Single: According to ESPN.com, the Mets were on the verge of giving a job to Brian McNamee prior to this season, as Willie Randolph and former Mets hitting coach Rick Down worked with McNamee while they were with the Yankees. However due to McNamee’s reputation, Omar Minaya vetoed his hiring.
There was a time, around a month ago, when I still doubted Omar Minaya. I think he doomed us for collapse last year by preparing us with inadequate pitching. I doubted him this offseason when it seemed more and more day by day like we wouldn’t acquire an ace. However, he stole Johan Santana from the Twins, by out waiting a rookie GM. And now, he had the incredible foresight and judgement to know hiring this sleezeball would be a bad idea. Major props there Omar, you have my trust.
Double: According to the New York Post, former Mets’ OF Shawn Green has retired. The former Met, Diamondback, Dodger and Blue Jay hit 328 career HRs, while having four seasons with 100 or more RBIs. According to baseball-reference, Green earned over $100 million during his career.
I think he was a nice fit in RF last year, despite his declining mobility in the field. I think he responded well to days off, and should’ve been platooned a bit more with Lastings Milledge. At least he’s got a nice retirement fund going.
Triple: This week we had a round of Lastings Milledge smack talk. He said, “I can’t go through anything worse than I went through in New York. It only gets better from here.”
Jeez, I questioned the trade at first, but good riddance. Welcome Ryan Church. C’mon Lastings, show a little bit of class. You wonder why you were bounced out of town? Grow up, trades happen and this explains why this trade involved you.
Home Run: With spring training underway, the Mets have already lost to the Tigers 4-2 and the Cardinals 7-0. They also tied the University of Michigan, Fred Wilpon’s alma mater, 4-4.
Oh no, still winless! The collapse lives on! Yeah, we lost, but it’s spring training. But there are some nice things to pick out. Mike Pelfrey pitched two scoreless innings, allowing only one hit. Pelfrey wasn’t facing scrubs either, he faced a lineup with Miguel Cabrera, Magglio Ordonez and Curtis Granderson among other great hitters that the Tigers have. Other nice facts include that teenage phenom Fernando Martinez has hits in both games against the Tigers and Cardinals.
