In just forty-four days hope will spring eternal. Yes that’s right Mets fans on February 18th it is mandatory for pitchers and catchers to report and Spring Training for the Mets will officially begin. We will see the likes of Pelfrey, Neise and Dickey – our 1-3 starters get their stretching and bullpen work in while our number 3 and four starters remain question marks. Will it be Dillon Gee and Pat Misch ? Will it be free agents such as Freddy Garcia , Chris Young or Jeff Francis ? Maybe Sandy Alderson will be able to swing a deal for a pitcher on another team who may become available. But for now here we stand with a voracious appetite for Metsnews, and truth be damned - WE ARE STARVING !!!
But don’t mistake my impatience as a whine of negativity. I have stated in countless columns that I am okay with the plan that Sandy Alderson and his support staff has put into place. I understand that he is flush against the wall with the constraints of his budget . I just can’t wait for the media to start broadcasting pictures of men in Mets uniforms working out while the new field general, Terry Collins barks out his commands like a marine drill sargent.
Yes the thaw will begin in forty-four days, Hopefully we will have a better sense of how our roster will flesh itself out.
And with that said…. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!
Mets alumni celebrating birthdays today are :
Today would have been original Mets coach, Red Kress 104th birthday (1907).
One of the best starting pitchers in Mets history, David Cone is 47 (1963) . I always loved Cone. It seemed like whenever he pitched the Mets would win. He was tough mentally as well as physically, and I still can’t seem to understand why Frank Cashen would trade him to the Blue Jays instead of negotiating a new contract with him.
New York Mets signed free agent pitcher, Mike Birkbeck on January 2, 1992. Birkbeck was used in a emergency starter role in his two seasons with the Mets.
The Boston Red Sox signed pitcher, Frank Viola of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 2, 1992.I admit I was psyched when the Mets first obtained Mr ” Sweet Music ” in 1989. The Mets were in the thick of the pennant chase that year and Viola should have been the piece that helped propel the Mets into the post season. As we know the Metsclinching a playoff berth was not meant to be , and Viola would go on to spend two more mediocre years in a Mets uniform.
The Chicago White Sox signed middle reliever, Barry Jones of the New York Mets as a free agent on January 2, 1993.
And while you sit at home watching football, the Dirty Jobs marathon or thinking of scenarios that will get Oliver Perez out of Flushing , just remember that there are only 89 days until the Mets open the 2011 season against the Florida Marlins in Miami and 96 days until the Mets 2011 home opener against the Washington Nationals at Citi Field.
Mo Vaughn is still in a pigs in blankets induced coma!
4 comments
metsfan4decades
1/2/2011-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
Frank Viola….I just had a feeling that acquisition in ’89 wasn’t going to be as good as we all hoped. Or maybe that was just my pessimism at that point on how the ’88 post season ended for us.
18 February pitchers and catchers report – here’s hoping we actually have more pitchers than catchers at that point.
Your tag pic Rusty reminded of a fan from years gone by. Those of you that used to watch Met games on TV….do you remember that older lady who attended just about all home games and had the seat directly behind home plate at Shea? Her ‘thing’ was sitting there with her bent arms out in front of her rolling both forearms around and around like a mini windmill. I’m assuming that was some kind of superstitious lucky charm as she do it every time the Mets needed a hit with men on base or an out for the opposition. She’d do it the entire game. Use to distract me to no end. I would look during the first inning hoping she wasn’t there that day.
kingman 26
1/2/2011-1:35pm at 1:35 pm (UTC -4)
I sure remember that lady and her windmill arms!!
And how she used to slowly speed up as the pitcher went through his delivery and released the pitch….
stickguy
1/2/2011-3:39pm at 3:39 pm (UTC -4)
I certainly am reserving the right to complain about the FO not adding the needed parts (pitching depth), but I won’t do it until ST is over and the team is ready for the season.
I think they need 2 more “real” SPs, but figure they probably get 1, and maybe 1 more reclaimation type. And a couple more guys to scrap for pen spots, but they often are ST invites.
If they get to 4/1 and there are no more SPs on hand than what they have right now, I am not likely to be happy! Even if they get lucky and Gee looks good enough for #5, they will be using someone like Boof or misch (or GF ollie) as the #4, with absolutely not depth to speak of.
rustyjr
1/2/2011-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
I think Gee will be the fifth man while Young or Millwood will probably be signed