Sure there’s a bit of snow today and it’s colder than we’ve been used to this winter but when it comes to trying to get a gauge on the arrival of spring, nothing answers that query like Truck Day.

This coming Monday the truck filled with Mets gear will be packed and headed south to Pt. St Lonesome and as far as I’m concerned it can’t get there soon enough. This off season has been as uninteresting as none I can remember as a Mets fan.  So with spring training just a mere 8 days away we can only hope the day to day workouts and games give this grumpy fan base a spark.

There is a lot of anger amongst the faithful but what worries me is that apathy could overtake that anger, it’s one thing when your fan base has passion both positive and negative but when the folks stop caring then you have a major problem.

The Mets need  to find the baseball version of Jeremy Lin.

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My good buddy Ed “Rusty Jr.” Marcus over at The Real Dirty Mets has a very good column posted this morning on the patients Mets fans will have for the team this coming season. Ed asks the questions will fans show up at Citi Field, if the team gets off to a slow start will fans call for Terry Collins and Sandy Aldersons head and how much more cat calls will we hear from the stands of Citi Field for the Skill Sets to sell? All very good questions.

This off season has been as dormant of any positive Mets news in a long long time. The specter of the Madoff trustee law suit and the teams financial straits have overshadowed any baseball move made by the club as all the moves and non-moves have been money driven. That being said, I can’t wait until training camp opens as we can finally get back to discussing hitting, pitching and defense and hopefully some baseball related story lines.

The die hard “the Mets are in my blood” fan will come out to Citi Field no matter what this coming season brings.  With all the talk of boycotts and protest and insurrection by a part of the fan base, let me say don’t count on me for support. Am I pissed off about the way the Skill Sets have run this franchise and besmirched the good name of the New York Mets? Oh hell yeah! Do I wish they were gone from their seat of power as owner of the team? Double oh hell yeah? But will I abandon my Mets fandom? Infinity hell no!

If Terry Collins can continue to move this team in the direction he has and improve on how they fundamentally play baseball, then this could be a very interesting season. Two major things have to happen for the Mets to play above all expectations this coming season, they must master the fundamentals of baseball and they have to stay healthy, those two aspects of the game will be the difference in whether the dormant Mets fan will come out to Citi Field or will stay home. The Mets do not have the raw talent to be a contender for a division or a wild card berth, but if they limit the mistakes on defense and on the bases along with staying healthy, especially the very fragile starting pitching, the Mets could be the big story of the 2012 baseball season.

If the Mets do become this out of the blue story ,no one in the fan base will give a rat’s ass about the owner. We care about the Skill Sets now because we’re bored and angry, bored because there hasn’t been anything baseball related to discuss thus we’ve started to turn on ourselves (just check out Twitter any afternoon) and angry because we want to have a team we can be proud to call ourselves fans of.  What the Skill Sets have to worry about is that the die hards don’t become the minority among the fan base.

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Boy I am going miss Rangers-Flyers 24/7 now that the Winter Classic is over and the last of the four episodes has aired.  What I’ll miss the most is the John Tortorella between period’s motivational speeches (My co-workers are worn out with me screaming “Fucking screw it on straight will ya” but I have fallen in love with that phrase) and the way Coach Torts uses the video to show mistakes and make the necessary correction in a group setting. In this past episode, Torts brought the whole Rangers team to a conference room at the hotel they were staying at in Sunrise, Florida for their game against the Panthers. He went over missed assignments and sloppy postioning during their win against the Washington Caps. The funny part was when the projector went out and video coordinator Jerry Dineen found himself in the crosshairs of the Wrath of Torts but what I thought about as I was watching this scene was “do baseball teams use their video capabilities like that”? And if they don’t what wouldn’t they?

The Mets were one of the worst defensive teams in baseball last season and also very much deficient in knowing the proper fundamentals of playing the game. Wouldn’t you think, before a game or even before a series, a film study like what Coach Torts does or what coaches in football and basketball do as well, work in baseball? Especially in spring training?

One of the biggest fudi faux pas that the Mets suffered last year was the inability by anyone on the roster to lay down a bunt. As much as hands on practice of bunting should be a stable of this coming spring training in St. Lonesome, a video of those offending who be bunters from last year would also be a great learning tool to point out the flaws in the technique of the batter/bunter.  Same with base running to show the proper way to get a lead of a base and to show the proper way to get a secondary lead. On defense how many times have we seen cut off men overthrown to or missed completely? A picture tells a thousand words.

Let’s face it, this 2012 Mets team is going to need to find an edge somewhere when trying to compete in the NL East, maybe better usage of their video system by Terry Collins and his coaching staff is the first step

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Tomorrow at Citi Field there will be a press conference to announce plans for the New York Mets 50^th Anniversary celebration. There will be special days to commemorate past Mets players and moments in Mets history. The big news however is the 2012 Mets will look like Mets, dressed predominantly in blue and orange.

Of course this is a blue and orange letter day for The Mets Police who has fought the good fight for a years to bring back the traditional Mets home and road unis , even going as far to concede the use of the dreaded black tops on a limited basis to get the organization to stay strictly blue and orange.  

The Mets have gotten the message as the black tops and hopefully the black and the garish black and blue caps will be relics of the past.

More about this tomorrow as I’ve been invited along with other Mets bloggers to attend the presser to get a firsthand look at the new/old uni’s.    

I have been called a “Sandy Alderson apologist” by some but I have to hang my Mets cap on to something positive and Alderson’ track record says he can be successful with limited funding and his way of doing business, building the farm system and implementing a regiment throughout the Mets minor league system is exactly what I believe in. Ed “Rusty Jr.” Marcus writes about the Alderson honeymoon today at The Real Dirty Mets and how some Mets fans want a miracle but what is needed is patience.

If the balmy temperature’s here in NYC don’t have you thinking baseball, how about the release of the Mets 2012 spring training schedule then.  There is a bit of a twist for next spring as the Mets and Bronx Bastards will meet at the end of the exhibition season. The Mets and Highlanders used to meet regularly during spring but once Dave Kingman blasted two home runs off Catfish Hunter in a televised game back to NYC in March of 1975 (big build up for this one as it was Tom Seaver vs. Hunter who had signed the biggest free agent contract in baseball over the winter, New Years Day to be exact) Big Baby George said he had enough of the Mets. See the Mets used to rule the NYC baseball world.

Oh, and mark Wednesday March 7^th on your calendar as that’s the day the Mets face ex-teammate Jose Reyes and his Flamboyant Fish for the first time in Jupiter.

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Oakland A’s getting ready for a trip to Citi Field

Anyone else upset that the riveting Mets-Angels series is over? The Mets sure played yesterday like it was an exhibition game to the point where I feel Terry Collins pulled Jon Niese the way a hockey coach pulls his goalie to wake up his team. Granted, Niese was far from sharp yesterday as he had no feel for his curve, leaving the Angels running to the batter’s box for that first pitch fast ball, the Mets defense especially the Ginger Turner, let Niese down and the rest of the team looked sluggish. I’m sure the club will perk up when those  Swingin’ Oakland A’s come to town tomorrow. Thank God the Mets miss Vida Blue and Ken Holtzman this time around.

David Wright was out early at Citi Field playing catch and taking ground balls while kneeling down. Wright should be ready by February when he reports to Cardinals spring training camp in Jupiter FL

At least there was a Wright sighting, where in the world is Ike Davis?

Went to Cyclones-Baby Highlanders game yesterday with the added attraction of Phil Hughes making a rehab start. Kevin Kernan was there too; in fact he sat a section over from me.   

First impression of some of the Cyclones, I like what I saw in Daniel Muno both at bat but he made. Third baseman Richard Lucas for a guy with some heft played some nice “D” and first baseman Luke Stewart reminds me of Lucas Duda with his size, hopefully as the season goes on he’ll show some power.

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I don’t think Mike Pelfrey can be optioned to Triple A, but after seeing the swift sword of Sandy Alderson yesterday, I wouldn’t be surprised if Pelf throws another stinker today (I’m talking 3 innings getting batted around and a whole lot of hand licking) Alderson would persuade him to take a trip to Buffalo to work out his problems. I hope it doesn’t come down to that. Hopefully Pelf gives the team the quality start it desperately needs tonight but if he doesn’t maybe a two week stint with Rickey Bones who would be another set of eyes, could see something to fix Big Pelf.

It didn’t take Alderson long to show that he won’t sit back with his hands in his pockets as we saw with his moves after last night’s game.  If Alderson would have released Boyer at the end of spring training there was good chance he’d have been picked up by another team. Now, odds are much slimmer that he’d be picked up, so if he doesn’t the Mets can send him to Buffalo to raise his game.

The worst part of the week were the three bad outings by Pelf, Dickey and Niese that taxed and already shaky pen, so it’s imperative for the starters, starting with Pelfrey tonight to step up their game.

It’s too early to panic, but according to Sandy Alderson it’s not too early to send a message. The thing we have to remember here is Alderson and his staff has no allegiance to any of the players on this roster. He inherited the whole flock and I don’t think he’d have any problem dealing away or demoting anyone on this team.  

Jose Reyes has been hitting the ball and has looked like the Reyes of old especially in the field but he is also up to his free swinging ways and that is something hitting coach Dave Hudgens is looking to fix. But at this stage of his career, it will be hard for Reyes to adjust his attack, attack, attack approach at the plate.

Even with the bad bullpen and inability to get a big hit the best thing I saw this week was Rob Castellano is back with his daily Mets Daily Farm Report on Amazin’ Avenue.

 Do you think you know all there is to know about getting around Citi Field? If you had BallPark E-Guide you would. BallPark E-Guide is a nice tidy download that tells you how to get around the ball parks, where to find cheap parking and discounts on tickets. Right now there are e-guides available for Citi Field, Yankee Stadium, Citizens Bank Ballpark with Camden Yards and Nationals Park coming soon.

If you didn’t see the piece on 60 Minutes on Albert Pujols last night do yourself a favor and check it out. It’s well worth it.

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The greatness that is R. A. Dickey, will be rewarded this Sunday night at the Mets Welcome Home Dinner, at the New York Hilton, as Dickey receives the Ya Gotta Believe Award. He is the press release issued by the Mets:

The New York Mets today announced they will hold their annual Welcome Home Dinner to benefit the Mets Foundation this Sunday, April 10 at 6:00 p.m. at the New York Hilton Hotel, located at 53rd Street and Seventh Avenue. 

Mets General Manager Sandy Alderson, Manager Terry Collins, coaches, and all 25 Mets players will be in attendance.

Pitcher R.A. Dickey will receive the Ya Gotta Believe award, named for former Mets pitcher Tug McGraw. The lefty reliever famously coined the phrase in 1973 as the Mets rallied to capture the National League pennant despite being in last place in August.  After being the first player cut during spring training in 2010, Dickey finished the season with an 11-9 record and a 2.84 ERA, seventh-best in the National League.  Dickey, who reinvented his career in 2005 with Texas by becoming a knuckleball pitcher, signed the first guaranteed contract of his career last winter, a two-year deal with a club option for 2013.

“It’s been a long journey for me,” said Dickey, Sunday’s winning pitcher who is scheduled to start the Mets’ 4:10 p.m. home opener against the Washington Nationals this Friday, April 8.  “My wife Anne always wanted me to continue to play. She didn’t want me to have any regrets.”

The Ya Gotta Believe award is given annually to an individual within or associated with the Mets family who has shown an exceptional commitment to the community, fortitude in overcoming adversity, and the spirit to believe that anything is possible.

For more information visit mets.com or by phone at (718) 803-4074.

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Psssst….check it out, check it out Black Mets jersey’s and caps……check it out, check it out…..I got PIAZZA, REYES, RODRIGUEZ, WRIGHT……check it out…………………OH SHIT THE COPS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  

Its almost getting to the point where I’m sympathetic of the plight of the Skill Sets.  It’s bad enough that Bernie Madoff fucked them over but how about their beloved pasty face clubbie Charlie Samuels and the way he took the owners trust and as in turned robbed the team blind?

With all the stories during the off season into spring training about the Madoff scandal and the fall out of the words of the Trustees of the victims of the scandal the Samuels’ saga has gone unnoticed until the last couple of days as the NYPD and Queens DA’s office have descended on St. Lonesome to get some answers and to build a case against Samuels.

The cops are talking to players especially Frankie Rodriguez who was so close to Samuels, he slept on his sofa during when he was bounced out of his home after his assault charge, and to Mike Piazza who also confided  with Samuels.

While the cops are in Florida getting statements, cops here in NYC are trying to match the stolen property from the Mets clubhouse to memorabilia dealers in the area to solidify their case against Samuels  .

This will be just one more bullshit distraction that seems to follow this organization.  If the Skill Sets can save their ownership of the team I hope they learn a lesson from all this and stop being so naïve and start running the Mets like a business instead of some mom and pop candy store

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There has to be a reason why Sandy Alderson is keeping Oliver Perez around.  I haven’t look in detail to the Sunday night Mets bowling league but I know lefties (as I am of that ilk) possess a natural curve when they  bowl so Ollie may be better at getting the 7-10 spilt than inducing the 6-4-3 double play? I mean there has to be a valid explanation on why OP has not been DFA’d.

One theory is that since he doesn’t draw a paycheck until opening day and now that he has proven he’s not starter worthy, a trip to the pen is not really taking innings away from a pitcher that needs work. I’m sure any appearance that Perez makes will be in a split squad game away from St. Lonesome. By keeping him around, Alderson could be waiting until the last possible day to cut Ollie hoping that a team suffering a pitching injury will be soooooooooo desperate they take Ollie off his hands for 50 cents on the dollar. Okay that’s a long shot.

The second theory, and I have not seen or heard this one any place so I will claim it as my own, Alderson/Collins give Perez a shot as a reliever. Perez shits the bed as usual. Alderson/Collins have a heart to heart with OP and Scott Boras with Alderson holding two pieces of paper in his hand, one is his release, the other an agreement to a minor league assignment. Alderson makes it known that he has no problem signing off on the DFA along with a $12 mil severance check but he is willing to allow Perez to save some face and show that he wants to work his way back to the big leagues by either staying in extended spring training using a sudden (wink, wink) injury or going outright to Triple A a la Steve Trachsel, thus putting all the pressure on Perez and Boras.

Alderson is a smart man; he knows OP has no shot of being a reliever so why not give him one last shot at redemption of taking the demotion that he should have agreed to last season. I mean really, how great is a Buffalo Bison-Scranton Wilkes Barre Yankees Kai Igawa v. Ollie Perez matchup?

As long as OP is not on the 25 roster come April 1 its fine by me. I can see Perez now agreeing to a minor league assignment. Alderson has given Perez every chance to show he’s not the suck ass pitcher we all think he is and Perez has not shown one iota of hope that he can pitch competitively in the big leagues. I can see Alderson laying this all out to Ollie and Boras, in fact how great would it be if Alderson made up one of those leather bound books that Boras makes up for his clients when they are free agents. Alderson could call it the Book of Suck.

Can’t you see Alderson telling Perez. “I’ve done everything you requested when you came to camp, you asked for a shot at the starting rotation, and you failed. You asked to go to the bullpen and that was a disaster as well.  I’ve held back the fans and media and taken the slings and arrows shot at you and what did I get back? A big bucket of suck.  So look me in the eye Ollie and tell me why the hell should I even give a shit about you”?

Enjoy Buffalo OP!

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Sorry for no Mets post today but really there is nothing more to say until spring training games start tomorrow (today’s choose up game in St Lonesome doesn’t cut it for me) plus one of my favorite Boston Celtics players, Kendrick Perkins was traded to Oklahoma City in a shocking move that stunned fans and Celtic players alike.

I won’t get into the why’s and where’s of the deal but like Sandy Alderson with the Mets, I put alot of trust in C’s VP Danny Anige but Celtic fans won’t know if this moved pays off until June. Only capturing Banner 18 will heal this wound.

Thank you Perk and good luck with the Thunder

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