The Mets have twelve players that are either free agents or arbitration eligible this offseason. Let’s take a look at each and see if it makes sense to have them back in 2012: Jose Reyes (free agent) - no brainer, sort of. Losing Reyes will change the dynamic of the Mets in a way they won’t be [...]

Mark Simon of ESPN NY tells us how last night’s Mets starter R.A. Dickey is “21-for-91 since joining the Mets in 2010, good for a .231 batting average. He also has 14 sacrifices.” This article got me wondering who the best all-time hitting pitchers are. We all know the best hitting pitcher of all-time was Babe Ruth. To [...]

I talked about the market for Carlos Beltran earlier this morning, but there is another Mets player that I think might be desirable to contenders: Mike Pelfrey. After losing to the Phillies on Sunday afternoon Mike Pelfrey is 5-9 with a 4.67 ERA. After making so much progress with his splitter last season it appeared [...]

Jason Isringhausen might be the next Mets closer now that K-Rod is in Milwaukee. Lets take a minute to get to know him. FULL NAME: Jason Derik Isringhausen HEIGHT, WEIGHT:  6-3, 230 BORN: September 7, 1972 in Brighton, IL MAJOR LEAGUE DEBUT: July 17, 2005 against the Chicago Cubs NICKNAME: My teammates call me “Izzy” [...]

Now that Francisco Rodriguez is in Milwaukee the Mets are in need of a closer. Bobby Parnell and his 100 mph fastball appear to be the most obvious choice, but I wouldn’t be so quick to bestow the ninth inning on the inconsistent righty. Parnell has been tremendous since returning from the disabled list in late May (1.56 ERA). [...]

It’s always a good sign when you have too many options, which is the case for Terry Collins as there are nine potential candidates for seven spots in his bullpen. To date, K-Rod, Bobby Parnell, Tim Byrdak, D.J. Carrasco, and Taylor Buchholz are all on the 40 man roster so, if healthy, each will be [...]

If you bet me a month ago that Jason Isringhausen would become one of the more popular stories in Port St. Lucie I would have probably had you committed. Here we are more than halfway through spring training and Isringhausen is still wearing a Mets uniform. He may not know why, or at least that [...]

Last week, Adam Rubin of ESPN New York predicted the Mets roster to be the following: Rotation Mike Pelfrey Jonathon Niese R.A. Dickey Chris Young Chris Capuano Bullpen Francisco Rodriguez Bobby Parnell D.J. Carrasco Taylor Buchholz Tim Byrdak Pedro Beato Pat Misch Lineup Jose Reyes, ss Angel Pagan, cf David Wright, 3b Carlos Beltran, rf [...]

It’s still very early in spring training, but listening to Terry Collins the Mets bullpen may already be taking shape. Adam Rubin reported over the weekend that Collins identified “Francisco Rodriguez, Bobby Parnell, D.J. Carrasco, Taylor Buchholz and Tim Byrdak as on solid footing for relief roles.” This would leave two spots (assuming seven man [...]

Jason Isringhausen is the early surprise of camp earning praise from Terry Collins. If Isringhausen does impress enough to earn a spot how does that impact the rest of the bullpen? Also, knowing that Rule V draftee Pedro Beato must make the team or be offered back to Baltimore, how does he come into play? [...]

One of the biggest surprises the first week of spring training was the Mets signing former phenom Jason Isringhausen to a minor league deal. It’s been eleven years since Izzy last pitched for the Mets. Of course, he was part of a deadline deal in 1999 when then GM Steve Phillips sent him to Oakland [...]

My parents took me on regular trips to the Berkshires each summer, and each trip included a stop at Wahconah Park to watch the Pittsfield Mets. I had the good fortune to see an extremely young Edgardo Alfonzo, Benny Agbayani, even an infielder named Guillermo Mota. But the best luck came from the starting pitcher [...]

If you look back on the Mets decision in 1999 to trade Jason Isringhausen for Billy Taylor at the deadline it was insanely illogical. Taylor was a closer, albeit one with a high strikeout rate (eight per nine innings), but imminently hittable. Isringhausen, the former Generation K phenom, was finally pitching in the big leagues [...]

It was 16 years ago today the Players Union would elect to go out on strike and end the 1994 baseball season. Yankees fans remember it as the year that wasn’t, but baseball also lost out on the home run chase, Tony Gwynn chasing .400, and ultimately the World Series. The 94′ strike destroyed baseball [...]

Tonight, I’m visiting Wahconaah Park in Pittsfield, Massachusetts. I’m taking my wife, who is bound to be disappointed by it. I’ve simply built it up too much, I think. Wahconah Park was the site of my first minor league games- one each the summers of 1992 and 1993 .  Each part of the experience enhanced [...]