Stadium Page has some new pictures of the Shea Demolition. As you can see, the left field stands are gone. Right field is the next to go.

The way it’s been coming down this month, Shea will be totally gone in a few weeks.

See more at the Stadium Page.

Posted under Shea Stadium

The Mets re-signed Duaner Sanchez to a one-year, $1,687,500 contract, avoiding arbitration.

Sanchez will be part of the revamped bullpen with Frankie Rodriguez and J.J. Putz. Although he struggled last season, Omar Minaya expressed hope at the Winter Meetings, Sanchez will come back to his 2006 form.

The fill story is online over at the new NYSD.

Posted under Hot Stove, New York Mets, Nysd

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

Well I am back home – actually came home yesterday and had to get a few things done at home with the baby and all.

Anyway the Meetings had to be considered a success with the Mets getting K-Rod and JJ Putz, while getting rid of no one of consequence.

Now the Mets will turn their eyes to a starter with either Oliver Perez, Randy Wolf or maybe Derek Lowe coming to Citi Field.

It should be interesting over the next week as the Mets will probably want to wrap this up by Christmas, yet don’t count out it dragging onto the new year, especially if the the other big names are not signed by then.

Also the Raul Ibanez signing by the Phillies is a lateral move in my opinion, because Met killer Pat Burrell will no longer be on Broad Street.

Posted under Winter Meetings

In a previous thread, Dave wondered about Trevor Hoffman. Well, what about him?

The San Diego Padres are rebuilding and withdrew a contract offer to Hoffman. The Mets, however, playing in New York, aren’t in a rebuilding mode despite being old in several areas.

They call it retooling.

So, should they “retool” with Hoffman if they aren’t able to land a marquee closer in the free-agent market? Hoffman is 41, and signing him does nothing about breaking away from Omar Minaya’s reputation for signing older players.

The Padres pulled off the table a one-year, $4 million deal, with a $4 million option for 2010. That’s not a lot of money. Hoffman converted 30 of 34 save opportunities, including 16 straight during one stretch.

Assuming Hoffman is willing to come to New York, and there’s been nothing written indicating he doesn’t want to, he would presumably fill the closer void until Bobby Parnell and Eddie Kunz are ready. That’s a plus.

Said agent Rick Thurman: “He’s a free agent. So many teams consider him to be a San Diego Padre. Not a lot of teams took him very seriously as a free agent. We’ll find out very shortly. A lot of teams need a closer. He’s the cream of the closers, and we’ll see what teams have interest in him.”

Last year’s numbers indicates he can still get the job done, but his age will be a concern, because you have to wonder when will the breakdown start?

Signing him does nothing about getting the Mets younger, but it does buy time for Parnell and Kunz, and gives them a mentor. It also addresses a need at a reasonable cost and enables them to spend most of their money on starting pitching.

While the first impression would be his age, remember the priority is winning and he’s a plus toward that goal. I know there’s not a groundswell for bringing in a 41-year-old closer, but if he makes them better it’s something they should consider.

Posted under New York Mets

For the longest time, I looked at the first Sunday after the World Series as the start of the football season. Sure, we’re eight weeks in, but it’s a chance to channel surf without having to worry about missing a pitch.

The Hot Stove Season will really kick with rumors this week. Watched some of the Jets this afternoon and ready for Giants-Cowboys. Giants are defending their title well with the exception of their meltdown in Cleveland.

The win today, and Washington loses tomorrow night against the Steelers – a real possibility – then they would have gone a long way toward locking down their division.

Posted under New York Mets

Don’t you just love this old Giants’ logo?

The Steelers lead in the first quarter. Got home in time to watch the end of the Jets game. Now watching the Giants. Glad to see Plaxico Burress sitting the bench at the start. If this guy thinks he’s as good as Moss, Owens and even Fitzgerald, he’s nuts.

But, I guess it’s something with receivers in the NFL. The guys I mentioned, are cocky and eccentric. Maybe it has something to do with playing the position.

Will watch this game, then the Series tonight.

Posted under New York Mets

Kris Kristofferson sang a song, “Sunday Mornin’ Comin’ Down.” I’m listening to it now. Soft, sad and sweet.

Shredded wheat for breakfast. Heading to the mall to pick up my suit. Moving kind of slow this morning. Long night.

I didn’t think they’d play last night. Great, great game. Last night is why I love baseball. I just wish the people who ran the sport and the televising of it loved it like those who blogged with me last night.

That’s a game everybody should have seen. Too bad much of the country missed it. You have to know there were those who flipped on FOX and flipped it off after seeing a sit-com. Others watched college football. Others just went to sleep. The World Series is your showcase event and people miss it.

I’ll be watching tonight, but before I’ll watch Giants-Steelers.

If there’s anything on your mind before then, here’s your message board. Talk soon. Later, JD.

Posted under New York Mets

Good evening my friends out West and you night owls. Getting hungry. My favorite after midnight diner food is an omelet and rye toast. Breakfast food is always good.

We had an interesting post during the game on the issue of clutch hitting. It doesn’t always come after the seventh inning. I remember a conversation I had with Ryan Church during spring training about stats.

The topic was a “do your job stat.” Every at-bat comes with it a defined objective. Runner on third, get the run home, even with an out. The Rays did it twice in the first inning. The Mets? Well, we’ve had that conversation more than a few times this summer.

Another good game tonight. You get the feeling this one could go the distance.

As far as the Mets were concerned today, the Mets finally finalized their coaching staff. Howard Johnson stays, which was surprising to some degree considering all the finger pointing about their inability to consistently perform with runners in scoring position.

Whatever is on your mind, here’s your message board. I’ll respond in the morning.

Posted under New York Mets

Toronto’s Joe Carter homers off of Philadelphia’s Mitch Williams with two on in the bottom of the 9th to give the Blue Jays an 8-6 victory in Game 6 and the 1993 World Series title.

Posted under New York Mets