Sensory Overload

I wish I could pay attention to every single facet of the Metropolitan baseball team. The ironic element of where I find myself is that I'm getting back into the habit of writing everyday after too many years of inactivity, yet I cannot pay enough attention to the baseball team I love. I'm supposed to "do my homework" as one particular facebook Mets group peer kept uttering to me the other day when we were debating the worth of Travis d'Arnaud, but I have debt to get out of and loads of other obligations I don't even need to detail here. Trying to find the proper balance is an obvious, real struggle for me.

Charles Wenzelberg
Photo via https://nypost.com

Last night, I was back in a 10-week improv class I decided to take at this particular time because 1)I've been trying to segue back to performing, 2)I was being lobbied to join back up again, and 3)I'm trying to get out of my head some, which improv can be beneficial in doing. I checked in on the game when I had a bathroom break, and a tie game it was already. The moment I got out of class, Edwin Diaz had just given up the home run in the eventual 5-4 defeat. Strange to think that as frustrating as this team can be, I wish I had more time to observe, recollect, debate, and what have you all the aspects of what comes with being a fan at this particular junction of my life. The Mets, as miserable as they can be, are the last thing making me miserable right now. Keeping up with the posts and the podcasts feel like a necessity because I have fun, win or lose, talking about this team. There is always good moments to look back on from their history. There can only be darkness if there was light in the first place.

A beautiful sadness, as Butters on South Park once said.

I love this city, but I'm letting all the noise and distractions slowly drive me insane. There is an aspect of attempting to cut through the distractions by using them as motivation to block them all out and focus on what you need to to get the work you need done. However, since my dad died and the whole process leading up to it, I've been letting it all get the best of me. There is a tug of war in my head of whether I need to stay or escape, playing into my ADHD nature by going city to city because the sensory overload of my favorite place in the world is not the best for my current incarnation of being. I have so many things I need to clean up around the tristate before I have the foundation under me to do so, rendering that feeling rather moot right now. It stands as motivation, however, an incentive of what to work towards. Plans, however, have a way of shifting very quickly.

In February of 2017, I made a decision to save my money up to head to London for a substantial period of time as that is where my girlfriend is from and lives currently. The goalpost kept getting moved, starting at October of 2017, pushing towards Jan of 2018. Then, it moved to April of 2018 when my dad was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. At that point, it was a pipe dream to begin with. I was in complete denial as to the severity of the situation, keeping on the positive side of things that he was going to beat this thing, and quickly do so. I blocked out all the noise of reality of what pancreatic cancer has been in the scope of things. I held that nature for as long as I could, completely breaking down come the end of January when I let an extraneous situation leave me completely breaking down. All blinders were stripped at that point, and though I decided right after that moment to produce a movie about my bit-part film actor dad looking back on his life and career as he took on the biggest role yet, I was so distracted that I could only do so much in the new role I had placed myself in as producer of the film. My director and I are still working hard on it, but as I approach the anniversary of my father's death on May 27, I feel like I've let the last two year's completely strip me of all the positivity I used to go through life with, as much of that however was denial about a lot of my issues, such as my addictive personality and my unfocused nature.

Optimism must rule the day, however, and as you can see and read from above, whether it is my own life or the Mets chances, I struggle to find the positive aspects of things. There are always other lives who have it worse than you and perspective to gain to remind yourself of the positive reinforcements that come along. This morning, it has been tough to do so to the point I've completely tangented off of Edwin Diaz and the Mets to spilling my soul on this Mets blog I write.

If you're familiar with this blog, though, then you are aware of some of these things I have mentioned about myself to an extent. This fanbase can be so inspiring that I made a movie about them and the team, after all. Through the struggles, whether it is faith in this team or faith in the general direction I'm attempting to travel, optimism and positivity HAVE to rule the day. All you can do is ask for the ball back after you give up the home run, just like Diaz in the photo above. There is always another game to play the next day, and there is always another chance to get it right some how, some way. Clearly we all have an end game, but we never know when that day will arrive and we must fight the challenges we face tooth by tooth, nail by nail and grass blade by grass blade.

I appreciate every single one of you who come to this blog on a daily basis and I appreciate your attention to my sensitive, emotional fashion. I'm overloaded with obligations and the noise and distractions can get the best of me sometimes. I appreciate you keeping the faith, and I will do my best to keep up mine.

As I always say...

KEEP. ON. PUSHIN'.

LET'S. GO. METS.

The Give and the Take

Sometime while driving around New Jersey on Saturday evening, with the Mets offense softly fizzling, I realized, or at least saw the facts through a figurative magnifying glass, that they had been utterly nonexistent since the behind-the-back statement made to Rhys Hoskins and the Phillies on Tuesday evening. The momentum, the cliché goes, is as good as your next starting pitcher, but no matter how good or bad the opposition's starting pitcher is, you have to back up your assertion that "we're not going to take it anymore." The Mets, ever so inconsistent, had given none of their starters since then, albeit only 2, any real chance of gaining the momentum back, removed from the completely botched, naturally, Jacob deGrom activation Friday night.

At some point Saturday night after thinking the above about the offense to myself (and whoever saw it on Twitter) the Mets staged a semi-comeback that was hot enough for an At Bat alert. I stayed silent, literally with the "speechless" emoji being tweeted. Jeurys Familia, however, decided to hand the momentum directly back to the Brewers and so went the game 8-6 Brew Crew.

I should have once again stayed silent on Sunday, an opinion many of you out there may echo, when I gave Steven Matz props for the performance, outside of 1 inning this year against the Phillies, he has rendered so far in 2019. Though the Brewers basically immediately tied it after I tweeted as such, the Mets were able to take back the lead and win the game 5-2, including on a hit by their new backup catcher, Tomas Nido.

There isn't much to say regarding Sunday morning's DFA of the failed Travis d'Arnaud chronic experiment. I was going back and forth, in favor of giving up on him, with someone on a facebook group page when the news came through that he had been designated. He gave us some brief memories and was an anchor in the 2015 late-season run, but he's been given chance after chance and it didn't work. Yes, a lot of that had to do with not being able to stay on the field, but that just comes with the overall picture. I still do not like that Devin Mesoraco did not make the team in the first place but I do not have the energy to go back into that right now. Yes, I've just used a lot of words after starting this paragraph with, "not much to say," but in my defense, there could have been more. I wish Travis nothing but the best and I'll leave it with this: one of my favorite memories is some random Twitter video back in August 2015 I saw of a fan finding d'Arnaud leaving in his car from the player's parking lot. The fan said some words of encouragement, and as Travis pulled away, he said, "Let's take this shit." To an extent, he backed up those words all the way through to the pennant. Wherever you go from here, take that shit, d'Arnaud.

Seth Wenig/AP Photo
Photo via msn.com

It truly is a give and a take with this team. Every time we think they're going to run with it, they take a step back. Every time we think they're going to continue to crash and burn, they give us reasons to believe. I can only hope for consistency out of this franchise one day, though I personally have to find my own as well. I, us and they have to continue to put in the work, find the balance and get better as much as possible every single day.

That's all we all can do. And that always brings me back to a familiar phrase I tend to use below.

KEEP. ON. PUSHIN'.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Just Keep the Line Moving

That seems to be the mantra of the 2015 New York Mets.



MANDATORY CREDIT: Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports

Whether it be the offense through the batting order, including the pitcher's spot, just continuing to make contact and wear down the pitcher and his defense, or the day-to-day's starting pitcher trying to one-up the last day's guy, that is how the 2015 New York Mets are going about their business.

Just Keep the Line Moving.

And that includes the line moving to the depth we have because of injuries.

Kevin Plawecki, a Westfield, Indiana, native, slid perfectly into the starting catcher's spot in his Major League Debut, collecting 2 hits and scoring his first 2 runs as a Big Leaguer.. Who knows what will happen once d'Arnaud is ready to come back, but you know what? I don't care. And neither does Kevin, nor Travis. Nor the 2015 New York Mets.

All we care about is winning.

What a refreshing world to live in.

KEEP. IT. MOVING.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Well, If the Mets Fan Incarnate Has Been Born Again...

...then there must be something to all this.

MANDATORY CREDIT: Noah K. Murray, USA TODAY Sports

Yesterday, for the 2nd #HarveyDay of the year, and one where our ace was feeling under the weather, the place was once again rocking, and it did especially when it was dire. Two vital players had gone down in the 7th inning, and the Marlins were bearing down, having cut the lead to 1, it now being the 9th and a runner on. I will admit, it was the most Metsian angst I had had all week, though it wasn't in 2010 form, or '11, '12, '13, or '14 form. As Greg Prince, whom I like to call the Mets Fan Incarnate, said on Faith and Fear in Flushing when the winning streak had only reached 6, this feels different:

"You can draw parallels and comparisons with previous seasons and their encouraging beginnings. You can project out from the best of the past anything you want. Yet I’m not tempted to. I’ve spent most of my existence keeping close tabs on this franchise and I’m telling you: this feels different.  

I feel equally untethered to the unrelenting sour times of the recent past and the occasionally glorious times of the distant past, and I don't mind. I take comfort in knowing it's all back there and that it all informs what we expect and how we react. Trust me, I know where to find it should I need it. This 2015 journey, though, is its own thing: kinda young, kinda now...kinda free, kinda wow."

So, even though everything COULD theoretically fall apart with a runner on and Giancarlo Stanton up with 2 outs, us fans were going to be every bit as confident and involved as every player on the Mets 25-man roster.

It hurt, but we've won 8 straight.

It sucks that I have to say this again, as I did after David Wright went down, but I think this team will once again absorb the blow.

This feels different.

This feels like the 2015 New York Mets.

FUNKY FRESH.

LET'S. GO. METS.

More Subdued, but Rising Nonetheless

Citi Field seemed to explode so much the first two days, it needed a night to chill (though with a win as well.)

As it was the first home game I could not attend, back in Two Boots Pizza Hell's Kitchen after my weekend of Monday and Tuesday (will now work every evening through Sunday.) I am sure, though there were 15-20,000 less in the ballpark than the first two games, the fans were loud and having fun with a bit more of a breather than the Mets have been playing with a 6-1 final on the Day of 42.

The Phillies look bad, that is for sure. Who knows when the shoe will drop and someone may take on some more of those contracts, but consider Chase Utley and Cole Hamels as the definites to be moved by July, and who knows which one first. Ryan Howard is as unmovable a contract as I have ever seen. In similar, if not much more extreme fashion, to OUR 1st baseman ankle injury of 2011, the last out of the 2011 NLDS between the Cardinals and the Phillies has deteriorated almost all value from the player. And it's too bad, even if I like striking him out every time.

Now, the team I had been most worried about during the offseason, the Miami Marlins, comes to town for our first meeting of the year. You know what? I'm not worried about anybody from now on. We'll have to get through anybody and everybody if we are to achieve the goal, so bring on the most annoying team the Mets have ever played. No matter who is in those uniforms or what the uniforms look like, the Marlins will always be that pesky asshole who won't stop poking you.

Bring 'em on.

Make it Funky.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Ya Know...'Cause Harvey's Better

The early start surprised me a day or two before the event. But nonetheless, I was prepared to tune in at 1. Though I didn't prepare properly.

It wasn't like I wasn't awake for a sufficient enough of time to plug my phone in and get a proper charge. I just didn't. Thinking I could get it done with 31% left. I left E 18th and Church in Brooklyn listening to Howie and Josh, then eventually finding myself on Ocean Ave when the Brooklyn CITY Historian Ron Schweiger called me about the 11am ET podcast taking place today with myself and him talking about the NYC transit system and...sorry. I lost my digital breath there.

But the gist of it was after I got off the phone with him, and found Harvey in his first inning striking out Bryce Harper, I was turning the Ocean Ave corner that connects to Flatbush, where the Ebbets Field Apartments come into frame, and where the once-upon-a-time ballpark came into frame.

On Flatbush, directly looking at the Ebbets plot across the botanical garden's way, is the Lefferts House, which you see here. I got the picture off, and at 19%, Howie and Josh faded, and my battery completely died, as I was in the middle of walking the long Flatbush stretch of Prospect Park.

So, completely off the grid, I marched up Flatbush Ave, passing Grand Army Plaza, finally going underground at its 2/3 stop towards Manhattan.

At some point underground, completely unaware of what was going on above, and miles away in DC, I asked someone with a charged phone what the time was (it was the older 3 train. No time readings.)

It was 2:01.

Nice.

Who knows what time I finally reached the game I was searching for, as well as the power source I needed, but before I did, I walked the 42nd St strip of Times Sq, from 7th to 8th, passing the Yankees Clubhouse store where I wondered whether they had the game on (I glanced. They didn't), stopping for money at 9th, pausing at the Dalton's windows to catch a glimpse of the score, only to find a commercial.

I then scurried to Rudy's Bar & Grill, right next to Two Boots Pizza Hell's Kitchen, of where I am employed, and whom have graciously given me tickets to April 14, 2015 at Citi Field, where, if you remember, they have our great pizza.

When I arrived at the literal wooden bar, in my bright big-logoed orange Mets shirt, I asked a guy with a Brooklyn Cyclones hat what the score was.

4-0.

I rejoiced. I ordered two hot dogs for breakfast, hold the buns, with sides of ketchup and mustard. And I chomped down, watched the game, and had my hot dogs with some Matzos.

And of course, A Brooklyn Lager.

And combined with a great night in Two Boots, it was a perfect #HarveyDay.

I can't wait for the next one.

CHOP. DEM. BRAVES. DOWN.

LET'S. GO. METS.

DC Like it Oughta Be

It was only 6 in the morning on April 6, 2015, when I took off for DC, settling into my Megabus seat with my first fresh post since July 18, 2014, and a freshly-signed-up-for Instagram account. For someone who is all about taking pictures to go with my words, why it took this long, I have NO idea.

Please, head on over and follow the new account, if you're someone on the Gram they call Insta.

I was able to walk all over town, beforehand and afterwards. DC is an unbelievable place to use your legs, and I was even able to get on their equivalent of a Citibike, called "Capitol Bikeshare," after the game.

The area around the park, in one particular spot, has another plot of land to fill what the Dodgers would have loved to have somewhere in Brooklyn. A humongous flat plot of land that has no signs of any ground having been broken for any sort of construction project. Other areas right around there, however, are building towards the sky, with what I can imagine will be offices, residents, and shopping. So much land and the redevelopment of the area makes sense since it is the Navy Yard section of Washington.

I entered from the outfield side, and was able to walk around the whole park before I found Darren Meenan and The 7 Line Army in the left field section, and parked myself.

The place is pretty nice, and I look forward to giving it a more thorough exploration next time I'm down there.

There's no way I had any idea at the time the Mets were being no-hit, until I realized Curtis Granderson had been the only baserunner with a couple of walks. I never felt the nervousness that one could feel when it comes to the Mets possibly getting no-hit (remember that game in 2014?!) although lately they've always manage to break it up, though still look pathetic.

Well, on Monday, the Mets did not look pathetic. It's only one game, and we have Jacob and Matt going the next two, but between Ian Desmond and Dan Uggla, they looked the way we are used to certain Mets 2nd Basemen look when the "Teix Message" is rounding 3rd.

And Bartolo Colon was FANTASTIC.

The Mets took advantage of two glaring mistakes from the opposition, and as the cliché goes, "that's what good teams do." Never before in the 10 years I have been exclusively following the Mets have I been so confident. In 2005, 2006, and so on...(except in the waning days of 2008...) I was cocky about the Mets chances, as the Mets were themselves.

Now, I can say with a straight face that the CONFIDENCE this team has in its ability this year to perform at a high level has not only rubbed off on me, it has seemingly rubbed off on many Mets fans, who are ready for this team to break out with more than just a 2nd Wild Card berth.

I want to take down these Nats. And everybody else in our division. And everybody else in the Baseball World.

It's going to be tough, something the cocky one never understands.

But the confident ones can do their jobs better knowing how tough it is going to be.

It's taken a while for me to truly understand that.

But better late than never, right?

And better late than never for the New York Mets.

We have arrived. No reason not to aim high.

LET'S. GO. JACOB.

LET'S. GO. METS.

The Eisenhower Executive Office Building

The Library of Congress

Where Did THAT Come From?!

No matter how good and energetic the Mets looked in Miami, their 10-1 win yesterday was the LAST thing I saw coming, especially at home AND against the best team in baseball, the Oakland Athletics.

The story lines were ripe for dissection.

You had the Mets coming off of a solid road trip, about to take on the best team in baseball, whom they once lost a World Series to in 7 games.

And sidenote: forget about that 1973 fact and the novelty of the two teams facing each other. The Mets and the Athletics' logos are just aesthetically pleasing next to each other.

Anyway...

You had Bartolo Colon on the mound, facing his former team who opted to not bring him back. They decided to give a 2 year, 22 million dollar deal to the man on the mound for them last night, Scott Kazmir, who was facing the Mets for the 1st time in Queens since the infamous deal that sent him to Tampa Bay in exchange for the greatest pitcher of all time, Victor Zambrano. AND Scott's been the best pitcher in the American League this year.

On top of that, you had Chris Young facing his former team, with reports surfacing on the off day Monday that he may be released Thursday.

And let's run with that one for a second.

I thought it was a ridiculous leak, and one that made no sense if you were really contemplating releasing him when Juan Lagares returns Thursday, then that's basically squashed when you then have to go to the press and say, "Those reports are false."

It brings up what Josh Thole talked about when saying how everything is a story here, and no matter how much I think it's clear the last thing any players anywhere need to pay attention to is anything but the baseball they need to play, it is true that the New York atmosphere is something fierce and rather unique, other than maybe Philadelphia, Boston and Chicago.

There might be something to the leak, though, where a conspiracy theory can be formed that it was calculated and a last-minute ditch effort to light a fire under the 7.25 million dollar man. At least for one game, Chris Young responded and resoundingly so. We'll see what happens...

You also had Travis d'Arnaud fresh off his AAA stint, where he tore the cover off the ball. Though he still struck out twice, a 3-run bomb certainly takes a load off. Though he wasn't in the 5-hole as myself and Keith Hernandez had hoped, Terry didn't bat him just ahead of the pitcher's spot, which was a step in the right direction.

Speaking of the 4 home runs the Mets hit (the 1st time all year they have done so in Citi Field, with the only other time in 2014 coming at Yankee Stadium), the only bomb that wasn't an original (stupid) dimension home run was Curtis Granderson's, a dunker over the Mo's zone wall which gave us a 2-1 lead in the bottom of the 2nd. What's awesome about THAT shot was that the dugout was still abuzz from it when Chris Young launched his 1st of the night.

The team certainly looks to have new life, which can be traced back to when Bartolo Colon collected his 1st hit in 9 years last week against the Cardinals (and collected ANOTHER one last night!) They've got the towels twirlin' and the bats properly swingin'.

Tonight, Zack Wheeler goes for the 1st time since the best start of his career last week, so I am very much looking forward to how he follows that up, especially against what has been by far the best offense in baseball.

KEEP. 'EM. SWINGIN'.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. For more from myself and others on the Mets, head over to Rising Apple. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

From a Mile Away

We've seen it a million times.

The storyline is worn out.

A very winnable game is thrown in the loss column once more because of LOBs and lack of fundamentals.

The pitcher, and in this case one making his 2nd big league start, has no margin for error and it probably leads to tightness, trying to be too perfect.

Last night, Jacob deGrom took some big league lumps, giving up 3 solo shots to the Dodgers batting order. By no means a terrible game. He was locked in and crafty the rest of the way through, but as usual, the Mets offense gave him no room for error.

It didn't help that they were facing a lefty in Hyun-Jin Ryu who had not given up a road run all year long.

But surprisingly, that changed in the 6th inning with 2 out and Curtis Granderson on 1st after reaching for a single on the outside part of the plate (some nice op-field hitting.) The new kid, Eric Campbell, got a chance to turn the game around and did...well, at least did his part with a 2-run shot that got out of the park to left field in a hurry to make it 3-2 Dodgers at the time. So far, Eric Campbell is 7-16 with 1 HR and 5 RBI. He hasn't played much, only starting a handful of games since being called up on the 10th of May. I'd like to see the kid in action more, no offense to The Duda (none ever is.)

And focusing on Eric Campbell's good night makes me think of something else I saw on Facebook, 'cause that's all I thought about for a good portion of yesterday.

The only problem I have with your postings on this particular fan fb site is that it is called Optimistic Met Fans and I joined because every once in awhile I need a breather away from the negative banter that dominates the other sites. It's a bit disheartening to come on here and find a fan who keeps posting more negative stuff. I admit it's not overly bad stuff but still it keeps me from getting too involved on here because the last thing I want to be reminded of daily on a Optimistic site is how sh*tty the Mets are once again. Please know this is just a mild complaint.

I didn't used to be this way. It has probably been a combination of the Mets and my own personal stuff that has tipped me into such negative territory. I have generally been overly optimistic, and cutting some slack where others are complaining and whining. What's the whining going to do?

And that's true. What is the whining going to do? If they keep losing, if people stay away from the ballpark, anything I dislike will probably be taken care of in due time...maybe. Regardless, let us focus on the positive. I won't even bring up the fundamentals that plagued the Mets in the top of the 7th...oops.

But seriously, Curtis looks to be turning it around...we have more kids coming up, and though they may struggle, we have to sit back and let them get their work in and give them time to adjust. Travis d'Arnaud seems to be getting better from getting bonked on the head by Alfonso Soriano and should be off the 7-day concussion list soon. And win or lose, there'll probably be some trades occurring in June and/or July.

So, while things can easily look lost for this franchise, maybe, just maybe, things will all add up in the end.

LET'S. GO. HIGH. HOPES.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, follow on Twitter here, and listen to the research process here.

If I Had More Time...

I'd love to discuss the highs and (mostly) lows of this weekend, but I'm off to ride a bicycle along the side of my lil sis, who just learned how to ride a bike this weekend.

So, let's just watch once more (or for the first time for some) the coolest thing to happen this weekend.

TRAVIS. d'ARNAUD.
LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, and follow on Twitter here.

So, uh, There's Baseball at 2

No. We should have not split that San Diego series.

No. Matt Harvey's wins should not still be in single digits (though I do like the number 9...)

No. The Mets should not still be 10 games under .500.

They should not have been 4-6 on the originally scheduled road trip.

Though, hey, Travis d'Arnaud made his debut 'cause John Buck Baby Watch ended. He did not collect his 1st hit yet, but he did collect 2 walks yesterday. So, that's cool.

Now, the Mets head into Minnesota today to finish the 3-game set from April.

I wouldn't be surprised if the temperature rapidly dropped and it snowed by 2PM ET, you know, for continuity's sake.

It always feels like bonus baseball, but only in the moment.

The void was felt in April.

Can we seriously just sweep this interleague series?

Please?

Enjoy the beginning of your week, everyone.

Here's a Random Song.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for the latest on a Brooklyn Baseball TV Series I am developing, Like the Bedford & Sullivan Facebook page, and follow on Twitter here.

A Metsian Rundown with 6 Days Left

All of you might very well know all the information I am about to spew, but I figured as the days to opening day dwindle down, I would give an up-to-the-minute rundown of what's going on with our Metsies.

The Mets informed Pedro Feliciano that he would not be on the Opening Day team, and because of new Collective Bargaining rules, Pedro could have either accepted the Minor League assignment or opted out of his contract and looked for a Major League job. Luckily for our left-handed depth, he has accepted the assignment.

David Wright has been swinging the bat well in the cages and will hopefully be playing in Grapefruit games at some point this week, and if all goes well he'll be running out on that field come Monday against the Padres in Flushing.

Daniel Murphy has been playing in Minor League games, and will continue to do so with the hopes he can trot on out there come Monday. He will not play in any Grapefruit games because if he reaggravates the oblique in those then the DL stint cannot be retroactively dated. Hopefully he is out there on Monday, but it is still disappointing that Murph couldn't have a normal spring for a change, now that he has settled into 2nd base.

Travis d'Arnaud, whom I thought the Mets might consider heading north with had Wright and/or Murph not been ready for Opening Day, was finally sent back over to the Minor League side yesterday. I GUARANTEE if he continues to play as well as he has been playing that we will see him by the end of April. Hopefully it all goes smoothly out in Sin City...

Matt den Dekker unfortunately broke his wrist, so any talk of him joining the roster gets thrown out the window (he needed more hitting seasoning anyway.) Luckily he will not need surgery and just has to wear a brace for 6 weeks.

It's Orange and Blue.

With Shaun Marcum's status in limbo, it makes sense that the Mets would look at our old friend Chris Young, who has opted out of his Minor League deal with the Nats.

Yesterday, Dillon Gee, after a few rocky spring starts, fine-tuned himself and kept the Braves hitters extremely off-balance, giving up no runs and striking out 7 in 6 innings of work. I recapped the Mets 7-4 win over at Rising Apple.


And there you have it- some of the more important information coming out of the Metsian universe with 6 days left before Opening Day. 

It's lovely to say that.

It'll be even lovelier to say "5 days..."

And so on and so forth...


Tune into SNY at 1 today for the Mets and the Cardinals.

Here's the Song of the Day.

FIVE. MORE. DAYS. NOW.
LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.

Mets Legacy Photo of the Day - The Opening Day Parade

For a recap of today's 3-2 win over the Cardinals (including Matt Harvey's strong start and Travis d'Arnaud productively still in Major League Camp), head over to Rising Apple.

I am currently editing the video for this past Thursday's Book Event at the Bergino Baseball Clubhouse with Ira Berkow, Author of Summers at Shea. Having started the book this weekend, he is clearly a fantastic storyteller and I am happy to have these stories complemented with his live tellings of them. I look forward to sharing some of the evening with you soon.


With Opening Day on it's way, Today's Mets Legacy Photo take us to the 1910's at Ebbets Field in April.

LET'S. GO. METS.

Thanks for reading! Follow me on Twitter @convertedmetfan. And for Rising Apple twitter updates, click here.

This is Why I Love the Spring.

Because when the Mets lose 6-4 to the Division Rival Nats, I could care less. This will still be one of the most memorable spring games in the history of the New York Mets. So many moments which unfortunately cannot be embedded at this time, but MLB and whoever makes the embedding decisions in their ranks was kind enough to include this:



I mean, I gotta say, that has to be one of the most memorable catches I've ever seen somebody make in a Metropolitan uniform. Clearly, not being in the regular or post-season diminishes its affect...or maybe it doesn't. For I, as a fan, and for certainly many other fans, a spectacular play from one of our top prospects while the face of the franchise talks about the direction of the franchise on the air (becoming part of the commentary) was maybe just what we needed. 

Even in a (fake) loss, there were reassurances.

den Dekker just needs to start hitting. Then damn. Center field in Citi.


The Heroes of Spring are variant.

Sometimes it's a stoked 1st baseman, who can't wait to play baseball on a regular basis again, putting the Mets on the board with his first SHOT off live in-game practice.

Or a super-utility player, who's been designated here and there, makin' the most of the shot he has got (combining with Travis d'Arnaud for an aggressive double play at the plate.)

Sometimes it's a 23-year-old natural-hitting outfielder looking to be the first in line if the injuries strike.

Or a submariner who is a wild card because of his deception.


And countless others that will make us one day say to each other, "Hey remember the time...?"

Because for most of these players, the current impression is the most impressive impression, and because of that mindset, the baseball instincts that they were born with shine through like they've never shined before, and might never shine again. 

Who knows what is to come of most of these players' careers. But I appreciate seeing them play their hearts out on February 25th.

Man, I'm so happy Mets Baseball is Back.

PLAY. THAT. BALLGAME.
LET'S. GO. METS.

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