Spring Training Schedule Released

The Mets released their Spring Training schedule, which kicks off on February 23 against the Nationals.

With the spring schedule ending on March 28 and Opening Day April 1, there was talk that the team may schedule a game or two out in Las Vegas. According to Marc Carig, however, that will not happen. 

Here is the schedule:

Sat	February 23	Washington Nationals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	February 24	University of Michigan	Port St. Lucie	12:10 p.m.
		Houston Astros	Kissimmee	TBA
Mon.	February 25	Washington Nationals	Port St. Lucie	6:10 p.m.
Tue.	February 26	Miami Marlins	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Wed.	February 27	St. Louis Cardinals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Thurs.	February 28	Washington Nationals	Viera	6:05 p.m.
Fri.	March 1	Detroit Tigers	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sat.	March 2	Miami Marlins	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	March 3	Miami Marlins	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Mon.	March 4	Atlanta Braves	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Tue.	March 5	OFF
Wed.	March 6	Venezuela WBC	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Thurs.	March 7	Miami Marlins	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Fri.	March 8	Detroit Tigers	Lakeland	1:05 p.m.
Sat.	March 9	Houston Astros	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	March 10	St. Louis Cardinals	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Mon.	March 11	Detroit Tigers	Lakeland	1:05 p.m.
Tue.	March 12	OFF
Wed.	March 13	Washington Nationals	Viera	1:05 p.m.
Thurs.	March 14	Detroit Tigers	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Fri.	March 15	Atlanta Braves	Disney	1:05 p.m.
Sat.	March 16	Miami Marlins	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	March 17	Atlanta Braves	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Mon.	March 18	St. Louis Cardinals	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Tue.	March 19	OFF
Wed.	March 20	Houston Astros	Kissimmee	TBA
Thurs.	March 21	St. Louis Cardinals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Fri.	March 22	Miami Marlins	Jupiter	7:05 p.m.
Sat.	March 23	Washington Nationals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	March 24	Detroit Tigers	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
		St. Louis Cardinals	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Mon.	March 25	Atlanta Braves	Disney	1:05 p.m.
Tue.	March 26	St. Louis Cardinals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Wed.	March 27	Houston Astros	Port St. Lucie	6:10 p.m.
Thurs.	March 28	Washington Nationals	Viera	1:05 p.m.

Holiday Ticket Sale Starts Monday

The Mets holiday ticket sale will begin this Monday, November 19 at 10 a.m.

Through December 20, single-game tickets for most April and May games will be just $12. There are also four-game holiday packs available. There will be a limited number of tickets available for Opening Day.

The following holiday ticket packages are available:

Division Pack: Includes games against the Marlins (April 5), Braves (July 22), Phillies (Aug. 26), and Nationals (Sept. 10).

Playoff Pack: Includes games against the Reds (May 21), Cardinals (June 12), Tigers (Aug. 23), and Giants (Sept. 17).

Saturday Pack: Includes games against the Nationals (April 20), Pirates (May 11), Royals (Aug. 3), and Brewers (Sept. 28).

Sunday Pack: Includes games against the Nationals (April 21), Pirates (May 12), Royals (Aug. 4), and Brewers (Sept. 29).

Matinee Pack: Includes games against the Padres (April 4), Dodgers (April 25), Cardinals (June 13), and Giants (Sept. 19).

All packages also include one ticket to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game FanFest at the Javits Center in July.

Ticket prices are as follows for the following sections:

Promenade Reserved: $99 per seat
Caesars Box: $129 per seat
Baseline Box: $179 per seat
Metro Box: $249 per seat
Champions Club: $349 per seat

To order tickets, visit mets.com or call 718-507-TIXX.

R.A. Dickey Wins National League Cy Young

Ladies and gentlemen, your 2012 National League Cy Young award winner!

By now you've heard the story. First one cut in 2010 to a 20-game winner, All-Star, and Cy Young winner in 2012, with the climbing of Mt. Kilimanjaro thrown in there for good measure (Actually, it was for a good cause).

I'm not going to over-analyze this. He was the best and rewarded for it (That's over-simplifying it, but I don't care). Let's all just take a moment to enjoy the fact that something good happened to a Mets player.

Tom Seaver and Dwight Gooden, both of whom won the Cy Young award while playing for the Mets (Seaver won it three times, while Gooden won it in 1985), released statements congratulating Dickey on his award.

Tom Seaver:
"My hats off to Mr. Dickey. I watched one of his outings when I was in town and I was amazed by his control. I was always looking for new ammunition to bring to the mound so I attempted the knuckleball. It's a very difficult pitch to throw and needless to say, I never mastered it. I congratulate him on his tenacity not only to succeed against all odds but to excel and achieve this very high honor. I look forward to congratulating him personally." 

Dwight Gooden:
"I saw R.A. pitch at least 10 times this year. I'm really amazed how he was able to remake his career. I never even thought about throwing a knuckleball. To win the Cy Young Award at his age is more incredible than when I was at age 20."

Congratulations, R.A. Well deserved.

The Mets And Jason Bay Part Ways

The Mets announced today that they have negotiated an early expiration of Jason Bay's contract. The agreement gives Bay unrestricted free agency, and according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, he will receive his 2013 salary. 

WHAT?!?

I never thought I'd see the day, but this is the best for everyone. Bay played his heart out day in and day out, but found little success in New York. 

I always hoped Bay would finally find success again, but it wasn't meant to be. 

I wish him the best. Good luck, Jay Bay. 

Duda Has Surgery To Repair Fractured Wrist

Lucas Duda had surgery yesterday to repair his right wrist, which he fractured last month while moving furniture back home in Southern California.

Sounds like something that would happen to a Mets player.

The surgery was performed by Dr. Andrew Weiland, the team's hand specialist, at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan.

He is expected to be ready for Spring Training.

Mets And City Harvest To Hold Food Drive

The Mets announced today that they are teaming up with City Harvest to host a food drive at Citi Field on Wednesday, November 14 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Here's more information about the food drive from the press release...

Fans can drop off their food donation inside the Hidges VIP entrance next to the Mets Team Store.  

Fans donating 10 items or more of nonperishable nutritious food will receive a voucher redeemable for one pair of tickets to a select Mets game in April 2013. Donors will also receive 15% off select merchandise at the Mets Team Store at Citi Field. Season Ticket Holders who donate food can show their ID card to get 20% off select items. The discount will only be honored Wednesday, November 14.  

Among the items most needed are: canned fruit and vegetables, plastic jars of peanut butter, packages of hot or cold cereal, and packages of macaroni and cheese. Items that will not be accepted are: unlabeled, expired, or dented cans; any open packaging; products that need to be refrigerated; or homemade products. 

Fans dropping off food may park in Lot G on 126th Street between the Right Field Gate and Roosevelt Avenue.    

Mets Join In Hurricane Sandy Relief Effort

The New York Daily News reported today that the Mets donated $100,000 to the paper's disaster relief fund.

According to the Daily News, the team has provided a staging area at Citi Field for a number of emergency personnel including, "Con Ed, FEMA, the New York National Guard, the city Office of Emergency Management, the Federal Incident Management teams, and mutual assistance electrical teams."

The Mets have also made their minor league park, MCU Park in Brooklyn, available to FEMA for the distribution of food, water, and other supplies.

If you would like to donate and help those affected by Hurricane Sandy, you can visit the following sites:

American Red Cross (You can also text "Redcross" to 90999 to make a $10 donation)
The Salvation Army
Feeding America