THE PATCH
The Mets are getting roasted these days for the patch design they’ll wear on their uniform sleeves this season to commemorate their first year at Citi Field.
The criticisms range from a lack of flash to the failure to mention Citi Field by name. I think the fundamental flaw is it’s not something that would prompt anybody to buy it on a T-shirt or cap.
It’s quite simple, and prompts the basic question: What do you think?
Assuming this is it, that Tim Redding is the last offseason piece to the Mets’ puzzle, are you satisfied with the job general manager Omar Minaya has done this winter? What kind of grade would you give him?
It’s almost around the corner. Spring training. I look forward to it every year. Especially at the end of the week when the temps could be in single digits.
It ends a little later this spring because of the World Baseball Classic. And, for the Mets it ends with two games against the Red Sox in a Citi Field tune-up. Here’s the complete schedule.
Feb 25 Baltimore at Ft. Lauderdale
Feb 26 Florida at PSL
Feb 27 St. Louis at PSL
Feb 28 Detroit at Lakeland
Mar 1 Houston at PSL
Mar 2 OFF DAY
Mar 3 St. Louis at PSL
Mar 4 Washington at Viera
Mar 5 Italy (WBC) at PSL
Mar 6 St. Louis at Jupiter
Mar 7 Washington at PSL
Mar 8 University of Michigan at PSL
Washington at Viera
Mar 9 Baltimore at PSL
Mar 10 Washington at Viera
Mar 11 OFF DAY
Mar 12 Florida at PSL
Mar 13 Detroit at Lakeland
Mar 14 Washington at PSL
Mar 15 Florida at Jupiter
Mar 16 OFF DAY
Mar 17 Atlanta at Disney
Mar 18 Atlanta at PSL
Mar 19 Houston at PSL
Mar 20 Baltimore at Ft. Lauderdale
Mar 21 Atlanta at Disney
Mar 22 Atlanta at PSL
Mar 23 OFF DAY
Mar 24 Houston at Kissimmee
Mar 25 Detroit at PSL
Mar 26 St. Louis at Jupiter
Mar 27 Washington at PSL
Mar 28 Florida at PSL
Mar 29 Baltimore at Ft. Lauderdale
Mar 30 Baltimore at PSL
Mar 31 Florida at Jupiter
Apr 1 St. Louis at Jupiter
Apr 2 Baltimore at PSL
Apr 3 Boston at Citi Field
Apr 4 Boston at Citi Field
REDDING: Deal in place for fifth starter.
The Mets have a deal in principle (one year, $2.25 million) with Tim Redding. The signing will be announced pending a physical, perhaps today or tomorrow. Redding, 30, was 10-11 with a 4.95 ERA last season with Washington.
He’ll be slotted in as the fifth starter, but would move up to fourth if the Mets aren’t able to sign either Derek Lowe or Oliver Perez. He didn’t have a great record, but the Mets figure it should improve with their offense.
The signing gives the Mets depth in the rotation and allows another year of development for Jon Niese and Robert Parnell.
The Mets aren’t done as they figure to come away with either Lowe or Perez to round out their rotation.
They are also talking with infielder Alex Cora.
Reliever J.J. Putz will join David Wright on Team USA during the World Baseball Classic this spring.
Also representing the Mets this spring will be: outfielder Carlos Beltran, first baseman Carlos Delgado and reliever Pedro Feliciano (Puerto Rico); closer Francisco Rodriguez and pitcher Johan Santana (Venezuela) and shortstop Jose Reyes (Dominican Republic).
