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)

Tim Kurkjian of ESPN has been at the Mets camp, head on over to check out his take on how the team’s dealing with last years…less than desirable outcome. Tim looks at how attitudes have changed and talks with Mets including Wright, Beltran and Wagner. From the chief himself, Willie Randolph:

“I’ve answered this question a million times. My initial reaction [to the breakdown] was devastating. But I’m way, way, way past it now.”

Hopefully the team will strive, work hard and succeed this season, if for no other reason than everyones probably tired of talking about The Great Collapse That Shalt Not Be Named (trademark pending, Hotfoot).  But from Wright dropping down his endorsement and promotional schedule, to Reyes aiming to be more proffesional in the dugout, to Beltran stepping up to the mic and being vocal, it seems this team does mean business. Now…come on April, hurry up I need some real baseball.

Tim Kurkjian on today’s ESPN.com chat was asked about the Mets and their chances at landing Johan Santana.

When are the Mets going to swoop in and pluck Santana away from the Twins?

Tim Kurkjian: That is a good question. To me the Mets need him even more than the Yankees need him, and much more than the Red Sox need him. But people around the game have been telling me for months that the Mets might not have what it takes to get Santana, unless they are willing to get rid of Reyes, and they are not going to do that from all indications. The Mets slide last year were due to a lot of factors, but none was bigger than their shortage of starting pitching. I do not know where Santana is going to go, but my guess would be that it is not going to be the Mets.

I might be able to shed more light on this Reyes thing soon. I’ve been poking around to see if the Twins really are still requiring Reyes to be part of a deal, as Mike Francesa keeps beating the drum on. Hopefully tomorrow I will be able to share more of what I have heard.