Mets News

New York Mets declined J.J. Putz's $9.1 million option, make pitcher free agent
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November 7
New York Daily News
 
"The Mets officially declined J.J. Putz's $9.1 million option Friday, making him a free agent. Putz, who underwent surgery during the season to remove a bone spur from his right elbow and suffered a setback when he partially strained a ligament, could sign an incentive-filled deal elsewhere as a closer. Putz's likely departure, coupled with the expected nontendering of outfielder Jeremy Reed, could leave the Mets with only reliever Sean Green remaining from last December's three-team trade in which the Mets parted with seven players. "J.J. is playing catch now and says his arm feels great," agent Craig Landis said. "... He would listen to offers from any team, including the Mets. There ..."
Mets pick up option on Pelfrey
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November 7
New York Post
 
"The Mets picked up the 2010 option on Mike Pelfrey yesterday and officially declined their option on reliever J.J. Putz. Pelfrey's contract expired after this season, but the Mets were able to bring him back for just $500,000 because he is not arbitration-eligible until 2011. Putz was bought out for $1 million because the Mets considered him too much of an injury risk to pick up his $9.1 million option."
Division challenge for 2010 Mets
Comment
November 6
New York Post
 
"As if a Yankees-Phillies World Series wasn't cringe-inducing enough for the Mets, a look ahead to the NL East next season offers little solace. Glancing around the division, it appears the Mets' best hope for 2010 is to sign a power-hitting left fielder, add a quality starting pitcher and cross their fingers that a blizzard of injuries like the one that struck this season can't possibly happen twice. The Mets need all of that to happen because, simply put, the rest of the East is young and loaded. Not only does the entire nucleus of the back-to-back NL champion Phillies return intact, but the Marlins and Braves -- both of whom finished well ahead of the 70-92 Mets this season -- also are ..."
Agent: Mets likely to opt out on Putz
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November 6
New York Post
 
"The Mets have told reliever J.J. Putz that they are likely to decline his $8.6 million option for 2010 and buy him out for $1 million instead, his agent said yesterday. The club cited health concerns in making the long-expected move, pointing to elbow surgery and forearm problems that caused the former All-Star closer to miss the entire second half of his debut season with the Mets. Putz's agent, Craig Landis, told The Post that the right-hander understood the decision and hasn't ruled out returning to the Mets under an incentive-laden deal once free agency begins Nov. 20. Landis said Putz feels healthy and expects to be ready for the start of spring training. If Putz doesn't return, the ..."
Mets to decline Putz's option
Comment
November 5
New York Post
 
"The Mets have told reliever J.J. Putz that they plan to decline his $8.6 million option for 2010 and buy him out for $1 million instead. The club cited health concerns in making the long-expected move, pointing to elbow surgery and forearm problems that caused the former All-Star closer to miss the entire second half of his debut season with the Mets. Putz's agent, Craig Landis , said Putz understood the likely decision and hasn't ruled out returning to the Mets with a cheaper, incentive-laden deal once free agency begins Nov. 20. Landis said Putz feels healthy and expects to be ready for the start of spring training. If Putz doesn't return, the Mets will have little to show for the ..."
Mets prospect Ike Davis shines in Arizona Fall League
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November 3
Newark Star-Ledger
 
"Mets prospect Ike Davis was named to the Arizona Fall League Rising Star Game this week. Davis, a 22-year-old first baseman, is hitting .340 (17 for 50) with three home runs, a .370 on-base percentage and a .640 slugging percentage in 12 games with the Surprise Rafters."
Thumb surgery for Francoeur
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November 3
New York Post
 
"Mets right fielder Jeff Francoeur yesterday had the long-planned surgery to repair a torn collateral ligament in his left thumb, an injury he suffered making a diving catch Aug. 23 in Philadelphia. The surgery was performed in Atlanta, Francoeur's hometown, and the Mets say he is expected to be fully recovered in time for the start of spring training. Francoeur played the final six weeks with the injury, and it didn't hold him back. He hit .319 with 12 doubles, four homers and 17 RBIs in 36 games after tearing the ligament."
Chip Hale likely in as New York Mets third base coach after holding same title with Diamondbacks
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October 29
New York Daily News
 
"Chip Hale is expected to be named the Mets' new third base coach after the World Series. Hale, 44, spent the past three seasons in that role with the Diamondbacks after six years in that organization as a minor-league manager. The other finalist had been former Phillies third base coach Steve Smith. While the indications have been that the hiring of a third base coach would round out Jerry Manuel's 2010 staff - with Razor Shines moving from third base to bench coach and Sandy Alomar Jr. going from catching instructor to first base - that may not necessarily be the case."
Mets not interested in Lackey or Bradley; Holliday tops their list
Comment
October 26
SI.com
 (scroll down)
"The Mets don't seem inclined to pursue top free-agent pitcher John Lackey, who will surely shoot for a $100 million-plus contract in light of A.J. Burnett's $82.5 million deal. They do want to add a solid starting pitcher (they may try a do-over on Randy Wolf), but their big-ticket target is most likely going to be a left fielder. Matt Holliday is believed to top their list, though Jason Bay will certainly suffice. Bobby Abreu is another top free-agent outfielder, while Carl Crawford could be available in trade. The Mets have no interest in taking on Milton Bradley's problems."
Heart attack kills Mets prospect, 18
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October 26
New York Post
 
"More turmoil struck the Mets' Latin America farm system Friday when 18-year-old pitcher Rafael Castro died in Venezuela of what the club said was an apparent heart attack. Castro, a native of Colombia, had recently completed his second season for the Mets' Venezuelan summer-league team. His death follows the suspension by Major League Baseball this year of at least two players in the Mets' Latin America program for testing positive for the use of performance-enhancing drugs."
Mets Await Results of Autopsy on Prospect
Comment
October 26
New York Times
 
"The Mets are awaiting autopsy results on Rafael Castro, an 18-year-old minor league pitcher for the team who died Friday night, apparently of a heart attack. According to a Major League Baseball official, Castro collapsed and died after complaining that he did not feel well while working out at the Mets' facility in Carabobo, Venezuela. Authorities there will conduct an autopsy to confirm the cause of death, and results are expected in about a week. It is not uncommon for young players to be working out at a team facility in the off-season."
Mets meet Cuban defector, 100-mph hurler Aroldis Chapman
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October 24
New York Daily News
 
"Cuban defector Aroldis Chapman met the Mets at Citi Field Friday as part of his tour with agent Edwin Mejia to find a team for the 21-year-old lefthander. Chapman, whose fastball reportedly registers 100 mph, arrived in New York this week after establishing residency in Andorra , a European nation bordered by France and Spain , to avoid being subject to the draft. The Yankees have been tight-lipped about their interest in Chapman, but are thought to be more serious suitors than the Mets, and will meet with him this weekend before he talks with the Red Sox next week. It's unclear what type of contract Chapman will command as a free agent, but the interest of several ..."
La Russa will have options, if he wants them
Comment
October 22
Foxsports.com
 columnist Ken Rosenthal
"A year from now, four marquee franchises — the Braves, Cubs, Mets and Dodgers — all could have managerial openings. Tony La Russa isn't likely to be interested. Bobby Valentine might be. La Russa, 65, currently is deciding whether he wants to return to the Cardinals. He does not sound enthused about starting over with another club. If La Russa manages next season, it will be with the Cardinals. And even if he signs only a one-year contract, he probably would be unwilling to accept a multi-year deal with another club next winter. "Looking ahead, I don't see that I can ever make that commitment to someone," La Russa said Wednesday in a telephone interview. "The way I look at it now, when ..."
Cuban star could be meeting with Yanks, Mets
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October 22
New York Post
 
"Aroldis Chapman, the 21-year-old flame-throwing Cuban left-hander who defected during the summer, arrived in New York yesterday and is expected to meet with several teams over the next week. The Mets, Yankees and Red Sox are among the teams expected to have interest in signing him. Chapman, who established residency in Andorra after defecting while playing in the World Port Tournament in The Netherlands in July, was declared a free agent last month. He should find himself in a similar situation to that of Jose Contreras, who became the subject of a fierce bidding war between the Yankees and Red Sox back in 2002. Contreras wound up with a four-year, $32 million contract from the Yankees ..."
Two Accounts That Mets Had With Madoff Made Gains, Filing Shows
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October 22
New York Times
 
"The Mets and their owners, the Wilpon family, may be in better financial shape than has been assumed. That is one conclusion being drawn from a filing released Friday by the United States Bankruptcy Court in Manhattan, which is sorting through accounts in Bernard Madoff's company. The report shows that Mets LP, one of the team's financial arms, withdrew $570.5 million from two accounts it held with Madoff's company, $47.8 million more than it put in. The accounts were part of a list of more than 30 in which more money was withdrawn than was deposited with Bernard L. Madoff Investment Securities. As a result, Mets LP and the others were deemed "net winners" ineligible for compensation and ..."
Mets owner Wilpon liable for Madoff million$
Comment
October 21
New York Post
 
"Talk about getting caught in a jam. After watching his team go down to defeat this season, Mets owner Fred Wilpon now faces potential "clawback" suits for raking in nearly $50 million in phony profits from Bernard Madoff's $65 billion Ponzi scheme. The "Mets Limited Partnership" appears twice on a new list of 31 investors who took home more money from Madoff than they handed over to the mega scammer. According to the chart compiled by Madoff bankruptcy trustee Irving Picard, the company -- reportedly linked to Wilpon through state incorporation records -- withdrew $570.5 million after investing $522.7 million in two separate Madoff accounts. A spokesman for Picard didn't return a request ..."
Mets should look to AL for No. 2 starter
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October 18
New York Post
 columnist Joel Sherman
"I continue to believe the Mets have the wrong offseason plan. They have discussed making a big splash, which translates to obtaining the kind of star that ownership thinks will motivate Mets fans to buy 2010 tickets. The success of the 2010 Mets revolves around if Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, David Wright, Francisco Rodriguez and Johan Santana are healthy and playing at a high level. If so, then all the Mets need to do this offseason is augment better around their players than in the recent past, and that team is a contender. If those players are not healthy and/or do not produce, then even if the Mets, say, sign Matt Holliday, all they are doing is adding Holliday's years and dollars to a ..."
Amazin' Met Ron Swoboda writes about his 'catch' of a lifetime in '69 Series
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October 18
New York Daily News
 
"In Game Four of the 1969 World Series, the Mets were leading the Baltimore Orioles 1-0. Our ace, Tom Seaver, had been brilliant all day, but late in the afternoon, with long autumn shadows gathering on the grass at Shea Stadium, trouble was brewing. With one out, the Orioles had runners at the corners, while out in right field I'm wondering if the worm was turning. Our 2-1 series lead over the O's was teetering at the tipping point. A glorious moment, really, if it wasn't so frightening. You are poised, locked in the moment, reflexes on edge, the product of thousands of line drives and ground balls off the fungo bat of your coach, Eddie Yost. All of it work you put in so that manager, Gil ..."
Wagner isn't retiring, agent says
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October 16
New York Post
 
"Billy Wagner is back in baseball before he really ever went anywhere. The lefty's agent issued a statement yesterday saying Wagner intends to pitch in 2010 -- despite Wagner telling The Post on Monday he was eyeing retirement. Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, wrote in a text message that Wagner has "every intention of playing" next year. Stringfellow indicated to several media outlets that Wagner was venting -- frustrated after the Red Sox elimination from the postseason -- when he spoke to The Post. On Monday, Wagner responded to a question about where he might pitch next season by saying, "I don't plan on talking to nobody.""
Wags is not gonna retire, agent says
Comment
October 15
New York Post
 
"Billy Wagner is back in baseball before he really ever went anywhere. The lefty's agent issued a statement yesterday saying Wagner intends to pitch in 2010 -- despite Wagner telling The Post on Monday he was eyeing retirement. Wagner's agent, Bean Stringfellow, wrote in a text message that Wagner has "every intention of playing" next year. Stringfellow indicated to several media outlets that Wagner was venting -- frustrated after the Red Sox elimination from the postseason -- when he spoke to The Post. On Monday, Wagner responded to a question about where he might pitch next season by saying, "I don't plan on talking to nobody." Asked if that meant retirement, he responded: "Why wouldn't ..."
Reyes set for surgery today
Comment
October 15
New York Post
 
"Jose Reyes finally set a date for long-overdue surgery on his torn right hamstring tendon, scheduling the procedure for today in Dallas. The Mets announced the day after the regular season ended that Reyes finally would have the surgery, which if done when the shortstop originally injured his hamstring in May likely would have allowed him to return later in the season. The surgery to remove scar tissue on the tendon, which is being performed Cowboys' team physician Daniel Cooper on the recommendation of the Mets' doctors, should enable Reyes to return in time for the start of spring training."
Mets' Reyes to Have Surgery
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October 15
New York Times
 
"Jose Reyes will have surgery Thursday in Dallas to clean out scar tissue from his torn right hamstring tendon, the Mets said. Although they did not issue a timetable for Reyes's recovery, the Mets expect that Reyes will begin baseball-related activities around January and that he will be at full strength by spring training."
Hard-throwing Jenrry Mejia emerges as New York Mets top pitching prospect
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October 14
New York Daily News
 
"Jenrry Mejia felt ill and stiff the day he auditioned for the Mets at their old Dominican Republic complex in Boca de Nigua two years ago. "I don't know how I can throw today. I think I'll throw maybe 86 (mph) because I feel tight," he told the adviser who brought him to the tryout. The man recommended Mejia not get on the mound, but Mejia persisted. "I said, 'I'm here. I'm throwing. I don't care,'" Mejia recalled. "I didn't stretch. Nothing. I threw in the game, I think, 91 or 92." International operations director Ismael Cruz signed Mejia - who had drawn interest from Boston, Cincinnati, Florida, Kansas City and Texas - on the spot. For a bargain price of $16,500, no less. Now, Mejia ..."
Ex-Met Wagner eyes retirement, not 400th career save
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October 13
New York Post
 
"Billy Wagner may have thrown his last pitch in the major leagues. The former Mets pitcher told The Post yesterday he's planning to retire rather than pursue a closer's job -- and 400 career saves -- next season. Wagner allowed two runs in two-thirds of an inning for the Red Sox on Sunday in Game 3 of the ALDS before closer Jonathan Papelbon surrendered three runs in the ninth. The Red Sox season ended with a 7-6 loss to the Angels. "I don't plan on talking to nobody," Wagner said, when asked where he might pitch next season. Does that mean retirement? "Why wouldn't I?" he said. "I've got nothing else to [accomplish]." That's a different picture than Wagner painted before leaving the Mets ..."
Dodgers and Mets Clash Over Reyes's Diagnosis
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October 11
New York Times
 
"The fallout from Jose Reyes's continuing hamstring problems has created a rift between the Mets and the Los Angeles Dodgers, whose team doctor initially examined the injured Reyes in May while the Mets were playing on the West Coast. At a season-ending news conference last week, Jeff Wilpon, the Mets' chief operating officer, indicated that a Dodgers doctor had mistakenly concluded that Reyes had sustained a calf injury and that it was only after Reyes returned to New York that Mets physicians were able to diagnose the problem as a partial tear to a hamstring tendon. Wilpon made his statement as he was discussing the onslaught of injuries the Mets sustained this season. He said one problem ..."
Carlos Gomez ready to battle Yankees in ALDS, feels 'sorry' for former Mets teammates
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October 9
New York Daily News
 
"Back in February of 2008 as the Mets proudly introduced Johan Santana as their new ace, nobody thought that the young outfielder the team had traded away in return for the two-time Cy Young winner would be chugging celebratory champagne before Santana and the Mets ever got another taste of the playoffs. But there was Carlos Gomez Tuesday night, after scoring the winning run in the American League Central tiebreaker game for the Twins, standing on top of a table taking swigs of champagne and soaking in the celebration of his first playoffs. Less than a day later and back in the city to face the Yankees, Gomez sympathized with his former team. "I am sorry for the Mets," said Gomez. "I am ..."
Angels' ace John Lackey should hear pitch from Mets
Comment
October 9
New York Daily News
 
"He has had a big-game reputation since he won Game 7 of the 2002 World Series as a 24-year-old rookie, yet John Lackey hadn't won a postseason start since that magical night. And last October he had raised eyebrows in his own clubhouse by complaining about a lack of offense after losing to the Red Sox. Suffice to say he has restored his reputation. On a night when the Angels needed someone to simply refuse to lose to the Red Sox and send a message that the past is the past, Lackey proved his worth in more ways than one. In one way, by throwing 7-1/3 shutout innings, he may well have set exactly the tone the Angels need to finally play their way past the Red Sox in the postseason. In ..."
Mets spare Razor ax in shakeup
Comment
October 7
New York Post
 
"You wouldn't know it from the changes Jerry Manuel made to his coaching staff yesterday, but the Mets lost 92 games this season. That depressing fact seemed to escape Manuel as he announced just two firings and the puzzling decision to include third-base coach Razor Shines among a surprisingly large number of holdovers. Getting the axe were bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr. and first-base coach Luis Alicea, while pitching coach Dan Warthen, hitting coach Howard Johnson and bullpen coach Randy Niemann are receiving one-year contracts to return in their current positions after the Mets' fourth-place finish. Shines and catching instructor Sandy Alomar Jr. also are coming back, but in different ..."
Ex-Mets catcher Mike Piazza says Alcor mistreatment of Ted Williams is 'crazy'
Comment
October 7
New York Daily News
 
"Five years after Mike Piazza reached out to Ted Williams' oldest daughter, Bobby-Jo Ferrell, offering to help Ferrell and her husband Mark with their legal fight over the remains of the Hall of Fame Red Sox, the former Mets catcher is still stunned by how Williams' remains are being treated. "It's crazy. Just bizarre," Piazza said Tuesday night, referring to the upcoming release of "Frozen," written by former Alcor COO Larry Johnson. The Daily News first reported on the book's revelations, including the decapitation and abuse of Williams' head. "I just cannot believe the greatest hitter of all time, that his head is in a frozen cryogenic state." Ferrell was in a contentious battle with ..."
The Spirits of Coogan's Bluff Haunt the Mets
Comment
October 7
New York Times
 
"Going north on Harlem River Drive the other evening, I was in bumper-to-bumper traffic when I felt my car pulling to the left. I turned off the 155th Street exit and parked near the high-rise apartments where the Polo Grounds used to be. Sure enough, my left front tire was almost flat. I phoned AAA, but as soon as I clicked off, I heard these voices. "We've been waiting for you," the first voice said. "We know you'll understand," the second voice said. I looked around, but nobody was there. "Understand what?" "Why the Mets were so bad this season." "How would you know why?" I said. "And who are you?" "We're the ghosts of the Polo Grounds," the first voice said. "Remember the Curse of the ..."
A winter of discontent for Mets as Jerry Manuel, Omar Minaya are on hot seat
Comment
October 6
New York Daily News
 columnist Filip Bondy
"There is nothing more disconcerting in baseball than a club coming off a lousy season, heading into the offseason with a lame-duck manager and general manager as its front men. Yet that is what the Mets have become this autumn. They are a team balanced on a tightrope, one eye on an hourglass. If the Mets don't win enough games early next spring, then the talk in the clubhouse, the questions from the media, will immediately devolve into a series of discussions about the tenuous job security of Jerry Manuel and Omar Minaya. "It becomes somewhat of a diversion," Manuel said Monday, after announcing a few coaching changes mostly meant to direct runners around the bases without all the drama. ..."
SNY's Keith Hernandez airs dirty laundry of contract negotiations during finale
Comment
October 6
New York Daily News
 columnist Bob Raissman
"Is the four-year SportsNet New York partnership of Gary Cohen, Ron Darling, and Keith Hernandez over? Was their Sunday call of Nelson Figueroa's 4-0 shutout of Houston, in the Mets' season finale, the trio's final performance together? Following the game, on the air and in no uncertain terms, Hernandez raised that very possibility. Cohen had just finished talking about how well they've worked together and Darling thanked fans for sticking with them during a season of Mets injuries and abysmal play. It was then that Hernandez steered off course, dropping a bombshell. "I've enjoyed the four years and, hopefully, I'm in the middle of negotiating my new contract, hopefully, I'll be back (next ..."
Mets spare Razor ax in shakeup
Comment
October 6
New York Post
 
"You wouldn't know it from the changes Jerry Manuel made to his coaching staff yesterday, but the Mets lost 92 games this season. That depressing fact seemed to escape Manuel as he announced just two firings and the puzzling decision to include third-base coach Razor Shines among a surprisingly large number of holdovers. Getting the axe were bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr. and first-base coach Luis Alicea, while pitching coach Dan Warthen, hitting coach Howard Johnson and bullpen coach Randy Niemann are receiving one-year contracts to return in their current positions after the Mets' fourth-place finish. Shines and catching instructor Sandy Alomar Jr. also are coming back, but in different ..."
Mets Begin Off-Season With Shake-Up of Coaching Staff
Comment
October 6
New York Times
 
"Acknowledging that their season was a disaster and promising that significant changes were forthcoming, the Mets nevertheless began their off-season on Monday with a series of relatively minor moves. They reassigned Razor Shines, their third-base coach, to an undetermined position on the coaching staff; removed Sandy Alomar Sr. as the bench coach, although he may remain with the organization; and dismissed Luis Alicea, their first-base coach. For now, the grounds crew and the ushers appear to be safe. Jeff Wilpon, the Mets' chief operating officer, apologized to the fans for the team's 70-92 record, said the team's many injuries were not a satisfactory excuse and made it clear that General ..."
Mets manager Jerry Manuel explains changes to coaching staff
Comment
October 5
Trenton Times
 
"Mets manager Jerry Manuel spoke to reporters for just over 22 minutes Monday morning at Citi Field. And he spent almost all that time explaining the changes to the coaching staff that were made -- and the ones that weren't made -- for 2010. He cited the Mets' poor baserunning as reasons for the firing of first-base coach Luis Alicea and the reassignment of third-base coach Razor Shines, who will likely be either the bench coach or first-base coach next year. And he pointed to the Mets' poor defense as the reason behind firing bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr., who was also the infield coach. Pitching coach Dan Warthen came under scrutiny because of the team's 616 walks, the second most in the ..."
Mets COO Jeff Wilpon says Omar Minaya and Jerry Manuel deserve another chance
Comment
October 5
Trenton Times
 
"Mets COO Jeff Wilpon called this season "totally unacceptable" but said general manager Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel deserve another shot to win in 2010. Standing beside Minaya in a news conference at Citi Field, Wilpon said the Mets will be changing their "medical protocols" after the team was widely criticized for its handling of injuries this year. Wilpon declined to specify what those changes will be, but said the Mets will not make any changes to its medical and training staff. Wilpon said much of the problem was related to the "poor job" of communicating with the public about injuries -- which Wilpon took responsibility for -- and said he would oversee the "improvement in ..."
Mets make changes to coaching staff
Comment
October 5
MLB.com
 
"Two coaches are the first men to be affected by the Mets' poor showing in 2009. Sandy Alomar Sr., who had served as first-base coach, third-base coach, and more recently, bench coach beginning in 2005, was removed from the Major League staff, but was to be offered a position in the organization. Luis Alicea, the first-base coach in 2009, will not return in any capacity.As expected, the respective batting and pitching coaches, Howard Johnson and Dan Warthen, will return, as will bullpen coach Randy Niemann. Razor Shines, whose performance as third-base coach was an issue at times, and catching instructor Sandy Alomar Jr. will also be back on the staff in yet-to-be-determined roles.The club ..."
After dismal 2009, Mets' healing can finally begin; coaches face ax Monday
Comment
October 5
New York Daily News
 columnist Filip Bondy
"The Mets will sacrifice two or three coaches, begin their quest to sign a second-tier, bargain-rate pitcher and hope that by January nobody remembers they finished 22 games under .500. In the meantime, we get to celebrate the end of the 2009 season. Crack open a Bud, official beer of the center-field scoreboard that resides so far, far away. It is only by sheer miracle that we made it all the way through this season and are still sitting here, writing and talking about this. We are a study in courage at Citi Field. Congratulations to us. Throughout this ordeal, we persevered while the Mets tore hamstrings or got conked on the head or went loony over the firing of a player development ..."
Mets finish weak season on strong note as players say goodbye
Comment
October 5
New York Daily News
 
"This time there were no stunned or angry faces after the final Mets game of the season. After Sunday's game, moving boxes were taped together and filled with gloves, T-shirts, baseballs and cleats. Players who are unlikely to be back next season, like catcher Brian Schneider, said their goodbyes around the room and made sure that their cell phones were up to date with their teammates' numbers. "A failed opportunity," David Wright called the season. "If you don't go to the postseason, it doesn't matter for what reason, it's a non-successful season. It's tough to compare them all. They have all been under different circumstances, but this has been tough." For the first time in three years, ..."
Mets fire first-base coach Luis Alicea, bench coach Sandy Alomar Sr.
Comment
October 5
Trenton Times
 
"The Mets announced changes to their coaching staff for 2010 on Monday, but not the ones most people were expecting. The Mets fired first-base coach Luis Alicea and removed Sandy Alomar Sr. as bench coach. Alomar Sr. will be offered another position in the organization. Pitching coach Dan Warthen and third-base coach Razor Shines -- whose jobs appeared to be in the most jeopardy -- will both be back, although Shines will not be the third-base coach. He will be back in a different role, possibly replacing Alomar Sr. as bench coach."
Minaya might hire fired GMs
Comment
October 5
New York Post
 columnist Joel Sherman
"Omar Minaya reached out to Kevin Towers and J.P. Ricciardi over the weekend to express his support after the two were fired as general managers and also to lay the groundwork to speak to both soon about possible jobs in the Mets' organization, The Post has learned. Minaya views both as friends whose strength as talent evaluators would be assets at a time when the Mets are trying to improve both their roster and the process by which they judge players. It is an intriguing and potentially nervy move by Minaya. Towers with San Diego and Ricciardi in Toronto were long-serving GMs before being dismissed. If one or both come to the Mets, they would be arriving at a time when Minaya is not in ..."
Forget injuries: Culture of entitlement must change
Comment
October 5
New York Post
 columnist Kevin Kernan
"THIS was the perfect day for the imperfect baseball team. The sun was shining at Citi Field. The play was crisp. In so many ways it was the perfect tease ending to the Mets' season. The 2009 disaster officially came to a close at 3:35 p.m., when Carlos Lee flied out to left fielder Angel Pagan. But it really ended months ago. The Mets could never rebound from a series of injuries and organizational flaws. Don't believe for one second this 4-0 victory over the comatose Astros and final series sweep is anything the Mets can build on for 2010. The Mets' biggest problem is that they think they are better than they really are. They are not in touch with baseball reality. You might call them ..."
Met mess over; coaches doomed?
Comment
October 5
New York Post
 
"Hallelujah, it's all over. If ever there was reason to open champagne bottles and celebrate the conclusion of a lost season, this was it. But these being the Mets, somebody probably would have gotten hit in the eye with a cork and sent to the Hospital for Special Surgery. The Mets settled for handshakes, backslaps and hugs inside the home clubhouse as many prepared to depart Citi Field for the final time in 2009 following a 4-0 victory over the Astros in the season finale. "We've got to be very productive this offseason in determining the direction that we're headed," manager Jerry Manuel said. "We feel we have the players coming back. Health is a big issue and there are some things I ..."
Figueroa throws first complete game as Mets cap miserable season
Comment
October 5
New York Daily News
 
"For the first time in three years, the Mets received a dominating pitching performance on the regular season's final day. Of course, after crushing defeats to the Marlins in Game No. 162 in 2007 and '08, Nelson Figueroa's first career complete game and a 4-0 victory to complete a sweep of the Astros Sunday didn't exactly heal any wounds. The injury-laden Mets, who are expected to retain GM Omar Minaya and manager Jerry Manuel but announce coaching staff dismissals today, finished the season at 70-92, in fourth place in the National League East. "We weren't expecting this coming out of spring training," Carlos Beltran said. The season attendance finished at 3,154,262 - down 22% from the ..."
After Quiet Finish, Mets Are Planning for Busy Off-Season
Comment
October 5
New York Times
 
"The video room was empty. So was the indoor batting cage. Inside the Mets' clubhouse on Sunday, Ken Takahashi was asking Pat Misch and Elmer Dessens to autograph his glove. Nick Evans was showing off a photograph capturing perhaps his most memorable moment of the season - when he met his comedic idol, Jerry Seinfeld, at Citi Field. "It's up there," Evans said. The morning before the Mets' final game of the regular season, a 4-0 victory against the Houston Astros, did not feature the same energy and anticipation as, say, those of the last two years. Officially out of playoff contention for three weeks - unofficially, for three months - the Mets cleaned out their lockers and sealed boxes ..."
Sitting Wright is mistake in a season full of 'em
Comment
October 4
New York Post
 columnist Kevin Kernan
"Solace and pity. That's the world Mets fans live in these days. Two general managers -- Toronto's J.P. Ricciardi and San Diego's Kevin Towers -- were fired yesterday, but Mets' GM Omar Minaya still has his job. The Blue Jays and the Padres have better records than the Mets, but Minaya has the injury excuse and the Mets have used that as the reason for their many failures. There are no excuses. The Mets are a bad ballclub with terrible fundamentals throughout the organization, combined with a total lack of mental toughness. The Mets beat the Astros 5-1 yesterday in a rain-delayed affair in this Stephen King season because they found an opponent that has less of a clue than they do. The ..."
Wright looking forward to 2010
Comment
October 4
New York Post
 
"It was fitting that yesterday's 5-1 win over Houston, the penultimate game of the Mets' sorry season suffered through a rain delay: The entire injury-riddled campaign has been like water torture that just wouldn't end. That is until today's merciful coupe de grace. It's clear they can't wait for 2009 to end, and none are likely to be happier to see today's finale than David Wright, conspicuously being rested -- and babied -- yesterday by manager Jerry Manuel. "[I'll feel] excited to try and get it over with, start focusing on next year," Wright said. "You want to finish on a strong note. Hopefully we can go out and end the season with a good taste in our mouths." Manuel is determined to ..."
Misch a hit once again
Comment
October 4
New York Post
 
"The diehards who waited out yesterday's Citi Field rain delay were rewarded. As play resumed at 5:19 p.m. -- following a delay of 2 hours, 20 minutes before the top of the sixth inning - the few thousand remaining fans were allowed to sit in the box seats behind both dugouts. And then the Mets completed a 5-1 victory over the Astros. Here's a modest goal for the Mets: Win today's season finale and reach the 70-victory mark for the season and finish the home slate over .500 at 41-40. One Mets pitcher, at least, is peaking just as the season concludes. Pat Misch gave the Mets a second straight strong start, allowing a run over five innings. This came after the right-hander fired a ..."