Die Hard Mets Fan

Jon Blau of Mets.com reported that the Mets activated Ryan Church as expected.  To make room on roster, the Mets placed Trot Nixon on the 15-day DL on Sunday with a left groin strain.  I was unaware that anything was wrong with Nixon.  According to Jerry Manuel, “He played as hard as he could, battled as hard as he could. It limited him somewhat, but he would never mention that it did. He just wanted to play, so hopefully this will give him a chance to heal and rest up a bit.”  I guess that’s why I didn’t know anything about it.  Let’s hope that Trot comes back healthy.

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Die Hard Mets Fan would like to wish all of you a Happy Father’s Day.  So the Mets get to play twice on Father’s Day as a result of last night’s rainout.  I guess most of them won’t get to see their families unless they brought them to Shea.  The Mets are getting rocked 8-2 right now in the Top of the 8th.  Maine only gave up 3 runs until he got beat up in the 7th.  Hopefully the second game will be much better than this one.

Mets.com:

Pedro’s return parade rained on - Jon Blau reported that, “Saturday night’s game between the Rangers and Mets was postponed due to rain and will be made up as part of a doubleheader on Sunday starting at 1:10 p.m. ET. Tickets for Saturday night’s game will not be honored at either of Sunday’s games, but can be used for any other game during the 2008 season — depending on availability.”

Nixon’s debut to come during twin bill - Marty Noble put together a pregame analysis for both of today’s games between the Rangers and the Mets.

An off-day not on Wright’s mind

Newsday:

Nixon arrives, but role on Mets up in the air

Drug secret helped Mets get Keith Hernandez - Steven Marcus pointed out that on,

The 25th anniversary of the most significant trade in Mets history includes a historic footnote. It might never have occurred if the Mets’ front office knew why the Cardinals were unloading Keith Hernandez.

Years before he became a central piece of the 1986 world champion Mets and gained iconic status in team history, Hernandez abused cocaine, an issue not publicly confirmed until Hernandez and several other players testified in the 1985 Pittsburgh drug trials.

I highly recommend that you read the entire article.

Ex-Met Backman has had one wild ride of late - Ken Davidoff ponders, “As Willie Randolph writhes on the Mets’ skillet, his job in serious jeopardy, it’s interesting to wonder whether Backman would be a candidate to replace him had he made different choices - and whether the Mets should give him a job somewhere in their organization now.”

Minaya’s full autonomy more like fool autonomy - Shaun Powell believes that Omar Minaya doesn’t want to fire Willie Randolph because that’s the manager he hired.  Powell thinks that the Wilpons do want to fire Willie.  Since Omar received full autonomy upon taking over, he would be acting as a puppet if he had to pull the trigger.

Schedule has been brutal to Mets

Randolph hanging on as Mets manager for now - David Lennon and Ken Davidoff wrote, “A person familiar with the situation said late Saturday that Randolph was not likely to be fired on Father’s Day and would be on board the team’s charter to Anaheim, Calif., later Sunday night. But the Mets are still seriously considering a plan to fire Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson in a last-ditch effort to revive this underachieving team.”

New York Daily News:

Rangers soak it all in at Shea - Roger Rubin explained that, “Five members of the Rangers starting lineup and a relief pitcher put on a show for Mets fans Saturday night at Shea and also showed New York what a team having fun looks like. After finding out the game had been postponed due to rain - it will be made up as part of a straight doubleheader beginning today at 1 p.m. - they made the drenched tarp on the field their personal Slip ‘N Slide before exiting to chants of “Let’s go Rangers!”  The article contains pictures of the 5 Rangers sliding on the tarp, and it pretty funny.

Mets show interest in Rockies’ Brian Fuentes, but deal not close

New York Post:

NEVER MORE POPULAR, HERNANDEZ IS THE REAL MR. MET

25 BEST MOMENTS AT SHEA: NO. 15 - “The Mets seemed destined for the World Series in 2006 until they were cut down by the underdog Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. The series went to a decisive Game 7 at Shea Stadium, the first Game 7 there since the 1986 World Series.”  That was depressing.  It was like the MC pressed a mute button as soon as Beltran watched the called strike three go over the plate.

SERBY’S SUNDAY Q&A WITH… Tom Seaver.

The Star-Ledger:

The beginning of a long (and potentially longer) day - Colin Stephenson provided the lineup for the first Rangers-Mets game of today’s double header.

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Tonights game between the Rangers and the Mets was postponed due to the rain and thunderstorms.  That sucks, I was all pumped up and ready to watch it.  It began raining lightly a few hours ago, and then it kept getting heavier.  The thunder has been really loud at times.  Instead, SNY is airing a game between the Dodgers and the Mets that took place on 5/07/1991.

Mets.com:

Perez poised in much-needed victory - Anthony DiComo summarized last night’s Rangers-Mets game.

Team player Anderson gives reminder - Jon Blau wrote up a pregame summary for tonight’s game between the Rangers and the Mets.

Mets ink first rounder Havens to deal - Jon Blau reported that Reese Havens and Brad Holt each signed contracts with the Mets yesterday.  Havens was the 22nd overall pick in this year’s First-Year Player Draft.  Holt was the 33rd pick in the Draft.

Willie focusing on job at hand - Willie said, “I can’t control what’s said or written. I just come to work ready to go. The nights are a little tougher to sleep, and you get up every morning ready to come out and try to find a way to do something to help the team win. It’s been really bizarre.”  Omar said, Willie has my support. I believe that he’s going to get us to play better. I have full confidence that he’s doing everything he can.”

Alou reluctantly returns to disabled list - As expected, Anthony DiComo reported that the Mets officially placed Moises Alou back on the disabled list Friday with a strained left calf.  DiComo also mentioned that the Metsies recalled Robinson Cancel from Triple-A New Orleans to take Alou’s roster spot.

Newsday:

It might be best for all to fire Randolph - Ken Davidoff says that, “there’s only one potentially high-impact move to make, and that’s firing Randolph and replacing him with Mets bench coach Jerry Manuel. And the Mets could do that as soon as Saturday.”  I strongly disagree with Ken here because I don’t think that Manuel is the answer like I said yesterday.

THIS DAY AT THE OLD BALLPARK - Newsday lets us know what took place at Shea Stadium and Yankee Stadium on June 14 of a year in the past.  “June 14, 1997, at Shea Stadium: Mark Clark pitched seven strong innings and hit a home run off Tim Wakefield as the Mets defeated the Red Sox, 5-2.”

New York Daily News:

Mets are focusing on wins, not manager Willie Randolph

The Star-Ledger:

Saturday Morning Willie Thoughts

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The Mets played great tonight.  I’m sure Randolph was extremely nervous that his tenure depends on Ollie.  Surprisingly, Perez pitched a great game.  The offense put up 7 runs, and beat the Rangers 7-1.

During the Post Game on SNY, Willie fielded a whole bunch of questions about all of the circling rumors about his status.  I felt so bad for him because you can see that he was trying to joke around, but he seemed uncomfortable.

After Willie spoke, Omar announced that the Mets signed OF Trot Nixon from the Arizona Diamondbacks for cash and a player to be named later.  Are you curious?  I know I am.  Omar stated that Nixon has been playing in Triple-A, and I had no idea about that.  As usual, Minaya also said that he wanted to add a player with a ‘veteran presense’ and ‘Playoff experience’ to the team.  What’s new about that concept?

Before Omar explained that Nixon was in the Minors, I was excited.  I never knew that.  Trot Nixon of the Red Sox was a blue collar player which is something most of these players on the Mets lack.  However, he has to be in the Minors for a reason.  Hopefully he can resurrect himself.

You can check out Nixon’s profile on MLB.com.  He has a .275 career AVG, .364 OBS, and he’s closing in on 1,000 hits.  Don’t forget about the World Series Ring.

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