I know what you are thinking and so here lies the honest answer -No my headline today is not meant to be a snarky, sarcastic commentary of how spring training in Port St Lucie has been going so far. From the accounts that I have been reading , this team thus far is showing signs of chemistry, along with a myriad of feel good stories. First off Carlos Beltran reported to camp yesterday , went into a closed door meeting with Omar Minaya and when he emerged he was quoted as saying that he ” cares about his legacy as a Met “. This quote – and the fact that he is in spring training right now when he isn’t required to speaks volumes in my opinion. From what I have been reading, Japanese import Ryota Igarshi has been wowing the coaching staff with his curveball and he might be on the fast track for the eighth inning set up man’s spot. David Wright is looking more like Tony Atlas than Gomer Pyle with his new weight lifting routine, Rod Barajas has passed his physical and is expected to arrive at camp today and even Gary Matthews Jr. seems happy to be here – maybe I am wrong about him and he can be the cagey old veteran that helped tutor the rookies last year just like Gary Sheffield did before he threw his temper tantrum because the Mets wouldn’t give him a contract extension. Hell even Mike Francesa couldn’t make my optimism waver !!!I can’t believe I am drinking the Kool Aid - OMAR !?!? ARE YOU JIM JONES IN DISGUISE !!!!!
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                                                                                   Mr. Met sez:
                                                                ” Be optimistic – or no t-shirt for you !!!”
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And with that said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!
Happy Birthday wishes go out to the following.
The Mets first Rookie Of The Year Candidate , and their all time hit by pitch leader, Ron Hunt is 69 (1941) .
Pitcher  from the ’67 – ’68 teams, Don Shaw is 66 (1944) .
One of the Mets all time great second basemen – Ken Boswell is 64 (1946) . Unfortunately due to a dispute with the current Mets organization, Don didn’t attend last years 40th celebration of the ’69 Mets World Series team.
One of the most hated Mets players ever ( and rightfully so !) -Bobby Bonillia is 47  (1963) . Bobby made it very hard to root for. Yes he put up great power numbers in his first stint with the Mets, but his lack of hustle and his run ins with the media soured his relationship among the Mets fans. This year starts the defered payment plan that the Mets set up when they bought him out of his contact in ’99. He will be by the Mets paid for the next 35 years.
Utility outfielder from the ’08 team - Chris Aguillia is 30 today. (1979)
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23 comments
metsfan4decades
2/23/2010-7:19am at 7:19 am (UTC -4)
I still can’t get over that Bonillia contract….
Just can’t wait until the season begins.
stickguy
2/23/2010-7:30am at 7:30 am (UTC -4)
Let’s go baby
Positiviality is the way to live. At least here.
Hopefully the focus is just on the players now. Enough of this off season FO crap/noise/nonsense. No one really cares about that once the season starts, even if it does give the media slugs something to beat into the ground.
Just stay healthy until Beltran gets back, and it can be a pretty darned good team. Very good hitting, decent defense (yes luis, I am looking at you). And of course, the rotation that is going to be a strength of the team .
metsfan4decades
2/23/2010-7:33am at 7:33 am (UTC -4)
Speaking of Luis, anyone know if he’s showed up yet in ST? If yes, does he look like he’s in as good a shape as he was last year this time?
prismo
2/23/2010-7:47am at 7:47 am (UTC -4)
Interesting question! I’ve seen on twitter that “everyone” is in camp, but I don’t think I’ve seen Luis mentioned.
prismo
2/23/2010-7:49am at 7:49 am (UTC -4)
Maybe I misread though.
stickguy
2/23/2010-7:55am at 7:55 am (UTC -4)
Don’t you ever sleep?
prismo
2/23/2010-7:58am at 7:58 am (UTC -4)
I friggin get into work at 3:45am every day! (well 5-6 days a week)
But yes, I sleep. 7-8 hours a day, like a normal human being…just not during normal human being sleeping hours.
It’s being worked on. *evil laugh*
stickguy
2/23/2010-8:10am at 8:10 am (UTC -4)
Geez, i thought leaving the house at 6:15 was bad. But, if you get off at noonish, that can make up for it.
prismo
2/23/2010-8:22am at 8:22 am (UTC -4)
No doubt, it’s awesome having afternoons off – especially in the summer. But that doesn’t make up for having to wake up at 3:15 every morning. No matter how much sleep you get, waking up at that hour you’ll ALWAYS feel like ****.
darknova306
2/23/2010-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
And people think I’m crazy for getting to work around 5:30…
stickguy
2/23/2010-7:48am at 7:48 am (UTC -4)
I was hoping he couldn’t get a visa or something and the team forgot about him.
Seriously, I have not seen one thing about him, so have to imagine he didn’t arrive by yesterday. I am guessing he looks 1 year older, and a little chubbier.
I also expect an accross the board decrease in output (offensive), although I guess that just means OBP goes down, since he has nothing else! And if he loses a little more range, they are going to have to bench him.
Actually, I predict he will be this years casualty (knee issues), but hopefully the only one to be on the DL after Beltran gets off.
metsfan4decades
2/23/2010-7:55am at 7:55 am (UTC -4)
Well, if he kept himself in good shape over the winter, maybe he won’t lose any range this year. Since we’re kind of stuck with him, I’m hoping he has at least the same type year as last year. He goes down, it’s Cora – right? I didn’t see much of Cora at 2nd last year as Castillo was never on the DL so don’t know if he’s any better over there than at SS.
stickguy
2/23/2010-8:08am at 8:08 am (UTC -4)
I think he is a little better at 2B, but I can’t see him playing on a regular basis. Maybe for a 15 day DL stint, but if Luis really went down for an extended time, they would have to find a replacement. And I don’t see one available in house at this point.
njstuckintx
2/23/2010-9:04am at 9:04 am (UTC -4)
Cue the Blockbuster trade for Harang/Arroyo and Phillips!
ceetar
2/23/2010-8:46am at 8:46 am (UTC -4)
Not that I’ve heard. Bay arrives today and there is probably someone else we haven’t heard about.
I’m surprised they haven’t been killing Castillo for not being there early. But arguably he’s one of the players with little to prove (well, most people won’t believe anything anyway so can’t prove anything to them). As long as he’s in shape and healthy on 4/5 we’ll be just fine.
darknova306
2/23/2010-8:52am at 8:52 am (UTC -4)
“But arguably he’s one of the players with little to prove (well, most people won’t believe anything anyway so can’t prove anything to them)”
In fairness, it’s difficult to legitimately prove anything until they’re performing on the field in meaningful games. We see time and time again how little the performances in ST predict regular season results. I’m not really that worried about Castillo, myself, to be honest.
stickguy
2/23/2010-9:01am at 9:01 am (UTC -4)
maybe not predict results, but with so many guys coming off injuries, etc., it is still proving something to see them in camp looking in shape, moving and/or throwing well, not complaining of pain, and so on.
So, seeing Luis in camp 20 pds. lighter and seemingly more nimble would prove something to me!
metsfan4decades
2/23/2010-9:07am at 9:07 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, I read where Bay was due to arrive today. Just hadn’t heard anything about Castillo. Not that it means anything. I don’t think I’ve heard/seen anything from Pagan or Feliciano yet either.
ceetar
2/23/2010-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
Pagan must’ve arrived today.
prismo
2/23/2010-9:14am at 9:14 am (UTC -4)
Pagan’s there.
GravediggerHebner
2/23/2010-11:24am at 11:24 am (UTC -4)
I always enjoy a Jonestown Kool-Aid reference!
Kingman 26
2/23/2010-12:17pm at 12:17 pm (UTC -4)
Drink the Kool Aid Rusty; the Kool Aid is good.
It protects you from the unwanted effects of negativity and from negativity’s most ridiculous disease-carrying rats and bugs, here and elsewhere. No matter what happens starting in April, drinking the Kool Aid is good for you in February.
I prefer the lime, grape, and bourbon flavors. Try ‘em all!!
gategem
2/23/2010-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
If you drink the Jonestown Kool-Aid negativity will never bother you again. I positively guarantee it.