Opening Day 2008

Happy Opening Day!!  It's finally here! I will be the first to admit, last night I was not ready for Opening Night.  Other things (ahem, WM 24) consumed my evening.  But today I am ready.  The Mets should be ready.  Johan should be more than ready.  I'll be in and out throughout the day, but I hope to recap some more later this evening.  

Enjoy the day everyone!!  Let's Go Mets!

Ready for 2008

I apologize for being so scarce.  Later this week I will update you on the career side of my life, but for now the focus is on Spring Training.  I had intended on taking an adventure to Port St. Lucie this year, but things did not go as planned.  Needless to say, SNY is filling my craving for baseball. I'm chomping at the bit though and ready for the real '08 season to begin.

As April is fast approaching, there's a few things to discuss.  The Johan Santana phase has begun in Queens.  It's exciting I know.  I'm swept up in it too.  I actually am obsessed with Johan's Malta Regional commercial.  Please check it out if you haven't seen it yet.  I also bought my Santana shirt already.  I got caught up in the craziness, as we all did. But, let's not all get delusional.  Johan Santana is not the wonder drug. He is not the answer to all Mets woes.  He is a miracle, but not the punched ticket to the World Series.

The Mets are already being plagued by injuries.  Luis Castillo is still on crutches; Moises Alou is going to spontaneously combust at any second; El Duque has 15 bunions; Carlos Beltran has bad legs; etc, etc.  The Mets are a bit exposed in the outfield.  Will Angel Pagan continue to lead the majors? Uhh, no.  So there's reason for concern.

Is Carlos Delgado ever going to "return to form?"  In my opinion...no.  I know he's been a hurting unit, but have you tuned into a game lately?! He just looks downright silly at the plate. I can't turn on a major league fastball, but Carlos Delgado is just getting schooled.  I don't want him to be done, but I just can't wholeheartedly believe there's much left in the big guy's tank.

Will the real Mike Pelfrey please stand up?  I want to cheer for Big Pelf. He's got an endless amount of potential, but we can not put pressure on him.  I want to believe he has grown and matured since last year, but as much as I want to see him succeed in the big leagues, he can't withstand another 0-7 start.  Can he consistently find ways to minimize a big inning and maintain confidence in his stuff?  I sure hope so.  I like Pelf, but I don't want the Mets to be blinded by another good Spring.  I honestly think he should start in New Orleans and we'll see how it goes from there.

And last but not least, my friends in the bullpen.  I wish Billy Wagner would shut his trap.  It never ends with him.  I will not put any stock in Duaner Sanchez.  Anything I get from him is a bonus...as long as it's good.  The bullpen is mediocre at best.  Matt Wise is not the key to a WS my friends.  Joe Smith is not ready for NY yet.  Scott Schoeneweis is merely an afterthought to me.

Are the Mets the team to beat in '08?  I don't know if I would be as bold as Mr.Beltran.  The Mets are going to have some tough competition this year.  I am looking forward to a few things this season.  I'm anxious to see John Maine continue his development.  He has shown so much promise as a Met and is such a likable guy.  I'm rooting for John Maine in '08 and I think he'll be a joy to watch.  I want Jose to continue being Jose.  I don't want him to lose his enthusiasm for the game in his quest to be serious.  I want him to steal less bases and continue to be our spark.  September was so depressing watching Jose.  I don't ever want to see that again.  I want David to just continue to be himself.  He has turned out to be such a gift to Mets fans and I expect him to be an even better ballplayer in 2008.  

This coming week, I plan on getting back on track.  I apologize again for the lack of posts, but as the season gears up, expect more.  Next week, I'll breakdown the 2008 rotation in depth, talk about the left side of our infield, and fill everyone in on my summer plans.  Meaningful baseball, please come quick!

New York State of Mind

There are very few weeks that can trump one such as this one for those who are diehard NY sports fans.  For Mets fans, Christmas came late for those of us holding our breath throughout the off season.  As the contract negotiations came down to the wire with Santana & the Mets, I decided to wait until this deal was totally official to comment on a franchise-altering trade.  I don't care what any has to say about the prospects the Mets dealt to Minnesota, but hands down the Mets stole Johan from the Twin Cities.  I wish our former prospects the best of luck, but by retaining Martinez & Pelfrey, this trade was a no-brainer.  Does Johan deserve the contract he received?  Well in all honestly, salaries in baseball have become ludicrous.  At the same time, why shouldn't he get what the market dictates.  Does Johan deserve more than Barry Zito?  In my mind thee is no argument there.

I cannot get enough clicks on the Mets 40-man roster, which now include Johan Santana #57 as a New York Met.  As much as this seemed like wishful thinking, it is hard to wrap my brain around the concept of #57 on MY team; OUR team.  Omar & the Wilpons had to make this move to keep the fan base alive; talk about reenergize your fan base.  This is the perfect medicine.  Was I excited to buy tickets before Friday?  Not so much...but that catchy email stating "Johan's coming...when are you?" officially sucked me in.  We are a fortunate bunch now Mets fans.  We get to sit back and watch 2 young stars in the game alongside the best pitcher in the game for a good chunk of years.  Not too mention, open a brand new ballpark in 2009 with quite the lofty roster.  I'm officially excited for 2008.  Don't forget to tune in and watch the official presser on Wednesday.  More about Johan later this week...

What else could signify the start of baseball season but the end of football season.  Not just any end of football season, but the New York Football Giants stopping the perfect season.  As someone rooting for the Giants, I questioned if the Giants could overcome this Patriots team. But they did and where this game will rank all-time will be decided once the reality sets in.  The Giants played one helluva game.  Does it make this win bigger considering now New England can sit at 18-1? Of course it does.  Has Eli Manning earned respect in this town?  Has he ever! This kid was as poised as ever in this game.  A stellar performance by the Giants. Period.  Possibly as great a Super Bowl as I have ever watched.  

It's hard to believe but it's time to celebrate New York!!  Enjoy every second of this championship!  In about a week our attention will move south to the Florida fields and the first sights of summer.  And one can only hope this is not the only celebration New York will see in 2008.

Still a Favorite

There is nothing that is certain in baseball; in fact, players, rosters, and even the game itself is constantly changing. Each year stands on its own and few things transcend from year to year. For most of us though, there is a team, game, or even a player that transcends time. We will remember certain things fondly for our own reasons and these are the things that illustrate the beauty of baseball to each of us.

I recall the announcement of Robin Ventura joining the Mets in December of 1998. I had heard of Robin during his long tenure with the White Sox and was eager to see how he would adjust to being a part of the Mets. Needless to say it didn't take long for Robin to become without a doubt my favorite Met. (Yes, even David has to get a few more years under his belt to try and trump Robin.) Granted Robin was only a part of the blue and orange for three seasons, some of the best memories I have as a fan come from those three seasons. Beyond his career with the Mets, I continued to follow Robin from the Yankees to the Dodgers and even now in his post-retirement days.

Yes, it's lame but this guy was as cool as a cucumber. He had the driest sense of humor that at times got lost in the New York media who were seeking the flashy quotes, but he was as funny a guy you could find. Consider the fact that he started the mojo in Queens and mocked Mike Piazza in Yankee Stadium in the rain, he created a crazy culture during his tenure with the Mets. I can close my eyes and still see him making a play on a bunt down the third base line, where his body was parallel to the ground in his throw to first. He had that play mastered. What's better than all that, he was as selfless a ballplayer you will find, as the team always meant more than anything he did himself. (Exhibit A: post game comments from the Grand Slam Single).

Just recently an article was posted on Mets.com and Mlb.com discussing the ankle surgery Robin endured following his retirement in 2005. This article can be read its in entirety here. I was unaware of the procedure and despite knowing of his injured ankle and the pain he endured, I think many of us were unaware of the actual extent of the pain he was playing through. It is through this that as fans we should learn our lesson as we are quick to judge, thinking we all know what's going on with our favorite players. This game is not as easy as we make it from the comforts of our couch.

Robin Ventura may have had his career a bit shortened due to his injury, yet he was one of the gentlemen of the game. I know many Mets fans recall his time in Queens fondly and as easy as it is to get caught up in the present, it is these reminders that allow us to take a minute and appreciate the past. Robin has still been quite involved in the game as he has served as an ESPN commentator for the College World Series as well as appearances at White Sox Spring Training and Fan Fests. I hope for nothing more than to see Robin back in the big leagues someday, because the game can use a few more like him. We are blessed as Mets fans to have David Wright manning the hot corner these days, who will be one of the greats of his own time. Having him makes it a lot easier to adjust to a game without your favorite.

I See Santa in Santana

There has been an incredibly long drought in my blog postings. For that I apologize...if there is even anyone left reading. To think that I could return to school, have a job, and still have time to amuse myself here, I was sadly fooling myself. That being said, I'm getting anxious as the off-season is winding down and I promise for real this time I will stick around. I will catch up on all I missed another day, but tonight I'm wide awake and I'm almost embarrassed to admit why.

I woke up this morning to rampant reports that the Mets are only an F-Mart away from sealing the deal. The deal for Johan that is. I tried to block it out and continue with my day. Instead I became this crazy woman checking every damn site compulsively. This is my effort to avoid all sites baseball and attempt some rest.

The Mets need to make this deal. Yes, Mets fans have suffered through miserable trade after miserable trade, but this one is different. It's Johan Santana. He's young, established, and the big splash this team needs. If they don't do something, it's going to be a pathetic 2008 to be a Mets fan. Without a Santana-esque move we may be able to say goodbye to any sanity we have left as well as Shea Stadium.

Should the Mets end up sending F-Mart, Gomez, Humber, Mulvey, and Guerra to Minnesota, the probability of all of them see success is highly unlikely. I don't know how much longer I can ride the Santana roller coaster as this offseason has been so lackluster. Reports like those circling on Thursday just get my hopes up. I'm so at peace with unloading the farm that I'll tell the Mets where they can borrow a John Deere from. I'm trying to stay level-headed as to not be disappointed. I feel like all those who support the blue and orange are collectively holding our breath. We are tossing and turning like a little kid on Christmas Eve...

When I wake up...I want to see that Santa came a little late. Santana that is.