not as befitting as the three above, and none of them have the tenure deserving of naming your dog after them anyway. 

I could see a Yankees fan naming their dog Jeter, but A-Rod might get upset if Jeter the Dog didn't sniff A-Rod's butt enough.

Transplanted Ex-Mets Update: Edgardo Alfonzo Is A Long Island Duck!

OK, now I am mad. First, Mookie Wilson leaves his post as manager of the Kingsport Mets, just a month after I move within driving distance of the team's home. Then, Tim Tueffel takes over the Savannah Sand Gnats, but the team doesn't have any games in Greensboro this upcoming season. Now, one of my favorite Mets of all time, Edgardo Alfonzo, will play for the Long Island Ducks this season, and I don't live on Long Island! Man! Somebody send me a bobblehead!

Mets Spring Training Update

There are about a billion articles in the mainstream and not so mainstream press out there, though there is not much to report. Grapefruit League action kicks off on Wednesday, and Mets fans in attendance will see Oliver Perez make the start as the battle for the rotation slots begins. Here are the candidates:

Glavine (lock)
El Duque (lock)
John Maine
Oliver Perez
Chan Ho Park
Aaron Sele
Mike Pelfrey
Jason Vargas
Jorge Sosa
Phillip Humber

Not including Pedro Martinez, due sometime after the All Star Break, there's 10 pitchers for 5 slots, or really 8 pitchers for 3 slots, when you lock in Glavine and El Duque for the one and two positions. Of course, despite what Glavine says, when you have two men over 40 at the front end of the rotation it's tough to imagine them both making 35 starts each. So, this could be interesting. Over the next few weeks I'll try to keep track of the speculation of the "experts," to see who is predicting what. In the meantime, let's get on with it already!

First Negative News Of Spring

Spring Training is supposed to be all about optimism, that is until the injury bug starts to hit. The Mets have had their first scare of the Spring, with Orlando El Duque Hernandez shipped up to New York for an examination. He reportedly has a pain in the neck, and he ain't talking about Jimmy Rollins. It turns out it's... arthritis. Yes, we know the Mets have some older guys on the team, but seriously, arthritis? Anyway, El Duque's headed back down to Florida, where he should resume workouts in a few days, and everyone's saying he's fine.

There's yet another Mets blog attempting to deliver all the news that your bandwidth can handle, it's called MetsHeads and you can find it at http://metsheads.blogharbor.com

Finally, since there's no real Mets news to talk about, I hope you'll excuse me for posting some non-Mets related news:

On February 15th, the Hershey Co. announced that they were cutting 1,500 jobs over three years as part of a plan to scale back production lines and move some manufacturing to Mexico. This really struck a chord with me because when I visited Hershey PA my wife and I learned that during The Great Depression, instead of laying off workers, founder Milton Hershey employed people to build such structures such as The Hotel Hershey, a community center, a theatre, a sports arena and a stadium in the chocolate factory's town in Pennsylvania.

My wife and I have now set up a website, www.kissesforhershey.com, where we've laid out our plans to help save the jobs at risk. We've set up a petition for people to sign, and we plan on sending one Hershey's Kiss to CEO Richard Lenny for every person who signs the petition by July 7th (Chocolate Day). Our goal is 3,000 signatures, one for each job at stake. We also hope to start a letter writing campaign, where people will send letters to Richard Lenny and ask him not to go forward with the layoffs.

Please check out the site, sign the petition, and tell five friends about this movement. It turns out 3,000 jobs are at stake!!

Thank you. We now resume our regularly scheduled Mets related blog.

Mets Non-News From Camp Notes: New Slogan Revealed

Have you visited Mets.com lately? The new banner reveals the new marketing slogan: Your Season Has Come. Last season it was "Our team, Our time," with us all celebrating together, but it seems the new slogan indicates that now it's "my" season. So there! Now I can feel better about saying things like "we" when I talk about Mets accomplishments. This also makes up for the intense guilt I felt for years when I learned that Only I Could Prevent Forest Fires. Only Me.

Jason at Hot Foot alerts us to an article reporting that MLB is introducing new caps for 2007. Instead of the old wool hats, the new caps are polyester blend to help keep sweat off players faces, as well as resisting odors and staining. This reminds me of that episode of Seinfeld when George Costanza convinced the Yankees to switch to cotton uniforms because they would breathe better. Anyway, here's a look at the new batting practice cap:

Speaking of the Yankees, is this issue with A-Rod and Jeter not being best friends forever anymore just about the lamest storyline in all of sports? Even Don Zimmer asks "What do you want [Jeter] to do, put his arm around him and kiss him?"

By the way, for us out-of-market and transplanted Mets fans who want to get a glimpse of how construction of Citi Field is coming along, the Mets have launched a webcam. Well, they are calling it a webcam, but really it's not a live camera but actually a time-lapse video of everything that's gone on since the groundbreaking. It's actually cooler than a webcam, though it would be nice if there were an actual webcam to go along with it.

Transplanted ex-Mets update: Although it was previously reported that Kris Benson would miss the entire 2007 season due to surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff, he's now decided to try an aggressive rehabilitation program that could get him back on the field sometime this season. The Orioles were prepared to go without Benson in 2007, signing Steve Trachsel the day after the announcement about Benson was made.

Well, that's pretty much it for the non-news. Unless you count Jimmy Rollins attempts to ignite a feud with the Mets. He says his team is "the team to beat" in 2007. Oh, okay, Jimmy. Call me when the Fillies get a bullpen.

Shawn Green's New Swing

Shawn Green, who underwhelmed Mets fans with his bat and his glove when he was acquired late last season, said yesterday in the Post that over the winter he found a mechanical issue in his swing, "a hand hitch," that he's corrected which should increase his power.  He wants to show he is still the same hitter L.A. had in 2001 and 2002.  I would LOVE to see the Mets have the 2001 Shawn Green!  Can we also get the 1998 versions of Aaron Sele, Chan Ho Park, Tom Glavine, Orlando Hernanez and Pedro Martinez while we're at it?

Goings On At Mets Camp

Here's a summary of the latest non-news at Mets camp in Port St. Lucie:

Lastings Milledge showed up to camp a day earlier than requires, but not still early enough for some reporters to speculate that he should have been there even earlier.

For reasons as yet unexplained, the Mets have signed catcher Sandy Alomar Jr to a minor league deal. Remember, his dad is the Mets bench coach. As long as his brother stays away from Shea, I couldn't care less.

Fred Wilpon says the "goal is to win the World Series," the Mets are good enough to win, and facing the Junkees in another Subway Series "would be the greatest." he also says Minaya's got room in the budget to make another acquisition if necessary. I should hope so, especially after reading that Freddy Skill Sets just gave a cool $12 million to the University of Michigan.

Here's a news item for you: Ever wonder about some of the music that players strut up to the plate with? well, we know David Wright was soliciting ideas for some new theme music, but it seems Jose Reyes has taken matters into his own hands. Some of the music heard during Reyes' at bats during the second half of last season was recorded by... Jose Reyes. Reyes recorded two reggaeton tracks last year at a New York studio, called "La Rompe Discoteca" and "Encen." Jose would sometimes walk to the plate to the former, but the latter can be heard on myspace at www.myspace.com/rickycash.

On Friday, the Mets claimed ex-Devil Ray RHP Marcos Caravajal off waivers, and designated Steve Schmoll. Schmoll cleared waivers, and will start the season at AAA New Orleans. 22 year old Caraval was 0-2 with a 5.09 ERA in 39 appearances for the Rockies in 2005, but was 2-2 with a 3.86 ERA in 38 games last season with the Rays' Double-A team, striking out 70 in 72 1/3 innings.

Pehaps the most intriguing quote of the spring, so far, is from Willie Randolph who said, of his tenure in the Bronx, "The things I'm doing now I was doing seven, eight years ago. I didn't get a lot of credit for it with the Yankees. I say that now because it's true and no one else said it, " Randolph said, "I feel like I was managing without the title," In the article, reporter Dave Buscema gave Willie a chance to retract his statements, and Randolph takes the opportunity. Buscema believes Randolph when he says he didn't really mean what he said, but I'm not so sure... Chew on that for awhile.

Want To Get Excited?

Spring Training is all about hype, especially about young pitchers, but if you are willing to get yourself excited by a young fireballer in the Mets system, look no further than new Met Ambiorix Burgos.  Acquired from the Royals for Brian Bannister, Burgos is a 22 year old who regularly hurls fastballs clocked at 100mph+.  Read Ben Shpigel's profile in the NY Times for 854 words that will have you believing the Mets have a potential superstar in the making.

Inundated

This was always my favorite time of year. After months of sports pages featuring barely a mention of baseball news, finally camp would break and we'd start to get some real nuggets of Mets knowledge. Newsday, The Daily News, and even The NY Post all did a fine job of reporting the goings on at Port St. Lucie. Not much really was ever going on down in Florida, mind you. A new acquisition would make his first appearance in a Mets uniform, or someone who had a lousy season the year prior would predict big things in the upcoming months. New batting practice uni's might debut, and the up and coming pitching prospects would be hyped beyond sufficiently.

Now, suddenly, it's different. Now every newspaper has a blogger to accompany their articles, posting photos, and then there's the full-time bloggers (who do an outstanding, tireless job), keeping us up to the minute on what's happening. And suddenly it seems there is so much happening! Even though nothing is really happening. That's a downfall of teh information age - too much information. It's the same plague that causes 24 hour news networks to analayze poll results 24 months before an election! How do I sort through the clutter. A big to-do was made about Lastings Milledge not showing up to camp early! Not late, but not early! Finally, he does report, a day early, but we wonder if it's early enough. I am exhausted!

I have felt a little bad about not posting much here lately, but really, what do I have to offer amidst the clutter? So, at least from now until Opening Day, my resolve for this space is to try and sort through the clutter for you. If you want every tidbit of news that comes through, the links on the right side of this page will get you started nicely. Otherwise, I'll do my best to post the most newsworthy of the items, along with my trademarked sardonic commentary where appropriate.

Happy Spring!