Mets Fans Forever

Reyes to have Surgery

Author: Drew Costello

The Mets announced today that Jose Reyes will have surgery on his leg to repair the scar tissue around the accessory hamstring tendon in his right leg. Reyes should be ready for spring training. Reyes will not have surgery on the separate hamstring tear in his right leg that took place when Reyes ran the bases in September. Dallas Cowboys team Dr. Daniel E. Cooper will perform the surgery.

Jerry Juggles the Coaching Staff

Author: Drew Costello

Jerry Manuel announced in a press conference this afternoon changes for his coaching staff for 2010. Luis Alicea and Sandy Alomar Sr. were relieved from their duties. Manuel cited the team's poor defensive play for the reason they were let go. The other announcement was that Razor Shines will no longer be the team's third base coach. Shines will be reassigned on the coaching staff. Shines removal was due to the team's poor baserunning during the season according to Manuel.

Someone had to take the fall for the team's poor play this season and it seems that Alicea, and Alomar Sr. were the scape goats. This will surely mean that Manuel will be on the hot seat next season if he can't get it done. I fail to see how it was only the coaches fault for the the poor play. Manuel has to take some of the blame here and next season if the trend continues he will not last very long.

Santana Out for the Season due to Elbow Surgery

Author: Drew Costello

Mets fans can all breathe a sigh of relief this afternoon. Johan Santana is out for the season having surgery on his left elbow, but it is not Tommy John Surgery. Johan will have minor surgery to clean up chips in his elbow and should be more than ready for the start of the 2010 season.

I'm not really sure why they didn't look into this when Johan was complaining about it in April. He hasn't been the same pitcher he was last year for most of the season and this is a good reason why. Whoever is running the team next year needs to monitor the issue and make sure we protect what is our most valuable asset.

Mets looking to add lefty reliever?

Author: Drew Costello

Jon Heyman of SI.com has tweeted that the Mets have been looking for a left handed reliever to compliment Pedro Feliciano. The targets are said to be Blue Jays LHP Scott Downs, Nationals LHP Joe Beimel, and Pirates LHP John Grabow.

This doesn't make a ton of sense to me. I understand that the Mets could use another relief pitcher, but they were getting shut out most of the month of July and are in desperate need of a bat. I understand Omar doesn't want to trade prospects, but I have to believe there is a lower end guy like a Russell Branyan that can help the Mets out much more than any of those relief pitchers can right now.

Castillo Leads the Resurgence

Author: Drew Costello

Last night on SNY's broadcast of the game, they showed that Luis Castillo is hitting over .400 in the month of July. Castillo also is hitting over .360 since dropping the famous pop up. He has done most of this from the 2-hole. Howard Johnson has worked with castillo at being more aggresive. Instead of taking a lot of fastballs down the middle he is not taking that pitch and getting solid singles and doubles.

It is time to give credit where credit is due. Castillo has been a punching bag for many fans for the past year and has had quite the bounce back year. The most impressive thing for me was that even after he dropped the pop up, he stood by his locker and took questions. A lot of other guys in the league would have left the clubhouse long before the media was allowed access.

Castillo's hits have given David Wright the chance to get at bats with runners in scoring position. The combination of Castillo being on base, and Francoeur hitting behind him, has allowed David to be pitched to with runners on base. Keep it up Luis you've become a valuable member of this baseball team.

Mets Reject Halladay Deal?

 Author: Drew Costello

It was reported yesterday that Omar Minaya turned down a deal for Blue Jay's ace Roy Halladay. The deal would have sent Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, andRuben Tejada. Minaya confirmed that the team will be buyers, but it seems as if he is only willing to do a deal if the player is the right fit. This likely means the Mets will not be trading for any rentals and that there will be no blockbuster deal at the deadline.

I know most people would have done the trade, but I am of the opinion that it is time for Omar to build for the future like he promised. We have a nice core of 4 or 5 players in the minors that could be solid major leaguers. It is time for us to start fixing holes from within instead of on the free agency market.

Update by Will Sommer:

Numerous baseball writers including Joel Sherman and Keith Law said Jon Heyman's report is false and that the Mets are not serious in acquiring Halladay.

Brad Holt, Nelson Figueroa Receive Weekly Awards

Author: Drew Costello

Brad Holt was named Eastern League (AA) pitcher of the week. Holt went 2-0 with a 1.32 ERA for the week. Holt is 2-3 with a 5.02 ERA since being promoted to AA. However, hitters are just hitting .216 against the young right hander and this past week shows that he is making great improvements.

It's clear that Holt and Mejia are the Mets best two pitching prospects (Jon Niese having stints with the Mets takes him out of this category). A year from now with the draft picks from last year along with Flores, The Mets may get more respect around the league when it comes to their farm system.

Nelson Figueroa was named International League Pitcher of the week, going 1-0 and lowering his ERA to 2.36. It is the second time Figueroa has received the award having won itfor the week of June 8-14.

I still don't understand why management won't give him another shot. He pitched very well against the Brewers in his one start and is simply dominating AAA. It might be that he is the prototypical AAAA player that dominates the minors but can not make it in the Major Leagues.

Follow me on twitter or email me at drewcostello@gmail.com

NIce Article about the '69 Mets in SI this week

Author: Clare Lafferty

There was a nice article in this weeks's SI about the 40th anniversary of our Miracle Mets. It gave an update about what a lot of the players and coaches are now up to. It was a nice spread with some pictures and warm memories of that great team. After all that has been said and written about the Mets lately, it was nice to read something positive. Even Tom Seaver and Nolan Ryan are on the cover! Boy, wouldn't it be nice to have pitchers like that today!

David Wright, Gary Sheffield Get The Day Off Wednesday

The Mets have lost five games in row, they have lost 3/4 of their "core" and the manager continues to mismanage this team right out of contention.  For Thursday's game Jerry Manuel has decided to give both Gary Sheffield and David Wright the day off.  In last nights game the combination of Wright and Sheffield had 4 of the Mets 9 hits.  Wright knocked in 2 of the Mets 3 runs with a 2 run home run, his first in 3 weeks.  Now tomorrow the rest of the lineup, a lineup that we know cannot hit worth a lick will try and avoid yet another sweep.

I know Wright is not a machine and needs a day off once in a while during a 162 game season.  I also know that Gary Sheffield is 40 years old, his knees are aching and cannot play everyday.  My question is why are the two of the better hitters on the team getting a day off on the same day?  With these two players in the lineup this team cannot win a game.  It makes absolutely no sense.  Why not give Gary Sheffield off Wednesday, since it will be a day game after a night game and then give David the day off against Pittsburgh on Thursday? 

Jerry Manuel continues to make baffling decisions with this team while they are suffering.  This is not the first time this season that Jerry has pretty much given the game to the opposing team.  Coming into Spring Training Jerry promised that every game was going to be played as must win, unfortunately Jerry has gone against that promise.