Spring Waning

From ESPN:

Pelfrey is 0-3 with a 7.97 ERA in five spring starts. He has allowed eight home runs in 20 1/3 Grapefruit League innings.

Perez is 0-1 with an 8.66 ERA in 17 2/3 innings spanning five starts. His velocity registered only 86 mph to 88 mph Tuesday against the Cardinals.

That's gonna leave a mark.

Projected rotation is now Santana, Maine, Niese, Pelf, then Perez.

St. John's hires Lavin

I have to hand it to the AD--this was a good hire. Not a grand slam home run, but a solid double. And especially given how the hiring search was going, it looked like they were going to be lucky just to make contact.

Don't get me wrong, there are plenty of good coaches out there. Probably some guys coaching in the America East Conference or Patriot League with even better in-game management, as X's and O's guys.

But Lavin brings some cache.

U. C. L. A. That is as big as it gets in college hoops, and a guy who had some success over there is now coaching the Johnnies. 5 sweet sixteens and 6 NCAA tourneys in 7 years is nothing to sneeze at. The lofty expectations in Westwood may have cost Lavin his job b/c he did a very good, but not exceptional job, in his 7 years there. But that was a decade ago. Lavin was 32 when he began at UCLA. At 45, he's had the benefit of much more life experience, and plenty of time picking the brains of the many basketball coaches he's worked with and analyzed during his time at ESPN.

Lavin is a great age to take over a program at 45. He has 15-25 of coaching in him if his heart is in it. He has the name recognition to bring in big time recruits (twice while at UCLA he brought in the top class in the nation). He'll just be hitting his stride at St. John's as Boeheim and Calhoun are calling it quits. There will be more room at the top of the Big East for the program with the acumen to grab it.

St. John's still faces a lot of challenges: recruiting top shelf talent to come to a commuter school that is on an unimpressive campus in a semi-urban envirornment, facilities that are not top shelf, convincing pampered elite recruits that they should play second fiddle in New York instead of being worshipped (and serviced by coeds) in places like Chapel Hill, Lawrence, Storrs, and Lexington.

I don't know if those challenges can be overcome. But there was no one on the table, including those who turned the job down (Hewitt and Greenberg), who I think are better suited to the task at hand.

Not too long ago, not too far away.

The Bob Huggins I remember.

Big East squeezes one into the FF

WVU turned an upset against UK, helped by Kentucky missing its first 20 straight three point attempts. And that was with WVU choosing to play a 1-3-1 and leaving UK plenty of open looks, challenging them to hit a few shots. UK wasn't up to the challenge.

Should Duke manage to get by Baylor (a pick 'em game at best, with their two big guys and massive backcourt speed), WVU projects much more favorable for Duke than UK would have (line will probably be Duke -1, I would guess; UK would've been UK -4). I put Duke/WVA as a 50/50 game, Duke/UK would've been 35/65.

The door is open for Duke, but as we've already seen with three 1-seeds failing to get out of their regions, there is a lot of parity in the NCAA this year. Two 5 seeds (or a 6, if it's TN) will make the FF. That pretty much speaks for itself.

As far as the Big East goes, Huggins saved a little face for the conference tonight, and invalidated my B.E.- baiting "zero teams in the FF" talk. Unfortunately, it doesn't change the fact that conference was revealed as no better than the other power conferences. In a year when the tournament committee blessed them with 3 teams as a #1 or #2 (e.g.-projected as Elite Eight teams), only one made it that far. They had 5 teams seeded 1-4 (sweet sixteen projections), and only 2 justified the seeding. And the nature of the early round losses--both the level of the opposition and the magnitude of defeats-were ridonk (here's looking at u G'Town). It was a total flameout for the B.E., and the seeding committee has a little egg on their face. WVU holds the only hope for getting people to forget all of the terrible losses by teams that had been clearly overseeded--and that is for the boys from Morgantown to win it all. Anything else won't do.

Down goes 'Cuse

Leaving just one. WVU seems to have this game in hand (against a 12 seed, I'd hope so. Then again, see GTown).

I'm now in the paradoxical spot of rooting against my own prediction. Much rather face WVU than UK in the FF, should Duke get there. Of course, you need paramedics after playing a Huggins team, but I'll take my chances with the ER instead of UK. That team is LOADED. 5 guys might leave early to go to pro??!!! (Wall/Bledsoe/Cousins/Orton/Patterson)

Hewitt turns down the Johnnies

This does not bode well for SJU. It's just impossible for them to come up with the cash to lure away the big money guys. Not when the taxpayers can easily support millions at these state schools.

If Pitino just wants to move and get a clean start, that would be great for SJU. He's one of the few with the cred to make a difference who is still enough of an old timer (and paesan) that the job still has some juice for him.

Other than that, I can't imagine who they'd get that's going to help them make a splash and change the aura so that they can land some recruits.

People on the FAN keep talking about Billy Donovan. Why the eff would Donovan even consider it?

Back to Metties

I can't really concentrate till MM is over, but:

1) Per today's NYP, Niese is taking the reins as the #5.

2) I caught an inning yesterday. It was the young phenom throwing in relief for his first back-to-back outing. This kid looks filthy. Don't know where he came from, but I love it.

Down goes Nova

Making the third Big East team to lose to a double-digit seed from a minor conference.

Wow

Didn't expect the Big Least flameout to come on day 1.

2 #6 seeds upset by 11s (ND & Marquette).

#2 seed and #3 seed from the B.E. combine to go -11 in points against a 14 and 15, and it obviously should've been worse as the fix was in for Nova.

Just to shed some light on how riculously poor Georgetown was, they Got. Blown. Out. By a team from the MAC. (Not the MAAC). And that team was the 9-seed. In the MAC tournament.

This is a flameout of legendary proportions.

Good start for Big Least in the NCAAs

One favorite up. One favorite down.

Notre Dame makes it 0-1 for the BEST CONFERENCE THAT HAS EVER PLAYED BASKETBALL.

Good start for the Big Least in the NIT,

The 6 seed from the ACC (NC St.) eliminates the 3 seed (USF) from the Big East.

And might U Conn survives its first round game, as the 3 point shot that would have defeated them rims out. And who nearly felled the giants from Storrs? Wait for it....

Northeastern.

Eagerly awaiting the giant Big Least flameout that is coming in the NCAAs. 8 teams in the tourney, and not a one will make the Final Four.

Quoteable

The Post on Ollie's spring debut:

The results were ugly -- as in five earned runs allowed on seven hits over three innings -- but Perez and the Mets called the left-hander's spring debut a success.

Six months removed from surgery to remove scar tissue from his right knee, Perez was back in game action for the first time, and the cynic would say already in midseason form.

Yes, yes I would.

2010

Chipper Jones gives his rundown on the Mets and what they need to do to be successful this season.

Manuel on J. Bay

"He doesn't seem as large -- I thought he would be a larger guy," Manuel said.

Yet another useless comment from Manuel. With this one statement Manuel has somehow managed to simultaneously insult his new star player, and expose his own lack of knowledge about players around the league.

Well played Jerry, well played.

Jose Jose Jose

Interesting idea Jerry.

Only two years too late.

Attitudes

Kernan says Mets attitudes appear much improved this year. If so, it would be a very positive first step. We'll see if it translates into anything.

One up, one down

Well, as I mentioned in the comments section below, I've got to drop K-rod from my list since he was playing ball with Chavez. However, I've found a replacement:

Mike Jacobs signed a minor league contract with the Mets on Wednesday, SI.com has confirmed. The deal pays $900,000 base if he's in the majors plus $1.15 million in incentives for possible total of $2.05 million.

His slipping BA is atrocious, to be sure, but he still has power and if he improves his average he could definitely make an impact. I liked what I saw from him his first year here, and the deal is cheap.

Great Success!

"There's going to be a lot of competition in camp. That's something we've been trying to do."

-Omar Minaya

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/mets/real_competition_SG6FJyNrAVbeojeiEtfe9K#ixzz0fT5P4PyX

Keeping up with the Jonses

First, here.

Then, here.

Just to throw DC a curve

Here are 8 things I like about the Mets:

1. Santana
2. Wright
3. K-rod
4. Reyes*
5. Murphy
6. Escobar deal
7. Francoeur
8. Feliciano

*I'm disappointed that he hasn't progressed/matured as much as I would have expected by this point, particularly w.r.t. OBP, but there's no getting around the fact that he is an explosive, exciting player.

Pelfrey on the Rotation

According to the Post: If the season started today, the rotation would likely be Santana, Pelfrey, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Fernando Nieve.

“Guys got hurt. I had a bad year, but guys are healthy now and I’m going to bounce back and have a good year. It’s amazing to me how big of a question there is about the rotation [by fans]. I hear about it and I just laugh.”

It's amazing that the fans have questions? Really? After Santana you've got Pelf, whose best season was 3.72 ERA with 110 Ks and a 13-11 record. All other seasons have been ERA > 5. Then you've got Maine, who never seems to be able to physically make it through a full season, and loses focus starting in the 4th inning of every game. As for Perez I can't even comment. Last you've got Niese, an interesting prospect but completely unproven.

Why would the fans have confidence in this rotation?

Beltran

Shocker, Beltran is pissed at the Mets and will likely put himself first, and the team a distant second. So for all the excitement generated about how good Reyes is looking, this should dampen that enthusiasm about the Mets chances this year.

When might Carlos Beltran get on a major league field? Beltran is furious with the Mets and how they have publicly handled his surgery. He wonders if he should have been playing last year (in other words, was he properly diagnosed?). More important, he pushed to initially play in pain and then rush back in a lost season.

The Mets probably should not expect Beltran to prioritize the team this time around. He turns 33 in April. His contract walk year is 2011. So I expect that Beltran will take care of No. 1 and make sure he does not do anything to hurt himself for a 2011 salary-drive season.

Bio

First official bio of Say Hey Kid will be published in February, looks to be very interesting. Will have to pick it up, sounds like a great read.

Minaya

Ken Rosenthal lays into the whole Mets organization, including Minaya, but also ownership. Echoes many of our complaints here.

J-E-T-S

Well, unfortunately it had to come to an end, but I'm very pleased with what I saw from the Jets this season under Ryan. As young as this team is, they have a lot of good years ahead of them, and I look forward to supplanting the Patsies. Sanchez and Greene have huge upsides and great rookie seasons to start from.

Looking to next year, the only two areas that I think could use help are the secondary and a true pass-rushing lineman. While Revis is lights out, his value is slightly diminished by the fact that the rest of the secondary is questionable. I grew weary of watching the rest of the guys get burned any time we played against a good QB. Either a better CB or safety is in order.

Fredo, what do you think of trying to trade Kris Jenkins? I don't think Pouha is so much of a step down that it's worth keeping Jenkins if we can get something good in return (player or draft picks). Jenkins can't have more than one good season left in him anyway.

Bay's knees shot?

According to Gammons, the Sox only wanted to offer Bay 2 years because of concerns about the health of both of his knees. Gammons suggested the Sox doctors are the best in any sport. One thing I don't need Gammons to tell me is where I'd rank the Mets doctors.

The Ball State softball continued to play this weekend,

and they were hoping to continue off of their straight three-out-of-four losses.

Are you effing with me?

This is the worst joke (if only) I've ever seen. Kid obviously had a huge heart and dies playing basketball? I've never heard of such a thing.

Beltran has surgery; will miss start of season.

I hate to blow up your worldview, SHK, but here's the news. Read it and weep:

The team said Beltran is expected to resume baseball activities in 12 weeks, a timetable that likely would keep him out for most of April -- maybe longer.

New York's first official workout for pitchers and catchers is a little more than five weeks away, on Feb. 20. The Mets open the season April 5 against Florida.

Apparently there is some controversy about whether Beltran should have had the surgery at all:

A person with knowledge of the situation said Beltran did not obtain advance written consent from the club to have the surgery, which was performed by his personal physician, Dr. Richard Steadman, in Colorado. The person spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the Mets didn't discuss the matter publicly.

Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, said the guarantee language in the slugger's contract requires advance written permission only for elective operations.

"This was necessary surgery, necessary surgery to work," Boras told The Associated Press.

The Mets might claim that the operation was elective.

Hey Fredo

Here's your Leon Washington update:

Injured Jets running back Leon Washington says his broken right leg is healing ahead of schedule and he expects to be on the field for next season's opening game.

A Pro Bowl selection as a kick returner last season, Washington said Tuesday that doctors have told him he is two months ahead of a normal recovery. He expects to be off crutches next week.