(Twenty)Five to one, baby, one in (twenty) five,
No one here gets out alive now.
You’ll get yours, baby, I’ll get mine,
Gonna make it, baby, if we try.

Ken Davidoff is going to compile his 25 man Mets roster as if opening day was today so I thought I’d post mine here and the caveat is “if today was opening day” so of course this list is subject to change.

 

STARTING PITHCERS (5)

 

Johan Santana

Mike Pelfrey

Oliver Perez

John Maine

Tim Redding

 

The first four spots are locks the fifth spot I give to Redding not on merit but on the fact that he has a $2mil contract and that Freddy Garcia can be left in extended spring training. Livan Hernandez is an option which would shift Redding to the bullpen which is something I would be against doing but it would be the option the Mets would make if they had to finalize the roster today. Don’t forget the Jeri-Curl shadow of Petey lurking in the background and Joh Niese becomes the Bison Ace

 

RELIVERS (6)

 

Frankie Rodriguez

J.J. Putz

Sean Green

Pedro Feliciano

Ron Villone

Brian Stokes

 

The last spot goes to Stokes but I hope the Mets can work out something with the Angels to keep Darren O’Day and let him go to Buffalo. Mat DeSalvo has looked good this early spring but he’s a NRI so he’s have to be real charming to take at spot off the 40 man roster.

 

CATCHER (2)

 

Brian Schneider

Ramon Castro

 

The Pudge to Mets talk is still strong as Rodriguez has looked good in the WBC and has made it no secret he’d love to be a Met. Two things could either happen here. The Mets find someone to take Castro and his $2 mil salary and in turn they sign Pudge or this is the swift kick in his fat lazy ass that Shriek needs desperately

 

INFIELD (6)

 

Carlos Delgado

Luis Castillo

Jose Reyes

David Wright

Alex Cora

Fernando Tatis

 

Tatis is valuable not just for his righty bat but for his swingman status from infield to outfield. Cora will spell both Reyes and Castillo and could become a major payer for the team this season as I get the feeling that J-Man will being giving both Reyes and Wright more days off during July and August.

 

OUTFIELD (6)

 

Daniel Murphy

Carlos Beltran

Ryan Church

Jeremy Reed

Bobby Kielty

 

This will be interesting to watch. J-Man has taken a shine to Kielty and I’ve been a fan of his as well he has that “somethin’ somethin’ that you like in a ball player. The problem here is Marlon Anderson and his contract. Anderson is guaranteed  $1.5 mil for 2009 and pre-Madoff that would be chump change now that Omar is on a strict budget this salary will be tough to swallow as Anderson at that price (or any price to be honest) is untradable

 

   

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As per METSBLOG Duaner Sanchez has been given his release as so the Mets are off the hook for the majority of his salary. This goes to my post yesterday that money is tight in the Kingdom of Skill Set and in order to add a player you have to cut some payroll.

The question is does this mean they are saving up to bring Petey back or is Will Ohman on his way to St Lonesome?

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Low budget sure keeps me on my toes
I count every penny and I watch where it goes
Were all on our uppers were all going skint
I used to smoke cigars but now I suck polo mints

 

 

A lot of times I can be very dense (hard to believe I know) like when putting together Ikea furniture or stuffing too many clothes in the washing machine and now I can add to the list, under estimating the Bernie Madoff rip off on the Skill Sets. The reason I’ve looked at this situation in a different light is due to my favorite ESPN.com writer Bill Simmons who has a column up on the NBA that brings out the leagues money woes. If someone were to write a No Benjamins Assciation about MLB (Money Left Behind) the Mets would play the lead in the story.

 

If it were just a weak economy the Mets would have a dented piggy bank but the Madoff rip off has put a torpedo blast in the bow of the SS Skill Set.

 

Why is Manny not a Met? Money, the lack there of is why. It has nothing to do with attitude or fitting in with the team as Manny would be fine on both points. It’s money. In fact you won’t see another Big Ticket free agent signed by the Mets for a long time and I bet they are now putting money aside for when Jose Reyes and David Wright come up for new contracts in 2012 and 2014 respectively and thankfully Johan Santana became a Met last year as if the same scenario was playing out this season he would never be in Orange and Blue.

 

 

With all the talk about the inefficiency of the 5^th starter spot and how Petey is looking rejuvenated unless he signs for $1 mil Petey’s not coming back here. Same with Pudge Rodriguez he’s not coming here either and it’s not so much the talent equation but the money situation.   

 

 

 

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Just a couple of items before I head out for the day to enjoy the 65 degree day today in NYC, so with Roy Orbison’ Black and White Night coming through my headphones let’s look at some Mets scuttlebutt:

Looks all the angst over Johan Santana’ elbow was wasted energy by the media and fan base as Santana threw another BP session today and looked sharp and looks to be on track for opening day in Cincinnati:

“I feel pretty good,” Santana said. “I don’t see any reasons why I would not be ready for it. We have been working out, getting everything in the right way, right track, and I don’t think there will be any problems.”

David Lennon watch the session closely:

Of his 36 pitches, Santana threw 22 strikes. He got six swings and misses, with five of them coming on change-up. Even when his change-up was high in the strike zone — a dangerous spot — the group of Mackowiak, Nick Evans, Rene Rivera and Cory Sullivan couldn’t touch it.

Jose Reyes is riding the pine in today’s WB (S) C game between the D.R and the Flyin Dutchmen. Have I told you how much I hate the WBC?

Bye-bye Dirty Duaner? Could be since the Mets came save some coin by dropping him by April 1. Add in the fact he has not been the same Dirty Duaner since his infamous Rice and Beans run car crash in South Beach as he still can’t hit 90 on the JUGGS , it could be the end of the line for Sanchez as a Met

The more you look at the fight for the 5^th spot in the Mets rotation the more I won’t be surprised if Petey signs with the Mets after the WBC

Wilmer Flores parents have submitted a permission slip to Jerry Manuel so Flores will play shortstop today against the Nationals (1PM Ch. 11) Flores was spotted in the clubhouse this morning with his Menudo lunch box and baseball shoes that light up when he runs (ahhhhhhhhh how cute)

not a good song a GREAT song by Roy Orbison watch the video here.

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At some point, Omar, Tony B, or J-Man need to grab Jeffey Skill Sets by his little neck and tell him to stop being a lackey for the Used Car Salesman. If it’s not slotting players in the draft, it’s not going over payroll to pay the luxury tax and now it’s this pain in the ass WBC that the Mets have sent 15 players to including Fernando Tatis as a fill in for the Tragically Hip Alex Rodriguez. Enough! Lets do what right for the NY Mets instead of following orders of the Whacky Professor. 

 

WOW our Pro Baseball Central show from this past Wednesday night has struck up major debate in the Mets-Phillies rival as Bill Bear of  Crashburn Alley got our “Irish up” when Joe and I  went on a positions by position comparison of the two NL East front runners. Check out Bill’ site for his mathematical break down of the two teams then listen to the show as Joe and I spit tobacco juice (sorry Bill that some of it got on your shoes)   and tighten the belt on our flannel uniforms and use old school thinking. Just hearing me defend Mariano Rivera is worth listening to. Yeah, that’s right I had to defend a Highlander and I’m pissed that Bill made me do that!

 

I’m not worried about John Maine even with him not feeling comfortable on the mound yesterday. Maine feels it his mechanics that are off and being that it’s early in spring and he’s coming off surgery to his wing as ling as he’s not hurting it’s just a matter of time before he gets his feel back on the mound.   

 

Ryan Church fouled a pitch off his knee. It hurt. He put ice on it. It feels better. In other words, keep moving nothing to see here.

 

Tommy LaSorda says “You pinko, pussy, sons of bitch’s better be rootin’ for the good ol’ U S of A in the WBC or you’re a fuckin traitor” “and buy a fuckin’ shirt or cap too”

 

Who? Santana? Nah, nobody here by that name.

 

I am very very much bummed out that Life On Mars is getting booted off ABC but my mood has brightened  considerably by word that Curb Your Enthusiasm with the cast of SEINFELD making appearances on the show as well is back in production and will return to TV in the fall. Just hearing the shows theme song makes me giddy! (wish I could link it but shhhhhhhhh I’m at work)

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Sorry for the late post but I’m as busy as a trauma nurse in the Kings County ER on a Saturday night as I try to get a ton of work done so I can get out the office as tonight in big night on Staten Island as my 9 yr old daughters 4^th grade CYO basketball team plays in the championship game tonight. If they win it will be back to back titles as they were the 3^rd grade girls champs last year. I hope Gino Auremma and Pat Summit show up tonight looking for to get commitments from the girls.

And how can you mend a broken heart?
How can you stop the rain from falling down?
How can you stop the sun from shining?
What makes the world go round?
How can you mend a this broken man?
How can a loser ever win?
Please help me mend my broken heart and let me live again.

The more I keep trying to convince myself that it’s ok that Manny is not a Met the more I torture myself. I know I said I was on board with the decision the Mets made not to sign him but them why is when I watch his presser, I hate rate jumps and I get jumpy like I just drank 5 Manhattan Specials? All I keep think is if Manny was n the Mets lineup I could be the 5^th starter and the team would still win.

So now Alex Rodriguez needs surgery on his hip that will keep him out 10 weeks so wouldn’t it be nice if Captain Craptastic invited Rodriguez to stay with him while he recuperates? Kind of like a Oscar Madison Felix Unger scenario

Here is your 5^th starter kids.

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A  special Wednesday night edition of Pro Baseball Central is on deck for 9PM EST tonight so join Joe McDonald and yours truly for 90 minutes of Mets, Highlanders, A-Rod, Manny and what ever else is going on in baseball talk and we want you to join us by calling in at (646) 595-4462

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Every spring there are loads of baseball annuals at the newsstand but if you are a die hard Mets fan you need to pick up the 2009 Mets Annual published by Maple Street Press.

The Annual is chock full of information for every Mets fans taste. You like numbers? There are your basic stats and there are in depth numbers like pitch selection and hit placement all from the Inside Edge scouting service. There are articles on Shea Staduim and our birthplace the Polo Grounds.  There are stories on the 40th annivseray of the 1969 Amazin’s (by Greg Prince) and a great article by Howard Megdal on the Mets uncanny ability to finish in second place (that says it all about Mets fandom WE’RE #2!!!!)

Greg Spira and Matt Silveman have but the best sports annual out there so look for it at newsstands, bookstores or at the Maple Street Press web site  

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                                                            MEMORANDUM

 

Organizational Meeting

Location: Manager Manuel’ Office

Attendees: Jeff Wilpon, Omar Minaya Jerry Manuel, Dan Warthen, Johan Santana,

Time: ASAP

Subject- Time to get on the same fucking page!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sometimes I wish I weren’t a Mets fan so I could sit back like the rest of baseball get get a good laugh at this organization. Here we have arguably the best pitcher in baseball someone the Mets have a huge investment in monetarily and emotionally and everyone from the top of the Skill Sets to Omar to the coaches/manger to the players really need to get their shit together as it pertains his Santana’ left elbow.

Old School Wathern says no go for opening day. Santana says he still on track to pitch the opener in Cincy. The Mets are sending Santana to NYC for an MRI. The Mets are NOT sending Santana to NYC for an MRI. The only constant in this whole mess is the churning in Mets fans stomachs waiting for the report that Santana is headed to Birmingham to see Dr. Andrews.

How fucking hard is it to take Santana to a doctor in St. Lonesome or some where in the vicinity to get his elbow in an MRI machine? Sometimes I get the feeling that St Lonesome is a more remote area than any used on the TV show Survivor.

Stop letting Santana dictate what goes on around here, if his elbow hurts get it checked out how god damn hard is this to do.

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For this week Joe McDonald and I will be doing our Pro Baseball Central show live this WEDNESDAY night at 9PM EST. Join us in baseball conversation by calling into the show at (646) 595-4462  Listen live by clicking here or by going right to the Pro Baseball Central site.

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