For those interested in sports media there is a must watch on HBO’s Costas Now tonight at 10pm. Bob Costas will host a live 90 minute town hall meeting with variety of different panels from the entire sports media spectrum. It will be broken up into five segments:

• Sports talk radio: A mix of video taped interviews then a live panel with among other’s WFAN’s Chris “Mad Dog” Russo and New York Giants defensive end Michael Strahan.
• The Internet and the Impact of Bloggers: Video interviews: deadspin.com editor Will Leitch, TV writer and media critic Michael Schur and Washington Post columnist and “PTI” host Michael Wilbon.
• Sports Television: Live panel: Fox Sports broadcaster Joe Buck, ESPN broadcaster Mike Tirico and Sports Illustrated’s Dan Patrick.
• Athletes and the Media: Boston Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling, Miami Dolphins defensive end Jason Taylor, former NBA star and Turner Sports analyst Charles Barkley. Live panel: NBC’s Tiki Barber, Sports Illustrated columnist Selena Roberts and tennis analyst and former tennis star John McEnroe.
• A Discussion on Race:Video interviews: Washington Post columnist and “PTI” host Michael Wilbon, former NFL star Kellen Winslow, Sr. Live panel: former NFL star and current ESPN commentator Cris Carter and Kansas City Star columnist Jason Whitlock.

Looks mighty interesting and the fact that it’s on HBO commercial free for 90 minutes is great. This is something crunched down to say an hour with commercials would just be a waste of time. FYI there are more guests than listed above. For more info check out HBO.com

Today on 1050 ESPN Radio Mets Closer Billy Wagner spoke with Host Michael Kay in his weekly spot,

On his perfect start:

“A lot of luck… Schneider and Casanova have made me look better than I am.”

On using the wind-up:

“I would say it has a lot to do with my success because guys really don’t see the ball as well. I’ve been going out of the stretch for 12 years. So, it’s something they’ll have to adjust to. I did it because I was just too still when I was going out of the stretch. I was creating problems for myself by over thinking situations with my mechanics. I just wasn’t feeling comfortable. Then I went to the wind-up and I was relaxed. There was some type of flow and rhythm, it just seemed to click for me. So, I’ve been able to relax and make a few pitches.”

Was the wind-up suggested by anyone:

“No, in the off-season I tinker with pitches or mechanics. I was working out going through the wind-up and remembered how comfortable the feeling was. The ball seemed to jump out of my hand a little bit, more of a flow and the ball had more life to it. So I said why not take it into spring and see how it goes. If it doesn’t work out just put it on the shelf. I had success so I kept it.”

On Dunaer Sanchez:

“I think his velocity is starting to comeback. We still have to be careful with him. We don’t want to overuse him. It’s a difficult situation because he’s pitching so well. It’s hard not to use him. He’s pretty much doing what he did before he got hurt. You gotta play it safe though. I think Willie and Rick and the organization have done well with him. I think you can use him back to back days, he’s done it once this year and handled it well.”

On dealing with errors made behind you while on the mound:

“I don’t let it bother me and I don’t think most pitchers do. They make so many plays that save you, when they do make an error you want to pick them up. I don’t think the stress goes to, now I gotta get four outs, the stress goes to, I wanna pick that guy up. I want them to know yeah, you made a mistake but I have your back. Just like he’s got yours when you make a bad pitch and they make us look so good.”

On Heilman:

“I think he’s been right where he’s been the last two years that I’ve been here. His first month he struggles with his mechanics. So, he’s up and down the first month or so then at the end of the year he winds up being one of the best relievers in baseball. It’s hard early in the year to be consistent. I think Aaron is fine. Everyone wants to ride his back about not being consistent this early. He’s such an asset, he’s been in 12 games and we’ve played 20. I mean that’s a workload. He’s on pace to be in 90 games. He’s our workhorse. He takes the ball anytime and makes no gripe about the situation. He battles and makes no excuses.”

Has the team found it’s identity:

“No, and we shouldn’t have, it’s only 20 games… I think playing the ESPN game at night then changing time zones really does affect you. I think we were sleep walking through the two Chicago games because your just tired, your just a little disorientated, not on your A level.”

On the team being inconsistent:

“It’s not something you don’t expect in April. In 20 games you don’t expect to be at your peak level. I think we are right where we need to be.”

With Billy putting up nothing but bagels so far this season this picture I found on Google images was a must post.

During last nights Mets-Phillies game seen on ESPN Hillary Clinton supporter’s help up signs that could be seen on TV when a left handed batter was at the plate. According to Philadelphia Weekly’s Will Do Blog, we never saw the above angle again all night.

For ESPN.com, Bob Klapisch officially commences the 2008 rivalry between the Mets and Phillies.  Among other things, he discusses the trash-talk, the collapse and the possibility of a brawl between the two clubs.

He writes:

The two rivals face each other six times in April, which will not only stoke the rivalry, but give both sides a sense of the 2008 chemistry, too. Are the Phillies even better now than in ‘07, as Rollins claims? Are the Mets damaged from the most prodigious collapse in regular-season history? 

Let’s win tomorrow. I’ll be there, and I can’t remember being this excited for an April game.   

At ESPN, their baseball staff has compiled their predictions for the baseball year, including division winners, World Series winner, Cy Young Winner, MVPs and Rookies of the Year.

Notably, many of the ESPN ranking analysts picked the Braves to win the division, such as Jayson Stark, Peter Gammons and Buster Olney.

At ESPN, Stark explains why he thinks the Braves will win the World Series: 

It’s too late to rewrite the history of the teams that ran off those 14 titles. But the great thing about sports is that the next chapter in the history books always can look different than the chapters that came before it. So don’t let the lack of clubhouse volume fool you. This is a team talented enough to resculpt history.

The only reporter to have the Mets winning the world series is Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes.

10 of the 20 analysts had a Met winning the MVP, 9 predicting David Wright would win, while Phil Rogers thinks Johan Santana will win.  13 predicted Johan Santana will win the Cy Young.

I think predicting wins and losses is stupid, but I do think this reminds me of the point that the Braves are well-rounded.  I’m much more worried about them than the Phillies.

If you’re more curious about why I think predicting end-results is pointless, check out last year’s predictions on ESPN, and count to see how many even have the Rockies in the playoffs, and check out how many have the Twins in the playoffs…among various mistakes that were made.  As an educated fan, you have as much of a shot as predicting what will happen.  Does the guy with the best NCAA bracket every year work for ESPN?

Hat tip to Vines for the link to this  year’s predictions.

In his latest article for ESPN.com, the always incomparable Rob Neyer compiles his list of the top 50 major leaguers over the next 5 years. And who, you may ask, is at the top of that list? Number 5 in your programs, number 1 in your hearts, our very own David Wright.

Neyer states:

Great hitter, good fielder, fine baserunner … and last year, at 24, he was the best player in the National League.

Also appearing on the list:  Newly acquired Johan Santana coming in at number 5.  Jose Reyes, fittingly, at number 7 and Carlos Beltran at number 26.

Great piece by Neyer, who has never been shy about his affection for Wright.  Surprised Beltran made the list given his age and health problems.  Also would’ve liked to have seen John Maine on the list, but i suppose he’ll need at least another good season to know last year was not a fluke.  

SI.com is reporting that former pitcher and current ESPN analyst Rick Sutcliffe was diagnosed with a treatable form of colon cancer and will undergo series of chemotherapy and surgery.

I find Sutcliffe alot more bearable to listen to than Joe Morgan. Nevertheless, from all the people here at the Foot, we wish you a speedy recovery.

Mets pitcher John Maine will be on ESPNews’ Hot List at 3:00 P.M. EST.

Neil Best’s Watchdog blog on Newsday, alerts us that the Mets will be featured in three ESPN Sunday Night Baseball games through late July.

• March 30 Atlanta at Washington
• April 6 Chicago White Sox at Detroit (ESPN2, ESPN2 HD)
• April 13 Yankees at Boston
• April 20 Mets at Philadelphia
• April 27 Los Angeles Angels at Detroit
• May 4 Chicago Cubs at St. Louis
• May 11 Boston at Minnesota
• May 18 Mets at Yankees
• May 25 Los Angeles Angels at Chicago White Sox
• June 1 - July 6 TBD
• July 13 Colorado at Mets
• July 20 Boston at Los Angeles Angels (6 p.m. ET)