Loyal Visitors, Authors, and those who are here for the first time….it’s almost time!

Can you feel it? The 2009 season is truly upon us….I don’t think I have ever been so anxious for a season to start in all of the years of my being a fan of this incredible game. As a Mets fan, I have much to witness the season…new stadium…new closer…new setup man….and some newfound hope in the team I love…

Besides Mr. Perez…I get a good vibe overall with this team. I plan on attending opening day and I will be posting pictures here on the blog of course. I encourage everyone who writes here to do the same! We love to see images from any games attended!

Anyway, on a more general note, let’s get this season kicked off right….I would like to open this post up to comments about why you simply CANNOT WAIT for this 2009 baseball season to finally begin….

So go ahead…tell the world why you are pumped for this season to get underway…

Hello All,

I haven’t been able to post much in the last few days because I am away on business, in a place that just crawls with fans of the team I love to hate…of course they sent me to Philadelphia!

As I sit here watching the local news I cant avoid hearing about Park, Happ, and other Phillies news…Driving here I look up and see a whole heap of Jimmy Rollins ad’s and a whole bunch of ravenous Phillies fans everywhere!

I felt is would be best to leave my Mets gear at home as the locals clearly wouldnt have appreciated me marching around in anything even resembling a Mets Hat or Jersey.

Anyways, I will be continuing my Mets posts tomorrow and I cant wait to get back on track!

As for the blog…we have had a ton more applications for author spots, but most of the applicants were for teams who were already taken! Like I promised, one author per team!

I received a pre-release copy of Bernie Williams’ new CD and I will be writing a review of it on the blog shortly. I was contacted by the record company responsible for Bernies music and I asked if Bernie would do a brief interview here…he just might! I’ll let you know!

All the best,

Jeff

That comeback was awesome! I am not the biggest fan of the WBC….but man was that awesome…

9th inning comeabcks are never out of style, and they are especially awesome when David Wright caps it off!

Let’s Go U.S,A!

Hello All,

Well the site is 1 month old! (Happy Birthday!)

We have achieved some incredible things in this first month, but whats most impressive is the awesome insight being supplied by our incredible authors. We have turned down nearly 120 applications for teams who are already filled. This brings our total application count to date up near 150.

As for visitors, 10,000 in month 1. 10,000 people have seen this site in 1 month, and its only Pre-Season! We are really getting ready for the regular season and we are about to announce some incredible news as well. (Coming soon)

Hey even Bernie Williams record label contacted us to post a review of his upcoming record! We are writing that right now and it will appear here soon! Hey, maybe Bernie will do a guest spot here on the blog too!

I will be sure to kep everyone up to date on all progress, I cannot wait for month 2!

Again, this site is here for 1 reason, to let true fans of the sport speak their minds. 1 author per team, its that simple. We do hope you have enjoyed month 1’s content, I can promise an even stronger month 2.

All the best,

- Jeff – Mets Co-Author and Site Admin

The Mets have a healthy Church back this year (hopefully for good!) and the outlook (in this Mets fan opinion) is very bright. Church is solid defensively, he hustles, and gets to the majority of the catchable balls hit his way. He brings a certain silent inteinsity to the Mets

Healthy and Ready for 2009!

I’d say based off last year he can hit around .300 with 20-23 homers 85 RBI. These numbers are obviously only an estimate, but one is left to wonder how he would have finished last season had he not been injured…

With Church back in the lineup the Mets will be more formidable for sure. I am truly looking forward to the 2009 season!

Coming Next…Center Field.

Well we all know about the Mets at the Shortstop position….Jose…Jose..Jose..Joseeeee!  None other than Jose Reyes. This guy is a true pleasure to watch and will continue to be this season.

Less Swipes More RBI's?

Well there’s no telling how Jose Reyes will do because he just got back from playing in WBC. While in WBC, he only was 1-9. Jose will bat third in lineup according to Jerry Manuel. Luis Castillo has had pretty good spring training so far as the leadoff hitter, there’s no telling if this something that’s going to carry over into the regular season.

Overall I will look for a better fielding year for Jose this year, and one can expect him to show off the cannon early and often. I expect a dip in Stolen Bases, and a bit of a higher average than last season. More Home runs, and RBI’s is a given (I feel).

God forbid he gets injured…There’s a couple of young guys who are in development for the backup position. There’s a youngster by the name of Wilmer Flores, who’s only 16-17 years old. Then there’s the Reese Havens who’s been seeing some playing time while Jose was playing in WBC.

Coming Up next….Right Field.

First, I see David Wright during spring training as I live in Port Saint Lucie. The first thing everyone needs to know is he is the first player to show up in spring, usually one of the earliest to the spring traing facility, and usually one of the guys last to leave practice.

The Wright Stuff in 2009

It all depends on where in the line up he hits. He may hit 2nd if Reyes is moved to the 3rd slot in the line up. If that is the case, you may see a decrease in RBI production and see an increase in stolen bases and runs; a season more like 2006. His home run production is very high, his highest home run total is 33, but in the two slot he still will hit closer to 30 home runs rather than seeing an increase from last year. If the two slot is where he plays, I think his stats will be as follows: 310 avg, 31hr., and 110 RBI’s with approximately 35 stolen bases.

If Wright is in the 3 slot he will have more men on base on average so his RBI chances will increase and his batting average will certainly increase. His stats then will be: 320 avg, 35 hr., and 125 RBI’s with around 15 stolen bases.

His stats really depend on how well Luis Castillo plays because he will hit lead off if they move Reyes out of the lead of spot. Or if the Mets leave Reyes in the lead off slot and they bat Daniel Murphy in the two slot as they did near the end of last season which was very productive, Wright will produce certain numbers without help but generally players have big seasons when players in front of them get on base and they are followed in the line up by big or bigger bats(Carlos Delgado and Carlos Beltran).

The one thing for sure is this: David Wright is only going to get better! Players generally hit their full or peak baseball ability generally around 27-30 years old.

If David Wright has a season ending injury the answer to who will replace him at third is clear. Daniel Murphy is a natural third baseman, he played 3B until mid last year and was converted to a 2b then an outfielder so he could make the big club. If David Wright wasn;t in the Mets organization, Daniel Murphy might have already been at third base. Daniel Murphy would be a starting 3B on many big league clubs right now. Ramon Martinez also has played 3b during spring training and likely will either be on the big club as a part time player or be down in triple A awaiting a call up when someone needs a day off or injuries occur. He would be a back up on third either way. Also, I think Jose Valentin has played some third base in spring training and he may be doing so as a utility player option during the season if he makes the team.

Well, the Mets are stuck with Luis Castillo because his contract is un-tradeable and un-eatable.

To his credit, he showed up to camp lighter and in better shape than last year and was saying all the right things about dedicating himself to have a good year. So far, his numbers look pretty good in spring and, at 33, it’s not like he’s too old to come back from injuries.

Better in 2009?

Honestly though, how much do you expect to get out of Second Base? If Wright, Delgado, Beltran and Jose can all stay healthy, then it’s not like Castillo has to have an MVP year to be respectable. If he can hit around .270 (which is 20 points below his career average), take some pitches so Jose can run, and play adequate defense, the Mets should be in very good shape.

If Castillo can’t handle it, then expect Alex Cora to platoon with a kid from the minors or a waiver wire pickup.

Hello All,

I have been answering emails al ot lately, I have to tell you we have some passionate visitors!

This question came up 3 times, so I’ll post it here.

Will the Phillies Repeat in 2009? In your opinion of course…

Well I love answering reader questions! So let’s go!

As a Mets fan, my answer is NO! Ok, Ok just kidding. Let’s have a fair talk here.

Repeat? Not in my opinion!

The Phillies were definately a surprise in 2008, they had the fight and the edge that brought them through all the way to the end of a very long and tough season. The Mets faltered as usual, and
there you had it, the Phillies were the champs. They phought the tough phight and won (Phillies plug haha).

This season will be very different though. Even as a Mets fan, I feel the champ will come out of the AL this year. I do not feel the Phillies will win the East again, but may sneak is as the wild card.
The talent it still there, and the heart as well, but I simply dont see a repeat coming.

Again, I would go into more details, but I want to leave the floor open to you, the reader, and you the wonderful authors here at MajorLeagueBlogging.com.

So…Let’s hear it!