Cespedes reasoning for no more golf.

From the NY Daily News-

“"There are many players who when they are in a slump they go play golf to try and work out their hitting," Cespedes said. "In my case, I will not do it. I choose to rest and rest my legs instead of doing that, so I can be more relaxed and more rested also for my legs to have more time to heal."”

MG- You don’t say Yo? Were you trying to work on your swing in 2015 playing golf during the playoffs and the World Series when your shoulder was reportedly sore? I guess recovering from soreness is a brand new theory in medicine.


Read more here


“With Jacob deGrom suffering lower back stiffness and having his throwing program slowed down, Mickey Callaway admitted they do not know if they will have time to stretch him out enough for the start of the season.”

MG- I am enjoying people losing their minds over “injuries” right now. “Same old Mets”

Read more here



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Charity: Mets Game Used Stoneman Douglas High School Caps are up

After the tragedy in Florida where the U.S. have had another school shooting, MLB teams wore Stoneman Douglous HS’s Baseball team caps during the first game of Spring Training to raise awareness and money for Broward County Education Foundation.








You can check out the auctions and perhaps help out by grabbing a cap here.

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Game Used Carlos Delgado Hat

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MLBPA filing grievances against four MLB teams

From the NY Post-

“The Major League Baseball Players Association has been stewing all offseason while free agents, high-profile or not, remain unsigned, even as spring training has commenced. The MLBPA found a target for its frustration.

A grievance has been filed by the MLBPA against four teams — the A’s, Marlins, Pirates and Rays — and the claim is simple: The MLBPA accuses the teams of not spending the revenue-sharing money they receive appropriately, the Tampa Bay Times reported. Proving that claim would be far from simple.

The collective bargaining agreement states teams must use any revenue-sharing money to improve the on-field product. That doesn’t mean it has to be funneled directly into the major league payroll.”

Read more here.


Hmmmm. I wonder if those teams have boycotters too. Also, who is to say that the money should be spent on the players from this year instead of next years better class?

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Same Old Mets with medical issues again

Already? Man, that medical staff is sure upgraded.

From the NY Post.
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets’ injury report Tuesday included two high-profile additions.

Jacob deGrom and Yoenis Cespedes are among the latest Mets hurting, in addition to Dominic Smith and Juan Lagares. Two others, Jay Bruce and Tim Tebow, have been cleared to play in the Grapefruit League.

Read more here

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All MLB teams to wear green St Paddy’s Day Caps

From Forbes.com

“Now, MLB is moving its league-wide holiday observations into spring training as well. Normally, you'll see teams wear green hats in honor of St. Patrick's Day, but those hats were normally up to the teams to supply and would be different from the hats that were provided specifically for spring training. Things will be changing this year after MLB announced that all 30 teams will have special green St. Patrick's Day hats.”

They also said that 11 teams will be wearing green jerseys.

I have quite a few of the Green Mets Jerseys. Love them.

Read more here.
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Trump Tax Cuts and Major League Baseball

From the NY Post.

“ Many high earners in the sports world will benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, the prominent measure that President Trump signed into law on Dec. 22 after it passed through Congress. One unintended consequence from the act, however, is currently occupying Major League Baseball’s attention, and its impact would be felt among all US professional sports leagues unless it’s fixed.

What if teams had to pay taxes for every time they traded players?”

MG- This should make the MLBPAA crazy along with certain owners.

“These trades used to qualify as “like-kind exchanges,” similar to a swap of real estate, that were exempt from taxation (with the exception of money swapped in deals). The new act limits “like-kind exchanges” to actual real estate. Player trades no longer fall under this umbrella, and teams would have to find ways to assign taxable value to the players dealt.

According to a memo written by a group of tax attorneys at the Manhattan-based law firm Seward & Kissel: “The value of a player rests in his or her future performance, which is difficult to predict. Teams may have to adopt or develop a method of valuing player contracts for tax purposes, such as actuarial values based on player age and the average length of a professional sports career. Teams trading players would then recognize gain or loss on a contract when a player is traded equal to the difference between the contract’s actuarial (or other) value and the team’s basis in the contract.””

MG- My brain hurts. I can see Tax Accountants right now trying to figure out how to write off players now for tax reasons..

Read more here.


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More of my Laziness for Mets Blogging in the AM.

From John Harper NY Daily News:

“Thanks to a stunning display of February pitching that started with a 100-mph fastball and never slowed down, Noah Syndergaard turned his first spring training outing into a reason for Mets’ fans to dream again.

If he makes it to Opening Day, that is.

As exhilarating as it was to watch Syndergaard mow down the world champion Astros over two perfect innings with blazing heaters, as well as a 92-mph changeup that Jose Altuve said would strike him out 100 out of 100 times, I can’t help but ask: Was it Smart?”

Read more here.

MG- think Callaway being a pitcher’s manager would have lost his mind if this in any way seems to have been detrimental to Syndergaard.


From the NY Daily News-

“There is an interesting wrinkle in the Mets' rotation plans for this week. Zack Wheeler will come in behind Matt Harvey's start on Wednesday in Orlando against the Braves, Mickey Callaway announced Monday.

"We'll have two starters that day piggybacking each other," the Mets manager said.

Wednesday would be the normal day for Wheeler to pitch on a regular five-day schedule after he started Friday's spring training opener. Harvey is making his first start of the spring.”

Read more here

MG- Get Wheeler ready for the Bullpen,why not?

From MLB Shop aka Fanatics

If you order this for St Paddy’s Day, what are the odds you get it on time?







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Comic Book/Mets Fans Xavier High School Comic Com

Calling all ARTISTS, COMIC BOOK VENDORS and COSPLAYERS for Xavier's 3rd annual X-Con comic convention! Contact me ASAP to lock in your spot! $5 table rental with proceeds going to support Xavier's CFX Service Program!If you're a part of the group, please share this flier and spread the word!!!

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Game Used Bartolo Colon Jersey

So this Jersey is from the day after the Colon hit his HR. $500 for the Mother’s Day that he never played in but just wore on a dugout? This guy has very skewed prices on his stuff. Always over priced in my opinion.




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Some quick Mets links...

The Dom Smith Saga


“The 22-year-old Smith admitted the last few days have been trying as he attempts to convince team brass he is worthy of a spot on the major league roster. But Adrian Gonzalez’s addition this offseason on a free-agent contract likely ensured Smith will begin the season at Triple-A Las Vegas, regardless of his performance this spring. Even so, Smith can’t win a job if he isn’t playing.

“I would be lying if I said it wasn’t [difficult],” Smith said. “I am human at the end of the day. I do have emotions and feelings, so this definitely is frustrating, especially after the game [Saturday] I did play.””

Read more at the NY Post

Dom Smith, Lagares, Tebow, Jay Bruce all hurting..

In addition to Smith, the Mets are monitoring Juan Lagares (hamstring), Jay Bruce (plantar fasciitis) and Tim Tebow (sprained ankle), giving the early days of spring training a similar feel to the team’s disappointing 2017 season, when injuries were a dominant theme.

From the NY Post

Gsellman tries to massage out 2017 season

“Robert Gsellman’s emphasis on physical therapy this offseason may have paid initial dividends Sunday.

The Mets right-hander found his sinker — a pitch that had largely disappeared on him in 2017 — in firing two scoreless innings in his team’s 10-3 exhibition victory over the Marlins. Gsellman allowed one hit and struck out two.

“I left a couple of pitches up, but I like the movement on my ball — it’s actually sinking pretty good this year,” Gsellman said.

In an effort to get that sinking action, Gsellman received “deep tissue” therapy in the offseason to improve the range of motion in his shoulders.”

From the NY Post


And I am wondering if Main Stream Media is ever going to be good again. It just gets so ridiculous. Rosario played well last season for the limited time he was up and he’ll continue to grow. This is such a stupid headline. “The Mets wonder if Conforto will ever be able to hit again.” “Media Goon wonders if the sun will ever be eclipsed again”. I can make up non stories too.

Piazza says the Catchers have to step up.

“First off they are great guys. And I think that’s important. They are very solid guys, they take care of themselves and work hard,” said Piazza who is at the Mets’ spring training camp as a special instructor. “There is nothing wrong with looking at Travis and Kevin and challenging them to get better; to play better this year, to improve their performance realistically, not hitting 50 home runs, but exponentially getting more quality out of their at-bats. Get more quality out of the games. Being pragmatic, and realistic, but wanting to get better.””

Read more From NY Daily News

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Joel Sherman wants the MLB to be like MTV Rock and Jock Softball.

Some of you youngins might not remember when MT had celebrity and sport star softball competitions. They would have balls that were extra points, signs in the outfield so if you hit it, it might count as an out. So Joel Sherman is basically borrowing some ideas from there. This is not what you need to do to fix the game. Just figure out how relief pitchers don't need to throw eight pitches when they just came out of the bullpen. How about you have more then six mound visits a game, the batter is awarded first automatically? 

From the NY POST

1. The Two-fer Homer — I would draw a cutoff at the 50 longest homers from the previous year as determined by Statscast, and any homer hit longer would be worth an extra run — thus two runs if it was previously a solo and five runs if it was a grand slam.

The cutoff for this year would be 462 feet. The radar in each stadium is identical. The data is controlled by non-team-affiliated employees at MLB’s Chelsea office (so no home cooking) and is instantaneous to the ball landing. So within a second or two a distance could be flashed on the scoreboard and everyone knows if it is worth an extra run.

2. The Designated  Base Runner — Once a game for each team a runner can be deployed without having to permanently remove the player being run for.

This allows an extra layer of in-game strategy: When do you use this runner and for whom? But also about how you construct a roster. Would a Terrance Gore/Quintin Berry type be more valuable than another reliever? At a time when we are crying out for more action on the field, this injects a higher-level athlete into games and the threat of steals and scoring from first on a double, etc.

Read full story here

Some Spring Training Pics

Just tossing up some spring training pics up from this weekend.






























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Spring Training Pics

I’ve never gone to the ballpark when the players got there in the morning before, so I went over with my buddy Dave Majo. He did this painting of Dom Smith that Dom wanted and Dave went to drop it off.
Here are some pics with Wright and Smith.












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Knockoff Jersey? Auto Legit?

This Jacob deGrom autographed Jersey has been personally hand-signed by Jacob deGrom and inscribed 2014 NL ROY. Like all pieces on our site; this item is guaranteed 100% authentic. Value will likely increase so take advantage of this special price now! It comes fully certified with a JSA Certificate of Authenticity. We also carry additional Baseball Memorabilia and other New York Mets Autographs. MG- I hope where they say this is authentic and guaranteed that they are just talking about the auto because that jersey doesn't look right. I asked if they guarantee the auto and the jersey being legit or just the auto.....

Exclusive Syndergaard Bobblehead for Planholders

So the Mets give gifts out of you are full or half season ticket holders. I’m not too sure if the 20 games still get a gift or an event though. I’ll look it up later. For this year’s gifts the Mets upped their game with a plethora of choices. They had around Darling signed wine, different grill and wine tools. A Mets Fitbit and also some events like BP in cages, salute on the warming track or play catch on the field.

I chose this the Thor Exclusive bobble with fake hair!







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Custom Signed Jersey

Just because this is a "custom" jersey, doesn't mean it isn't a knockoff no matter what the description says.

Item description

RON DARLING AUTOGRAPHED METS CUSTOM JERSEY. COA: JSA WITNESSED WITH MATCHING SERIAL NUMBERED HOLOGRAM. This was made personally for this athlete. This item is in outstanding condition. All letters and numbers are sewn on, no screen print.

I'm on my way to PSL to see Mets games, so this is the Post you get.

Baseball? Boring? What? From USA Today's Ted Berg...

Oh, it’s easy: Avoid them entirely. People have the right to not enjoy baseball, even if that decision seems factually incorrect. But being in-your-face about not enjoying baseball, and being serious about it, probably reflects either immaturity or plain combativeness. I honestly don’t have all that many close friends, but in adulthood, I feel like I can never find enough time to hang out with them as it is. Why bother with people who want to mock what you love, especially when what you love is something as beautiful and perfect and stupid as baseball?

Read the rest here.

Yo says No to Golf

From the NY Daily News.

"Yoenis Cespedes is sacrificing his love of golf for the hope that he can remain healthy this season. A front office source confirmed reports that Cespedes gave up the game after he suffered a hamstring injury last season and has told them that he doesn't plan to play this season.

"This was all his decision," the front office source said. "He came to us with the idea."

Cespedes' love of golf has always been a "bad optics" issue for the Mets and their slugger.

In 2015, when Cespedes left Game 4 of the NLCS with left shoulder soreness, fans began reporting that they had seen him at Medinah Country Club that morning. The Mets clinched that night and Cespedes went on to go 3-for-20 with no extra-base hits in their World Series loss to the Royals."

Read more here.

MG: Thank goodness. He finally might be getting it... I'm hurt, let me go swing a club...

Matz Tired of Injury Talk

From the NY DAILY NEWS

MG: This guy is more of a medical oddity then my sister.    

Mets MLB's Best Pitching Staff According to Pitching Coach 

From the NY POST

"— Dave Eiland has been around the pitching block. He’s a straight shooter who tells it like it is, and that’s the way he’s been since the first time we crossed paths 26 years ago.

So when he’s asked about his impressions of the Mets starting pitchers now that he has had time to work with them and with spring-training games beginning Friday at First Data Field, don’t underestimate the importance of his words.

“When healthy I wouldn’t trade it for any other rotation in baseball,” Eiland told The Post of the group headed by Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard."

Read more here.

MG: Anyone else feel like this is tempting the Fates?

Let's Get the Party Started

From the NY Post

“I would prefer to get the games going,” Gonzalez said Thursday before the Mets completed their fourth full-squad workout of the spring.

“When you are out there doing workouts, you are going station to station and you don’t have time to chat. So when you are playing games, you are in the dugout, and that is when you do most of your chatting, so you only get to know guys through the games.”

Gonzalez and Todd Frazier, two of the team’s offseason acquisitions, will get their first feel of a Mets uniform when the gates at First Data Field are unlocked for an exhibition game Friday against the Braves.

Read More here.

MG: See Ya guys in PSL later today...

Game Issued d'Arnaud BP Jersey

• 

  
  

  
  

  ITEM DESCRIPTION

  This team issued size XL blue BP pullover was issued to Mets catcher Travis d'Arnaud and was collected after the 2017 season. Do not miss the opportunity to own this unique piece of Mets memorabilia. The New York Mets donate net proceeds from the sale of Amazin' Memorabilia items to the Mets Foundation.  For more information about the Mets Foundation and/or Amazin' Memorabilia, please visit mets.com/gameused. The availability of items varies, but for questions about this piece or different numbers, players, colors, or sizes please contact Amazin' Memorabilia, The Official Source for New York Mets Game Used and Autographed Memorabilia, by emailing gameused@nymets.com or by calling 718-559-3144. An MLB Authentication Program tamperproof hologram is affixed to each piece of Amazin' Memorabilia. The New York Mets do not provide certificates of authenticity for items. Printed documentation verifying the authenticity of your item can be obtained by visiting mlb.com/authentication.
  
  

I'm too lazy to post anything right now so I am linking to Mets stories.

Yeah, I am lazy. I haven't hit my stride yet in the mornings with posts. Maybe I should get some other writers. Yeah. No one wants to write on this blog for free. Anyway. This is cool that the Mets are trying new things to help out the pitchers and catchers being on the same page.

"Soon, you will see Mets catchers wearing scouting information-packed wristbands, a pitching cheat sheet if you will, as a way to better communicate with pitchers and combat rule changes that limit mound visits.

On the technical side, Callaway had a meeting with the team’s video department early on to implement new side angles to shoot both pitchers and hitters in an effort to have a better reference-point video library so hitters can grasp everything from their launch angle and contact point to a pitcher’s leg path and release points."

From the NY POST, Click here for more.

This is from Steve Serby's Q and A in the NY Post.

"Q: What is your message to Mets fans?
A: My message this year is be positive. Be positive, it’s a long season, you’re not gonna win the World Series or lose the World Series in the first month of the season or in spring training, so just calm down, all right? "

MG: Oh you are so going to love Mets Twitter... Hope you know what you are in for.

"Q: Noah Syndergaard.

A: Workhorse. He’s never the guy you see sitting at his locker, on his phone or anything like that. He’s here to work."

MG: Except if there is a sandwich around. Then all bets are off.

"Q: A message to Mets fans about yourself.

A: I’m gonna give you everything I got every day, no matter what."

MG: That's good to hear. Good luck and hope you can kick some ass.

Read more here at the NY POST

Zack Wheeler Starting on Friday

"Zack Wheeler will start the Mets’ first spring training game. Mickey Callaway said Wednesday that he "definitely" sees the right-hander as a starter and getting him in that first game is a way for him to get a quick start in the competition to remain in that role.

"He's definitely a starting pitcher. For us to be the best possible team, we have to have him be a starter," Callaway said in response to Daily News and WFAN reports that the front office has Wheeler penciled into the bullpen this season. "He's going to go out there and do everything he can to win this competition we have going on." "

Read more at the NY Daily News.

Adrian Gonzalez is mentoring Dom Smith

Adrian Gonzalez isn't going to be working with Dominic Smith on his swing path anytime soon. The veteran first baseman won't be discussing launch angles either. The five-time All-Star just wants to pass down some of what he's learned along the way to the Mets' young prospect.

"It's part of the baseball tradition. They come up with new things in baseball nowadays, swing path and different things, there are things that I can't teach him," Gonzalez said. "But at least I have experience. There are things I've lived and done. I definitely can share my experiences and knowledge with him. I can tell him what has worked and what hasn't."

Read more here at the NY Daily News

ORANGE AND BLUE THING S2 E8: Let the games begin! Mets talk and more.

click here for the show on SoundCloud

Spring Training games are set to begin, and the boys have arrived with a special Wednesday night show before Darren jets down to Port St. Lucie. Talking Wilmer Flores in the outfield, Zack Wheeler in the bullpen, Tim Tebow in the Bigs, and the most controversial shark fishing trip of all time thanks to Donald Trump, Jr, and the Mets. All that, and live calls, voicemails, and everything else from the last week in Mets land. Grab a chair and lend an ear to another episode of Orange and Blue Thing.
An "Orange and Blue Thing" is something that Mets fans can relate to, so that's what we talk about. The comments section turns in to a live chat room, and the fan engagement is cool to see.

Co-hosted by Darren Meenan and Brian Erni, our episodes are taped live each Thursday at 6pm Eastern. We're a pretty visual show, so if you can, try to catch the live stream on Facebook.com/The7Line. For now give a listen and if you're in to it, share with your friends, subscribe and leave a review.

Click here for iTunes

Mets to wear Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS Eagles Caps on Friday

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Billy Bean,Daniel Murphy, and their friendship.

This is a great segment from SNY’s Baseball Night in NY. I was glued to the response from Billy Bean about how from that day that Billy and Murphy started to have an open dialogue about different sexual orientations and that Murphy is looking at things from a different point of view now. Billy Bean also recognized the fact that the media knew exactly what they were doing when they asked Murphy about what he thought of Billy Bean being gay.

Billy is right. We do need more open discussions about different life styles. He even says if we are supposed to have inclusion we need to have inclusion of all. Even if they don’t share the same view the only way to possibly change someone view is not just to put up a wall where you are “wrong” but let’s discuss why you think the way you do and then discuss they way I might think about stuff.






You can click here to see the video. Watch it.
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Todd Frazier on becoming a Met

“This means everything,’’ Todd said of being a Met. “It’s like everything fell into place. My parents have a place out here. My brother Charlie’s wife is from Port St. Lucie, my brother Jeff grew up a Mets fan. It’s close to home. I’m glad this is where I’m at and overall the pieces are set.’’

Now it’s time for Todd to ramp up the Mets defense at third base, get some big hits and help Mickey Callaway’s team get off to a fresh start after signing that two-year, $17 million free-agent deal.

“I’ll bring the energy,’’ Todd said. “We’ve got the emotion on this team. I’m just going to bring another element of hustle, attitude, the willingness to work and just try to get the best out of these guys day in and day out. No days off. We have leaders on this team. I don’t want to step on anybody’s toes, but also I’m not afraid to do it, either. I’m just trying to be who I am and that leadership quality will probably just come out.

Read more at the NY Post here

Eiland not happy with rule changes

Limiting trips to the mound by the manager or pitching coach isn’t as much Eiland’s beef as the number of interactions between the pitcher and his teammates.

Under the new rules only six mound visits will be permitted (excluding pitching changes). Trips to the mound by a catcher, infielder, pitching coach and manager are all weighted equally.

“I am not worried about pitching coach mound visits,” Eiland said Tuesday. “I am not too concerned about that because if I am going out there six times we are in bad shape that night. It’s more the catcher.”

Read more at the NY Post


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Game Used Minor League Mets Jersey

Item specifics

Player:

Ken Boswell

Team:

New York Mets