Wallace (don’t call me Wally) Matthews of Newsday is at it once again with his latest hatchet job on the New York Mets. In today’s edition, Matthews picks apart the Mets for last year’s marketing slogan and calls this year’s team a “$145-million boondoggle.”

There’s no sense in going with something as boastful and contemptuous of the realities of baseball as last year’s slogan, because right now, it is tough to read how good this Mets team is going to be. Aside from (Johan) Santana, Jose Reyes, David Wright, the roster is aging and lacks depth. Have we seen the best of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Moises Alou, Pedro Martinez, and Billy Wagner? Probably so, and it hasn’t been good enough.

Matthews also gives his ideas on what this year’s marketing slogan should be.

What gets me about this story is that it is blatant hate. Take a look in his archives and read some of Wally’s “articles.” And since when do all the Mets have are Santana, Wright and Reyes. Really?? What about John Maine and Oliver Perez? What about the future stars, like Fernando Martinez? And since when did Carlos Beltran become a grey beard?

I know that Wally is paid to write stuff like this. However, you can be critical without coming off as a jerk. I have no problem with poking fun at the fact the Mets said, “Your Season Has Come.” The Mets didn’t get it done last year; we all remember that. Good writers find a way to be critical, without sounding cynical.

John Maine took the hill for his first start of spring training. It didn’t last long and it didn’t look too pretty, either. Maine lasted 1 2/3, allowing three runs on four hits, while striking out two.

Maine, as quoted by Lisa Kennelly of the Newark Star-Ledger:

“I felt strong, maybe a little too strong.”

Maine added that his goal in the outing was to get consistent with his breaking pitches. He also threw a wild pitch on a change up, which he described as “I choked it, big time.” It allowed the Cards third baseman Troy Glaus to score from third.

I don’t get worked up over the first few spring starts for pitchers. They are still getting back into it. Sure, there will be some that may look at this and be concerned. However, I read most of the write-ups of Maine’s rough second inning. The hits were a couple bloops and a chopper. He did throw the aforementioned wild pitch, as well.

His first inning was a 1-2-3 effort, though. Baby steps, folks…

The Mets will again grace the cover of Sports Illustrated.  This week's issue will feature a story on general manager Omar Minaya and how he “welcomed one and all into his ever-expanding circle.”

Check it out here.

I am excited to grab this off the newstands and frame it next to last year's article on the Mets.  Of course, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes, Paul LoDuca, and Carlos Delgado were on the cover of that issue.

Mets' skipper Willie Randolph will be honored by Fordham University on May 19 with an honorary doctor of humane letters.  He will also give the keynote address at commencement ceremonies.  The NY Daily News' Adam Rubin has more details at his blog.

I had Bill Cosby and his wife speak at my graduation. As much as I like the “Cos,” having Willie would have been great.  Hey Fordham Mets fans… make sure you get the “Let's Go Mets” chant going.

The folks over at Loge13.com are celebrating the last days of Shea Stadium in grand fashion.  With today being Shea's 43rd birthday, the crew will be posting tributes to William Shea and to some of the greatest moments in the stadium's history.

The blog, which is run by poster Kingman, launched about a month ago.

Celebrate with fellow Mets' fans by checking out Loge13.com!

Hard to believe that when Shea turns 45, it will be taken apart.  Shea may be considered a dump to some, but to me it's a great stadium.  I'll look forward to Citi Field, but will always remember Shea for the memories it brought me.

via his blog, the New York Daily News' Adam Rubin reports that Duaner Sanchez is heading for a second surgery on his surgically repaired right shoulder. 

Yikes!  This is certainly a tough blow for Sanchez, but this is why Omar stockpiles arms.  Aaron Heilman did a fine job last year and if Guillermo Mota returns to form after his suspension, there are no worries. 

All hands on deck!

…well, at least a likeness of him.  Todd McFarlane Sports will be selling a Jose Reyes figure later this summer.  The 3-inch high model will feature Reyes dropping down a bunt.  Much like David Wright's debut figure last summer, Reyes' figure will be sold at Shea Stadium and online by the Brooklyn Cyclones.

Check out the photos here. 

McFarlane's company has also done figures of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Tom Glavine, Pedro Martinez and former Met Mike Piazza.  Billy Wagner's likeness is available now. There will be another Wright and Pedro figure sold later this summer. 

You would think a 24-year old millioniare would find time to enjoy the fruits of his labor.  Not David Wright.   Despite signing that $55 million deal last summer, Wright still approaches spring training the way he always has:  make the team.

“I'm not at the point where I can assume anything. I have to win a job,” Wright said to Craig Barnes of the Florida Sun-Sentinel. “I need to be more consistent. At times last year, I was inadequate in providing what the team needed. It was a roller-coaster.”

This is what I have always liked about Wright.  He's never satisfied with his performance, or convinced he's a full-timer.  Meanwhile, everyone and their mother knows that Wright will be at third base for the future.  

It makes it easier to bear that this team once had Bobby Bonilla and Vince Coleman, the classic me-first players.  Oh, man… I shouldn't have even brought that up!

That's what Mark Herrmann asks in his column in Newsday.  The answer?  You better believe it.  Pedro Martinez is curently rehabing his shoulder, while the Mets continue their spring training schedule.  A late July- early August return is believed for Pedro.

Many in baseball said that Pedro's contract was absurd.  He was a pitcher that was believed to be one injury away from retirement. Of course, this current injury he has could be just that.  However, if Pedro doesn't sign here, I fully believe Carlos Beltran isn't here, then neither is a guy like Billy Wagner, etc. 

Pedro (and Omar Minaya) helped make the Mets mean something again.  So, in my mind, I couldn't agree with Herrmann more that Pedro was well worth the money.

As Wxstevo noted, Mike Pelfrey has significantly improved his chances on being in the Mets starting rotation this year.  As successful as Pelfrey has been, John Maine has done just as well.  Each surrendered only one run in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to the Detroit Tigers.  Their teammates are impressed with how both have pitched.

“I'm glad we didn't go out and spend an exorbitant amount of money on free agents when we have the arms,” David Wright said.

You can read more in Adam Rubin's story in the NY Daily News.

Nothing excites me more than seeing the Mets groom home grown pitching.  I grew tired of hearing how the Mets didn't improve their rotation and that it is old.  Glavine and El Duque are over 40.  But, three, four, and five could potentially be younger than 28.  Sure, OPerez still has much to prove, and so does Pelfrey.  But, the way Maine, Pelf, and Perez have pitched this spring gives me plenty of hope. 

SF Giants pitcher Barry Zito intimates in the April issue of Esquire that Mets' brass was arrogant in their pitch to him last winter.  Zito liked the Giants approach.  A blurb about the meeting was printed in Tuesday's edition of the NY Daily News. 

“There just wasn't a lot of ego there, which was huge for me,” Zito told the magazine about the Giants.

Zito's agent, Scott Boras, called the meeting with the Giants, more “positive” than the Mets.

As someone who used to work in television and radio, I love these sort of tid-bits.  They make great lead-in material for a highlight, especially when the Mets face the Giants this year.  Personally, though, if Zito didn't like the pitch, just zip it, Barry.  Besides, when your ERA balloons above 4 and the Giants are out of the race, I'm sure you'll remember the “positive” meeting.

Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports that Braves pitcher Mike Hampton was injured while taking batting practice Wednesday afternoon.

“Hampton took a swing and fell to the ground in pain. It's still unknown whether he suffered a strained left oblique or broken rib.”

The injury will force Hampton to miss, at least, the first month of the season, possibly longer.  He had the “Tommy John” surgery in September 2005.

Since Hampton left the Mets for the “school system” in Colorado, he's been off.  His career in the Rockies was forgetable.  He was then traded to Atlanta, where he started to get his career back on track.  However, he's been a DL-staple, as well. 

The Braves were counting on a healthy Hampton to bolster their rotation.

All-Star short stop?  Check.  Post-season experience? Check.  What is next for Jose Reyes? Well, aside from a World Series ring, it would probably be a Gold Glove.  During Monday's exhibition loss to the Cleveland Indians, Reyes made throw to first, before his body was even on the firmly planted on the ground.

In Tuesday morning's papers, manager Willie Randolph says Reyes could be a Gold Glover this year. Randolph, on the play, as quoted by Peter Botte in the New York Daily News:

“That was pretty amazing,” Willie Randolph said. “I was talking to (coach) Jerry (Manuel) and I was wondering how Jose got rid of that ball.

Reyes has made a number of great plays over the last few seasons and I think it is only a matter of time before he wins one of those Gold Gloves.

Newsday's David Lennon pens a nice article about Jose Reyes and the more muscular physique he has displayed this spring.

Hard to believe this is the guy that fans once thought could not stay healthy.  Obviously, Reyes isn't going to be a home run champ, but with 19 homers last year, it's not far fetched to think he could hit 25.

Put that lightning-fast speed with more power, and look out.