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[9]

Both New York teams had incredibly condescending attitudes towards fans when the new ballparks opened. It was truly disconcerting.

[Dan]

Both New York teams had incredibly condescending attitudes towards fans when the new ballparks opened. It was truly disconcerting.

At least the Yanks admitted it & made the view obstructed seats $5. Mets didn't & made people waste money.
The Yankees, I think did a good job on Yankees Stadium. Yankees Stadium has a nice museum/HOF. (The Mets museum opens when fans, like me, call & tell them they are acting like a bunch of pricks.) When you would enter Yankees Stadium, they make it known they have 27 Rings. Mets show no team pride, aside from the retired numbers. They move the pennants to a visible location & add in some photos only in August, after many calls to their office.
The prices are also ridiculous. (That is why I am not looking forward to the Nets moving to Brooklyn. I like my $10 seats in IZOD Center & getting tix for dirt cheap.)

[Dan]

I got in the mail a brochure with info on Season Tickets. I have gotten it in previous seasons, but I noticed this year they have more Benefits & Services.

CURRENT BENEFITS
Same Seats for All Regular Season Games & Postseason Purchase Option
Guaranteed Renewal Option for 2011
Preferred Parking Option
Ticket Transfer through Mets.com & resale through StubHub
Single Game, Non-Baseball Event & Cyclones Pre-Sale
Annual Season Gift
Mets Media Guide
Club Mets Membership

NEW FOR 2010

EXCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES & ACCESS
Behind the Scenes Citi Field Tour, Including the Clubhouse & Dugout, in Dec.
Team Workout Day on April 4
Expanded Club Access
Early Weekend Ballpark Entrance
Port St. Lucie Special Access Privilege
Mets Anthem Search Auditions -  March 9

SPECIAL SAVINGS & OFFERS
Merchandise, & Group Sales Discounts
Extended Automatic Payment Plan
Paul McCartney Citi Field Concert DVD Offer
Sponsor Offers
Discount Offers to "Partner" Attractions
10% off your room rental for Metropolitan Hospitality events at Citi Field
$200 off 2010 Fantasy Camp purchase

ENHANCED APPRECIATION & RECOGNITION
"Thank You" Gift
Mets Yearbook, Mets Magazine Opener Edition
Season Ticket Holder of the Game/Month
"Take the Field with the Mets" Days
Season Ticket Holder Appreciation Day
Season Ticket Holder ID Card

PERSONALIZED SERVICE & COMMUNICATIONS
Dedicated Season Ticket Holder Account Rep
Ticket Services Staff
Season Ticket Holder Page on Mets.com
Targeted Email Messages
Player Chats & Blogs

[Dan]

Frankie's back, but Escobar's shut down
Mets closer to pitch this week; reliever may start year on DL

By Marty Noble.
PORT ST. LUCIE - Come Sat. or Sun. the most critical component in the Mets' BP ought to be in place & functional. K-Rod was back in camp today, due to throw a BP session soon & likely to pitch over the weekend, & to afford some balance to the Mets' day, Escobar was shut down.

Such is the status of the late-inning BP sequence the Mets projected in Jan. Escobar would fill the void in the 8th inning that was created on the last day of July '06, when Duaner Sanchez was injured. Since then, only Putz filled that role, rather briefly last season, with any consistent performance, & now the RP whom Minaya thought would be right for the job, the RP he guaranteed $1.25M, is all but guaranteed to begin the season assigned to the DL because of weakness in his shoulder.

Not that Escobar was expected to be ready for Opening Day once the Mets put an embargo on his pitching last week. He had been throwing, though not on a mound. But now Escobar has taken a step in the other direction. He'll do no more than exercise the shoulder that allowed him to pitch in Winter League games in Dec. Mets' program of prevention & recovery appears to be emphasizing the latter.

At least, & at last, K-Rod has recovered. He returned to camp today wearing sunglasses, not contact lenses, & thoroughly convinced that pink-eye is thoroughly contagious. His case, which began before he arrived to camp on Feb. 19, has cleared up enough that Mets' docs cleared him to resume activity as a member of the team. But K-Rod's 5-month-old daughter (she's a twin) 6 other members of his family & the nanny have pink eye as well, & he's concerned the twin brother may contract the same malady.

"It was awful," K-Rod said. "My eyes were all watery all the time & itchy. I wanted to scratch them out. Now, my little girl. I feel so bad for her. I had my right eye totally closed in every morning for a week when I got up. I had to open it with my fingers. It was disgusting. But now I'm OK, & I don't need that much time." Just no more can go wrong. I want to be ready."

Before camp opened officially, K-Rod said he needed no more than 3 weeks to prepare for the regular season. Now, he has 4.

Why am I nowhere near surprised about Escobar?

[Dan]

Mets, Reyes agree condition not serious
Agent clears up confusion about shortstop's thyroid

By Marty Noble / MLB.com

LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. - After another Mets medical scenario had taken an odd twist, a morning conversation among the Mets' hierarchy, the club's primary physician & an agent representing Reyes put the club & Reyes on the same medical page. And that page suggests Reyes' condition warrants minimal concern.

Reyes' agent, Peter Greenberg, said today tests administered Mon-Tues. in NY determined that his client may have a temporary case of hyperthyroidism or a case so mild that treatment may not be required.

"The Dr. was pleased," Greenberg said. "It's a minimal case of hyperthyroidism. We're all pleased."

Greenberg said as much by telephone today Omar had reaffirmed the statement the club had made last week, that Reyes has elevated thyroid levels & after a morning conference call that involved Minaya, his assistant John Ricco, Jeff Wilpon, Mets lead physician David Altchek & Greenberg's associate Chris Lieble. In the course of that call, the club & the agent agreed they had the same sense about the Reyes's condition, but that the Mets statement on lase & a quote attributed to Reyes by ESPN Deportes were semantically different but "on the same page," according to Greenberg. ESPN Deportes quoted Reyes as having said, "The specialists who took care of me in NY have told me that I'm fine & that there's nothing wrong with my thyroid. The test showed that I'm fine. We just have to wait for the results of the test. The [doctors] found inflammation in my throat, & no medicine to treat the thyroid or any other condition has been prescribed."

The baseball bottom line, i.e., when will Reyes resume his Spring Training, is undetermined, said Minaya today.

I bolded a section for a good reason. When a Met says he is fine, he is injured.

[Dan]

Reyes prescribed rest, likely out for opener
Agent says he could miss 2-8 weeks
By Marty Noble / MLB.com

PORT ST. LUCIE,- Reyes is all but certain to be assigned to the DL when the Mets begin their season on April 5 because his thyroid hormone blood levels are elevated. And because his prognosis is indefinite, he could be prohibited from any sort of physical activity for as long as 8 weeks. He & Beltran may not return until May.

The best the Mets can hope for with their SS & projected #3 batter is for him to play in April. Losing Reyes again is like another kick in the stomach for the team, the 1st one coming last June when he injured his right hamstring. "Not in the stomach," Santana said. "In the coconut. This is tough for him & for us."

"It doesn't look good right now," Minaya said. "With that timeline [of 2-8 weeks], every day that goes by, we have to prepare for that."

Minaya declined to speculate how much time Reyes would need to become game-ready once he is cleared for activity, but it stands to reason the longer Reyes goes without physical activity, the more time he'll need to get in shape. "He's in great shape," Wright said, "but he'll need time to get the feel back."

If Reyes is shut down for 8 weeks, he will need a minimum of 2 weeks of conditioning & playing in the Minors. Minaya pointed out that Reyes arrived at camp last month in what he considered the best physical condition of his career. But now with a chance to be shut down, no physical activity whatsoever, no activity that will increase his heart rate, his condition is apt to regress.

Some players took Reyes' pending absence in stride. After all that beset him & them last season, they are accustomed to negative medical news. Castillo, in particular, was taken aback. "Oh my God! I have to call him."

Others, Cora & Santana among them, looked beyond baseball. "This is his life. This isn't his leg," Santana said. "Until everything is normal, forget baseball."

Cora, Minaya said, is likely to handle most of the SS innings. Rookie Ruben Tejada is likely to serve as Cora's understudy, & Minaya gave no indication the club would pursue another SS.

Were Reyes not a professional athlete, the malady probably wouldn't interfere with his job, MDs told his agent, Peter Greenberg. But he is an energized & superbly conditioned athlete.

"Jose, obviously, is a little bit disappointed that it's going to be a matter of weeks as opposed to days," Greenberg said in a conf. call. "But it's a completely curable, treatable situation. I think we all view it as good news. He is supposed to rest & watch his diet. He's not supposed to do anything that is going to raise the heart level so that the irritation can go down. That's why he's staying at home, to just rest & relax and spend time with his family & watch a lot of movies. He'll be tested on a weekly basis, & hopefully the levels will start [to go] down. The DRs. told us this was the best possible diagnosis & that there is no intervention or medication necessary."

"There is no medication for this," Minaya said. "What we heard from our DRs. & the specialists in this area is that it's just rest for now. The DRs. said that they have no doubt that as long as Jose follows the prescribed treatment, which is rest, he can walk, go shopping, that kind of stuff, but he can't raise his heart rate, as long as he follows the diet, which is no seafood, which he'll do, they have no doubt that the levels will return to normal."

Reyes & Greenberg had anticipated a better outcome. Each has indicated as much in media reports Wednesday. "He is very disappointed, because the initial results said that he could possibly be back in a matter of days," Greenberg said. "We're guilty of speaking a little bit too soon, unfortunately."

Reyes isn't expected to return to Mets headquarters here until he is cleared to resume physical activity. And no one can say with any meaningful degree of certainty when that may be. He won't be medicated & no procedure will be performed. His docs have opted to have rest & a change of diet (no more seafood) to reduce his thyroid levels to normal. Hence the uncertainty. All this came to light today after team DRs shared their recommendations with the Mets' staff after reviewing the results of the latest tests Reyes had undergone.

In a 12:40pm Conf call involving Minaya & Greenberg, the agent revealed the 2-8 week timeframe. The club hadn't put a timeframe on his inactivity in the news release it distributed earlier.

That release said: "The additional blood tests confirmed that Reyes' thyroid hormone blood levels are elevated & he is hyperthyroid. Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek on Wednesday night spoke with Jose & his reps. As prescribed by the MDs & specialists, Jose's treatment plan is to rest, refrain from athletic activity & make changes in his diet. The docs will monitor Jose's thyroid levels through regular blood tests. Once Jose's thyroid levels return to normal, he'll be cleared to resume baseball activities."

Earlier tests, administered Mon & Tues, had indicated Reyes might be cleared to return to active duty this week. The final tests indicated his thyroid levels increased when he did approved physical activity. The thyroid regulates metabolism. Elevated levels, left untreated, may cause more serious medical problems. Reyes said last week he hadn't experienced any abnormal symptoms.

See him in the September.

[Dan]

Cora, Tejada will battle to fill shortstop void for Mets
By MIKE PUMA

PORT ST. LUCIE — Alex Cora is ready if needed.

The veteran utilityman says he is rooting for Reyes to return by Opening Day, but will prepare for the possibility he could be the Mets’ SS on April 5. With Reyes’ early-season availability in question because of an overactive thyroid, Cora & rookie Ruben Tejada will receive long looks for the starting job.

“It’s early enough that Omar & Jerry can make some decisions how we’re going to go with the lineup,” Cora said yesterday.

It was Cora who largely replaced Reyes last season when the latter was placed on the DL in May because of hamstring problems. But Cora’s season concluded in mid-August, when he was placed on the DL & later underwent surgery to repair torn ligaments in both thumbs. In 82 games, Cora hit .251, 1 HR & 18 RBIs. Manuel said he would feel comfortable using Cora as a starter, provided it would be a short-term assignment.

“I would say early-season, that’s very feasible that he could play,” Manuel said. “When you look at his history once the summer months hit, that would be an issue.”

The 20-year-old Tejada spent last season at AA Binghamton, where he hit .289, 5 HRss & 46 RBIs. The Mets like what they have seen from Tejada this spring.

“The good thing is Tejada is playing pretty well, so Jerry is playing him,” Minaya said.

Manuel said if Reyes is cleared to begin baseball activities by late next week (he is already a week into his 2-8 week rest period because testing began 8 days ago) he could be ready for Opening Day. But Minaya acknowledged Reyes’ chances of starting the season with the Mets aren’t good.

I want Cora to be the SS this season because he has played longer & I don't know much about Tejada (He wasn't a Cyclone.)

Also, play Ike Davis over Murphy & Jacobs. For all we know, he could end up a great player.

[ctnets]

Cora... is at the end of his career. he can't hit for squat... And has no range.

[Dan]

One of the many problems the Mets have are their prospects. I was thumbing through some old yearbook & programs today & noticed that most of our "Great Prospects" since 2006 have all been big busts. I think the team puts too much pressure on them.

Lastings Milledge, CF. Total bum, who the team hated. Traded to the Nats for Ryan Church & Brian Schneider. Could have been traded earlier, because the team didn't need a CF while Beltran was in the 2nd year of his 7 year contract. In late September, Wagner placed a sign on his locker which read, "Know Your Place, Rook!"

Carlos Gomez, CF. Played pretty well, great speed, but like Milledge, wasn't needed because of Beltran. Was traded in the deal that brought Johan Santana to NY.

Fernando Martinez, CF. Played well in place of Beltran, but like every other Met in '09, spent time on the DL.

Phillip Humber RHP. Top pitching prospect for the Mets since the days of Scott Kazmir. Pitched 5 games (1 start) for NY as a September call-up. Had his share of arm problems. Also included in the Santana deal.

[DaveB]

I don't think your point is valid here. You traded two of your prospects for the guy that's now your best player. Martinez still has plenty of time and shouldn't be considered anything near a bust. As for Milledge, the Mets got good value for him, so I don't think the results from their prospects are the problem. Reyes and Wright were prospects once, too, and they're now two of the Mets best players.

[Dan]

I don't think your point is valid here. You traded two of your prospects for the guy that's now your best player.

None of them ever became the home-grown stars that people said they would be. In '06, everyone on WFAN was saying stuff like "Gomez is the next Strawberry" "Pelfrey is just like Doc Gooden" Gomez had problems making contact with the ball, Pelf hasn't lived up to his potential.
I am happy we traded Humber & Gomez for Santana.

Milledge, the Mets got good value for him

Good value? Schneider hit like Rey Ordonez.
Church was a great player, until his injury. He never really recovered from it. Trading Church for Jeff Franceour was the only good move Omar made during last season.

Reyes and Wright were prospects once, too, and they're now two of the Mets best players.

You are right about them. They are 2 great players. Both All Stars, Gold & Glovers. Wright is a great hitter, almost won the '06 HR Derby, good leader etc. Reyes has led the league multiple times in SB & triples, always smiling, got speed, and there is more I can think of, but I wasn't discussing those 2. They debuted in '03 & '04. I was talking about prospects since '06.

[DaveB]

I don't think you should be concerned with what the prospects became, but with what the Mets got from them. In that respect, Humber and Gomez panned out very well for you guys. Trading two prospects who haven't become much of anything is certainly better than seeing them become superstars in another uniform.

I would think you'd be happy about basically trading Milledge for Schneider and Franceour It's definitely a great improvement.

The outcomes from each of the prospects as it pertains to the Mets has been very good. You've gotta give Minaya credit in that respect, whether it was good (lack of?) talent recognition in his prospects or just dumb luck, the Mets have benefited from there moves with these guys.

[Dan]

I would think you'd be happy about basically trading Milledge for Schneider and Franceour It's definitely a great improvement.

I was happy to be shot of Milledge, no question about it. I was all for Church as our RF, but I wanted Lo Duca over Schneider.

[EP21]

It's way, way too early to be calling Fernando Martinez a bust. Admittedly, his first stint in the majors was poor, but he's still very young. I still think there's some talent there. He may never be the superstar that the Mets scouts have piped him up to be, but few players ever live to those expectations anyway.

Gomez is actually a good player in Minnesota, so calling him a bust is unfair. He may not hit many homeruns, but he's good in just about every other aspect of the game.

I think the biggest problem here is that the Mets like to overrate their prospects, for whatever reason. The players themselves aren't bad though.

Point is, we need to build our farm system. Fast.

[Dan]

Has anybody else seem to notice that Pelfrey has been having "Adjustment Problems" so many years?
He never seems to get his groove going. He has 1 good outing, gets bombed in the next. He recovers from it & throws like he is the Cy Young Award Winner 4 days later. After that, he balks in 7 runs in the next game, & 5 days later he Ks 10 guys.

The problem with the Mets starters (aside from Johan) is inconstancy.
Ollie Perez can pitch like he did in Game 7 of the '06 NLCS, & in his next start, walks 5 guys in a row.
Maine has had injuries problems since '08. He is not reliable.
Then we rotate our #5 guy between Nieve, Niese & Figueroa.

[Dan]

K-Rod says he might wear red-tinted glasses all season

PORT ST. LUCIE - A few years ago, it would have been hard to imagine K-Rod on the mound without glasses. They were part of what made him not just a RP but a personality, as much a part of his shtick as his post-save celebrations. "It used to be my look, & I'm going to get it back."

After switching to contact lenses in '08, K-Rod went back to his red-tinted glasses in his 1st spring training appearance & because of the conjunctivitis that bothered him for more than 2 weeks early in camp, K-Rod said the glasses might again become a permanent fixture.

"I might use them the rest of the year," he said.

That is, if he can get used to them again. K-Rod said he was still a little uncomfortable in them. The rims of the glasses sometimes block his peripheral vision, causing him to lose sight of the plate momentarily when he starts his delivery. In '03, when he 1st started wearing glasses, K-Rod said he got used to them by wearing them around the house until they felt normal. He might do the same again. Rodriguez said he stopped wearing the glasses, which looked more like goggles, in '08 because they were starting to irritate the skin on his nose & ears. Plus, the manufacturer, Oakley, didn't have his custom-made lenses ready for the start of the season, so he switched to contacts.

He looked weird the last few years without his goggles.

[Dan]

Mets-Marlins series moved to Puerto Rico

A person familiar with the decision tells The AP a 3 game series between the Mets & Marlins in June has been moved from Miami to PR.

The shift to San Juan’s Hiram Bithorn Stadium had been discussed for months pending an agreement between MLB & MLBPA. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the announcement was scheduled for Thursday.

Florida will remain the home team, & the games will be played from June 28-30.

[Dan]

Broke ex-Met Dykstra claims he was victim of 'predatory lending'

Broke ex-Met Lenny "Nails" Dykstra claims he was duped into over-extending himself on the purchase of hockey legend Wayne Gretsky's California mansion.

In a $100M "predatory lending" suit filed this afternoon, the former CF says he had a deal to borrow $17.5M from now-defunct WaMu Bank to buy Gretzky's posh pad at the Sherwood Country Club in Thousand Oaks.

But "without warning, just prior to the close of escrow" in August '07, WaMu said it would only loan the former All-Star $12M, his Manhattan federal court says. Nails, who's suing JPMorgan Chase, which bought out WaMu after it collapsed in the subprime loan crisis, claims his loan officer then "introduced" him to a "'hard money' lender, First Credit Bank." FC offered Nails a 1-year, interest-only loan for $8.5M to cover the difference & also also pay off Nails' loans on some commercial property in Simi Valley.

Although the combined monthly costs, including property taxes, came to $135,000 ($10,000 more than Dykstra's total income at the time) WaMu "was willing to proceed with this untenable transaction," the suit says. Dykstra says he agreed to the deal because he believed WaMu would arrange to re-finance the First Credit loan within 60 days, based on assurances from the loan officer, who allegedly "created a special relationship with (Dykstra) that went beyind simply a lender-borrower relationship." But after the closing, the re-financing fell through & Dykstra was forced to sell off promissory notes he held on a chain of California car washes, leaving him with losses of approximately $100M, the suit says.

Shame how he went downhill. He was a helluva player.

[Dan]

Niese, Nieve could battle through spring training for spot in Mets rotation

PORT ST. LUCIE - At the beginning of spring training, Manuel sounded as if he was ready to pencil Jonathon Niese into the #5 spot in the starting rotation. Now, midway through the Grapefruit League schedule, his tone is not so enthusiastic. Neither Niese nor RH Fernando Nieve (the two leading candidates) has set himself apart from a pack that also includes LH Hisanori Takahashi & Figueroa.

Jerry expects the competition to last until just before the team breaks camp. "I'd like to see them continue to compete for that. I'd really like us to go down to the wire."

Niese has a 7.04ERA in 7-2/3 innings of work, while Nieve has a 6.00ERA over 9. The 2 have taken turns starting & relieving 1 another since pitching in separate SSG (split-squad games) in their spring debut, but as the starters begin to stretch out deeper into games, Jerry is going to have to be creative to get Niese & Nieve their innings.

Both will be able to start Sunday when the team plays SSG at home against the University of Michigan & on the road against the Astros, but Jerry also would like to give Takahashi a start as spring training winds down. Jerry said Takahashi isn't just a fallback option if Nieve & Niese don't pan out, but he does have a smaller window of time to show he can be the 5th starter.

"When he starts, it depends on the time in spring training & the lineup he matches up against & how well that particular team is swinging," Jerry said. "We have to try to get him as close to what we might see in the regular season."

Based on results so far, Takahashi, a LH who has shown command with all of his pitches, is the top candidate for the job. "What we have seen so far is he really has the ability to pitch & pitch with all his pitches," Jerry said. "He probably is our sharpest P right now, as far as everything hitting where he wants it to hit."

Niese hasn't been overly disappointed in his results so far because the biggest thing for him is showing he is healthy. Jerry liked what he saw from Niese in his 2nd of 2 call-ups to the majors last season before a torn hamstring ended his season Aug. 5. The LH was 1-1 with a 4.21 ERA in 5 starts but showed his best stuff in a July 25 win over Houston in which he allowed just 4 hits & 1 run in 7 innings. He had made 2 starts in May when Perez went on the DL with knee problems.

"I guess they say spring training numbers don't mean anything," Niese said. "I want to get outs, put up all 0s, but that doesn't happen all the time. As long as I'm healthy, I'm happy."

All things being equal, the organization seems to prefer the idea of Niese making the rotation as a promising young prospect. Nieve could pitch in any role in the bullpen & Takahashi could serve as a long reliever. If Niese doesn't earn the #5 spot he will start in AAA Buffalo, & in that case both Nieve & Takahashi, who signed a minor-league deal, likely would make the Opening Day roster. Nieve, the only 1 of the 3 who is out of options, would have to clear waivers before being sent to the minors.

"I am ready for whatever they want me to do," said Nieve, who went 3-3 with a 2.95 ERA in 8 games (7 starts) last year. "If they want me for the BP or rotation, I am ready. I hope to be on the team is the only part that I want. If they keep me in the rotation I am excited about that because I wanna be a starter, but in the BP I will keep doing my job like before."

Jerry said he will decide who the starter is before figuring out the BP, but the BP's needs may play a factor. "I'd say it's very close. Just like I mentioned early in spring, I think a lot might depend on how our bullpen shapes up as well. If we feel Nieve can fit there & make us better there, & if it's a flip of the coin, we are going to try to take the best 11 or 12 pitchers we have."

So Jerry is worried about our #5 pitcher.
I am worried about our #2, #3, & #4 pitchers.

[Dan]

Anderson Hernandez was claimed off waivers by the Indians.

I'm happy he is gone. He was a total waste.