David Lennon columns

Manager played it cool, and his patient philosophy worked as team responded by winning eight of next 11 games.

You can't look up at his Mets number without thinking of Dwight Gooden's on-field dominance and off-field struggles.

Doc was a shooting star for the Mets. Relive six of the greatest moments during his Mets tenure.

Before Wednesday night's game against the Marlins, the rotation's 2.52 ERA was third-best in the majors, behind the Red Sox (1.54) and Royals (1.88), and had allowed two runs or fewer in nine of their 12 starts this season.

It's been a big turnaround so far from last season's offensive woes as a rookie.

The health of pitchers, really the heartbeat of the sport itself, is not a pliable topic to be argued over or twisted into a political weapon.

The DH drove a grand slam off the facing of the second deck in leftfield to cap a vintage Stanton weekend.

Only one week into baseball season, some trends  already might be inescapable.

Loss of Jonathan Loaisiga for the season is troubling.

From Marcus Stroman's pregame enthusiasm and Juan Soto's roll call bow to a disappointing shutout loss to Blue Jays.

Free-agent star keeps delivering against Astros as Yankees start 4-0.

Juan Soto has exceeded  expectations at the plate and in the field, but that's not all that surprising. Oswaldo Cabrera's production? That's been nothing short of stunning.

No. 2 man in rotation allows just one run in 4 1/3 innings and the offense puts it away later against Astros.

Juan Soto's intensity is infectious, and the Yankees saw that firsthand on Opening Day.

Boone, now in his seventh year, has yet to take the Yankees to a single World Series appearance, never mind win a title. And for a franchise supposedly judged on this one specific goal, above all else, it becomes an increasingly difficult detail to overlook.

Even billionaires have budgets. And many teams, including the Yankees and Mets, looked more closely at the price tags during this salary cycle.

If the closest associate of a global superstar can allegedly steal $4.5 million to cover his massive debts, than anything is possible across a sports landscape that has been devoured by betting.

The availability of J.D. Martinez — a six-time All-Star coming off a 33-homer, 103-RBI season — at a bargain price was a competition Mark Vientos couldn't win.

Steve Cohen swooped in like a Black Friday midnight shopper to acquire free-agent slugger J.D. Martinez, waiting until a week before Opening Day to shake on a one-year, $12 million deal with agent Scott Boras, according to sources.

The Mets' own rotation issues seemed more manageable than having to explain why a $325 million pitcher, billed as a generational talent, looked like an emergency starter hustled up from Triple-A Syracuse.

It's not wise for DJ to hustle back to baseball activity, especially for someone who's been plagued by problems with the same foot for two straight seasons.

Injuries to Judge, LeMahieu and Cole has this season already looking like last year's, and it's only March.

Throws 5 2/3 hitless innings, and while it's the Grapefruit League, squeezing some good news out of anything after last year's forgettable first season is all that matters. 

The Yankees might have plenty of experience soldiering on in Judge's absence, but they can probably forget about trying to win a title without him.

Gerrit Cole being sent for an MRI on his right elbow is a reminder about how close the next devastating injury always lurks. (And by the way, what about Aaron Judge?)

A 4-0 deficit? No problem for these Yankees.

Pete Alonso is about to experience what Aaron Judge went through in 2022, when he hit 62 home runs in the final year of his contract and earned a huge deal in free agency.

The former Patchogue-Medford star threw four hitless, scoreless innings Friday and is lined up to follow ace Gerrit Cole.

The reigning Cy Young Award winner tries to help his team win in any way he can. As an example, he pays attention to what's going on down the bench during a game, recognizing a teammate who might be having a tough night and trying to provide some kind of boost.

Mets skipper and former Yankee Carlos Mendoza knows the fraternization will disappear once the season begins.

Because of all the injuries the Yankees suffered last season, the focus was on rookie Anthony Volpe much more than it should have been. 

Over the past two seasons, the Mets are the only team to have four players among the top 31 in total games played.

After forgettable debut seasons, pair poised to make noise thanks to a more relaxed environment under Carlos Mendoza.

First spring training start gives Mets a reason to think Luis Severino might reclaim a piece of his previous Bronx glory.

The Mets prospect dealt with the automated ball-strike system, or ABS, in the minors last season.

A year after a lesion and the resulting operation threw his first spring training with the Mets out of whack, Quintana is likely the Opening Day starter and hopefully a steady presence in the rotation.

The Mets' all-time HR leader drew parallels between Stearns' plan and Cashen's approach to building the '86 champs.

The highly rated prospect went 2-for-2 and got valuable tutoring from Francisco Lindor in Monday's Grapefruit League win.

Adding Blake Snell would go a long way toward making the answer to that question ''yes.''

Toe issues that derailed the end of his '22 season seemed to haunt him into last season, when DJ LeMahieu hit a career-low .243 further stained by 125 strikeouts, his highest total (the previous was 107 in 2015).

As tempting as it may be for owner Steve Cohen to open his wallet, the Mets must keep their long-term vision in mind.

Torres was hardly surprised by the Yankees' silence, citing the disastrous long-term extensions previously handed out to Luis Severino and Aaron Hicks only weeks apart during spring training in 2019.

The Yankees captain has said he wants to move from his customary No. 2 spot in the order to third, so Soto can bat ahead of him.

The business ahead, for both Juan Soto and the Yankees, will only get harder from here.

Francisco Alvarez already carries himself like a 10-year vet. Not in a cocky way, but someone who knows where he's going.

Pete Alonso didn't come right out and say he was looking forward to gauging his value in free agency — as most Scott Boras clients eagerly do — but that was the message.

These next six weeks will give  David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza a better feel for where their own youngsters stand in terms of development.

Star shortstop and face of the franchise doesn't beileve team has taken a step back because of new philosophies.

Severino spent a great deal of time poring over video and studying his mechanics in an effort to remedy the pitch-tipping problems that torpedoed his last year in the Bronx.

Mendoza seems best suited to handle this transitional phase for the Mets, both as a bridge to the front office and handling the boots on the ground in the dugout.