VKMHVM2

The unis they had in the 1995-1997 seasons were very underrated. It was a classic look not unlike the 1969 uniform.

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It's All Here!

Dr. Albert Pastore: An Independent Investigation of 9-11 and the War on Terrorism

Kanadesaga

Perez lights-out against Nationals
Wright drives in two as Mets put up four runs in fifth inning
By Bill Ladson / MLB.com
03/17/2008 3:55 PM ET


METS 7, NATIONALS 3
at Viera, Fla.
Monday, March 17

Mets at the plate: Damion Easley drove in the game's first run with a sacrifice fly to center field. New York added four more runs in the fifth inning. David Wright highlighted the scoring with a two-run single.


Nationals at the plate: Dmirti Young scored the Nationals' first run of the game on a fielder's choice in the fifth inning. Ryan Zimmerman drove in the second run with a single in the sixth. An inning later, Garrett Guzman scored the third run on a double by Wil Nieves.

Mets on the mound: Left-hander Oliver Perez pitched five innings and gave up one unearned run. He struck out five batters and walked none. Right-hander Joe Smith gave up a run in his only inning on the mound.

Nationals on the mound: Left-hander Mike O'Connor lasted 4 2/3 innings and gave up five runs -- four earned -- on seven hits. Right-hander Brian Sanches didn't give up a run in 1 1/3 innings.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 13-7-1, Nationals 8-12-2.

Up next for the Nationals: They travel to Lakeland, Fla., to play the Tigers on Tuesday at 1:05 p.m. ET. Washington right-hander Tim Redding will face Detroit right-hander Jeremy Bonderman.

Up next for the Mets: They have Tuesday off but return Wednesday to Port St. Lucie, Fla., to play the Indians at 7:10 p.m. New York right-hander John Maine will face Cleveland left-hander Aaron Laffey.

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Kanadesaga

Mets' Maine attraction stars in win
Starter allows one run and fans seven in 5 2/3 innings
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com


METS 3, INDIANS 1
at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Wednesday, March 19

Indians at the plate: Left fielder Jason Michaels appeared to spark the Indians with a solo homer in the first inning, but the team could muster little else off Mets starter John Maine. Few Indians regulars made the two-hour trip east to Port St. Lucie, though Asdrubal Cabrera and Victor Martinez each racked up two hits.

Mets at the plate: While regular catcher Brian Schneider and primary backup Ramon Castro both sat on the bench with injuries, Raul Casanova made the most of his opportunity, finishing with two hits and an RBI. Damion Easley put the Mets in the lead for the first time when he scored on an error. Infielder Ruben Gotay, making his first appearance back since spraining his right ankle, struck out in his only at-bat.

Indians on the mound: Aaron Laffey quieted the Mets for five innings, holding them to one run in his strongest Grapefruit League outing to date. Laffey allowed five hits, striking out one batter and walking another. Jeremy Sowers took the loss after allowing two runs (one earned) in three innings.

Mets on the mound: Relying on an improved changeup, Maine struck out seven Indians over 5 2/3 innings, limiting them to a single run. Reliever Joe Smith, struggling this spring but still hoping to earn a roster spot, entered the game with two men on base and struck out the only batter he faced. Right-hander Aaron Heilman pitched in and out of a jam in the seventh, striking out three batters.

Grapefruit League records: Indians 9-12-1, Mets 14-7-1

Up next for the Indians: Coming off two disappointing Grapefruit League outings, Paul Byrd will look to improve on Thursday in a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Rays. Also scheduled to pitch for the Indians are relievers Masa Kobayashi, Tom Mastny, Rafael Perez and Jorge Julio. Right-hander Jason Hammel will start for the Rays.

Up next for the Mets: Continuing his effort to be ready for Opening Day, setup man Duaner Sanchez will attempt to pitch on Thursday for the second time in three games. He'll follow Johan Santana in a 7:10 p.m. ET game against the Orioles, which is also scheduled to feature bullpen cogs Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Pedro Feliciano. Right-hander Jon Leicester will start for the Orioles.

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Kanadesaga

Santana goes six scoreless vs. O's
Left-hander allows five hits and a walk while fanning seven
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
03/20/2008 10:04 PM ET

METS 7, ORIOLES 0
at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Thursday, March 20

Orioles at the plate: Though Aubrey Huff and Scott Moore each singled twice off Mets starter Johan Santana, the rest of the Orioles could do little against the lefty. Shortstop Luis Hernandez was the only other Oriole to touch Santana, hitting a double in the third.

Mets at the plate: The Mets consistently put men on base against Orioles starter Jon Leicester, though only two of those runners -- Jose Reyes in the first and Santana in the second -- crossed the plate. Santana's run came after the former American League hurler drilled a double into the gap in right-center field, good for his first hit of the spring. The Mets broke the game open in the eighth inning, when Gustavo Molina and Fernando Tatis each hit two-run doubles.

Orioles on the mound: Leicester pitched into the fourth inning for the first time this spring, allowing two runs on six hits and four walks. More impressive was reliever Greg Aquino, who inherited two runners and stranded them both, pitching 2 1/3 scoreless innings in total. Aquino lowered his spring ERA to 2.16.

Mets on the mound: Seven strikeouts highlighted Santana's strongest Grapefruit League outing to date, and five hits were the only blemishes on his otherwise spotless night. Santana didn't allow a run, and walked only one Orioles batter. Reliever Duaner Sanchez, in his second appearance of the week, pitched one shutout inning.

Grapefruit League records: Orioles 8-11-2, Mets 15-7-1

Up next for the Orioles: The Orioles trek back up Florida's east coast on Friday, with Jeremy Guthrie looking to continue his strong spring against the Cardinals. Over his past two outings, Guthrie has allowed one run in seven innings. He'll start Friday's 1:05 p.m. ET game in Jupiter, Fla., opposite Cards ace Adam Wainwright.

Up next for the Mets: Pedro Martinez will make his second Grapefruit League start on Friday, after shining in his first outing last week. He'll continue to work on his endurance in a 1:10 p.m. ET game against the Nationals, with relievers Matt Wise, Pedro Feliciano and Scott Schoeneweis also scheduled to pitch. Lefty Matt Chico will start for the Nats in place of John Patterson, who was cut from the roster on Thursday.

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Kanadesaga

Homers sting Perez in loss to Tribe
Starter taken deep four times in five innings
By Anthony Castrovince / MLB.com
03/22/2008 3:35 PM ET

INDIANS 5, METS 2
at Winter Haven, Fla.
Saturday, March 22

Indians at the plate: The Indians got homer-happy against Oliver Perez on this gloomy, rain-filled afternoon, in which the game was called after seven innings. Victor Martinez hit a leadoff shot to left field in the second inning. In the fourth, Asdrubal Cabrera, Casey Blake and Ben Francisco all went deep.

Mets at the plate: The Mets' bats were quiet early. They didn't get on the board until Carlos Beltran hit a solo homer off Scott Elarton in the sixth. Beltran sent the ball hurtling into the condo development that borders the Chain of Lakes facility.

Indians on the mound: Cliff Lee might have wrapped up the fifth starter's job with his performance. He went five scoreless innings, allowing four hits and a walk while striking out five. Aaron Laffey and Jeremy Sowers will pitch Monday against the Braves, but the No. 5 job will probably go to Lee. Elarton, vying for the final spot in the bullpen, gave up the Beltran homer and nothing else in an inning of work.

Mets on the mound: Perez was elevating his pitches, as evidenced by the four jacks he served up in five innings of work. In all, he was responsible for five runs on seven hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

Grapefruit League records: Indians 11-12-2; Mets 16-8-1.
Up next for the Indians: For one last time Sunday, the Indians and Tigers will face each other in a game that doesn't count, before their expected battle for the AL Central title begins in earnest. Right-hander Fausto Carmona will get the 1:05 p.m. ET start in Lakeland, Fla., opposite right-hander Jeremy Bonderman. Tom Mastny, Rafael Perez, Jensen Lewis and Joe Borowski are also scheduled to pitch for the Tribe.

Up next for the Mets: With only a week's worth of Spring Training games left to play, Orlando Hernandez -- new windup and all -- will make his Grapefruit League debut against the Cardinals on Sunday. And if the fifth starter's battle wasn't already planted at the center of manager Willie Randolph's consciousness, it will be now. Scheduled to follow El Duque to the mound is Mike Pelfrey, who has posted a 5.54 ERA over four Grapefruit League starts while gunning for the fifth starter's role all spring. Right-hander Todd Wellemeyer will start for the Cards in the 1:10 p.m. game at Tradition Field.

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Kanadesaga

El Duque struggles in debut vs. Cards
Veteran right-hander allows five runs in three innings
By Marty Noble / MLB.com
03/23/2008 4:10 PM ET


CARDINALS 14, METS 4
at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Sunday, March 23

Cardinals at the plate: After a four-pitch walk by Albert Pujols, Rick Ankiel hit the first pitch he saw from Mets starter Orlando Hernandez for a two-run home run in the third inning. A third run subsequently scored on a groundout by Yadier Moilina. Chris Duncan singled in two runs in the first inning.

Mets at the plate: Ryan Church , facing right-hander Todd Wellemeyer, doubled home Carlos Delgado in the second inning for his first RBI of the spring. Delgado had doubled sharply to left and advanced to third on an infield out, running well on the double.

Cardinals on the mound:Wellemeyer, who is slated to open the season as the team's No. 2 starter, allowed two hits, two walks and a run in his four innings.

Mets on the mound: El Duque was, at best, underwhelming. His fastball topped out at 85 mph, and he threw merely 38 strikes among his 69 pitches. He was expected to pitch four or five innings but lasted only three, allowing five runs on four hits and two walks. He hit a batter and was behind most of the 16 hitters he faced.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 16-9-1, Cardinals 13-10-2

Up next for the Cardinals: The Cardinals make their last Grapefruit League road trip of the year on Monday, and it's a long one. They trek across the state to play the Twins in Fort Myers, Fla., with Brad Thompson the scheduled starting pitcher. Pujols won't be on the trip, but Troy Glaus, Ankiel, Duncan and Colby Rasmus are all scheduled to go. The game begins at 12:05 p.m. CT.

Up next for the Mets: John Maine will make his sixth start of the spring Monday against the Orioles in Fort Lauderdale in a 1:15 p.m. ET game. He has been the most impressive Mets starter in the camp, scouts and teammates agree.

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Free all Political prisoners. Now.

Kanadesaga

Mets cruise as Maine stifles Orioles
Castillo drives in only run to back righty's latest spring gem
By Spencer Fordin / MLB.com
03/24/2008 3:40 PM ET


METS 1, ORIOLES 0
at Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Monday, March 24

Mets at the plate: Second baseman Luis Castillo was the only Met to rack up a hit in the first six innings, and he wound up with two of them. His second hit, an opposite-field flare to right field, scored the game's first run. Center fielder Brady Clark drew a walk in the third inning, and right fielder Ryan Church singled in the seventh.

Orioles at the plate: Baltimore didn't do much on offense Monday, and right fielder Nick Markakis was the only player to get a hit in the first six innings. Left fielder Luke Scott walked once and struck out once. Second baseman Brian Roberts struck out twice in his first three at-bats, and shortstop Luis Hernandez struck out and grounded out.

Mets on the mound: John Maine was all but unhittable for the road team, as he threw six innings of one-hit ball and struck out six batters. Maine kept the Orioles from even reaching scoring position and lowered his spring ERA to 1.85.

Orioles on the mound: Adam Loewen had perhaps his most impressive start of the spring season on Monday, when he worked through five innings and allowed just two hits. Loewen walked three batters and had three strikeouts. Jim Johnson and Jamie Walker both worked scoreless innings in relief.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 17-9-1; Orioles 8-14-2;

Mets up next: The Mets will take on the Braves in Port St. Lucie, Fla., on Tuesday at 1:10 p.m. ET, and southpaw Jon Niese will start against Atlanta's Tim Hudson. New York is 9-4-1 at home so far during the Grapefruit League schedule.

Orioles up next: The Orioles will play their second-to-last home game of the Grapefruit League season on Thursday, as Jon Leicester will start against Florida southpaw Scott Olsen. The game will kick off at 1:05 p.m. ET, and Baltimore will play two road games and one home game after that before they head home to Camden Yards.

__________________
Free all Political prisoners. Now.

Kanadesaga

Arroyo lifts Mets past Braves
Catcher's opposite-field single drives in winner in ninth
By Marty Noble / MLB.com
03/25/2008 4:05 PM ET

METS 5, BRAVES 4
at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008

Braves at the plate: Corky Miller walked with the bases loaded to drive in the Braves' first run, in the fourth inning. Miller finished with two RBIs. Martin Prado reached base four times, scoring two runs.

Mets at the plate: Raul Casanova, the reserve catcher if Ramon Castro doesn't return before Opening Day, hit a home run off Tim Hudson in the third inning. The home run was the Mets' 13th, by far the fewest among National League teams. Carlos Beltran finished with two runs scored. Rafael Arroyo drove in the winning run in the ninth inning with an opposite-field single.

Braves on the mound: Hudson, in his final start of the spring, allowed three runs, one earned, in 3 1/3 innings. He walked two, struck out two and allowed a home run, the first he has allowed. Former Mets reliever Ring was undone by poor defense before he was replaced by Rafael Soriano.

Mets on the mound: Jonathon Niese pitched into the fifth inning, allowing two hits and two runs and walking six. Ivan Maldonado replaced him and allowed two runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 18-9-1; Braves 13-13-2.

Up next for the Braves: Right-hander Jeff Bennett, the one-time Brewer, who is to be the Braves' long reliever and spot starter, is to make his second exhibition game start when he faces the Nationals in Orlando at 1:05 p.m. ET. He has produced a 2.70 ERA in 10 innings this spring.

Up next for the Mets: With Pedro Martinez pitching against Minor Leaguers on Wednesday morning -- the Mets didn't consider it wise to have him face the team he will in the season's second game -- they will start one of their more highly-regarded Minor League pitchers against the Marlins in the afternoon. Bobby Parnell, 23 and right-handed, will start in the 1:10 p.m. game, the Mets' final home game of the exhibition season.

__________________
Free all Political prisoners. Now.

Kanadesaga

Mets announce three roster moves
Gotay, Register find new homes; Hernandez sent to Triple-A
By Marty Noble / MLB.com

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- The Mets announced three roster moves on Friday as the team wrapped up Grapefruit League action against the Orioles, beginning with second baseman Ruben Gotay, who was claimed by the Braves. (Shit I liked him!!)

New York also optioned second baseman Anderson Hernandez to Triple-A New Orleans and returned right-hander Steven Register, a Rule 5 Draft pick, back to the Rockies

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Free all Political prisoners. Now.

Kanadesaga

Civil Rights Game special to Randolph
Mets manager believes experience will be emotional
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
03/27/2008 10:00 AM ET

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Most of his players now dressed and gone, New York City's first black Major League manager stood alone in his office at Tradition Field, whittling away the hours of another afternoon. Beside him, various charts broke down his current roster of Mets. There were decisions to be made about that roster, and preparations to complete for the upcoming season. But right now, more pressing issues vexed him.

"Think about it," Willie Randolph said, in a tone more amazed than confused. "I'm the first African-American manager in New York. You wouldn't think that, really. People talk about how far we've come. That just shows that we still have a long way to go."

The issue is deeply personal to Randolph, whose very livelihood has depended on a man he's never met, and a battle he's rarely had to fight. By the time Randolph was old enough to fully understand the scope of the civil rights movement, its greatest injustices had already been repaired. Randolph never had to drink from a separate water fountain or sleep in a separate hotel. Yet the fight is not complete, and so Randolph still burns.

He often considers what it would have been like to grow up in that era, when his skin alone would have transformed so many aspects of his life. He cringes at the thought. That's why for Randolph, this Saturday's Civil Rights Game has become so charged with meaning. There, in Memphis, at the site of Martin Luther King Jr.'s death, Randolph will be forced to pause and consider a past he never had to endure.

"It's going to be an education for all of us," Randolph said. "It's something that should be very interesting to go there and get a little knowledge about really what it was like, and to feel it and see it. That's for all my players -- African-American, Latin-American players that we have here. It should be something that we should look forward to."

Randolph's only exposure to King came from the dusty pages of textbooks and the grainy frames of documentaries. That wasn't much. Yet the more he began to discover what this world was all about, the more he realized how much that one man meant, how much that one man's life affected his own. Born into some other era, into some other culture, Randolph might never have seen his big league dream come true.

Standing here in Florida, in his bright blue Mets jacket, Randolph can visualize all that, but he can't help but feel some sort of disconnect. Here, he can open his eyes and see an empty office, some chairs in the corner, the names of his players hanging on the wall. Here, he can consider the past, but snap back to the present whenever he sees fit.

Not in Memphis this weekend, when a different sort of reality will engulf him.

"It's going to be kind of emotional for me to be there, and, in my mind, think about what it must have been like being there back then," Randolph said. "I try to transform myself in my mind, and I think that once I get there, I'll get a better sense for that."


His Mets will travel to Memphis on Friday, in preparation for what's now become an annual event. Created last spring to help honor the movement in which baseball played a noteworthy role, the Civil Rights Game -- scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. ET with live coverage on MLB.TV and a pregame show on BaseballChannel.TV beginning at 4 ET -- will take place this year between the Mets and White Sox, two teams brimming with minority players and personnel.

Randolph's role in all that remains significant. More than three years ago he became the first black man ever to manage a New York baseball team -- Yankees, Mets, Giants and Dodgers included -- and he's since become an ambassador of sorts for a game that's lost a foothold in the black community. Young blacks are turning to baseball at decreasing rates, and that's a problem Randolph does not take lightly.

When the sport chose to honor Jackie Robinson, its own civil rights leader, last April on the 60th anniversary of his breaking the sport's color barrier, Randolph filed one of the first requests to wear Robinson's No. 42. He spoke that day of what the honor meant to him, of how he hoped that today's children would continue to follow the path blazed by one of baseball's foremost icons.

This weekend will give Randolph, along with the rest of baseball, another outlet to express those sentiments. Taking the opportunity to escort his interested players to the National Civil Rights Museum in Memphis, Randolph will view the weekend trip quite differently than he does any other game. This one, clearly, is not about baseball. It's about an issue that has been central to the entire world for centuries, and that will continue to burn long after the Mets pack their bags and fly back to Florida for Opening Day.

"It's something that should be acknowledged and honored and brought to the forefront," Randolph said. "But it should always be there. It shouldn't just be periodically, we just kind of do it and then OK, we wait a little while and do it again. It's something that should always be in the consciousness of people."

Randolph has fixed it in his consciousness more than most, which explains why he's so eager to take part in this game. Why he hopes to find some young black fans in Memphis, to talk to them and attempt to spur their interest in baseball. Every little bit helps.

"I think it's part of my obligation," Randolph said. "It's not about really carrying a torch or anything like that. But I do feel a sense of being a part of Jackie's legacy, and, in a different way, Martin's, because of the impact he made on the society. We're trying to inspire young people to achieve, and to grow and to work toward their goals."

He waved his hands as he spoke, emphasizing the point. Here in his office, amidst tangible proof of his success, Randolph hasn't forgotten what these issues mean to his own life. He worked for this, yes, but he also had an opportunity that other black men never had. That's something he won't soon forget.

"I'm a living example of hard work and perseverance and really just dreaming about what you want," Randolph said. "Martin talks about his dream. I had a dream too, and it came true. It really came true."

__________________
Free all Political prisoners. Now.