Mr Mets Daily

Mets to host final regular season series at Shea Stadium...

Not all that much to talk about here really Mets fans; lets see, final regular season series ever at Shea Stadium, Mets fighting to not become another September casualty and actually make the playoffs and help ease the pain of 2007.....nah, nothing to see here.

It will be an eventful weekend at Shea Stadium---one way or another.

Lets start with Shea; I have been going to Mets games since 1977 and I have to admit, I will miss the place!

I know, Shea doesn't get nearly the notoriety of, say Yankee Stadium. I know it isn't considered a "glamour" stadium. In fact, it is often referred to as a dump. But I love the place!

Seriously, I have some great memories. For one, I always loved the open air look to the outfield. Most of the modern parks have that closed in feel. A Mets game at Shea always had a different feel to it then most other parks.

I will never forget my first Mets game--- 1977, the Mets playing the Reds and watching Pete Rose lead off with a triple on the games very first pitch. Not a great result I know, but I remember thinking how cool it was to see major leaguers playing ball! I also remember that day commenting to my Grandfather  (the reason, despite growing up in the Bronx, that I am a Mets fan),on what a nice park Shea was and how good I thought the Mets were going to be that year (eventually I came to understand the look on his face which was "oh you poor, stupid kid....you have no idea what you are in for").

The next several years tested the resolve of all Mets fans. The years of Dave Kingman, George Theodore, Pat Zachry....I could go on and on--- Mets fans remember.

But through it all, for some bizarre reason, I loved the New York Mets and Shea Stadium!

All those years of lousy baseball from the Mets, last place finishes, lousy trades, bad luck, being made fun of (particularly during those terrible seasons when the hated Yankees had the nerve to win Championships) were very much part of my youth.

But I still always went to Shea----and loved it all. (I truly believe being  a Mets fan during these formative years served me well as it had to help develope character----didn't it?) 

But there were some great memories; watching my all time favorite Met pitcher Tom Seaver pitch lights out ball on a lousy team. Watching players like Felix Milan, Wayne Garrett, Willie Mays ( a few weeks past his prime, but still---Willie), and so many other colorful Shea characters were tremendous childhood memories.

I remember another time when I went wandering through the Shea Stadium corridors with a childhood buddy, and as the game ended, we ran into none other then the greatest broadcasting team of all time; Ralph Kiner, Bob Murphy and Lindsey (what an ugly coat) Nelson.

They were  happy to spend a couple of minutes with two young Mets fans (before heading to the bar to lament yet another Mets loss) and I will never forget the moment.

But, things got better for Mets fans in the 80's! Yankee fans eat your hearts out-----there was simply no better place to be in New York then Shea Stadium in the mid-80's!

The years of Darryl Strawberry, Gary Carter, Dwight Gooden, Ron Darling, Keith Hernandez, Lenny Dykstra, Mookie Wilson, Jessie Orosco, Davey Johnson, etc----they were great years at Shea!

Easily, my single greatest Shea Stadium memory; game six of the 1986 World Series----yes, the Bill Buckner game! I will simply never forget it!       

However, we are down to the end of New York Mets games at Shea Stadium. I will admit to being a bit sad, and nostalgic. While the new City Field will be incredible, and will host a whole new chapter in Mets history----closing Shea is the end of an era.

I feel like like it marks the end of my childhood in many ways.

I will miss Shea Stadium.

Lets hope the Mets close the old park out in style and sweep the Marlins to get into the post season---then, we get to see Shea a few more times.

Mets don't pull the trigger as trade deadline passes...

The trade deadline came and went and the New York Mets did nothing....and that was probably the correct move. Mets GM Omar Minaya had several players on his radar, most notably Red Sox slugger Manny Ramirez (now a Los Angeles Dodger...by the way, do you think the Sox sent him to Joe Torre's team in part to piss off the Yankees??? Just a thought...).

The Mets were interested in other players in addition to Manny, the problem was they were mostly one year rentals that would have cost the few prospects that are still in the farm system.

While I would have loved to see the Mets add a set up man and/or an outfielder, you can't make a deal for the sake of making a deal and as the old adage goes "sometimes the best deals are the ones you didn't make". Mets fans can certainly attest to that.

However, the Mets still have a chance to improve as the waiver wire season is still yet to come.The Mets roster will likely change prior to seasons end.

New York Mets 2008 draft recap

The New York Mets concluded the 2008 MLB draft on Friday. The Mets selected 52 players, 43 of them college talent. One of the Mets primary goals in this years draft was to replenish a severely decimated farm system. After trading away lots of prospects over the past few years to bring in established stars like Johan Santana, the Mets simply don't have much in the cupboard at the moment. Mets director of amateur scouting, Rudy Terrasas knows they need to reload, particularly with their high picks;

"We knew going in that we would have to get the very best we could, as far as to add depth to our system," Terrasas said. "This year, we were able to have a couple of extra picks. And, you know, something I always emphasize to our staff, our goal is to sign the first 10-rounders."

The Mets top two picks are Issac Davis, jr from Arizona st. Davis is projected to be a first baseman, (and considering the way Carlos Delgado is playing...when can he start??). Davis, whose father Ron was a major league player, is a left handed power hitter with a good glove and decent speed. He was chosen 18th overall.

David Havens from South Carolina was the other top pick taken 22nd overall. Havens is a good, disciplined hitter with a knack for playing the game. He is a shortstop, however, some feel his lack of range makes him better suited to third base.

On a somewhat related note, it will be interesting to see what the Mets do when the trade deadline approaches. If they keep floundering around the .500 mark, I am starting to think it might not be a bad idea to be a "seller" and see if teams in contention want to take established players off our hands in return for prospects. I know it won't happen, but I think it might be the right course of action. I truly do not see the Mets competing for a Championship this year (I hope I am wrong), given that, why not step back and look at the big picture??

If you  start  with the  premise  that  David  Wright,  Jose  Reyes, Johan  Santana and  probably  Carlos  Beltran  are  untouchable,  why  not  field  offers  for  other  players?  I realize  guys  like  Carlos  Delgado, based  on age and  salary won't garner  interest....but, what the  hell..it is a blog  and, as Mets fans it's fun to talk about.

(For the complete listing of draftees, go to the Mets official site).

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Can the Mets build on it??

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The New York Mets had a stirring extra inning victory last night at Shea Stadium. The game featured many positives for the Mets, including excellent work from the bullpen, clutch hitting, great fielding and maybe most importantly, they showed heart.

It was very nice to see how the Mets responded last night after all the controversy surrounding the team and manager Willie Randolph of late. I have been as critical of the Mets as anybody, but it has been in reaction to what I saw on the field.

Last night's win was the type that could propel the Mets forward with renewed enthusiasm and momentum, especially since they get both Ryan Church and pedro martinez very shortly.

I am not yet ready to say this Mets squad has yet turned a corner, but atleast now there is a glimmer of hope. For those of you who followed the Super Bowl Champion New York Giants, could this be the Mets version of week 3 against the Redskins? The Giants came into that game 0-2, the coach was on the hot seat, they trailed 17-3 at the half, and the season appeared headed to disaster. Then the Giants steamrolled the Skins in the second half, won the game and six straight and the rest is history.

Possibly, this could be the same thing for the Mets...possibly not, but as a fan, I can always hope.

Are the Mets destined to be a .500 team??

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The New York Mets lost last night to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 5-4.

The loss showed many of the teams flaws; lack of ability to hold a lead (the Mets were up 4-1), lack of clutch hitting....the Mets were 2-14 with runners in scoring position, lack of focus...Ryan Church losing site of a ball that bounced off his glove and just sitting there while runners advanced (although in fairness to Church, he did make a great effort and hit the wall pretty good...but what the heck, I am trying to make a point here).

I am sad to say it, but I believe that absent some major changes to the team, we are just about a .500 club. As I have said often, it isn't just about this season, look back over the final thirty games of 2007, combine it with 2008, and you get a mediocre ball club.

Why the New York Mets will win the NL East!

Sorry cheese steaks..I mean Philadelphia Phillies fans, there will not be a repeat of last season's incredibly lucky NL East Division Title (by the way, you of all fans should know that Titles and Philadelphia just don't go together).

Lets face facts; the New York Mets were a better team then the Philadelphia Phillies last year and have gotten better this year. It all revolves around Pitching...and the New York Mets simply have more of it. It would be hard to argue that adding two time Cy Young award winner Johan Santana doesn't significantly improve a team. He is a hard throwing lefty who has been dominant in the offense crazy American League. Coming to the National League and facing only seven real hitters a night (forget about the 8th and 9th spots), and on some teams even less then that, should be an easy task for Santana.

Add to this the fact that most National League batters haven't faced Johan Santana. Also he will be pitching half his games at Pitcher friendly Shea Stadium. He  will  provide  the  New York Mets   with  another  "stopper"  in  addition to  Pedro Martinez  (who  was  just  getting  back  from  an  injury  during the  Mets  collapse ).  He  will  prevent   another   big slide  like the  one  you  guys  needed  last  year  to  take  the division.  I look  for  Johan Santana  to  put  up  15-20  wins  and  quite  possibly another  Cy Young award.

Pedro Martinez is back!  Our  second  #1  Pitcher  appears  to  have  fully healed  from  his  injury.  He  is rested  and  has  been  very  sharp during  the  Spring.  With  Johan Santana  taking  some  pressure  off,  I look  for  some where  around  15  wins  from  Pedro  as  well.

Our #3 guy, John Maine would be a 2 on a lot of staffs. He has been very sharp this spring and now has some critical MLB experience to go with that young, strong arm...double-digit wins here as well. Also, John Maine and Johan Santana have a  history of chewing up lots of innings keeping the bull pen fresh.

Oliver Perez in clearly one of the top # 4's in the league and will play a big role.

I must admit # 5 is a concern. Neither El Duqee (Orlando Hernendez)  nor Mike Pelfrey has impressed. If one doesn't step up quickly, the New York Mets and Manager Willie Randolph will need to adjust somehow.

The bullpen once again looks to be solid. Pedro Feliciano has been very impressive as has Aaron Heilman. Billy "the mouth" Wagner still  has enough to once again be an effective closer.

The Mets are solid on defense and offensively while they might not have a ton of fire power, should have enough. They have great team speed, if Jose Reyes plays his game and stops trying to be Babe Ruth, he and Luis Castillo should be excellent table set ters. With David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran, there should be sufficient offense to win plenty behind that pitching staff. The New York Mets figure  to  be  a team that  will  win a  lot  of  2-1...3-2  type  games.

Lastly, the  Mets  have  a  different  attitude.  This is a team determined  to  erase  the  memory  of  last  season.  By  all accounts  the  guys  are  taking  their  jobs  much  more  seriously this  year.  It  is  a  squad  with  renewed  focus  and  purpose. THE  NY  METS  WILL  BE  NL  EAST  CHAMPS  IN  2008!

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