It’s scary that as fans, any team’s fans, we get hooked on new players and young players and changes of direction and we’re sure we’re going to benefit — if it’s March — this year or — if it’s September — next year. Yet we just don’t know. It’s the ultimate blind trust. Theoretically, the future has never been more foreseeably agreeable for the Mets. If the...

Adam Rubin further reports that LHP Daniel Herrera has cleared waivers and will remain with the organization as a non-roster invitee to Spring Training. (Hat tip to SRT) * * * * * * * According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Astros have claimed OF Fernando Martinez off waivers. Houston, which has first choice in waiver claims because of their MLB-worst record in 2011, selected...

Photo by Michael BaronAround 2006 it was once dreamed that the Mets would have this stud group of outfielders, who were all home grown. Lastings Milledge in left field, Fernando Martinez in right field and Carlos Gomez in center field. Now there all gone and the only one who turned out productive for the Mets was Carlos Gomez who was the center piece in the Johan Santana trade. After...

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, the Astros have claimed OF Fernando Martinez off waivers. Houston, which has first choice in waiver claims because of their MLB-worst record in 2011, selected the 23-year-old outfielder. The Mets needed to clear 40-man roster spots for the additions of Scott Hairston and Ronny Cedeno, and chose to put Martinez as well as left-hander Daniel...

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So last night I’m having an email exchange with one of our writers, Clayton Collier. We talked about the Mets and Dickey mostly when he suddenly tells me he just asked free agent Omar Vizquel if he would ever consider signing with the Mets if they made him an offer. Surprisingly, Vizquel replied and said, “Not, really”. Clayton wondered if he should make a post...

You know the movie's going to be great when the title is, "Arachnoquake." Also: a college hoops transfer, ESPN columnist admits being wrong, and ping pong that allegedly involved heavy petting.

Here is the latest hot stove buzz circulating around MLB over the last day or so: Prince Fielder is not interested in signing a short-term deal. The Rockies are interested in SS Ryan Theriot. The Yakult Swallows have signed OF Lastings Milledge. Carlos Beltran offered to sign with the Yankees for the same deal he recently signed with the Cardinals. The Rockies interest in OF Cody...

Phillies NewsNothing. It's Christmas, what do you expect. So, on to useless stuff...Fantasy FootballCongratulations to me for being awesome at fantasy football and winning the blog league for the third year a row. Now, if baseball would only play once a week and teams would rarely change closers, I might have a chance at the baseball title.RA Dickey I don't know how I missed...

Phillies NewsNothing. It's Christmas, what do you expect. So, on to useless stuff...Fantasy FootballCongratulations to me for being awesome at fantasy football and winning the blog league for the third year a row. Now, if baseball would only play once a week and teams would rarely change closers, I might have a chance at the baseball title.RA Dickey I don't know how I missed...

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have formally announced the signing of outfielder Lastings Milledge according to a Sanso report (passed on from Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker.) The deal is worth $750k with unknown performance bonuses included as well as a club option for 2013. Milledge last appeared in the Majors this past season (2 games) as a member of the Chicago White Sox. He spent...

The Tokyo Yakult Swallows have announced the signing of outfielder Lastings Milledge, according to a Sanspo report passed on by Patrick Newman of NPB Tracker. The deal is worth approximately $570K plus performance bonuses and includes a club option for 2013. The Mets selected Milledge, now 26, with the 12th overall selection in the 2003 draft. He made the Major Leagues...

Dejan Kovacevic covers the Pirates, who are the master team of the Indianapolis Indians. So it has nothing to do with the Charlotte Knights and everything to do with his top-notch work overall. He is one of my favorites!Charlotte WINS! 3-1. Neither team scored until the bottom of the sixth inning, when Nate Spears hit an RBI double to put Pawtucket up 1-0. Knights starter Freddy...

Quick! How old is Lastings Milledge? I had no idea that he is only 26. I thought he was 28 or 29 because it seems like he has been around for a while. Before we get to the news, let's catch you up on the Lasting Milledge saga so far: - He made his debut at the age of 21 with the New York Mets in 2006 - In November of 2007, he was traded to the Nationals for Church and Schnieder...

Pirates’ players and friends in Friday’s winter league action:   DOMINICAN LEAGUE Gigantes del Cibao  6,  Leones del Escogido  3 RF Starling Marte continued his happy return to the playing field after missing some time with muscle strain.  Today he went 2-for-4 with a double and a single.  That’s 5-for-15 in the past three games after going hitless in his first game back...

Pirates’ players and friends in winter league action for Sunday; the Australians are off again until later in the week. PUERTO RICAN LEAGUE Leones de Ponce  5,  Indios de Mayaguez  4 Los Indios posted 4 runs in the 2nd inning, but Ponce came from behind for the win.  Ponce had scored one run in each for the 1st and 2nd innings, when Los Indios started their rally withÂ...

Checking in with a few Pirates’ players and friend in Friday’s winter league play : VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tigres de Aragua  9,  Tiburones de La Guaira  4 SS Ronny Cedeno went 1-for-3 for Los Tigres in his winter league season debut.  Los Tigres roared loudly in the first four innings, especially in the 5-run 3rd inning.  After a lead-off double in the bottom of the...

Not too much going on in the Winter Leagues tonight…  the Australians play tonight (for them) or early morning (for us) VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tigres de Aragua  1,  Leones del Caracas  0 In the battle of the big cats, Los Leones were held to just 3 hits, plus one walk, and two double plays eliminated two of those base runners.  Pirates’ DH Ramon Cabrera had one of the...

Checking in with a few Pirates’ players and friend in winter league action VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tigres de Aragua  6,  Leones del Caracas  1 LF Lastings Milledge went 2-for-4 for Los Tigres, and another former Pirate farmhand, 1B Hector Gimenez, also had a hit in this game.  Milledge started the scoring for Aragua, with a double in the 2nd inning.  He came around to score on a...

Pirates’ players and friends in action in the Winter Leagues on Tuesday: VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tigres de Aragua  2,  Bravos de Margarita  1 Former Pirate LF Lastings Milledge singled and scored in Aragua’s 2-run 6th inning.  He also singled and stole second base in the 4th.  Los Tigres’ outfield was all former Pirates’ farmhands  –  CF Jonel Pacheco...

Checking in with Pirates’ players and friends in the Winter Leagues MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Venados de Mazatlan  7,  Algodoneros de Guasave  5 Guasave took an early lead with a 4-run bottom of the 1st inning, which included a 3-run inside-the-park home run by 3B Marshall McDougall.  Not to be outdone, Mazatlan’s CF  Ruben Rivera led off the top of the 2nd with his...

Pirates’ players and friends in winter league play: VENEZUELAN LEAGUE Tiburones de La Guaira  4,  Caribes de Anzoategui  3 Los Tiburones had a 4-0 lead going in to the bottom of the 5th, after a solo homer in the 3rd and 3 more runs on 5 singles in the 4th.  Los Caribes scratched out one run in the 5th, on a single, a stolen base, and a wild pitch.  They rallied again...

Looking at Pirates’ players and friends in winter league play…. MEXICAN PACIFIC LEAGUE Venados de Mazatlan  16,  Tomateros de Culiacan  2 Culiacan had the early lead with 2 runs in the 2nd inning.  Former Pirate LF Luis Cruz walked and scored in that inning.  But it was all Mazatlan after that.  A sacrifice fly and a 2-run homer gave Los Venados a 3-2 lead in the...

Tommy in Hoboken: I think it’s officially time to give up on Fernando Martinez? He’s clearly just another Alex Escobar and Lastings Milledge. What do you think? Matthew Cerrone: I don’t know that it ever makes total sense for fans to 100 percent give up on any one. However, I can tell you that I often forget he’s even in the organization. He’s now...

Indianapolis Indians  2,  Charlotte Knights  1 ( box ) The Indianapolis Indians again had their offense all but turned off in the last half of the game, but tonight the Tribe pitchers also shut down the Knights’ bats, as the Indians took the win at Knight Stadium in the suburbs of Charlotte, NC. Starter Garrett Olson (photo) earned his 4th win, pushing his record to 4-0...