Spring Training, Day One: Niese Gets A Nose Job

Photo: Adam Rubin's Twitter Account (@AdamRubinESPN 

Day one of Spring Training is now out of the way, and what was the biggest story of the day?

Jon Niese got a nose job. Yup, the schnoz is no more...sort of, and it's all thanks to Carlos Beltran.

Before being traded to the San Francisco Giants last summer, Beltran offered a lovely parting gift to Niese.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York, Niese said:

"He wanted me to have a new nose," Niese said about Beltran. "So he offered to pay for it. I was just like, 'All right.' Then it turned into seeing doctors and to getting it fixed."

The rhinoplasty did have an unintended side effect. Niese can now breathe easier.

Will his new nose help him on the mound? Who knows. If not, you know who to blame.

Side note: Did Niese offer to pay for the removal of that hideous mole on the side of Beltran's head?

Mets Morning News: Pitchers And Catchers Report, Gee's Struggles WithFatigue, Wright Has Something To Prove

Pitchers and catchers officially report today, and their first official workout is Wednesday.

Dillon Gee tells Mike Puma of the NY Post that he ran out of gas halfway through last season.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn’t really tired," Gee said. "But it was important for me to experience that.

"I know now what I need to do better. I don’t think that first half was luck at all. I just think I was pitching well. I knew what I was doing. But as soon as I had a couple of bad outings I started pressing a little bit."

Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger writes about how just like every other Met in 2012, David Wright has something to prove.

His time as a Met could be drawing to a close. Members of the front office are still privately mulling their options. They could trade him this summer. They could pick up his $16 million option for 2013 and deal him next winter. Or they could work to retain him long term. Much depends on how he performs this season.

Wright turned 29 in December. He is approaching baseball’s version of middle age, that cruel moment when reflexes slow down and bat speed declines. So perhaps 2011 was an outlier. Or perhaps it was a harbinger. That knowledge limits his current trade value, one talent evaluator explained this winter.

A memorial service will be held this Friday for Gary Carter in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. The Mets expect to send a "sizable" group to honor the late, great Mets catcher.

In lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Gary Carter Foundation, 580 Village Blvd., Suite 315, West Palm Beach, Fla., 33409. Donations will go to support the Autism Project of Palm Beach County, Hospice of Palm Beach County and Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball.

Mets Morning News: Murphy And Duda Are Corner Infielders, Ignoring OffField Distractions, & Pitching Prospects

Joel Sherman of the New York Post writes that Mets officials believe Daniel Murphy and Lucas Duda are best suited as corner infielders.

"The Mets also privately fret if Davis will hit lefties consistently; something they have far less concern about with Duda. What worries them with Duda is if he will subtract from his offensive value — which even executives around the league believe is legit — by being such a defensive liability in right. Murphy, meanwhile, has been seriously injured each of the past two seasons turning pivots at second.

Thus, the Mets want to verify their beliefs that Duda and Murphy are above-average hitters. If so, they will at least have the option to consider dealing Wright and/or Davis to continue to deepen the young talent base."

Terry Collins sat down with The Star-Ledger to discuss the 2012 season. He won't let his players feel sorry for themselves or be distracted with off the field issues.

"You know what? Jose’s not here...The first time I hear someone say, 'Oh, Jose would have caught that ball,' we've got problems...So our payroll’s down...How many guys here care what our payroll is?"

David Lennon of Newsday writes of how the trio of Matt Harvey, Jeurys Familia, and Zack Wheeler shouldn't be labeled the next Generation K. Also, don't expect to see any of them called up before their time.

"The temptation with those three guys doesn't really exist at the moment," [Sandy] Alderson said. "Obviously, when you bring somebody up -- whenever you do -- they still have to perform. So on the one hand, you're tempted to bring somebody up to fill innings, but on the other hand, they better be ready. Because if they're not, there are obviously consequences to that, too."

2012 New York Mets Player Profile: Daniel Murphy

Photo Courtesy of Flickr.com

2011 season was both an outstanding year and a terrible year for Daniel Murphy.

On one hand, he was on his way to having one of the five best batting averages National League. On the other hand, it was yet another season ended early because of injury.

At the end of the day it was another year that left us wondering, just who is Daniel Murphy?

Is he the guy from 2011? A .320 hitter capable of producing anywhere in the Mets lineup. Or is he the .266 hitter from 2009? A player without a home defensively, relegated to a super utility role or a platoon DH for another team.

These are important questions for Murphy to answer heading into 2012. This could be his last chance to establish himself as an everyday second baseman for the Mets because for the first time in a long time, the Mets have minor league depth in Jordany Valdespin and Reese Havens that will be Major League ready come 2013.

2011 was Murphy's best season as a ball player. Being able to play every day was great for his game, as his numbers and comfort level improved every month as the season progressed.

Let’s not forget, Murphy is still a young, developing player.

Gary Carter Loses His Battle With Cancer

Photo by: AxsDeny (Flickr.com)

Gary Carter passed away this afternoon according to his daughter Kimmie Bloemers' recent journal entry.

The 57-year-old Hall of Fame catcher was diagnosed with Stage 4 brain cancer in May of 2011.

The Mets released the following statement:

"On behalf of everyone at the Mets, we extend our deepest and heartfelt condolences to Gary’s family -- his wife Sandy, daughters Christy and Kimmy and son D.J.  His nickname 'The Kid' captured how Gary approached life.  He did everything with enthusiasm and with gusto on and off the field.  His smile was infectious. He guided our young pitching staff to the World Series title in 1986 and he devoted an equal amount of time and energy raising awareness for a multitude of charities and community causes.  He was a Hall of Famer in everything he did."

Our thoughts go out to the Carter family.

Interview: MLB Fan Cave Hopeful, and Mets Fan, Travis Miller

Mets fan, Travis Miller, was kind enough to talk with us about his bid to join the MLB Fan Cave in 2012. The 26-year-old New York native, who now calls Chicago home, is among 50 finalists vying for a spot in the Fan Cave.

If you have not yet seen Miller's audition, here ya go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jl9-rfWP40Q

Tell us a little about yourself.

I’ve been covering the Cubs and White Sox as a freelancer for the Associated Press for two years. Before that, I wrote on a freelance basis in upstate New York where I grew up. I covered a variety of high school sports for the Poughkeepsie Journal, where I started as an intern. That led to covering Marist College football and men’s and women’s basketball for the AP.

There was not a direct bridge from New York to Chicago, I actually moved to the midwest without a job and sold shoes for four months before scoring the gig covering Major League Baseball. It was a surreal day when I received that phone call.

What is your favorite memory as a Mets fan?

Caption This, Mets Fans

Many Mets players have already made the trek down to Florida to begin their workouts. Here is a photo the Mets posted on their Twitter account of Daniel Murphy receiving some infield instruction from Terry Collins and Tim Teufel:



A few thoughts went through my head when I saw this picture. How would you caption this?