Ryan Church will try to provide a boost for the Mets in the number four spot of the lineup.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

The Mets host the Cardinals for game three of the four game series tonight at Citi Field. As I write this, I am actually pretty angry, because they just showed game seven of the 2006 NLCS. Why didn’t Beltran swing the bat? Ok, that was three years ago. Time to move on to tonight, when I only wish we could see Beltran in the lineup.

The Mets will face off against righty Brad Thompson. There are three Mets on the active roster who have hit a home run against the Cardinals starter. David Wright and Brian Schneider are the first two, and yesterday’s starter Livan Hernandez would be the third one. I wonder if he gave himself the sign to swing away then.

As for Schneider, he is hitting a .375 clip in his career against Thompson, while Wright and Church are at .333 on their careers against him. Here is a look at the Mets’ lineup.

Alex Cora SS
Luis Castillo 2B
David Wright 3B
Ryan Church RF
Fernando Tatis LF
Fernando Martinez CF
Nick Evans 1B
Brian Schneider C
Fernando Nieve RHP (2-0, 1.84)

I just don’t understand why Fernando Tatis is in the lineup. I would almost rather put Nick Evans in left field and keep Murphy at first. It is not like a lefty is starting tonight. Murphy has been hitting well, and he was far from the only Met who was shut down by Joel Pineiro last night. Tatis has been as sure as an out as anyone in baseball over the last two weeks.

Ryan Church, it is time to show your worth. The Mets are asking a lot of their right fielder by putting him in the cleanup spot behind David Wright. He has been quietly hitting pretty well lately, and it would be nice if he can give the Mets a power lift.

By the way, REYES IS BACK! Argenis…that is. He was called up and Jon Switzer was DFA’ed. I know. That wasn’t funny.

Time for another night of torture, but for us, that is nothing new.

Omar Minaya often gets criticized for the moves he's made, but this team is substantially better because of him.

BY ZACHARY SCHULMAN
STACHE WRITER

There is no doubt that Omar Minaya is a large part of the Mets Renaissance back into the public eye. Once Bobby Valentine was relieved of his duties (sad face) few Mets remember or choose not to remember the Art Howe years. Things took a turn for the better in the offseason after the 2004 season when Omar Minaya took to the helm of the Mets. His first big splash was signing Pedro Martinez to really inject life into what was a waning organization.

Though Martinez had only one Pedro-esque year on the field, winning 15 games in 2005, his intangible impact is what made him worth it. Since then Minaya has made several impact moves and others that weren’t quite as impactful. I will break down the current roster and try to divulge if Minaya deserves the brunt of the blame.

Jose Reyes and David Wright: Though they weren’t signed or drafted by Minaya he gave them the long term deals to avoid their arbitration years and make them they key parts of a championship driven team. PLUS

Carlos Delgado: While he originally spurned the Mets during his free agency period, to sign with division rivals the Marlins, Omar stood his ground and pull the trigger to get his big time power bat. Delgado was acquired for Mike Jacobs, who is an average player with some pop, Yusmeiro Petit, who was thought to be a great prospect, has struggled with Arizona and bounced up and down between AAA and the bigs, and lastly Grant Psomas, who is in the witness protection program. PLUS

Carlos Beltran: The move that has undoubtedly gotten the most press during Minaya’s tenure. Beltran signed a 7 year deal before the 2005 Season. His first year he struggled hitting 16 homers, but when Delgado was added to the lineup the next season, he has hit 109 homers 380 RBI and has been one of the best defensive players in the game. PLUS

Gary Sheffield: Sheffield has been reborn as a Met. He is tied for the team lead in homers with 8. He has given the team an edge and been a professional in the club house. Not to mention they are paying him 400 grand for this year.

Ryan Church and Brian Schneider: Minaya was familiar with these players from his time in Montreal. Church was the Mets best player last year until he got hurt. Schneider when healthy has been serviceable. They traded former first round pick Lastings Milledge, who they clearly wanted out of town. Milledge is currently in the Minor Leagues for the Nationals. PLUS

Luis Castillo: Castillo was brought in here as a pennant race move in 2007 to fortify the second base position. Castillo had 199 ABs as a Met in 2007 where he hit .296 with 20 RBI. This apparently warranted a 4 year deal. PLUS for the acquiring him in 2007, MINUS for resigning him for that many years and dollars

BENCH: CORA, SANTOS, TATIS, and REED are all plusses. Despite the struggles of Tatis this year, he was an integral part of the team’s success last year and brings class. Cora has become one of the leaders of the team and consistently plays ball the right way. Omir Santos has proven to be a major league catcher and has made fans forget about Ramon Castro. Reed has done everything asked of him, play solid defense, get some pinch hit, and spot start.

Onto the pitching staff:

Johan Santana: He was the necessary piece after the collapse of 2007. A bonified ace, he electrifies almost every time he takes the mound. He won 16 games last year with a shotty bullpen, he should have won about 23 games. This year, amidst some mid season struggles, continues to be the best pitcher in the NL and maybe all the game. He was traded for Phil Humber, Kevin Mulvey, Deolis Guerra, and Carlos Gomez. Gomez is a regular for the Twins, but all 3 pitching prospects dealt have yet to factor into the Twins big league club. PLUS

Mike Pelfrey: Omar Minaya’s first first round draft pick of as GM of the Mets, he struggled in his original go arounds as a Mets pitcher but had a solid 2008 where he won 13 games. Is now a mainstay in the rotation and should be for years to come. PLUS

John Maine: Though Injuries have taken their toll on him recently, he was acquired as a thrown in as part of the Kris Benson trade, which also netted Jorge Julio. Julio was promptly dealt to Arizona for El Duque. Maine has pitched well in big games and won 15 games in 2007. PLUS

Oliver Perez: Much like Maine, Perez was also a throw in, in a deal, which also brought Roberto Hernandez, for Xavier Nady. Perez pitched well in the post season in 2006 and like Maine again won 15 games in 2007. Has proven to be consistently inconsistent on the mound, which has been maddening to everyone watching. Walked 105 batters last year, won 10 games and had 4.22 era. As a result, he was awarded a 3 year 36 million dollar deal, and still can’t get people out consistently. He is currently rehabbing a balky knee in the minors. Much like Castillo, PLUS for trading for him, MINUS for giving him a megadeal.

Livan Hernandez: A tremendous bargain basement signing by Omar. The man knows how to pitch, pitches 200 plus innings every year, and can win big games. Has been the second best pitcher in the rotation this year.

K-Rod: Has been the best reliever in baseball this year. If not for him the Mets would likely be 10-12 games under 500. He is only 26 and set the ML record for saves in a season with 62. Signed a 3 year 37 million dollar deal, which is looking like a huge bargain. PLUS

JJ PUTZ and SEAN GREEN: The Jury is still out on these two. Putz clearly was pitching hurt all year and is now out until August recovering from surgery. Green has shown glimpses of the more polished Joe Smith that he was traded for. Let’s see how their numbers turn out at the end of the season.

Minaya has certainly made more positive moves for this team than negative. Yes he traded Heath Bell and Matt Lindstrom away for nothing. He missed out on Derek Lowe and Raul Ibanez. But he has gotten this team out of the doldrums it was in when he got there. And while there is little success to show for it, he has taken steps in the right direction. I do feel, however, that if a playoff run does not happen in the next couple of seasons, that Omar’s job is on the line.

Fernando Nieve was trapped in the minors when he was with the Astros.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

The following took place during the 2008 winter:

Once upon a time there lived a young boy. He wasn’t so young. In fact, he was 26. His name was Fernando Alexis Nieve, and he was a pitcher that had been buried in the Houston Astros’ organization for almost ten seasons. He had glimpses of time in the big leagues, but nothing substantial.

Since being signed as an amateur free agent in 1999, Nieve had pitched just 25 and a third innings at the big league level. His ERA was over six, and the future looked bleak.

But then something happened.

As Fernando was lying in his bed one night, a small voice was heard. “Fernando, are you awake?” said the voice. Fernando quickly bounces to his feet to see the source of the voice. He didn’t see anyone. Then the voice came back one more time. “Down here Fernando. I am here to help you.”

Finally Fernando looked down to see a cricket next to his bed. He got down on a knee to look closer, and the cricket started to sing.

“When you wish upon a star
Makes no difference who you are
Anything your heart desires
Will come to you!

If your heart is in your dreams
No request is to extreme
When you wish upon a star
As dreamers do!

Fate is kind
She brings to those who love
As sweet fulfillment of their secret drowns
Like a boat out of the blue
Fate steps in and see’s you through!

Moma when you wished upon a star
Your dreams come true!”

All of a sudden, the cricket disappeared, and Fernando was alone once again. He looked out the window and saw a star that was glowing much brighter than the rest. He closed his eyes and wished for his luck to change, figuring that he had nothing really to lose, and the next morning, it would all change.

“Fernando, I know you have been in our organization for a long time, but that time is over. I was calling to inform you that we put you through waivers, and the New York Mets put in a claim. Pack your bags, because your flight leaves in two hours.” That is the message that Nieve woke up to in the morning, and the next thing he knew, he was wearing orange and blue.

After a short time in the minors, Nieve was called up to start against the Yankees, and he promptly shut them down in their own building. He followed that start with another good one, and he is now 2-0 with a 1.84 ERA in that span. Tonight, he looks to continue his fairy tale story when he hooks up with Brad Thompson and the Cardinals.

Hopefully, the fairytale will continue for the immediate future.

This could be something to keep people of all ages busy for hours.

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

The following is courtesy of LCG Communications. It sounds like a cool idea, and it is a chance to win a free prize:

HEY METS FAN!

The (2009) Third Edition of the Mets Coloring and Activity Book is filled with more than 50 pages of fun activities to keep Mets fans busy and challenged for hours. In addition to beautiful images of fan favorites David Wright, Jose Reyes, and nostalgic Shea Stadium, this updated edition also contains brand new pictures to color of exciting Mets newcomers Johan Santana and Ryan Church. Updated crossword puzzles, word searches and games about the Mets and Shea stadium are fun for all ages!

Planning a road trip? Keep the kids busy in the car minus gadgets and gizmos.

Some quick trivia:

(The First Person to email MichaelGanci@gmail.com with the correct answers will receive a free copy of the book)

* This Mets closer had an E.R.A. of .230 with 27 saves in 2008.

* This towering pitcher is the tallest player on the 09 Mets.

* Which rookie hit for a .313 average in 49 games with the Mets in 08?

ENJOY!

Tatis celebrated with Murphy, but he has been nothing but a scrub thus far.

BY ANTHONY LAFAMAN
STACHE WRITER

Adam Rubin’s Farm Report is excellent today.

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/mets/

Didn’t Nick Evans get a call-up? If I watch Fernando Tatis hit into another rally-killing double play I’m going to mail Jerry Manuel a turd fajita.

Luis Castillo might be one guy who needs to go.

BY MATT MATSIL
STACHE WRITER

After another disappointing loss I cant help but think that this particular Met team lead by the likes of David Wright, and others needs to be broken up and rebuilt, if the Mets continue this season in mediocrity it will be essentially three wasted seasons since 2006 when the Mets last made a playoff appearance.

It may be tough to swallow for some fans but maybe the best move for the future of the Mets is too rebuild and think 2-3 years down the line rather then keep adding pieces to an already scarred core.