Everyone Needs to Go Every Once in a While...

Couldn't resist taking a picture with this portapotty. I originally thought Kyle Farnsworth was trying to hide from a hitting drill.

February 18th- February 22nd Spring Training Recap

Just got home and had time to type up some thoughts from the 5 days of Spring Training I saw.

1) Do not read too much into 1 week of Spring Training, when there was only 1 day of live batting practice thrown by pitchers (and for 3/4 of those, the hitters weren't even swinging), and other batting practice is being thrown at 40 feet.

2) The Mets players were really accessible all week, doing a great job signing for the fans and interacting with them as much as possible (as you'll see below). If you wanted to, you could have gotten the entire starting line-up.

Granderson is a vibrant personality, and signs for everyone

Ike Davis

Lucas Duda signing right next to Ike

Travis dArnold was great interacting and taking pictures with everyone

D Murphy also signed for everyone, interacting with the kids

3) Frank Viola, who has worked with a lot of the minor league pitchers over the past 3 years (started with the Cyclones in 2011), really works hard, is very informative, and the pitchers listen and respond to him. I'd love to see him as the next pitching coach for the Mets (he'll serve the same role in AAA Las Vegas this year).

4) Based off the one day I was able to see, Anthony Seratelli (Old Bridge, NJ product), is a very similar player to Omar Quintanilla. Nothing flashy, but more times than not, gets the job done. Again, it's very difficult to assess a person's true talent based off of 5 minutes of infield drills.

5) Wilmer Flores bounced back and forth between 2nd base and SS, starting at 2nd base with the back up group of infielders, with assistant GM JP Riccardi, owner Jeff Wilpon, and manager Terry Collins looking on. He didn't show anything bad, but again, very difficult to make a judgment off of 5 minutes of infield.

6) C Puello continued to hit the ball hard during his round of BP, and hopefully he's able to put the biogenesis scandal behind him.

7) Ike Davis, for all the talk that he's "quieted down his swing", still has that huge hitch. He always has, and always will be able to hit BP "fastballs" for home runs, but it really will be visible when he has to try and adjust to off-speed pitches. I prefer L Duda's swing a lot better than Davis right now.

Those are some of the quick hits, if you have any specific questions on players, let me know.

W Flores

Working out at 2nd base on field with minor leaguers for those wondering if he can play SS for the Mets this year...

Pitchers throwing live BP today

Getting ready to warm up.

Frank Viola working with LHP

Worked with young S Matz, now with Lannon and Niese

Happy Matt Harvey cleared to throw Day

First day he's been outside with the pitchers, just warming up. Doubt the common fan will see him throw today, but if that changes, I'll be sure to let you know.

Another beautiful day in port st Lucie!

Terry Collins having fun

Ripping line drive comebackers and one hops to the pitchers.

Spring training recap February 18th

For all who still follow this blog for some reason, you will be rewarded over the next couple days, as I'm down here once again. I didn't take any cell phone pictures today, but will post some throughout the rest of the week. Couple highlights from today, although it was a slow day.

1) Terry Collins is very excited about the potential arms in the bullpen to a couple fans, specifically naming Jeff Walters (Binghamton closer from last year), Farnsworth and Valverde.

2) In regards to Valverde, TC said he called Leyland to ask what was the story with Valverde, and he said Leyland took the blame, saying he overused him.

3) I saw David Wright, Ike Davis, Lucas Duda and Josh Satin take bp, with nothing that impressive to note. The next group was the hard hitting Eric Young Jr., Ruben Tejada, and then Chris Young. Tejada looks slimmer than he did in years past, but still soft hitting. Chris Young did make loud contact, but not sure if that was just because EY and Tejada did nothing.

4) Z Wheeler threw a bullpen which the common fan can't tell results, but his mechanics were free and easy.

5) Bartolo Colon is very wide, but I don't think I'm the only one reporting this.

6) Pitchers were performing PFP's, with nothing too exciting to report.

If you have anything you want to specifically want to be reported about just let me know.

Let's go Mets!

Happy opening day!

I know the blog ceased to exist last year, and not sure how consistent I'll be posting this year, but on the train to citi for one of my favorite days of the year, so I figured I'd say LET'S GO METS!

My official prediction for the Mets wins this year is 70, but it still doesn't take away from the excitement of today.

As far as my overall baseball predictions, here are my division winners: Tampa bay (92-70), Detroit (95-67), Texas (90-72), with angels (89-73) and Toronto (88-74).

Nl: Washington (100-62), Cincinnati (94-68), san Francisco (90-72), with Atlanta (98-64) and st Louis (90-72).

Let's go Mets!!

1/2 Game Out?!!

That was one of the most improbable series sweeps that I can recall, but boy was that fun! It had shades of 2006, especially when all the "fake Phillies fans" would leave early/not even show up to the games.

Let's enjoy this while it lasts Mets fans, and heck, maybe they can make this a very interesting summer. I don't believe it, but I hope I'm wrong!

LETS GO METS!

(and stay out of taxi cabs today in Miami alright guys?)

PS I'll be at the game on Monday when they return home, let's try to get a decent crowd there to show our support of this team/recent success.

Get healthy Mariano

Here is our new sign that was put up yesterday in regards to Mariano Rivera's torn acl.

At Least we didn't lose today...

After a TERRIBLE series, getting swept by the worst team in MLB in my opinion, are the Mets really an above .500 team, or is the beginning of the end?

The Mets can complain about injuries, but every team in baseball suffers from injuries, and the Mets have no depth to be able to handle it, especially pitching.

I'm sticking by my 76 win projection that I had in the pre-season, but hopefully I am wrong and the Mets sweep the Diamondbacks this weekend.

Let's go Mets

Guarantee Mets won't lose today

Here is the sign at work currently... we have it to remember the best part of the season, only half a game out of first place.

M Bautista

Am I the only one sick of seeing him pitch?

Mets are 5-2

Oh, the roller coaster continues! After 2 UGLY losses, I thought this season was going to tumble and end the way our expectations were just 10 days ago before the 4-game winning streak.

But then Jason Bay hits an opposite field home run off of Cliff Lee, Dickey works his magic, and the Mets take the opening game of the series, even pulling into a first place tie for an hour or so while the Nationals and Reds were battling in extra innings.

The roller coaster will probably start it's descent as we lose the next two games, but what if something magical happens...? Then is it "Ya Gotta Believe?"

Let's Go Mets!

Game 4. Put it in the books!

This seemed like a classic August/September 2011 game, Mets fall behind early due to poor pitching by Pelfrey, and I figured the game was over. But then Captain Kirk reels me back in and makes me believe. D Murphy actually played defense and saved the game, then wins it in the 9th after poor Nationals defense. But I'll take it!

Today the most popular question was, "Do you believe?" I kept saying "I wish I didn't know "too much" or pay attention to sabermetrics, because this would be so much more fun when you don't know about small sample size, and just take everything for what it is on the surface. 4-0. But unfortunately I will keep my 76 wins projection, and be the happiest person in the world if I'm wrong by 15 games!

I know a lot of people are talking about taking a trip down the Turnpike on Friday or Saturday if this little run keeps it up; I hope that comes to fruition!

Let's Go Mets!

Picture from yesterday's game

Section 109, row 16. Thanks Rory!

Another happy recap!

I've gone to both games in this young season, and if they happen to lose today,I may be forced to go on Monday:)

It was another crisp, well played game, with Wright CRUSHING the home run opposite field, and Duda's two home runs. I missed Parnell's inning due to trying two boots pizza (it was good, but $6 a slice?!? Come on...)

Let's go for the sweep today, and maybe sole possession of first place! And no, I'm not revising my season win total, but obviously hope I'm completely wrong:)

Let's go Mets!

And the Mets are Tied for 1st Place!

Although it was very quiet on the train ride in, and the majority of parking lots before the game, the stadium filled in nicely, and got very loud on a couple of occasions (Johan final batter, and D Wright's RBI), which was very refreshing.

Couple other observations:
1) The newly minted Party Deck looks great, and a place I'd love to watch the game from (as well as the Mo's Zone)
2) They repeatedly threw breaking ball after breaking ball after breaking ball to Ike Davis; it will be interesting if this is what each team will do (if that's the book on Davis), and how he adjusts to this. I'm not as big of a fan of Ike as a lot of other people, as I don't view him as a complete player (yet), and he may struggle to hit .250 if he faces a plethora of off-speed pitches. Yes, he has tremendous power and could still hit 30 HRs with a .250 batting average, but I just perceive people think he's a .285, 30 home run guy already.
3) The lines for food looked long throughout the game (at least where I was in promenade left field), and heard multiple other people mention this today as well. Most likely this won't be an issue the majority of the year as there won't be 40,000+ people each game.

I will be in attendance for Saturday's afternoon match-up with the Braves as well, so if you have any questions, or any views of the park you want me to feature, let me know. I only took a few pictures today, not my usual 200.

But overall, it was probably my most enjoyable Citi Field opener thus far, and it really is beginning to feel like "home", although nothing like Shea ;)

Opening Day- The Day Everyone has hope!

The Mets are already ahead of the Marlins, so they technically are tied for 1st place! I'm getting ready to be layered in head to toe with Mets gear, and although my expectations are not high for this year (76 wins was my prediction at a wedding a month ago, so I'll stay with that), today is still one of my favorite days of the year!

I love the look and smell of the green grass at Citi, and the excitement in the crowd (hopefully).

I am truly excited to watch Johan compete today, and although I don't expect miracles, I love watching his contagious, leadership and competitor personality.

I look forward to seeing many of you guys at the game today, and now that the season is finally here, expect more regular posts than the off-season, but probably not the multiple posts each day as was the case last year (life is too hectic these days!)

Enjoy the day, and of course, LET'S GO METS!