That’s right, I gave Ollie a pass yesterday.  I’m chalking his performance up to the regular bevy of excuses:  working on some pitches, hoping to pitch without pain in a real game, a little nervous, just trying to get some work in, first real game in 4 months, shaking off the cobwebs.  I’ll take them all today for I am behind Oliver Perez and I’m giving him the benefit of the doubt.

I’m not kidding.

I’ve been hard on Perez in the past and the one thing I wanted him to do this off season is lose some weight, get in shape and show up to Port St. Lucie in shape and ready to  play and Ollie did them all.  So yesterday was his unveiling and by all means it was not impressive.  As a matter of fact it was downright Oliver Perez like;  three innings, 5 runs on 7 hits, walked one and struck out two.  Actually,  the Nationals had three runs on the board before Perez could register an out-very Perez like indeed.

I’m not making any predictions nor conclusions. 

Barring any injury or tightness(which I know none of as I write this), Perez is scheduled to make his next start.  THAT’S the one where I expect a better performance.  I’m not looking for a three up three down, 4 inning performance.  I just want Ollie to keep his composure and throw strikes and keep the Mets in the game a little longer than yesterday. 

Because, honestly, if he begins to revert to that old Ollie form, Minaya better start working the phones and getting someone, anyone in here that could pitch.  We all know what the Old Perez can do to a bullpen on any given day-not to mention the psyche of a team on a winning streak. We have some pieces (Santos, Matthews or Pagan) that might net the Mets someone decent.  But lets not go there yet. 

So Ollie, welcome back, ice up and get ready for your next start.

Well the one thing that we can definitely say about the Mets spring training games so far is that they have definitely not been boring. If anything the Mets offense has been on fire scoring over thirty runs in their last three days alone, spearheaded with homers by David Wright, Fernando Martinez, Mike Jacobs and that concussion grenade that was the Ike Davis grand slam ! The problem lies thus far with the pitching. While Jonathan Neise looked impressive in his first start this past Tuesday, yesterday Mike Pelfrey took his first start of the grapefruit league season , and he looked downright rusty. He let up four runs ( three earned) in three innings and his control was spotty at best. Both Sean Green and Eddie Kunz looked better yesterday than they did in their previous efforts, but we need them to be consistent. I know it is only spring training and the games don’t mean anything i, but I have no worries about the Mets offense this year - I think the Mets numbers will be among the tops in the Majors. It is the pitching that I am more worried about, because if this team morphs into the late ’80’s early ’90’s Yankees we will be a better team than last year, but we will be mediocre at best. We need Maine, Perez, Pelfrey (and whoever the fifth starter will be) to give quality starts and better than average performances. They need to keep the pressure of both the offence and the bullpen as well as Johan, because the last thing we need is a repeat of ‘07 and ‘08 where the starting pitching was barely making it to the sixth inning for most of the season - tiring out the bullpen which totally went nuclear down the stretch , which put added pressure on the offence to score more runs to protect the lead. But I still have faith in this rotation, I do believe they will be above average, and who knows they might even surprise us. But they need to throw strikes and throw strikes consistently .

                                      ” Hopefully Mike can serve up a better season than he did last year !”

And with tht said … HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!

Happy Birthday wishes go out to the original Mets back up first baseman,Ed Bouchee (1933) .

One of the better Mets pitchers from their first four seasons, Galen Cisco is 74 (1936) . In his four year stint with the Mets he went 18-43 with a e.r.a. of 4.04 .

Middle reliever from the the ‘93 - ‘94 seasons, Mauro Gozzo is 44 (1966) .
Future Hall Of Fame second baseman ( and all around malcontent with the Mets) Jeff Kent is 42 (1968) .

Los Angeles Dodgers signed one time “can’t miss”  first base prospect,Craig Brazell of the New York Mets as a free agent on March 7, 2006.
And while you are watching today’s game versus the Washington Nationals on SNY, just remember that there are just 29 Dave Magadan days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.

We have added more T.R.D.M.B. Mets Art for your enjoyment. Just click on the picture of your choice to see it in it’s actual size.

3 Lefties compliments of 660 AM WFAN - New York

“There’s no question that the Phillies are a great team.  They have, I think, arguably one of the best offenses in baseball, they’ve upgraded their starting pitching, and they play like winners.  They play like they expect to win.  So no one ever said it’s going to be easy, but we have to find a way to de-throne those guys… and it’s not just the Phillies.  I think the Braves have made some good additions.  I think the Nationals have had a tremendous offseason with some of the signings they’ve had.  And then you’ve got the Marlins, who go out there and play that loose, dangerous style of baseball.  I think we’re in one of the best divisions in baseball, but I don’t think, by any means, should anybody be counting us out before spring training starts.” -David Wright

And people wonder why this kid is the face of the franchise. David has been putting out the best PR for the Mets this off season and I think he is poised for a big season. Ialso think with a year under their belt playing at Citi, the Mets can now treat this place as a “home field advantage”. I also think pundits and overly pessimistic Met fans truly underestimate the impact a guy like Jason Bay and a returning star like Jose Reyes do to a team. I can understand being jaded from the 09 season but ladies and gents…we have a hellova team for 2010.

As David already said, the improvements made by the other NL east teams have to be taken into consideration as they all have gotten better. That being said, the Mets also have improved and gotten better…even if some of that improvement comes from returning health. In my opinion the biggest improvement of all is the fact that the Mets are no longer the favorites to win anything. I know David and Johan play it down significantly but what has made teams like the Marlins so dangerous is the “underdog” perception.

While your waiting on you turn here at the barbershop, lets get so to some real Mets talk

1. Reyes will have a better season than Jimmy Rollins.

Its all in the hips

2. Johan will throw a no hitter. Hes just got that look man…its on

Reporter: "Who is the best pitcher in the division" Johan: "Santana"

3. Oliver Perez will emerge as our #2 pitcher.

Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink...Ollie agrees

4. Krod will continue to give us gray hairs…but will get the job done. He will finish with over 40 saves and get into a on field brawl…

Iron K for Knockout!

5. David Wright will hit 40 home runs. When you look like this at spring training….

Your Welcome Ladies

Your either getting a gig at Chip & Dales or your going to hit 40 home runs…maybe in David’s case he might do both.

6. Jeff Francoeur will make the difference in getting this team to the offseason. Check this article out to see why.

Why So Serious.....

7.  Murphy will grow out a stache in honor of his mentor and will make another highlight play at 1b

Hey Murph...Nice game pretty boy

8. The Mets will retire Mike Piazza’s number

Time to put the Monster back in its cage...For all time

9. Jerry Manuel will make 1 really shrewd play to win a game

Im praying this one goes better than the Omir from the bullpen move

And last but not least..

10. Citi field will erect a statue in honor of GKR

Because i mean...who wouldn't...They are awesome

So there ya have it, a couple of statements for this upcoming year. Even if half this stuff doesnt comes to pass, it should be a very exciting year…LGM!

Sphere: Related Content

Well there is something in the air in Port St. Lucie - and it was not the smell of Tony Tarasco’s bong pipe! From the media accounts that I have read, Tradition Field was buzzing with positive attitudes and healthy personnel. First off it is great to see that we will have a true front line catcher with the recently signed Rob Barajas. This is not meant to be a slight at Omir Santos, he did a valiant job as the main backstop for the majority of last season, but lets face it he was more than likely playing well over his head, and he will probably be nothing more than a AAAA caliber player. Oliver Perez seems to be a lot more focused than he was last year, and from all reports it show. His control is back and once again there is life on his fastball. Kelvim Escobar even made a appearance although he was only doing some light tossing , he was at least gripping the ball which might mean that the extent of his soreness has been greatly exaggerated. And owner Fred Wilpon came out of his coffin to give his thoughts and views on everything from this past off season ( torturous), the Mets money situation ( they still are loaded) and the Mets medical staff being the best in baseball ( delusional). So I freely admit that I am now extremely excited and can’t wait for the season to start ! By the way single game tickets are to go on sale on March 7th.

                                             ” Lets hope the 2010 Mets  prove the detractors wrong !!”

And now …. ON WITH THE INFAMY !!!!

Today would have been third baseman, Joe Foy’s 67th birthday (1943) . Til this day, Foy has been maligned by many Mets fans because he was traded for future superstar Amos Otis, and for the fact that he was a butcher at third base .He played in 99 games for the Mets during the ‘70 season, hitting .236 with six homers and 37 r.b.i.s. He was left exposed during the ‘70 draft and was picked up by the Washington Senators. It was speculated that Foy had a hardcore drug habit that led to his poor showing as a Met.

Sadly on this date two original Mets passed away, starting pitcher, Vinegar Bend Mizell in 1999 and relief pitcher Sherman Jones in 2007.

New York Mets signed free agent Joe Orsulak on February 21, 1998. This was to have been Joe’s second go round with the Mets, but he didn’t make the team out of spring training and retired soon after.

New York Mets traded pitching prospect Corey Brittan to the Colorado Rockies for Kane Davis on February 21, 2002. Davis was putrid in the half a season that he pitched for the Mets. He went 1-1 with a E.R.A. of 7.07 in sixteen games with the Mets, before being demoted.

And don’t forget - There are just 43 days until the Mets open the 2010 season against the Florida Marlins at Citi Field.