Here are some birdseye shots of Shea and Citi Field taken today from WCBS 88. As you can see the upper deck is now a third down and that’s in a week, so in a few weeks the inside of the building will be stripped.

And Citi Field is looking sharp in the background.

Happy New Year!

Posted under New York Mets

After taking the last week off to hang with the family, I am not back to work.

I first want to wish you all a very happy and healthy New Year to all the readers of this blog.

Let’s Go Mets in 2009!

Posted under New York Mets

With a nod to Duran Duran, the Mets have opened up to free agent Randy Wolf in order to fill the void in the rotation.

According to Marty Noble, Wolf acknowledged that interest and is also intrigued about returning to the northeast.

As you may remember, Wolf, 32, spawned the Wolf Pack in Philly where a group of fans would wear werewolf masks when he pitched. Hopefully that doesn’t come to Citi Field.

Wold pitched for San Diego and Houston last season and went 12-12 with a 4.30 ERA, but was 6-2 with a 3.57 ERA with the Astros.

Posted under New York Mets

The Mets  have called, not one, but two press conferences this week.

On Wednesday, they will introduce Francisco Rodriguez to the media at the team’s holiday party which will take place at the Citi Building in Long Island City. “Santa” Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Jerry Manuel will also be there.

Then on Thursday at Citi Field, Joseph Jason Putz will have his introductory press conference.

So it will be a full week for the Mets. And we will have live reports.

Also PBC returns on Thursday at 9 p.m to recap the week.

Posted under New York Mets

Just when you thought it was safe to do some Christmas shopping, the Mets pulled off another trade, sending Scott Schoeneweis and $1.6 million to the Arizona D’backs for righthander Connor Robertson.

As you may recall, it was Schoeneweis who gave up the go ahead homer in the last day of the season and much like Aaron Heilman was a bullpen pariah when all was said and done.

And the Mets get back Robertson, 27, who was 0-1 with a 5.14 ERA in nine games with Arizona this past season. In 7.0 innings, he allowed eight hits, four runs, earned, with two walks and two strikeouts. In addition, the 6-2, 220-pounder went 7-4 with a 5.02 ERA in 47 contests with Tucson (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League. In 71.2 innings, he surrendered 69 hits, 45 runs, 40 earned, with 30 walks and 72 strikeouts.

Posted under New York Mets

Well, I am all packed up and ready to go with an early morning flight to Vegas. Please stay tuned to this blog starting tomorrow at around 2 p.m. for live reports from the Bellagio!

Also tomorrow at 10 p.m. PBC will have it’s baseball show live from Vegas.

Posted under New York Mets, Pro Baseball Central, Winter Meetings

The Mets announced today righthanded pitcher Nelson Figueroa was signed to a one-year minor league deal.

As you may remember the Brooklyn born Figueroa filled in nicely early in the season for the injured Pedro Martinez and then came back up in September to help in the bullpen.

All-in-all, he finished 3-3 with a 4.57 ERA.

The organization also signed righthander Adam Bostick, infielder Andy Green, and catcher Rene Rivera to minor league deals.

Posted under New York Mets

It’s obvious the Mets will dip into the free agent market to sign a closer over the next few weeks and with the Amazins being the only large market team, they will have their choice.

Although I have heard some in the organization still rather trade for JJ Putz, obvious choices are the “Big Four”

1. Francisco Rodriguez - Some published reports have him at No. 1, and at three years, who can blame the club for going for the holder of the single season save record. Yet, he’s not the strikeout pitcher of a few years ago and there are questions about his long term durability. That being said, if the Mets can get him on a three-year deal, it will be worth it.
2. Brian Fuentes - He’s pitched in the National League and he’s lefthanded, which is something the Mets like. Going into the off-season, he would have been the No. 1 choice, but with K-Rod’s price coming down, Fuentes goes on the back burner. If he’s out there and his price comes down, Fuentes becomes a good eighth inning option.
3. Kerry Wood - A darkhorse a few weeks ago, Wood actually looks to be the best option, because he can still come in with the strikeout, something that K-Rod may not have anymore. Yet, Wood has always been injury prone, so Wood looks like a pass unless something major happens.
4. Trevor Hoffman - Let’s see. He’s old. He has great numbers on paper and he falls apart in big spots. He’s the perfect Met closer. That said, I don’t see where he will fit into the equation.

Any thoughts on your end?

Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets

Before I go off for a Citi Field tour, here’s a little recap:

1. Brian Fuentes will meet with the Mets at the Winter Meetings, accoring to a number of sources.
2. The Mets offered arbitration only to Oliver Perez, meaning they will get draft picks if he signs with anyone else.
3. Nick Evans is back from Puerto Rico with a quad strain.

I will have more later after the tour, including pictures of the new Mets digs.

Posted under Citi Field, New York Mets

Newark Star-Ledger columnist Dan Graziano posted this excellent column on the closer situation. The veteran baseball reporter wrote the Mets are have put Francisco Rodriguez as the No. 1 choice at the closer situation, but thinks Kerry Wood might be the better move.

To quote:

“On pure stuff, Wood has it all over Rodriguez, Fuentes, Hoffman and any other closer who’s available this winter (except maybe J.J. Putz, but nobody knows if he’s really available). As one person put it to me last week, “Who would hitters rather face?” The answer to that question is that hitters would rather stand in against Rodriguez or Fuentes than against Wood, who’s the most unhittable of the closers available.”

I think the Mets will probably go after K-Rod first and if there’s an impass, they will look at Wood or Brian Fuentes. They have a choice here.

Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets