Mets baseball blog

Pedro Martinez proud he's stayed clean

Unlike his contemporary Roger Clemens - who is in the midst of damage control after being identified as a steroid user in the Mitchell Report - Mets ace Pedro Martinez says he is most proud of having remained "clean" during baseball's steroid era.

"When a report reveals that close to 100 players were using steroids, I thank God that I've always pitched clean," Martinez said in an interview in Spanish with the Dominican newspaper Listin Diario. Martinez was in Santo Domingo Thursday to receive a plaque recognizing his baseball accomplishments, part of an awards ceremony for the Dominican winter baseball season. Continue

Mets show interest in Jon Lieber

The Mets have touched base with representatives for several free-agent pitchers they consider fallback options if they are unable to land a marquee starter in a trade this winter. One of those contingency arms apparently belongs to former Yankee righty Jon Lieber, according to agent Rex Gary.

"We've been in contact with the Mets, but as we sit here today it'd be wrong to suggest something is imminent," Gary said last night. "There has been a lot of interest in (Lieber) from other teams. ... But he has absolutely no problem with the idea of pitching in New York. He liked pitching in New York with the Yankees and he likes to win."  Continue

Met fans' winter of discontent

People in the Mets' organization complain privately at times about the attention the Yankees get, but this is a winter in which they should be eternally grateful for the camouflage provided by the team in the Bronx. Without it, they'd be feeling a lot more heat from their hot-stove doings.

After weeks and weeks of Yankee hirings and firings allowed the Mets to slink away quietly from their historic September collapse, the Mitchell Report served up Roger Clemens and Andy Pettitte on a media platter just in time to deflect attention from a couple of discouraging developments in what looks more and more like an offseason from hell for Mets fans. Continue

Sid Fernandez named in Kirk Radomski's unsealed affidavit

Like most sequels, the Kirk Radomski affidavit has a cast of B-list players and offers few surprises. A week after former Sen. George Mitchell released his blockbuster report on baseball and steroids, the U.S. District Court in Central Islip, L.I., unsealed a 27-page affidavit written by IRS agent and lead BALCO investigator Jeff Novitzky. The affidavit, sealed in December 2005, was a request by Novitzky for a search warrant for former Mets clubhouse attendant Kirk Radomski's Manorville, L.I., home.

Most of the players who appear in the affidavit were already outed by Mitchell, but that's not surprising, since Radomski, who pleaded guilty to steroid distribution in April, agreed to cooperate with Mitchell as part of his plea bargain. Radomski is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 8. Perhaps the most notable new name to emerge from the affidavit is former Mets pitcher Sid Fernandez, who wrote a $3,500 check to Radomski in 2005, almost eight years after the lefty's last appearance in a major league game. The affidavit doesn't say what Fernandez got for his money. Continue

Defense strength of Mets' Schnedier

Mets' fans were left scratching their heads when they swapped once-top prospect Lastings Milledge to the Washington Nationals on Nov. 30 for catcher Brian Schneider and outfielder Ryan Church. Nevertheless, Schneider, the man behind the mask when Barry Bonds hit his record-breaking 756th home run, is known for his defensive prowess. He is, however, a light-hitting catcher who played the first eight years of his career with the Expos and Nationals and hit .235 with six home runs and 54 RBIs last year in Washington.

"It feels good to know how much they want you here," Schneider said of the Mets from the SNY studios in Midtown. "I just think people don't know how important defense for a catcher is and keeping guys out of scoring position, keeping that pitcher in for an extra inning or two and getting them over the hump." Continue

Mets in lead for Lohse?

The Mets' primary competition for free-agent pitcher Kyle Lohse has dropped out of the bidding. According to Phillies assistant GM Ruben Amaro, Philadelphia's refusal to go beyond three years for the right-hander ended their pursuit of Lohse, who finished last season in Philly.

It's believed the Mets have made an offer to the 29-year-old for four years, but it's not known if it is for the $10 million Per he is seeking. "We talked to [agent Scott] Boras a few times and from all indications it looked like it would take four years," Amaro said. "We let him know that we wouldn't go higher than three. He indicated he could get four, and we bowed out gracefully"  Continue

Mets ink Wise

The Mets' signing of free-agent reliever Matt Wise to a one-year, $1.2 million deal yesterday could be viewed in a number of ways. Wise, a right-hander, might be used in the Guillermo Mota role or as insurance if the Mets decide to deal Aaron Heilman. Either way, Wise is expected to strengthen the pen. "Matt has had success in a variety of roles," GM Omar Minaya said. "He adds a versatile arm." Continue

Mets' ticket prices up 20%

After a season that left fans shocked and bitter by the team's record breaking collapse, the Mets are offering something more next season - higher ticket prices. The biggest increases will affect the most expensive seats, said Dave Howard, the Mets' executive vice president, business operations. There will be $5 seats for 36 of the 81 home games next season, he noted. In 2009, the Mets will move into 45,000-seat Citi Field. Fans who buy season tickets for this season will have priority on picking out seats for the new stadium. Shea holds more than 57,000 seats. Continue

Paul Lo Duca tagged by Mitchell Report

Well, at least it's a National disgrace now. Allegations of human growth hormone and steroid use by Paul Lo Duca were among the most damning ones in yesterday's Mitchell Report, although the alleged transgressions were said to have occurred during the newly departed Met's time with the Dodgers and Marlins.

Kirk Radomski, the former Mets clubhouse attendant and drug supplier who cooperated with Mitchell's investigation, produced checks from Lo Duca written in 2004, each for $3,200, which Radomski indicated were payments for human growth hormone. Radomski cited at least six separate transactions. Continue

Radomski is ’roid link to Mets

Kirk Radomski makes his living detailing cars on Long Island, but it's other kinds of details he has that put him in the headlines. The 37-year-old former Mets employee is expected to be a key source in the former Sen. George Mitchell's report on steroid use in baseball, which will be released this afternoon.

Radomski is believed to have given up dozens of names of current and former players to whom he sold steroids and human growth hormone. The government also seized cell phone, shipping and bank records that show Radomski's ties to players. He is to be sentenced on Feb. 8. Radomski owns Pro Touch Detail in St. James, but his start in baseball came in 1985 with the Mets. He worked for the team for 10 years as a bat boy and clubhouse attendant. Mets of that era seem to have a hard time remembering him. Continue