The Unthinkable

There comes a time in everyone's life when change needs to happen. Sometimes things change for the better. Sometimes they change for the worse. This change is one that has been long overdue. The official The Metropolitans girl has changed from the Brazilian volleyball chick to Evangeline Lilly.



Maybe it is because it is my favorite show. Maybe it is because she is hot. I'm not sure, but whatever the reason, it's a good one.



Yesterday's episode was nothing other than badass. I'm a little disappointed Mr. Eko did not capitalize off of putting the fear of god into that strange little captive from Minnesota. The guy would of told him everything and I'm pretty sure there were skid marks in his undies after that conversation in the hatch. Good episode.

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How long until Manny Ramirez changes his tune?

“I want to get another thing straight,” he said. “I’ve got a beautiful career going on and I’m not going to let the little things like this mess up all the things I’ve accomplished because I think when I’ve finished my career, I’m going to be a special player, and I’m not going to let nobody stop that. I’ve got a goal for myself and I’m not going to accomplish that (with continued controversy).”

Vladimir is out of the WBC.

Saying he is not in the proper frame of mind to give the necessary effort, Angels outfielder Vladimir Guerrero on Wednesday backed out of the World Baseball Classic.

Three of Guerrero's cousins were killed in a single-car crash Sunday in the Dominican Republic, and it was learned that a fourth cousin in the car is in serious condition.

Pedro finally concedes that he will not be able to participate in the WBC.

Pedro Martinez's troublesome toe will prevent him from participating in the World Baseball Classic.

Dominican Republic officials are planning to announce their 30-man roster today, and Mets insiders expected Martinez would be left off because it's unlikely he would even be available until the final round.

Is anyone else concerned about Pedro and opening day which is a month away?

Matsui receives a vote of confidence from the skipper.

"He was just one of the guys we had," Randolph said. "Who knows? We may even pick someone up. The competition just started. It doesn't change the whole picture at second base for me at all. The fact that he's not here, we have to just move on."

I know Omar is looking at possibly picking up someone at second base, but who can they get that would represent a significant upgrade from one of the in house options? Time to throw your weight behind them and let Matsui prove himself.

The San Antonio Marlins?

Could be. Texas is largely a football state and I would venture to guess that San Antonio is a large basketball town too, but I would assume they could embrace a baseball team. However, market wise, will it carry enough cash to keep them out of trouble? Also, what would that mean for the divisions? Just as an FYI, Pittsburgh would be the eastern most team if the Marlins move to Texas. That is certainly good news.

After an 0-4 game yesterday, Lastings went 3 for 3 while facing Jose Lima, Mike Venafro, and Mile Pelfrey.

In the Mets' intrasquad game, Milledge, the team's top prospect, went 3-for-3 with a double off the wall, a triple and a two-run single. The outfielder, who turns 21 in April, went 0-for-4 in Tuesday's intrasquad game.

"It was the first big-league intrasquad game, and I really didn't feel comfortable [Tuesday]," Milledge said. "But [yesterday] I felt a little bit better, and I'll get a lot better as spring training progresses."

Also in the game, Carlos Beltran hit a homer off of Duaner Sanchez, Julio Ramirez hit a three run homer, Tom Glavine and Victor Zambrano each worked two scoreless innings, and Mike Pelfrey gave up two runs in one inning.

Steve Traschel opens up the exhibition games today and faces Jeff Suppan and the Cardinals.

Joel Sherman brings up an interesting point in his latest article.

For example, when Pelfrey threw batting practice for the first time, Jeff and Fred Wilpon, plus Minaya, Willie Randolph and their staffs eagerly crowded the cage. Pelfrey could not miss the meaning there.

Mets officials have happily pointed out that while he was the Expos' GM, Minaya summoned reliever Chad Cordero two months after the draft in August 2003 in the midst of a wild-card chase. The implication is clear: the Mets would not hesitate to promote Pelfrey.

But why say that? If Pelfrey earns his promotions, nothing voiced by a Mets official now will matter.

Pelfrey said he was aware of the buzz but not overthrowing because of it. Still, it would seem just human nature to try and have deeds match the hype (look at what Carlos Beltran did to himself last year). Why risk that with Pelfrey, who faced batters in a game yesterday for the first time since last June?

Very good points indeed, but this is New York and he was a top five talent in the draft. If he cannot deal with the sort of pressure mentioned above, he has no shot in New York. Better to start getting him acclimated with the hype of New York now rather than be shocked by it later. Mentally, he nees to be prepared and I cannot say this is not a good introduction to it. Also, this is why there are coaches and veterans in camp to help a kid like this.

Classic...

Pelfrey drilled Victor Diaz on the left shoulder with his first pitch of the afternoon, a 93-mph fastball, then apologized later. "I had to," Pelfrey said.

Had to indeed.

Oh baby. Adam Rubin has a book called Pedro, Carlos, and Omar that details some health and lifestyle issues that were reported to have contributed to the reasoning behind trade Scott Kazmir.

Mets brass had been spooked by Kazmir despite the southpaw's upper-90s fastball. For one thing, even before Kazmir was drafted fifteenth overall in 2002, the organization was concerned that there was an elevated risk a ligament in his left elbow could eventually blow. Fear also existed about Kazmir's off-the-field behavior - for a much more serious reason than wrecking (fellow prospect Justin) Huber's car, which had been widely reported in the media. Team officials suspected marijuana use, at least early in Kazmir's minor-league career, and thought he would be ill-suited for the fast pace and temptations of New York.

A 21 year old kid smoking weed? Gasp...Really, does that necessitate a shitty trade? You traded the top left handed pitching prospect for Victor fucking Zambrano and not straight up either. You threw in a another power arm, though no one special. How does that happen?

"It's like they always have to have something to say. It's the same stuff they said before," Kazmir said. "I don't really have anything to say."

Nope. You do not. Just keep pitching like you did last year and progress and you will not have to say a word to make them look dumber than they already do. Really. No need to ever, ever go back over this deal. One of the premier power pitchers in the league my ass. Zambrano is barely hanging onto a rotation spot.

I hope Petit makes the bigs this year and continues to do his thing and baffle scouts and batters.

"I talked to the Mets, and they said they knew I have a better chance to pitch here. They said that's why they traded me," said Petit, who came to the Marlins with minor-league infielder Grant Psomas in exchange for first baseman Carlos Delgado and cash. "It didn't surprise me that I got traded, but the team they sent me to surprised me. It was a team that hadn't been mentioned much in trade talks. I can get to the major leagues faster over here."

Randolph decides to jump in on messing with the rooks.

Telling the top prospect that the team was going to work on conditioning and start with inside-the-park home runs, Randolph assembled the entire team at home plate and summoned Milledge to kick off the drill.

So, like any eager youngster in his first Major League camp, Milledge grabbed the bait, flying down the baseline and making a trio of hard left turns.

"By the time I rounded third, I saw they all walked off," Milledge said. "I was the only one running. When I came around third, I knew what time it was."

A nice write up on Cuba's Yuliesky Gourriel by Baseball America.

"For me, he’s a No. 1 guy, and he’s a power hitter who fits the third base profile," said a scout with extensive international experience. "I think he’s a championship-caliber third baseman in the big leagues. He doesn’t have a weakness.

"I had him with a 55 arm, and it seems like he has more if he needs it, and I put him as a 55 defender, though I think he could be a 60. But he’s an offensive player."

Someone please help him defect and sign him.

Be sure to check out the write up one of The Metropolitans personal favorite international players, Daisuke Matsuzaka, on the sidebar of the above link.