Does Carlos Beltran have anything to worry about? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY FRANK GRAY
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

In the midst of the New York Mets kicking off their preseason slate of games in Florida, come two different and eyebrow raising stories. The first, and probably the biggest, involves Carlos Beltran. This time it’s not about surgery, but it is about his injuries. By now it is common knowledge to the Mets fan, that federal investigators questioned Jose Reyes over the past weekend.

These questions were centered around his visits to a Dr. Galea in Toronto. Dr. Galea is under investigation for treating several players of all sports with performance enhancement drugs to help in the healing of injuries. Among the long list of athletes that Galea has treated are Reyes, Tiger Woods and Dana Torres. What was not known, until yesterday, is that Beltran was the person who told them to question Reyes.

Beltran’s response to the investigation was “I have nothing to worry (about), nothing to hide,” Beltran said. “I just went there for an opinion for my knee.”
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What does Luis Castillo have to do to gain New York's affection? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

For a guy who is coming off perhaps his best year with the Mets, Luis Castillo has taken a lot this off season. He has heard repeated criticism, and he is also well aware that the Mets have exhausted all of their efforts to dump his contract.

But Castillo is not bitter.

He seems to be taking the right mindset. He is using all of this as motivation, and that could play very well into the Mets’ favor. After all, can you think of a more consistent Met hitter last season? I certainly can’t.

Castillo is without a doubt the Mets’ most patient hitter. Sometimes he is a bit too patient, and he backs himself into a hole, but at other times, Castillo’s patience leads to the Mets scoring runs, and that is his job.
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Go away!

Is there anyone out there that can explain to me why the Mets have not signed Orlando Hudson? Isn’t signing Hudson the biggest no brainer the franchise has had staring them in the face? I am extremely disappointed the Mets have not been able to move Luis Castillo yet. And I know that’s the reason why Hudson is not a Met but If I were Omar I’d sign Hudson now and deal with moving Luis later. Who is with me?

Hudson, who is throwing himself at the Mets like Jessica Rabbit to Roger, is far and away a better ballplayer than Luis Castillo. He is a better fielder by a mile, a better hitter, probably a better clubhouse guy (going off reports that Luis is a sulker) and a better fit for this team. He is not a better singles hitter nor is he a better bunter so I hope you can all deal with that.
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Bringing This Guy To Queens For Castillo Is Too Good To Pass Up

BY MATTHEW FALKENBURY
ASSISTANT EDITOR

Any time you hear about a trade rumor involving Luis Castillo it seems we all get excited about the idea of him being moved for a live human being who is in Major League Baseball. Which if it went down would of course lead Orlando Hudson to Queens to play second base. If only life and the MLB Off season was so easy.

The Mets have tried hard the past two off seasons to try to trade Luis Castillo and even though he is coming off a solid season, especially with the bat where he hit over .300, nobody wants him. He plays OK defense AT BEST, has no power to speak of and has been rumored to have been not the best influence in the clubhouse.

But if the Boston Red Sox feel like sending us a solid player with a veteran know how and two World Series Rings and a World Series MVP for him, then lets get Mike Lowell to Queens, and don’t let this opportunity pass us by.

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Time for the Mets to wake up

By Zachary Schulman
Stache Writer

Last year, the Mets bid against themselves for Oliver Perez and consensus shows that signing royally sucked. I am trying to reason with myself that the Mets are being patient with Jason Bay and Bengie Molina in order to try and avoid Ollie 2.0. But let’s be real here, the Mets need to improve this club and change the personnel.

Yes Reyes, Beltran, and Santana will be coming to Spring Training healthy. Wright should improve his offensive numbers after a year in Citi Canyon. But what exactly has this core won? Since the Minaya regime took over in the winter of 2004, they have exactly 1 division title to show for it. I don’t want to hear about being 1 win away twice from being in the playoffs because they didn’t get in. Bascially what I’m trying to say is the Mets core is very good, but have not won anything.

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Buster Olney has put the damper on a rumor that had Lyle Overbay going to the Mets. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

You have to love this time of year. We are all playing General Manager, but there is only one man who can get things done. Omar Minaya has a world of pressure on his shoulders, and he knows that is going to be out of a job if this team doesn’t start winning soon. Well the rumors are circulating, and it looks like Omar has made many calls to put out feelers, and that’s exactly what he needs to do.

The first big Mets’ rumor broke mid-day yesterday when Ken Rosenthal reported that there was talk of a three-team swap between the Mets, Cubs and Blue Jays. The Jays would get Milton Bradley from the Cubs; the Cubs would get Luis Castillo from the Mets; and the Mets would acquire Lyle Overbay from the Jays. I got excited when I first heard about this potential deal.

This would pave the way for an Orlando Hudson arrival, which is a move Mets’ fans have long coveted. Unfortunately, Buster Olney has emerged to debunk such a rumor, saying neither the Cubs or Jays would do such a deal.
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Roy Oswalt would fit in nicely behind Johan Santana. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY DANNY KRIEGER
DANNYBASEBALL.BLOGSPOT.COM

What do all the impatient Mets fans think of this trade. We’re taking on salary and getting two potentially “great” players for 3 prospects.

Houston trades left fielder Carlos Lee and pitcher Roy Oswalt to the Mets for Oliver Perez, and Luis Castillo, minor league pitchers Brad Holt, and Scott Moviel, and minor league outfielder Kirk Nieuwenhuis.

Let’s analyze this trade.
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Castillo would've wanted to bang his head into a railing if Tuesday's blunder stood out. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Currently I am sitting at Citi Field in section 516. David Wright is leading off the seventh in what is sure to be another easy loss, but my dad brought up an interesting topic. He was here last night as well, which was tough to handle. I brought up the Beltran missed grand slam and he told me of something else that happened just prior that would have negated the grand slam.

It revolves around Luis Castillo. The pitch before the near heroic moment for Beltran, he hit a foul ball. Why is this important? Simple. Luis Castillo didn’t go back and tag the base.
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How do you think Jason Bay would look in Left Field at Citi Field? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

When time finally runs out on 2009, there is going to be a plethora of people who believe that injuries are to blame for the failures of 2009. Don’t get me wrong. It definitely contributed, but there are some things that this team needs to do to get back on track. Now I am not talking about the obvious things like getting a healthy Reyes and Beltran back, but I have devised a five-step off season plan for the Mets to get back in the game.

1) Sign Dave Duncan to replace Dan Warthen

This would be an excellent acquisition. Known as the guru of pitching, Duncan is the guy who has been known to literally fix guys in 15 minutes. The Mets have quite a few candidates of patients for Dr. Duncan to examine. First and foremost is Oliver Perez, who has been unable to get out of his own way this season. The next guy would be Mike Pelfrey, who a lot of people think has taken a step back this season. I tend to agree. I don’t see him as a number two right now, but more of a number four. Younger guys would benefit from the acquisition of Duncan too. He could work with guys like Jonathon Niese and Bobby Parnell.
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Luis Castillo has been one of the only constants for the Mets in 2009 (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

There is no denying that Rodney Dangerfield is one of the best comedians ever. He had that way about him, and he was one of those guys that you could just look at and start laughing. One of his common themes is, “I get no respect.” That is something that Luis Castillo knows plenty about. He has arguably been the most consistent Met this year, yet people continue to be unsatisfied.

The next game Luis plays in this season will be his 117th of the year, and that will mark 30 more than he appeared in last season. For some reason, people seem to be hung up on the Castillo of last year, rather than looking at the guy who has had an excellent comeback season. He already has almost 50 hits more than last year, and his average is 60 points higher. Comeback player of the year anyone? I think he might have a shot.
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