First-round pick Brad Holt had an impressive start in Brooklyn yesterday, tossing five innings of no-hit ball, earning his first professional win.

A rehabbing Ryan Church went 3-for-3 as the Brooklyn Cyclones beat the visiting Aberdeen IronBirds on Thursday, 4-2.

“I felt good, after the first it was all up and down, I felt fine,” Holt said of the stint. “My breaking ball was good, everything was working.”

Holt was the 33rd overall pick earlier this month, he struck out six and walked one in his second career appearance. He faced 17 batters and induced six grounders and three fly balls in his home debut.

“I used a little bit of everything,” he said. “Fastballs down, in and out, both sides of the plate. I showed changeups every now and then. I threw a couple breaking balls, but, basically it was the same [as in college]. I just keep attacking with the fastball.”

Read more about Holt’s start on Mets.com

Shake Shack is coming to CitiField in 2009. Some folks swear by the Shack Burger, but others are not so sure.

Tell us, what is the best burger in New York City?

Chris “Mad Dog” Russo opens his show (with Mike Francesa on vacation) discussing the rumors that the “Mike and the Mad Dog” show is over.

Hot Foot has teamed up with State Farm to send you to the All Star Game.

Fans can enter the promotion daily through midnight, June 24 (TODAY!) at www.sfCallYourShot.com/2008.

The grand prize winner of Call Your Shot will win:

• All-expense paid trip for four to the All-Star Game and State Farm Home Run Derby
• First class hotel accommodations in New York
• Tickets to a Broadway show
• $1,000 MasterCard gift card

The grand prize winner will also get the chance to pick a spot to which two of the Home Run Derby players must compete to try to hit a ball. If the first player hits the ball to the called spot, the promotion ends. If either player succeeds, the fan receives a 2008 Chevrolet Tahoe hybrid vehicle and a 2009 season-ticket package for any team.

Additionally, 10 fans will win first place prizes consisting of a $300 MLB.com gift card and 25 second place prize winners will receive $100 MLB.com gift cards.

We are interested in your opinion of Hot Foot.

Please take a moment and share it with us, it only takes a few minutes and will help us tailor Hot Foot to what you want to see.

Thank you!!!

Click here to participate.

Ted Berg on SNY.tv takes the New York Post to task over their spin job on Jerry Manuel’s comments regarding Aaron Heilman. In a poll conducted by MetsBlog.com, fans voted overwhelmingly in support of Jerry Manuel’s comments.

An incredible 3,312 votes were in support of Manuel’s comments and 73 votes were against at last check.

Read the offending article here.

Good for us fans who completely saw through the transparent reach for sensational headlines in the New York Post.

I think it is hysterical how blogs get pinned with this label of being irresponsible, and putting out unverified information while many newspapers like the Post go out of their way to try and create controversy where there is none, manufacture stories, and spin them to create drama.

Last I checked, reporters are supposed to report the stories, not create them.

MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL CLUB OF THE NEW YORK METS Presents the 2008 MARIO KART Wii TOURNAMENT

DATE: SUNDAY JUNE 29th, 2008 @ 12 pm
LOCATION: KeySpan Park, The Brooklyn Baseball Gallery, 1904 Surf Avenue, Coney Island - Brooklyn, NY 11224

Registration Fee: $15 per player

GRAND PRIZE:

* FREE NINTENDO Wii CONSOLE
* FREE MARIO KART GAME
* CEREMONIAL FIRST PITCH
* ON FIELD PHOTO WITH A CYCLONES PLAYER

Register in person at: Press Start Café, 70-15 Grand Ave, Maspeth, New York  11378

OR call Rishi at the Cyclones - 718.382.2601

This. Sounds. Amazing.

Hat tip to Peter Knox for the information.

Lynn Cohen, Gary Cohen’s wonderful wife, passed along this information regarding a few special event coming up at Shea.

SNY television announcers Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez & Ron Darling’s “Pitch in for a Good Cause” website known as garykeithandron.com (GKR), today announced that it will make it possible for more than 100 underprivileged children from the NY Metropolitan Area to attend a Mets games on July 10th.

GKR was launched in May to bring Mets fans together around common community problems by buying tee shirts for the sportscasters’ favorite charities. The website is also offering $10 seats
on July 10th and 22nd to fans who previously purchased or who will purchase the special GKR tees.

“When we offered discounted tickets to these July games for tee shirt purchasers, the demand was strong and we received favorable responses,” explained Lynn Cohen, GKR director and wife of Gary Cohen, voice of the NY Mets. “Then suddenly it struck me, that this would also be an incredible opportunity to invite children who never dreamed of attending a game.”

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