Mets baseball blog

Mets interested in injury prone Sheets

Ben Sheets hasn't pitched in the majors in more than a year, but that will not keep the Mets from keeping an eye on the former All-Star right-hander this winter.

The oft-injured Sheets, who last pitched with the Brewers in 2008, has been sidelined since February because of surgery to repair the flexor tendon in his forearm, but he expects to be healthy by spring training. Continue

Marquis on radar, behind Lackey and Pineiro

Jeff Francoeur wasn't kidding when he told The Post this summer that free-agent right hander Jason Marquis badly wants to be a Met in 2010.

Marquis backed that up this week, telling The Post he considers the Mets "a perfect fit" while expressing his admiration both for their lineup and Citi Field.

"It would always be nice to come back home and represent your hometown [as a member of the Mets]," said Marquis, who grew up in Staten Island and still lives there. "This is where I'm from, so to come back here and play in front of friends and family would be an honor." Continue

Backman back in the family

Wally Backman was hired Monday as manager of the Mets’Brooklyn Cyclones farm team in the New York-Penn League.

A member of the Mets’ 1986 World Series championship team, Backman was hired to manage the Arizona Diamondbacks in November 2004. He was fired four days later after The New York Times reported he had been arrested twice and had financial problems.

“I am thrilled and grateful to be coming back to the Mets’ organization,” he said in a statement. “Brooklyn is a major minor league team, and I know the borough’s fans are — like me — intensely passionate about baseball and about winning.” Continue

Mets serious about Chone Figgins

Though they are fixated on adding a power bat such as Matt Holliday’s or Jason Bay’s, the Mets are in the words of an involved party “absolutely in” on free agent Chone Figgins.

One Mets official said Figgins would be “hard to fit” into their current situation. Translation: It would be a whole lot easier if they could trade the two years and $12 million left on Luis Castillo’s contract to create money and a second base opening for Figgins.

“Castillo is definitely in play,” an NL executive said. For example, the Mets talked to the Diamondbacks about flipping Castillo for catcher Chris Snyder, a discussion that now appears dead. Continue

Mets end on high note

Nelson Figueroa pitched a four-hitter for his first major league complete game, Angel Pagan keyed the offense and the NY Mets wrapped up a miserable season Sunday by completing a three-game sweep of the Houston Astros with a 4-0 victory.

Figueroa retired 13 of his final 14 batters. Pagan went 4 for 4 with a triple and two doubles from the leadoff spot. He also scored twice.

New York was a National League favorite back in April. But long-term injuries to Carlos Delgado, Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran and Johan Santana decimated the roster and sent the team into a tailspin. Continue

Mets still trying, Misch solid in win

The diehards who waited out yesterday's Citi Field rain delay were rewarded.

As play resumed at 5:19 p.m. -- following a delay of 2 hours, 20 minutes before the top of the sixth inning - the few thousand remaining fans were allowed to sit in the box seats behind both dugouts. And then the Mets completed a 5-1 victory over the Astros.

Here's a modest goal for the Mets: Win today's season finale and reach the 70-victory mark for the season and finish the home slate over .500 at 41-40.

One Mets pitcher, at least, is peaking just as the season concludes.

Pat Misch gave the Mets a second straight strong start, allowing a run over five innings. This came after the right-hander fired a complete-game shutout at Florida last week. Continue

Mets lower 2010 season ticket prices

Ticket prices are tumbling for the Mets, mirroring their performance on the field.

The Mets said Thursday they are cutting the price of 2010 season tickets by an average of at least 10 percent and in some categories more than 20 percent following a disappointing opening year at Citi Field.

“What happened on the field this year was certainly disappointing,” Mets executive vice president Dave Howard said. “We think it will prove to be an aberration. The injuries were so widespread and had such an impact. We’re confident we’ll come back healthy and better next year. But the economy is still a challenge and we just wanted to be as aggressive as we could in reducing the pricing.” Continue

Misch shuts out Marlins 4-0

Jerry Manuel approached Jeff Francoeur in the visitors' clubhouse before Sunday's game and told the right fielder he would have to play despite being banged up. Otherwise, the manager joked, the Mets might face a fine for the ragtag lineup opposing the Marlins.

Francoeur, who has played with a torn ligament in his left thumb that will require surgery after the season, responded by belting a two-run homer and scoring twice and Pat Misch tossed only the second complete game by a Met this season in a 4-0 rubber-game victory against the Marlins on Sunday. Continue

Mets lose another to Marlins

Injury replacement Cameron Maybin hit a three-run homer in Florida's seven-run fifth and the Marlins rallied to beat the New York Mets 9-6 on Saturday night.

Maybin ran for Cody Ross in the fourth inning after Ross was hit on the left hand by a pitch from John Maine (6-6). He hit his third homer an inning later to give Florida a 7-3 cushion.

Maine allowed seven runs and seven hits in 4 2-3 innings. He struck out three, walked two, threw two wild pitches and hit consecutive batters in the fourth.

Carlos Beltran hit a solo homer in the eighth and Angel Pagan and Anderson Hernandez scored in the ninth on pitcher Matt Lindstrom's error, bringing the score to 6, but David Wright and Beltran struck out.

Sean West (8-6) worked five innings for Florida, yielding three runs, two earned and seven hits.

Maine throws 5 scoreless in win vs Nats

The Mets went into the 2009 season with a top four in their starting rotation of Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Oliver Perez.

Unless there's a significant trade or free-agent signing, the Mets will go into the 2010 season with a top four in their starting rotation of Johan Santana, Mike Pelfrey, John Maine and Oliver Perez.

That's why Sunday's start by Maine was more meaningful than your usual because-it's-on-the-schedule-and-we-have-to-play-it mid-September game between two of the three worst teams in the NL. The Mets need some clue if Maine will be able to help them next season.

In his second start back from shoulder woes, Maine gave them hope. He pitched no-hit ball for four innings and shutout ball for five in a 6-2 win over the Nationals at Citi Field. Continue