As you all know I’m no fan of the team in the South Bronx but today I ask you to say a prayer for Bobby Murcer.

Today is the unveiling of Johan Santana and the game is on SNY which means I have to hope the pizzeria on Murray St has a the game on TV during my lunch hour.

When D-Wright tells you to shut the fuck up well it’s time for you to shut the fuck up.

So let me see if I understand this, Billy Wags is a no good red ass when he threatens to knock some punk ass college kids head off for thinking about laying down a bunt in an exhibition game but Tino Martinez is coolest guy in the world because he told the kids at University of Southl Florida not to do anything stupid today when they play the Highlanders. Same thing with John Harper who writes today’s “DUH”? Column telling us that the Mets have some age on them. Thankfully Howard Mengal points out to us the Highlanders are not only aged but they are also putting a lot of their season on kid pitchers which again proves my theory of  the New York sporting media that anyone in a Highlander uniform is a future Hall of Famer and anyone in a Mets uni  is doomed to failure.

“PEOPLE LET ME TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY BEST FIREND. HE’S A WARM HEARTED PERSON WHO WILL LOVE ME TILL THE END”

A woman was arrested yesterday for beating the living daylights out of her 3 year old son in the Staten Island Malll. When I first read this story and the comment the woman made that “In her country, you were allowed to hit children” My blood pressure soared to 200 I wanted to buy this bitch a one way ticket back to wherever the fuck see came from but it turns out she was born right here in the good ol’ U S of A and lived in Puerto Rico most of her life. But what changed my mind on the woman is I see she is sick according to her husband she has been suffering from depression and he knows she needs therapy. Now my anger is towards the husband who needs a foot in his ass as he has two other children with this woman and I can bet he’s one of these so called manly men who make his wife do everything in the house and never ever helps out. This asshole knew his wife needed professional help but never assisted her in getting it. Hopefully this gutless Neanderthal will now get her the help she needs before the next call he gets is from the morgue. 

The good news out of yesterdays make believe game against the Tigers was Mike Pelfrey looked sharp. Pelfrey has never had a problem throwing hard, it’s not relying on that fastball all the time that’s been a problem and just an overall effort to mature as a big league pitcher which Pelfrey claimed after the game has been tough. As fans we tend to forget that guys like Pelfrey have never had much adversity in their baseball life. I’m sure Pelfery was the best player on every team he’s played except for the New York Mets. From listening to Pelfery and reading some of his quotes it seems he has realized that the other guys in the league are better than anyone he has ever faced so now you go from raw ability to using your head and it looks as though Pelfrey is a smart enough kid to make the adjustment and become a top flight starting pitcher.

That brings us to the 2,000 year old man a/k/a El Duque. Maybe I miss read the stories during this past off season but wasn’t he supposed to take care of this bunion issue that’s caused him problems last year? It seems the bunion is still a problem but the tendon trouble he had in his foot has been surgically repaired but he still is not fit to fight. Omar has said all the right things that El Duque is going at a pace that a vet has to in order to get ready for the year but if Pelfrey can continue to show he’s the man then putting El Duque on the DL and letting him stay in extended spring training could be the best course of action for the Mets to take.

Yo LMillz I love you dude but you’re really starting to become a little bitch… Stop crying about how you were treated because the more you talk the more likely you will get a 108 stitch sphere at your noggin’. You made your point that the big boys treated you like shit, now shut the fuck up and get along with your career.

Mazel Tov Shawn Greene. 

I know we are all supposed hate Brian McNamee but this guy it seems was well like by the people he came in contact with in the South Bronx. Former Highlander serfs Rick Down and Willie Randolph petitioned Omar to hire the sleazy McNamee to pitch batting practice and be a bullpen catcher (how does one apply for that job, I want to send in my resume) but Omar did a check around on him and found out he was radioactive. Maybe it’s a reason why Rick Down was let go after he pushed for the McNamee hire?

The captain has activated the DOUCHE BAG ALERT signal.

Hey SPORTSTALKNY is back tonight at 9PM EST and it’s baseball, baseball and more baseball as David Lennon of Newsday the Mets beat reporter will join us as will Jim Carroll the writer, producer and director of a fabulous documentary on the Cape Cod Baseball League, Touching the Game. I have this DVD and as someone who spends a lot of his summer on Cape Cod and going to the Cape League games this is a real treat for me to hear what Jim has to say about the film and the Cape League. Join us on USTREAMTV 9PM

Two weeks ago Ron Swoboda was a guest on SPORTSTALKNY and when asked about players he saw last season in “Nawlins that impressed him he mentioned Marcel Abreu. Well yesterday Abreu saved the Mets from embarrassment by cracking a game tying home run against the MICHIGAN that ended in a 4-4 tie as the Mets ran out of pitchers. Abreu is on the lineup again today against the Tigers. It’s very very early but Abreu is a guy to watch as a right handed bat who can play first base and back up to Carlos Delgado.

{Forget the Phillies. Billy Wagner nearly started a beanball war with the University of Michigan after one overzealous Wolverine tried to bunt on him in the fourth inning. With a runner on second and one out, center fielder Kevin Cislo pushed his bunt foul.

Wagner, clearly annoyed, shook his head a number of times, and Cislo wisely swung away, grounding out. Wagner said he couldn’t believe that Cislo, a junior, bunted.

“If he got that bunt down, I would have drilled the next guy,” Wagner said. “Play to win against Villanova.”}

Got to admit the kid has a pair of balls trying to drop a bunt down the line, but I hope Wags has this same feeling when the Mets play the Phillies, Braves and Highlanders.

So Omar Minaya doesn’t want Jose Reyes to tone down his game and David Wright speaking as th players spokesman doesn’t want Reyes to tone down his act then who is that is whispering gin Jose’s ear to do so? Willie? Did you say something?

I’m a fan of Eddie Kunz but why oh why does he have to be compared to Joba Chamberlain? One of the knocks on Kunz is he has to show a more sinister side on the mound and go after hitters with heat so why not let Eddie be Eddie.

The organization Seeds of Peace which operates a summer camp in Maine that brings together people from all across the Middle East in th name of peace and understanding is have a dinner with Omar Minaya as the Guest of Honor on March 13^th. It sounds like a great organization and a terrific honor for Omar.

Rick Peterson took a lot of shit from here and elsewhere on the Scott Kazmir deal (I always felt he was thrown under the bus by Jeffy Skill Sets and  the front office) when he questioned his mechanicas and felt he was an arm injury to happen. Well, today Kazmir took the mound to pitch in an intra-squad game and felt “discomfort” in his elbow and will now go for an MRI. 

Before we look at the Mets news of the day I got a very upsetting e mail from Kathy Foronjy and Joe Colburn of Mathematically Alive and I’d like to share it with you guys:

   I’m writing to let the Mets community know that a friend really needs our prayers and support. You all probably know Matt Hoey because he’s been first in line for tickets at Shea for the last seven years. If you don’t know him personally you’ve probably seen or heard about the fan who wears the orange & blue Dr. Seuss hat. Matt was in a accident this weekend and was hurt pretty badly. Joe & I are in shock and still trying to figure out what we can do to help.Matt is one of the nicest, most genuine human beings we’ve ever met and he’s most passionate about the Mets. We think the best thing to do right now is to send Matt support and love from his largest group of friends. We’ve created an email for those who want to offer sentiments to Matt & his family.  GetWellMatt@mathematicallyalive.com. His wife Tracey will pass the messages along to Matt.

Please take a minute out of your day to send a supportive message to our friend Matt Hoey.

For those who have blogs or post in forums please pass the information along.

Thank you for taking the time to read this and for showing some love to Matt.

Sincerely,

Kathy Foronjy & Joseph Coburn

 Please try and take some time out of you day to drop an e-mail to Matt and keep a good thought for him. When I find out more information on Matt’s condition or how we can help him and his family I’ll pass it along.   The best thing about yesterday’s intra-squad game and let me say we are so starved for Mets baseball that we even care about a choose up game, is that Duaner Sanchez and Juan Padilla not only pitched but pitched well. If they report today with no pain or any set back this is a huge plus for the Mets.   I read this story on Willie Randolph and how he feels terrible about how Lasting Milledge feels he never communicated with him and from what you read it sounds like LMillz is off base. I’m still an Milledge fan but I think now after looking at the deal and the fact that Milledge gets to go to a team where he the bright lights don’t exist  maybe this is the kick in the ass he needs to grow up. It’s one thing to say you’re a man and another to act like one after having your ass kissed most of your young life.

 We all know about the slump that Jose Reyes went through at the end of last season and we all agree when Reyes hits the ball on the ground instead of in the air he is an unbelievable weapon but my concern is that either management or the media perception is forcing Reyes to change who he is. All this talk about not doing his handshakes and whatever was troubling him last season seems to have loomed heavy on his mind. Its one thing to tinker with a batting stance or an approach to hitting but when you start messing with a guy’s personality you have be careful. Really who gives a shit if the opposition doesn’t like the handshakes?  What the Mets should be saying is if you don’t like it kiss our orange and blue ass.   There is a story on Metsblog about Mike Piazza contemplating retirement and some of the posters have said that Piazza 31 should be retired by the Mets as soon as he announces his retirement.  I’m sure Charlie Samuels will not hand out 31 to anyone but no number should go on the wall at $iti Field until Eddie Kranepool’  7 goes up there. In fact with the closing of Shea Stadium now should be the time to retire KRANEPOOL 7    I could cry that I missed this concert.   HERE IT COMES; HERE IT COMES, HERE COMES YOUR 19^TH NERVOUS BREAKDOWN.

If an ex-stripper/blogger can win an Oscar for best secreen play can a NYC Civil Servant/blogger ever become the GM of a Major League Baseball team?

Finally we get a little game action today, sure it’s only an choose up game but at least we get to see young guys like Robert Parnell and Jon Niese who are next in line as the “it” pitchers. We get to see Adam Bostick who is looking to fill the Brain Lawrence role this year. Juan Padillia is back after two years of arm surgeries which makes you root harder for the guy as he’s worked his ass off to get back and if healthy could add much needed depth down in “Nawlins along with Joe Smith. Steve Register the Rule V guy could make things interesting with a strong spring. Ruddy Lugo, Joselo Diaz, Ivan Maldanado and Andy Cavazos are here looking for walk on parts. But the guy all eyes will be on is Dirty Dauner Sanchez who will face live batters for the first time in over a year and from the dispatches out of St. Lonesome he looks to be healthy both physically and mentally. Remember last year, Willie Randolph couldn’t stomach looking at Sancez and his bulbous tummy and bullshit attitude. Now Dirty has been born again dropping 27 pounds and showing up before anyone else when the days festivities begin. A healthy and effective Dirty could go a long way to the Mets assembling the best bullpen in baseball.

I know most folks are fed up with the Brooklyn Dodger-ific way the Mets have been going with $iti Field and the running the short season Cyclones out of Coney Island and to that I say all of you can go fuck yourselves as your just jealous that your birth certificate doesn’t say BORN IN BROOKLYN on it but never the less It’s always good to see that favorite son of Bensonhurst  Sandy Koufax come into Mets camp and talk to the pitchers. I remember seeing Koufax at Keyspan Park back in 2001 and pulling a Ralph Kramden (hummana, hummana hhhhiiii MMMRRR. KKKOOOUFAX)  to us Brooklynites the man is a GOD!

Have you seen this new logo for $iti Field? I know $iti Group is in deep shit with mortgages sending the institution into a deep red hole but Christ, is this the best the graphics department could come up with? Check out this hat they gave out, that’s one sorry ass lid.

I’m a fan of El Duque I am really but at I think if I’m the Mets GM  I’m at the point where I’m ready to cut him free. The bunion problem we all thought was taken care of in the off season looks like it could be a problem once again. He had surgery on a tendon on his toe and now the toe is smaller. He didn’t go for the bunion surgery because he felt the rehab would take to long. Now he was a problem with a tooth that needed a root canal ( yeah I didn’t think he had any choppers of his own either) so of course he’s behind schedule in getting ready for the season. Let’s hope Willie gives Mike Pelfrey a ton of work and he grabs the fifth starter’s role by the balls.

I guess it’s nothing to worry about but of course I’m going to worry about it. Carlos Beltran, Luis Castillo,  Damian  Easley  and to a lesser extent   Jose Valentin, and Ben Johnson are not ready to go full blast due to prior injuries they are recovering from. When I see Beltran and Castillo frolicking on the diamond I feel a lot better.

Damn you Richard Martin you broke my heart! Clean up after your mutt, asshole and when the newspaper comes to take you picture put your fucking teeth in.

…..well the next thing you know ol’ Bobby Harris is a millionaire the kin folks said Bobby move away from there…… This will not end well. Trailer park family. In Georgia (Tom Glavine’s neighbors?) “youngin’s  and the fact that the wife says “we want to stay here in town and live a normal life” Sorry there Big Mama, y’all got a big multi million dollar target on you back that most of your neighbors will take  a shot at . Just make sure you stock up on enough Jim Beam and Marlboros to last a while.

On Friday March 7 th  at 7PM I will be joining up with a star studded cast up in Albany NY for a screening of the Award-winning documentary MATHEMATICALLY ALIVE-A  STORY OF FANDOM at The Linda which is located at 339 Central Avenue in Albany.  Following the screening there will be a Q & A session with the talented film makers Kathy Foronjy and Joseph Colburn and also a panel made up of myself, Mike Silva of Gotham Baseball, Matthew Silverman author of 100 THINGS METS FANS SHOULD KNOW AND DO BEFORE THEY DIE , METS ESSENTIAL and co-author of METS BY THE NUMBERS.

After that there will be an after party at Valentines Bar at 17 New Scotland Avenue in Albany which will the band Grainbelt which is headed by Mets fan extraordinaire Howard Glassman will be playing.

To order tickets you can call The Linda at 518 465-5233 or visit the website at www.wamcarts.org

If you can’t make it up to Albany on the 7 th there will be a screening of the film on Saturday March 8 th in White Plains NY at the Westchester Film Festival at the City Center 15 Cinema de Lux located at 19 Mamaroneck Ave.

There will also be a screening  in NYC in April when I find out the date, time and location for that I will pass it along.

If you haven’t seen the film yet try to come out to one of the screenings as this film is about YOU the Mets fan and what sets us apart from other sports fans.  After you see it you’ll want the DVD not doubt about it.

Looks like those scrapple eating fuckers in Philly want to get physical with out boys in blue and orange. BRING IT ON!  HEY JIMMY ROLLINS, YOU FEEL FROGY? THEN LEAP!!!!!!!!!!

Jason Stark said on a Philadelphia radio show that some of the Cheese Steak eaters feel there will be a B-R-A-W-L sometimes this season between the Phillies and Mets.  I hope if it does come to fruition and don’t lie Mets fans you want to see a good old fashion bench clearer as much as I do,  I hope it happens during the first home stand so we can see what our heroes are made of.

I have a ton of real work to do today as I watch the snow pile up and the phone calls come in from my fellow co- workers that they are out on “sick leave” but I have to leave you with this one story I read today in the NY Post. After reading this, Richard Martin is my hero. In fact the building he’s the super at is just up the street from my mother’s apartment. Next time I’m in Bay Ridge I have to go meet this guy and shake his hand. The best part of the story is this classic paragraph that I want to frame and leave on my desk at work, especially for the night grew that steals my pens and moves my court calendar. This is what Martin wrote after someone in the building torn down his Christmas decorations:

 “Dear scumbag” the 71-year-old crank wrote after the decorations were torn down and unceremoniously dumped on his doorstep. “If I catch you, I will kill you where you are. You don’t want to f- - - with the Irish.”

OH MY GOD that’s a classic. Never, ever fuck with the Irish!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

And I’m smitten by Ms. White here, who reminds me of girls I chased around during high school. I wish they had a pic of her with the curley hair Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.  If she gets bounced out early then I’m done with the show.

By the way Paula needs to get back on the happy pills and Randy needs to sue the doctor who performed his gastric bypass and Simon, well he just needs to go fuck himself.

There are more stories than a midtown skyscraper coming out of St. Lonesome:

ITEM: METS ARE/ARE NOT INTERESTED IN FREDDY GARCIA

Adam Rubin says Omar and Garcia spoke yesterday and Bart Hubbuch says the Mets are not interested in Garcia as “they have no room for him in the rotation” I’m going with Rubin’ report as we all know there is always room for a guy like The Chief when healthy. Now of course Garcia wants the baseball world to know that the Mets and he are dating as it brings up interest and increase his demand of a contract but Garcia has to prove he is of sound body and that won’t happen until after the All Star break. But it’s nice to know that The Chief has pals on our team like Petey and Santana.

ITEM: DO WE FINNALY HAVE A METS-PHILLIE RIVALVRY?

As long as I’ve rooted for the Blue and Orange the closest team the Mets have had as a rival were the Cubs. Then the in the mid 80’s it was the Cardinals and the early 90’s the Pirates and then of course the Braves ever since so it is nice to see the Mets and Phillies become not only rivals but talking smack towards each other. Maybe now the Phillies front office will stop sending brochures to Mets ticket plan holders to buy tickets to Mets-Phillies games in the Land of the Cheese steak which by the way is the most overrated food product in the history of eating. Bench clearing brawl anyone?  

ITEM: BOO-HOO METS FANS CAN’T CAMP OUT FOR TICKETS

Just like tailgating 14 hours before a football game in a parking lot, I never understood  why people loved to sleep outside a stadium to buy tickets.  How is sitting at home nice and toasty where you can even print out the tickets as well not better than sleeping in the cold and peeing in a jar and just being fucking miserable just to be first in line to buy a ticket to a game?

ITEM: MOISES ALOU AND THE HAPPIEST PLACE ON EARTH

Moises loves it here. In fact he loves it so much he wants to play at least two more years here. Why? Why not. Sure the cash is good but let’s face it if you’re a Latin player where else would you want to play? The Mets clubhouse is a very comfortable place where it seems most of the guys get along as well as 25 men can. In contrast you have Johnny Damon who it seems has found out that the South Bronx is baseball’s tight ass headquarters. So much so that Damon was ready to retire than play for the Highlanders as the organization took all the fun out of baseball for him. Something that all free agents should think about when they put money over happiness.

ITEM: IT’S A THIN LINE BETWEEN LOVE AND HATE

Mike Vaccaro lays it all out on our Mets addiction

ITEM: OLIVER PEREZ FINDS OUT HOW MUCH HE SUCKS TODAY

It’s been a while since the Mets went to an arbitration hearing and they really don’t want to break the streak but Ollie Perez and his agent Scott Boras have left the team with no choice. The Mets would love to sign O.P. to an extension at a generous raise but the beaten up Boras has said N-O. I hope Ollie knows what he’s doing as that’s why I can see the Mets tripping the light fantastic with Freddy Garcia.