Mets Merized Online

There was a flurry of minor moves yesterday regarding the Mets, as the free agent filing period continues to move forward. Former Mets who have officially filed now include Brian Schneider, Carlos Delgado, Alex Cora and Ramon Martinez. I believe that out of that group, at least one of them stands a good chance of returning next season. Delgado and Schneider will both be playing for new teams next season. Schneider has his sights set on a return to the Nationals, while Delgado is resigned to being a 1B/DH for a contending team in the American League. According to Adam Rubin, a Mets official confided...

Baseball America has just released its Top 10 Mets Prospects list and right-handed pitcher Jenrry Mejia has claimed the top spot. 1. Jenrry Mejia, RHP (ETA 2012) 2. Wilmer Flores, SS (ETA 2013) 3. Fernando Martinez, OF (ETA 2011) 4. Ike Davis, 1B (ETA 2011) 5. Brad Holt, RHP (ETA 2012) 6. Jon Niese, LHP (ETA 2010) 7. Reese Havens, 2B/SS (ETA 2012) 8. Josh Thole, C (ETA 2011) 9. Ruben Tejada, 2B/SS (ETA 2011) 10. Juan Urbina, LHP (ETA 2013) I’m a little surprised that CF Kirk Nieuwenhuis and SP Jeurys Familia didn’t make the grade. I’m also concerned that our top prospect is getting...

This year marked the end of my rivalry with “true” Yankees fans. Personally, I know there are many Mets fans that simply cannot accept another Yankees World Series Championship, but I can. This year, the NY Yankees defeated the NY Mets division rival in the World Series, yet so many Mets fans were found trying to come up with logical reasons to root for the Phillies. Let me be clear, I hate the Yankees. If I know 100 Yankees fans I’d say 65 of them are watching a game on May 23rd (random date,) and the rest just hang on and wait for the playoffs or a Red Sox series.  I said it once and I’ll...

This week the Yankees captured yet another World Series. Combined with our beloved Mets, the two New York teams have now combined for 29 Championships. In the tradition of Donn Clendenon and Ray Knight, Hideki Matsui was named Series MVP. The Yankees got a memorable HR from A-Rod, much like Al Weis in 69. Johnny Damon stole a game with a brilliant play on the basepaths, similar to J C Martin against the Orioles. The final out was recorded with Yankees closer Mariano Rivera on the mound. We had our closer on the mound for the final out in 86, too. A team from New York, playing its first season in...

Now that the dreaded World Series is finally over, it’s time to put away that nightmare and look ahead to next season. The hot stove is already churning with plenty of rumors regarding soon to be free agents Matt Holliday and Jason Bay. The blogosphere has been buzzing with the pros and cons of each leftfielder, while Mets fans debate about which would be a better fit at CitiField. The agents for each player are already embroiled in a war of words as to which of them is the most complete player, and Boras has already made it known that it could take a Mark Teixeira sized contract to land...

According to an Associated Press report, San Francisco Giants pitcher Tim Lincecum is facing misdemeanor marijuana charges following a traffic stop in his home state. Washington State Patrol spokesman Steve Schatzel said Thursday that the 2008 Cy Young Award winner and former University of Washington star was pulled over for speeding on Interstate 5 in the town of Hazel Dell, about four miles north of the Oregon border, on Oct. 30. An officer approached Lincecum’s 2006 Mercedes and smelled marijuana as the pitcher rolled down his window. Schatzel said Lincecum immediately complied with a request...

According to Bart Hubbuch of the NY Post in a post to his Twitter account, the Mets have told reliever J.J. Putz that they will decline his option and instead buy him out for $1 million dollars. Not really a big surprise considering the Mets would have had to pay him over $9 million dollars to set up Frankie Rodriguez. It doesn’t necessarily mean that Putz won’t be back, only that if he is it will be for a salary closer to $2 million instead of $9 million. Putz will have to prove himself as a setup man before any MLB team gives him an opportunity to close again. In other Mets news,...

While the Mets consider the virtues of Daniel Murphy as their starting first baseman in 2010, Mets fans continue to debate his pros and cons. Several other first base options are also being weighed in the balance including stop gaps like Aubrey Huff or Russell Branyan, and multi-year options like Adam La Roche, Jorge Cantu and Nick Johnson. Mets prospect Ike Davis has the base excited, but most realize he may be a year or more away from being a legitimate option. Davis by the way was named to the Arizona Fall League’s Rising Stars Showcase, which is nice, but lets not get too carried away...

As we’ve done for the last two off seasons, we’ll try to get to your mailbag questions and comments at least once a week. Unfortunately, Christian has moved on, so until someone new decides they want to respond to site mail, you’ll have to contend with me. I may not get as analytical as my predecessor did, but I’ll try to answer your questions as best as I can. All I keep hearing about the Mets going after a starting pitcher, a leftfielder or a first baseman. Please tell me that Omir Santos is not our starting catcher in 2010. Although there’s not much to report...

After a long 2009 season that resulted in our crosstown rivals taking the World Series from our division rivals, the hot stove season has officially begun.  Opening Day of the 2010 season is exactly five months away and the Mets have plenty of work to do in those five months, to say the least. The Yankees just won the World Series after they went hard after free agents CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett and Mark Teixeira.  They filled two voids by signing those three players.  By adding Sabathia and Burnett, they replaced the retired Mike Mussina and did not have to depend on the likes of Sidney Ponson...

Mets fans were not pleased with the opponents in this year’s World Series.  So much has been written on who we should be rooting for.  Between the Phillies and the Yankees, which is the lesser of two evils. I started out rooting for the Phillies.  But after their game one win, I started worrying about a four game sweep and how badly that would sit with Mets fans.  Having to deal with the Phillies repeating as champions would not be easy.  The Phillies would be a cocky bunch when they arrive at CitiField next year.  And their fans would surely be extra obnoxious. My allegiances in game...