Mets claim OF Jason Pridie from Twins

3:54 PM By David Lennon

Here's the official release from the team:

The New York Mets today announced that they claimed outfielder Jason Pridie off waivers from the Minnesota Twins.  To make room on the 40-man roster, the team designated righthanded pitcher Jack Egbert for assignment.

Pridie, 26, appeared in one game for Minnesota last season, entering as a pinch-runner on June 20.  He spent the rest of the season playing with Rochester (AAA) of the International League, hitting .265 (136-513) with nine home runs and 53 RBI in 121 games. 

Originally drafted by Tampa Bay in the second round of the 2002 First Year Player Draft, Pridie went to the Twins in a six-player trade headlined by outfielder Delmon Young and righthanded pitcher Matt Garza on November 28, 2007.  The 6-1, 205-pound Pridie made his major league debut the next season and appeared in 10 games. 

The team claimed Egbert off waivers from Chicago (AL) on September 25, 2009.  The righthander did not appear in a game for the Mets last season.

Mets claim trimming wall is "aesthetic" move

3:24 PM By David Lennon

Wary of the perception of any change to their second-year ballpark, the Mets insisted today that shortening the 16-foot wall in front of the Home Run Apple will be done for "aesthetic" purposes and not to increase longball totals at Citi Field.

The team's explanation does seem to make sense in this case. That wall is 408 feet from home plate anyway, so it's not like there were dozens of deep drives that were kept inside the park by the oversized cutout. After the cosmetic change, the centerfield wall will have a more uniform height of eight feet before it stretches to the taller boundaries in right and left field. The distances from the plate will remain the same.

Lowering the CF wall at Citi. But why?

11:28 AM By David Lennon

Now that the Mets have confirmed that the 16-foot cutout in front of the Home Run Apple will be split in half to be uniform with the remainder of the eight-foot high centerfield wall, the question is why. Such a small alteration is not going to make much of a difference in the home-run production at Citi Field, even though I do recall David Wright knocking a couple of deep drives off that cutout -- much to his frustration.

At the very least, the wall will look better -- and less like the Batmobile from that campy 60s TV show. With the black and orange, it's an uncanny resemblance, right?

Murphy, Hernandez already working out in PSL

8:34 AM By David Lennon

As Newsday reported on Sunday, Keith Hernandez will tutor Daniel Murphy this spring, and the two already have begun working out at the team's minor-league complex in Port St. Lucie. Hernandez, an 11-time Gold Glove winner, lives in nearby Jupiter and spends plenty of time around the Mets anyway as an SNY analyst.

With Carlos Delgado unable to move well enough, the Mets have shelved their attempts to sign him, and a person familiar with the team's thinking also said that Adrian Gonzalez never was open for discussion with the Padres. Instead, the team was forced to turn to Murphy, and getting Hernandez to help him defensively should make a difference.

The Mets believe that Murphy did a decent job after his abrupt switch from leftfield to first base, and with a full spring training under his belt, they think he should be more than adequate at the position.

Mookie's back

Monday February 8, 2010 3:18 PM By David Lennon

The Mets' efforts to build a bridge back to their glory days continued today when they announced that Mookie Wilson will return as a minor-league outfield/base-running coordinator. Here's the official release from the team:

The New York Mets today announced that Mookie Wilson has returned to the organization as the team’s minor league outfield and base running coordinator.  Wilson, a former Mets player, coach and minor league manager, was last with the club in 2005 as the manager of the Brooklyn Cyclones (A) of the New York-Penn League.

“It’s good to be back,” said Wilson, 53, who makes his home in Eastover, SC.  “This is where I started and I’m anxious to do whatever I can for the young kids in our system.”

The club also announced that Bob Melvin, a former major league catcher and manger, will join the organization as a professional scout, Guy Conti has been named a Senior Advisor in the Minor League Department, and Frank Fultz has been named the Rehabilitation Pitching Coordinator.  Melvin caught 10 years in the majors with the Tigers, Giants, Orioles, Royals, Red Sox, Yankees, and White Sox.  He managed the Seattle Mariners from 2003-2004 and the Arizona Diamondbacks from 2005 to May 8, 2009.  Last year, Conti, a former Mets bullpen coach, was the team’s Rehabilitation Pitching Coordinator, while Fultz was the pitching coach for the Gulf Coast (R) Mets.  Fultz was the Atlanta Braves strength and conditioning coach from 1992-2008.

Wilson was an outfielder with the Mets from 1980-1989.  He ranks second on the team’s all-time list in stolen bases (281) and triples (62), fourth in hits (1,112), runs (592) and at-bats (4,027) and sixth in games played (1,116).

Wilson is best remembered for perhaps the most memorable at-bat in franchise history, dodging a two-ball, two-strike wild pitch from Boston pitcher Bob Stanley in the 10^th inning of Game Six of the 1986 World Series that enabled Kevin Mitchell to score the tying run.  Then he hit a ground ball that trickled under first baseman Bill Buckner’s glove, allowing Ray Knight to come home with the winning run and force a Game Seven that the Mets would win to capture their second World Championship.

Wilson was New York’s first base coach from 1997-2002, and also managed the Kingsport Mets (R) of the Appalachian League in 2003 and 2004.

In November, the Mets announced the hiring of Terry Collins as the team’s Minor League Field Coordinator.   The following coordinators will be returning for the 2010 season: Kevin Morgan (Instruction and Infield); Rick Waits (Pitching); Lamar Johnson (Hitting); Bob Natal (Catching); Mark Rogow (Medical); Dave Pearson (Rehabilitation, Physical Therapy); Jason Craig (Strength and Conditioning); Al Jackson (Pitching Consultant); Bobby Floyd (Special Instructor); Tom McCraw (Hitting); Rafael Landestoy (International);  Pablo Cruz (International Hitting); and Ozzie Virgil (International Catching). 

Attention F-Mart shoppers

Monday February 8, 2010 10:31 AM By David Lennon

Could it finally be time for Fernando Martinez?

The Mets' top outfield prospect was named the MVP of the Caribbean Series after hitting .348 with two home runs and four RBI for the Dominican Republic's Escogido team.

With the Mets desperate for outfield help last season, Martinez struggled, batting .176 (16-for-91) in 29 games before he ultimately wound up on the shelf due to surgery on his right knee.

Heading into spring training, Martinez, 21, finds himself at least fifth on the depth chart. With Jason Bay and Jeff Francoeur locked in at the corners, and Angel Pagan set to battle newly acquired Gary Matthews Jr. to be Carlos Beltran's replacement, Martinez could make things interesting.

Davis, Mejia among 11 spring-training invitees

Thursday February 4, 2010 2:35 PM By David Lennon

Here's the official release from the team:

The New York Mets today announced that they signed infielder/outfielder Jolbert Cabrera, infielder Luis Hernandez and lefthanded pitchers Bobby Livingston and Travis Blackley to minor league contracts and invited all four to major league Spring Training camp in Port St. Lucie, Fla. later this month.

Additionally, the team extended major league Spring Training invites to righthanded pitchers Jenrry Mejia and Carlos Muniz, lefthanded pitcher Eric Niesen, catcher Francisco Peña, infielders Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada and outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis. 

Cabrera, 37, spent last season in Baltimore’s system, appearing in 78 games for Norfolk (AAA) of the International League.  A .257 career hitter, Cabrera spent time with Cleveland, Los Angeles (NL), Seattle and Cincinnati over parts of eight major league seasons.  He played with Fukuoka of the Japanese League for two seasons (2005, 2006).

Hernandez, 25, split last season between Kansas City and Omaha (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, hitting .205 (15-73) in 37 games with the Royals.  Hernandez’s other major league action came with Baltimore in 2007 and 2008.

Livingston, 27, pitched in three different organizations’ minor league system last season—Baltimore, Cleveland and Pittsburgh—and combined to go 10-2 with a 4.02 ERA (80 earned runs/179.0 innings) in 31 games, 29 starts.  Livingston is 3-3 lifetime with a 6.31 ERA after pitching with Seattle and Cincinnati.

Blackley, 27, pitched last season with Reno (AAA) of the Pacific Coast League, finishing the year 4-7 with a 4.85 ERA for the Aces.  For his career, the lefthander is 1-3 with a 9.35 ERA in eight games combined for Seattle and San Francisco.

Mejia, 20, combined to go 4-5 in 19 starts for St. Lucie (A) of the Florida State League and Binghamton (AA) of the Eastern League last season.  He has struck out 205 in 210.0 career minor league innings.

Muniz, 28, pitched with the Mets in 2007 and 2008, going 1-1 in 20 games out of the bullpen.  The righthander spent 2009 with Buffalo (AAA) of the International League.

Niesen, 24, made 27 starts between St. Lucie and Binghamton last season, going a combined 7-11 with a 4.09 ERA.

Peña, 20, caught 100 games for St. Lucie in his third season in the Mets’ farm system.  He is the son of former Kansas City Royals manager and current Yankees bench coach Tony Peña.

Davis, 22, won the 2009 Sterling Player of the Year Award, given annually to the top player in the Mets’ minor league system.  The first baseman hit .298 (128-429) with 20 home runs and 71 RBI in 114 games between St. Lucie and Binghamton last season.

Tejada, 20, hit .289 for Binghamton while Nieuwenhuis, 22, won St. Lucie’s Sterling Award, emblematic of the team MVP.  Nieuwehnhuis ranked 10^th in all of the minor leagues with 99 runs scored last season.  He added 16 home runs and 71 RBI with St. Lucie.  

Mets announce Six Pack tickets on sale

Wednesday February 3, 2010 4:37 PM By David Lennon

Here's the release from the team:

The New York Mets today announced new Six Packs for the 2010 season at Citi Field are on sale now by phone at 718-507-TIXX and online at Mets.com and LosMets.com.  Opening Day, the Subway Series, Pyrotechnics Night and the Mets Hall of Fame induction ceremony for Frank Cashen, Dwight Gooden, Davey Johnson and Darryl Strawberry highlight six different ticket packages.  

The Opener Pack guarantees a ticket to Opening Day 2010, Monday, April 5 at 1:10 p.m. against the Florida Marlins. 

The Champion, All-Star and Power Packs come with a ticket to a Subway Series game Friday, May 21 at 7:10 p.m., Saturday, May 22 at 7:10 p.m. or Sunday, May 23 at 8:05 p.m., nationally televised on ESPN, respectively.

Pyrotechnics Night makes its debut at Citi Field Monday night, July 5 after the 7:10 p.m. game versus the Cincinnati Reds, and the Pyrotechnics Pack also includes a ticket to the first 2010 visits by the rival Atlanta Braves and Philadelphia Phillies.

The induction of Cashen, Gooden, Johnson and Strawberry during a pre-game, on field ceremony Sunday, August 1 prior to the 1:10 p.m. game against the Arizona Diamondbacks is the centerpiece of the Hall-of-Fame Pack.

Six Packs start at $106 per seat. Season Tickets and 40-Game and 15-Game Plans are also on sale now at 718-507-TIXX and online at Mets.com and LosMets.com.

The Mets will announce the date for the general public sale of single-game tickets in the coming weeks.

Strawberry slams Mets, sides with McGwire (no, really)

Tuesday February 2, 2010 7:51 PM By David Lennon

Darryl Strawberry, recently selected for the Mets’ Hall of Fame, did not return the favor to his former team when asked Tuesday about its roster moves this winter. Pushed to grade the Mets’ offseason – good or bad – Strawberry was not very flattering of the front office.

“Oh, man, you’re putting me on the spot, huh?,” Strawberry said. “Well, I’ll put it like this: Could have been better. You could have put a couple more pieces in the puzzle for them. I know they signed Jason Bay. The big loss was the Beltran situation. This team, if they want to really get over the hump, they need Carlos Beltran in their lineup and to perform like he’s capable of performing to help this team move forward.

“But I think when you look at pitching, I think a little bit more pitching. Hopefully guys will bounce back – [Mike] Pelfrey, [John] Maine will bounce back this year, and be more consistent in what they do. [Johan] Santana is going to be Santana. You’ve got to get your other guys in that rotation to be able to come through and I think that’s important for them.”

Strawberry, along with Joba Chamberlain and Lou Piniella, was honored Tuesday at the 30th annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner, a fundraiser for the AHRC New York City Foundation. He’s also a special instructor for the Mets – he’ll visit Port St. Lucie for a week starting Feb. 27 – and a commentator for the team’s network, SNY. Regardless of his role, Strawberry still swings from his heels, and he believes these Mets need to get some attitude.

“Of course they do,” Strawberry said. “I mean, they haven’t quite found that yet. I know a lot of times the players probably get tired of hearing about the ’86 team, but that’s what the fans adore – our confidence, our swagger. We didn’t take anything for granted. But at the same time, we wouldn’t let teams push us over either.

“I think playing in New York you have to have that. You can’t be pushed over. Teams come in here and drill hitters, stuff like that, and you don’t retaliate. We didn’t allow that to happen.”

Even so, Strawberry believes these Mets can fight back – if they stay healthy. Despite his proclamation of a so-so offseason, he won’t bail on the Mets before the equipment truck leaves for Port St. Lucie.

“They have the capability. It’s just a matter of are they confident enough? Do they believe in themselves? Are they sensitive about dealing with the media? You looked in our clubhouse, guys couldn’t wait to talk, to tell you a story. That’s just the way it is here in this city, that’s what made us the way we were, and I think that’s what’s going to have to happen with this ballclub.

“Because when you look across town, those boys over there, they play and they play together, and that’s what it’s all about when you play here. You’ve got to play together. It’s not about individual stats – it’s about a team effort.”

In addition to his snap analysis of the Mets, Strawberry also had a curious response when asked about Mark McGwire’s recent admission of steroid use. It was during spring training last year that Strawberry sat on a dugout bench and said he would have used steroids if given the chance – a claim he reiterated Tuesday night. But Strawberry shared McGwire’s dubious claim that they did not influence his power numbers.

“Well, I don’t believe it helped him,” Strawberry said. “How do I know? I never used them. I wish they had it when I was around because I would have used it. But I can say this as far as the home runs -- the 70 home runs, the 60 home runs, those guys having years like they were having -- I just believe that the pitching was watered down, and these guys were already great players, established as home run hitters. I just believe the ballparks were smaller, so it’s hard to say. I don’t know. I’m not a doctor. I couldn’t really tell you what they do for you.”