David Lennon columns
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.
3m readThe 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.
3m readGerrit 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?)
3m readA 4-0 deficit? No problem for these Yankees.
3m readPete 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.
4m readThe former Patchogue-Medford star threw four hitless, scoreless innings Friday and is lined up to follow ace Gerrit Cole.
3m readThe 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.
3m readMets skipper and former Yankee Carlos Mendoza knows the fraternization will disappear once the season begins.
3m readBecause of all the injuries the Yankees suffered last season, the focus was on rookie Anthony Volpe much more than it should have been.
3m readOver the past two seasons, the Mets are the only team to have four players among the top 31 in total games played.
3m readAfter forgettable debut seasons, pair poised to make noise thanks to a more relaxed environment under Carlos Mendoza.
4m readFirst spring training start gives Mets a reason to think Luis Severino might reclaim a piece of his previous Bronx glory.
3m readThe Mets prospect dealt with the automated ball-strike system, or ABS, in the minors last season.
3m readA 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.
3m readThe Mets' all-time HR leader drew parallels between Stearns' plan and Cashen's approach to building the '86 champs.
3m readThe highly rated prospect went 2-for-2 and got valuable tutoring from Francisco Lindor in Monday's Grapefruit League win.
3m readAdding Blake Snell would go a long way toward making the answer to that question ''yes.''
4m readToe 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).
3m readAs tempting as it may be for owner Steve Cohen to open his wallet, the Mets must keep their long-term vision in mind.
3m readTorres 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.
3m readThe 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.
3m readThe business ahead, for both Juan Soto and the Yankees, will only get harder from here.
3m readFrancisco Alvarez already carries himself like a 10-year vet. Not in a cocky way, but someone who knows where he's going.
3m readPete 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.
4m readThese next six weeks will give David Stearns and Carlos Mendoza a better feel for where their own youngsters stand in terms of development.
3m readStar shortstop and face of the franchise doesn't beileve team has taken a step back because of new philosophies.
3m readSeverino 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.
3m readMendoza 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.
3m readThis spring training has a complete opposite feel of the first few under Steve Cohen, and that isn't necessarily a bad thing.
3m readIt didn't work for the Mets, Padres or Yankees last season as none of the three made it to the playoffs.
4m readThe star will, almost assuredly, hit the open market. But, the big numbers that come before the, well, big number will make for a fun summer in the Bronx.
3m readBrian Cashman is working on restoring Yankee Stadium as the mecca of baseball.
3m readThe answer to the $700 million question was staring us in the face all along.
3m readYou have six months (or more) of watching the lefty-hitting Soto do damage at the Stadium (4 HRs, 1.219 OPS in seven career Bronx games).
3m readOnce they turned their attention to Juan Soto, you could sense it was only a matter of time before the perennial MVP candidate would be fitted for pinstripes.
3m readEven with Mets' owner Steve Cohen lurking, the Yankees GM has approached the sweepstakes for Japan's biggest star with an air of confidence.
3m readThe Japanese righthander is the Mets' top choice, but president of operations David Stearns must have backup plans.
3m readFor starters, big-name pitchers will be the talk of Nashville the next few days.
3m readYes, he may hit free-agency next winter. But the Yankees can't afford to let that get in the way of acquiring a young superstar who is tailor-made for the Bronx.
3m readAside from all the help Willie Randolph could provide and the relationship he has with Carlos Mendoza, it would put a better spin on how the Mets treated him 15 years ago.
3m readSurrounding Cole with a roster capable of making some headway on Hal Steinbrenner's 2019 pledge for the next Yankees' dynasty.
3m readThe Mets' new manager didn't mention his former employer much during his news conference Tuesday, but his familiarity dealing with New York should prove helpful.
3m readThere was plenty of drama and some surprising hirings.
5m readThe Yankees shortstop has recently become Exhibit A when criticizing the organization's front-office failures. That's tremendously unfair.
3m readThe superagent doesn't believe Mets owner Steve Cohen is closing his wallet, and has many clients who fit the Mets' most serious needs entering 2024.
3m readThe Yankees' owner provided little evidence any changes are in place following a failed 2023 season, then the general manager said - loudly - that not much needed to change anyway.
3m readInstead of Craig Counsell, new GM David Stearns brings in Yankees coach Carlos Mendoza.
3m readJacob deGrom bought what Chris Young was selling, and boy, did things work out for both.
3m readScherzer thought he'd be a World Series champion when he reported to spring training — just not wearing a Rangers uniform.
3m read"I think we had to deal with more (adversity) this year than any year I've ever had to manage," said Bruce Bochy.
3m readWith injured Adolis Garcia out, Jankowski doing Stony Brook proud with play for Rangers.
3m read