WFAN’s Mike Francesa says he spoke with Mets GM Omar Minaya this morning. When Mike asked about Manny Ramirez Omar responded pitching, pitching, pitching:

• The Mets will make Oliver Perez an offer but the Mets fear Carlos Silva’s contract may hurt negotiations.

• The Mets will make an offer to Pedro Martinez.

• The Mets do have interest in Derek Lowe and AJ Burnett.

• The Mets do have interest in relievers K-Rod, Fuentes, Wood, Putz, Jenks and Street.

• No interest in Ben Sheets.

• Not sure if Easley will be back.

• Castillo will be the second baseman.

• There are no plans to replace Schneider/Castro behind the plate.

• Omar loves Murphy, sees him in the Pedroia/Youkillis mold. A hard nose leader type.

I’m probably alone here but I am happy to hear that they are going to try to sign Pedro. Watching him consistently reach the low 90’s on the gun makes me believe he has something left and more importantly, something to prove.

Around two weeks ago, I posted here on Hot Foot describing the curse of Damion Easley.  I noted how he has joined teams that won the previous season yet failed to make the playoffs the following year.  He has played the most games of any active player without making the playoffs. 

Last year, with the Mets on track to the playoffs Easley was punished in two ways: the Mets epic collapse and his season ending ankle injury that would have prevented him from playing in the playoffs barring a record collapse. 

This year the Mets have blown a smaller lead in the division, albeit a smaller one, and Easley is hurt again - though it is a less significant injury. 

Easley injured his right quadriceps, which continue to be tender and prevent him from playing.  On yesterday’s broadcast, Kevin Burkhardt described Easley as being at a point where he still feels the injury in daily activities such as standing up.   

Muscle injuries such as the one Easley has often just take time to recover from and it is possible that he won’t be at 100% for a while. 

So - should the Mets make the playoffs - Easley might not be able to play.  While he has been decent for the Mets at 2B, the Mets do have depth with Argenis Reyes and Luis Castillo both being at similar talent levels as Easley, making Damion expendable. 

Just another episode in the saga that has become ‘The Curse of Damion Easley.’

Currently, Damion Easley has played 1,696 career games in his career without playing a post-season game in his career.  An article for Sportsline reminds us that this is the most games any active player has gone without ever making the playoffs. 

Is Damion Easley cursed?  Should we be scared about having him on the Mets?

Easley had his first chance at the playoffs in 1995, when he was playing for the California Angels.  The ‘95 season was a strike shortened season, and after 144 games the Angels were tied for the AL West division lead with the Mariners.  The Angels lost the tie-breaker game, and finished the season half a game out of the division lead, and a game and a half out of the Wild Card. 

Who knows what would have happened if the season was 162 games, but was it a coincidence that Easley’s first legitimate shot at the playoffs was tampered with by a short season? You tell me. . .

Easley then suffered through the miserable years of the Tigers, from the second half of 1996 - 2002, without ever a close shot at postseason play.  In 2003 he was a member of the Devil Rays, an organization that hasn’t had a record above .500 until this year. 

At this point in his career Easley is already a veteran and wanted to sign with a team that will let him play in the playoffs.  So, after the 2003 season Easley signed with the Florida Marlins who were just coming off of a World Series victory, and had rising stars in Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera.  But the 2004 and 2005 Marlins both finished in 3rd place with a record of 83-79, and a post season visit continued to elude Mr. Easley. 

Easley signed with the Diamondbacks in 2006, who finished below .500 and failed to compete in post season play. 

Seeking a contending team, Easley signed with the Mets in 2007 who appeared ready to win a second consecutive NL East title.  Most of the season looked like they would, as the Mets had a healthy lead in the NL East for most of the season. 

The first omen of 2007 against Easley came on August 18th, when he broke his ankle and was injured for the rest of the season.  He probably wouldn’t have been able to play on the post-season Mets - but still he could have been part of a team that made the playoffs.  Unfortunately, that was not in the cards for Easley and the Mets collapsed in the final weeks of the season and failed to make the playoffs. 

This year, fingers have been pointed and coaches have been fired in order to solve this team’s problems.  While Easley is probably my favorite 2nd baseman on the team, is he the problem?  Is he the curse on the team that is holding the Mets back from the playoffs?  Will he be cursed forever?

If the Mets don’t make the playoffs, we’ll be closer to answering those questions. 

The Mets were decidedly average up until two weeks before the break. Hovering around or just below .500 for most of the first three months of the season, there was little there to give one enough of an idea that we had a playoff bound club on our hands.

Just as the first half was coming to a close, the Mets got on a roll. Winning 11 of their last 13 games, and putting themselves within a half game of first place in the NL East. They saw the emergence of Mike Pelfrey becoming the pitcher they had always envisioned him to be, going 6-0 with a 2.07 ERA since the start of June.

They saw their offense meet the expectations placed upon it, and the rebirth of Carlos Delgado who had all but become a shell of his former self. Delgado is batting .367, with 12 runs scored, six doubles, three home runs, seven RBIs in 45 at-bats since July 1st

They received the much needed help from players filling in for the numerous injuries sustained by their starters. Lacking Ryan Church, Moises Alou, and Luis Castillo for extended periods, their absence was adequately filled by the likes of Damion Easley, Argenis Reyes, Endy Chavez, and a Fernando Tatis who seemingly rose from the dead.

The bullpen has been outstanding as well as the starting pitching, setting records for the lack of runs and hits allowed throughout the streak. The Mets became the first team in modern baseball history (since 1900) to hold their opponent to three hits in five consecutive games. The bullpen hasn’t allowed a run in the last 19.1 innings of work and are 3-0 during that stretch.

Who are the real Mets? Are they the ones who floundered around for the first four months, inconsistent and unable to find their much needed groove or are they the Mets of the last two weeks, loose, relaxed and dominating their opponents at seemingly effortless clip.

The Mets haven’t had a groove like this since 2006, the second half will prove if they have the magic of that year in them, or if the last two weeks were simply an abberation.

Gary Grund contributed to this blog post.

Fans complaining about roster moves is nothing new. Generally, fans are cautioned to take a “wait and see” approach and not assume to know more than those in administrative positions. But one has to wonder about the recent roster moves the Mets have made.

SNY’s Ted Berg wrote a fantastic column about this issue earlier in the week. He argued that it didn’t make sense to bring up Abraham Nunez to the Mets because the Mets already have a utility infielder (Damion Easley), third base is a position the Mets don’t need backed up (David Wright has played in every game), and “everybody” was hitting better than Nunez in Triple-A New Orleans. These are all fantastic arguments and sentiments that should be echoed to end the lunacy of the Mets’ front office.

Not only all that, but the move is made worse by the fact that Ryan Church has been once again out of action. One could argue that playing Nick Evans was a bad move, but at least he’s an outfielder. Now the Mets are actually down one outfielder, unless the Nunez move was made to accommodate Easley starting more in the outfield. But why would you do that when there are multiple Triple-A outfielders within the organization that would contribute more than Nunez? Again, this all makes no sense.

I wrote an article earlier this week about how Raul Casanova has inexplicably gotten all the pinch-hitting opportunities, while Ramon Castro has gotten none. That made no sense. It got worse when Casanova went on the bereavement list earlier this week after the passing of his father. Desperately not wanting to lose that third catcher, the Mets brought up catcher Robinson Cancel.

Now, one might think, why do the Mets want these three catchers? But at least its temporary. And after all, there’s no way Cancel will actually see action. He’ll just be an emergency 3rd catcher, like Casanova should have been, until Casanova comes back.

But wait, Cancel did get an at-bat. There was a pinch-hitting opportunity in Friday’s Mets vs. Padres game. Not that it would make it acceptable, but this wasn’t a lead-off at-bat. Mets killer Randy Wolf had baffled the Mets all night. In a situation with two men on and one out in the 7th, Castro sat on the bench while Cancel took a bat. The journeyman catcher who has only 45 at-bats in his entire career grounded out.

This is where one starts to think that Mets fans could (possibly) make better decisions than this.

Cancel was on the roster for multiple games this week. He’s gone now, but Casanova is back. That’s the same dumb situation. It doesn’t make sense to have three catchers when Castro isn’t getting pinch-hit at-bats, and quite frankly, it wouldn’t be worth it even if he was. Brian Schneider has fallen to earth. Just have Schneider and Castro swap out starts as situations and match-ups warrant it. Keep only two catchers on the roster and use the other freed up spots for people who actually earn playing time.

I thought the Mets really progressed when they let Jorge Sosa go, despite his major league service, and kept the more effective Joe Smith, who has earned a roster spot. But with this bench mess, maybe the organization has regressed. After all, another bad roster move can be easily seen on the horizon. Hello, Jose Valentin. He brings just what the Mets need — more utility infielders.

Luis Castillo left this afternoon’s game against the Phillies after the fourth inning. He was replaced by Damion Easley.

More to come….

In his latest mailbag post for Mets.com, Marty Noble notes that the team is now saying that they probably will not trade for a player to keep left field warm for Moises Alou, who is out until May.

Among the in-house candidates to replace Alou in left field:

Angel Pagan has posted a .351 average in 57 at-bats so far this spring, with 1 home run, 10 RBIs, scored 8 runs and an on-base percentage of .373.

Damion Easley, who is returning from torn ankle ligaments that ended his 2007 season, is hitting .105 in 19 at-bats, with 1 home run and 4 RBIs.

Endy Chavez appears to be the lead man for the starting job in left field come opening day. Returning from an ankle and hamstring injury in winter ball, Chavez made his spring debut on March 8th. In 27 at-bats, Endy has recorded a .259 batting average with 4 runs scored and 4 runs batted in.

The 34-year old Brady Clark has been seeing a ton of time in the outfield this spring in attempt to land a spot on the Mets 25-man roster. In 43 at-bats, Clark has put up a .302 average and .412 on-base percentage, while scoring 5 runs.

The 19-year old phenom Fernando Martinez is the long shot to head north with the team, but regardless, he is hitting .326 in 46 at-bats with 5 runs scored and 3 runs batted in.

Finally, Marlon Anderson, who may have to play first-base if Carlos Delgado is not ready, is hitting .222 in 18 at-bats.

David Lennon of Newsday relays information from the New York Mets who announced that Moises Alou will have surgery tomorrow to repair a hernia and will miss the next four to six weeks.

Alou was sent back to New York earlier today for further tests after complaining of discomfort in the groin area and the Mets got word of the results this evening.

The Mets have a few options within the organization that they could look to. Angel Pagan who has been killing the ball this spring seems like the most logical choice. Obviously, Endy Chavez, Marlon Anderson and Damion Easley are also options. The long shot option is to see Fernando Martinez in left field.

The Mets also have a couple of options available on the free agent market still such as Kenny Lofton or Preston Wilson. Lofton would be a solid choice, who hit .296 last season with 7 home runs, 38 RBIs, scored 86 runs and stole 23 bases at the tender age of 40. They could also try to convince Shawn Green to come out of retirement.

The Mets announced at a press conference today that they have picked up the $7.5 million option on OF Moises Alou and Damion Easley for one year at $950,000.

Alou hit 13 home runs and 49 RBI, in only 87 games last season, Easley hit .280 with 10 home runs and 26 RBI in 76 games.

No brainer on Alou, i’m not sure we needed Easley, but I am not going to go nuts over it.

According to Adam Rubin of the New York Daily News, the Mets have set a conference call for the media at 4:15PM to discuss the futures of OF Moises Alou and IF Damion Easley.

Rubin believes it is a safe bet that they will both be returning to the team in 2008.

Six Mets filed for free agency today, Marlon Anderson, Luis Castillo, Paul Lo Duca, Ramon Castro, Damion Easley and Shawn Green. It is unlikely that Easley will be pursued by the team, however Castillo is being targeted as a reacquisition.

Not terrible much to add…if Green and Castro are brought back its most likely as bench players not starters. Of that group I’d assume Castillo and Anderson are the ones the team will put the most effort towards bringing back. With Easley’s injury being as severe as it is I don’t see much of any team giving him a chance till he’s healthy enough to better judge his recovery.

In today’s Journal News, John Delcos quotes Omar Minaya saying that all of Willie Randolph’s coaches are likely to return.

In the article Delcos also discusses the Mets second base situation. Luis Castillo and Damion Easley would like to return to the Mets. Jose Valentin, coming off knee surgery, is likely to be nothing more than a possible spring training invitee

Easley sat tonight, with a tendenitis related soreness in his right knee.  Easley has been playing with some pain since the end of May, and sat today rather than try to play the outfield with the soreness.

I feel like we should be playing some sort of Mets Injury Bingo.  Thats Easley, right knee.  Easley, right knee.

The man who never sleeps aka Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal is reporting the White Sox and Rangers had second thoughts in the final minutes before completing a trade which would have sent P Jon Garland to the Rangers and P John Danks to the White Sox.

Rosenthal points out that the Orioles are one of the teams that is still persuing Garland.

The relentless one is also reporting the Rangers are close to bring back signing Smithtown, NY native Frank Catalanotto to a 3-year deal with an option for a fourth year.

Catalanotto hit .300 with 7 home runs and 56 RBIs last year platooning with OF Reed Johnson.

I know Frank personally and I know he is a Yankee fan, but he always said he would love to play in New York, regardless of the team. He would have fit in perfectly with this team as our starting 2nd basemen, improving our bench with Jose Valentin and never signing the mistake waiting to happen in Damion Easley.