AS THE BULLPEN TURNS...AND OTHER NOTABLES

One thing this offseason hasn't been lacking in- NEWS! We're back with the "Happy Recap" (thanks, Bob!)




~For one thing, it feels like we have discussed the Mets bullpen session on this blog at least 4 times, which equates to about 3945 conversations that Jon and I have had debating the merits of each candidate ad nauseum. As things stand right now, our bullpen figures to lay out as follows:

Billy Wagner
Aaron Heilman
Duaner Sanchez
Chad Bradford
Jorge Julio
Royce Ring (looks like he'll win this battle via his new, Peterson-suggested sidearm delivery)

That's right- the bullpen list includes AARON HEILMAN. Poor Aaron- he did nothing this spring training except look fantastic on the mound, seemingly cementing his place in the rotation, his preferred destination. Yes, he's great versus lefties, can pitch anywhere from 1-3 innings at a time and is still our best option in the 8th inning, but didn't he deserve the chance to begin the season in the rotation? It was conceivable a mere week ago that Heilman could stay in the rotation, Bannister would spend some time in AAA and possibly both Ring and Feliciano would make the bullpen, and if not Feliciano then Heath Bell. As Jon and I were discussing this, we also had another thought come to mind- perhaps the Mets are about to get BARRY ZITO!!!


~That's right- I said B-A-R-R-Y Z-I-T-O!!! Let's look at the circumstances of today- the A's today acquired lefty starter Brad Halsey from the Diamonbacks for some much-needed bullpen help. Halsey is a lefty, Zito is a lefty. It's now a bit easier to trade Zito, knowing that you have a young lefty starter to slot into his spot. Aaron Heilman has been showcased as a starter during Spring Training, and it is now obvious that that is not the spot the Mets envisioned him filling. With Bannister in the rotation, Heilman's spot, for now is filled. Last year, A's GM Billy Beane attempted to acquire now-Mets minor league starter John Maine from his old team, the Orioles, in a proposed deal for Tim Hudson that was never made. Well, well, well...what do we have here? Is there a possible fit for a trade here? Yes, we've heard every reason why Beane WON'T trade Zito before July, but it's also possible that he might net more for the boys in the green and gold right now then he will in 4 months from now. Add a major prospect (anyone but M. Pelfrey, F. Martinzez & C. Gomez, in my opinion) to the package of Maine and Heilman and possibly Heath Bell, and perhaps we have the makings of a real trade here (for a change). Throw in another mid-level prospect and the A's fulfill their quest to stockpile more good young talent, and we fortify an area that has gone from a big strength to a big ?????? I know we've all dreamed about this possibility- perhaps it's in the works right now?! Let's hope so!!! Zito in a Mets uniform and not in Yankee pinstripes will be another big step in our attempt to take over the five boroughs and beyond...Let's Go Mets!!!!

ONE SMALL STEP FOR MAN, ONE GIANT STEP FOR MET-KIND!!!

Yes, that was Pedro throwing 3 beautiful innings over the weekend, and in the words of the late, great Freddie Prinze, "Loooooooking Goooooooooooooooooooood!" Pedro claims the toe barely bothered him, and he's scheduled to throw again this coming Friday. Let's hope he has a similar result and will be able to take his newly scheduled turn on April 6th. It's been said by every publication out there in the past few weeks, but Pedro truly is the heart and soul of this club, and as goes Pedro, so goes our pennant chances. Ironic, isn't it, that many of these same journalists (nee naysayers) were knocking Omar a year ago for banking on Pedro, and now everyone recognizes that if we are to truly have a chance of making it back to the post-season, we'll need to ride the slender shoulders of this future hall-of-famer. Yes, they were largely concerned with Pedro's injury issues, but you cannot underestimate the man's heart and desire, which they did, and he'll find a way to be nearly the Pedro of "old" for at least 28 games or so. I'll take it and be thankful knowing that he belongs to our organization!

METS MAKE AHERN STARTING SECOND-SACKER! GRAFF PLACED ON WAIVERS BY THEO!

Omar won a game of chicken with Theo Epstein, as Epstein placed 2B Tony Graffanino on waivers today. Omar wouldn't give up any prospects for Graf, as it seems that we are finally happy with the choice of Anderson Hernandez as our second-sacker. Perhaps Kaz has been told not to come back, making it easier to trade him or release him when he's out of sight, out of mind...at least now if we really wanted Graffanino, we can sign him merely as a monetary transaction, without losing any prospects needlessly. Now is it us, or does anyone ELSE see the resemblence between Ahern and Reyes? Man, that smiling is sure contagious...


REMEMBER- ONLY A FEW DAYS UNTIL THE SEASON STARTS!!! WE'LL BE FINISHING OUR 2006 PREVIEW SERIES LATER THIS WEEK!