Mike's Mets

Mets.com: Mets players in winter ball
Brian Hoch features several of the Mets players competing in winter ball. He reports that Victor Diaz is really mashing the ball in the Dominican Winter League. I hope that Diaz realizes that he is reaching a put up or shut up point in his young major league career. At stake is whether he can pick up his game enough to show he can produce the necessary offense for a starting corner outfield spot, especially with his less than stellar defense. If he loses out on the starting RF slot to Xavier Nady, there is the danger of being slotted as a fourth outfielder type.

Diaz certainly showed his potential last year, but he also demonstrated a lack of focus over the course of a season that would seem to argue against him reaching his full potential as a hitter. Maybe seeing Nady -- who has hardly experienced a world-beating MLB career himself -- more or less anointed as the starting right fielder this off-season will give Victor the kick in the ass he needs to pull his game to the next level. If not, then maybe all he is just a good-hit, no-glove fourth outfielder.

Sports Illustrated: The importance of short relievers
Jacob Luft insists that short relievers are worth more than they are often given credit for being. Of note, in a chart of 2005 Leaders, Runs Saved Above Average Among Relievers from the Sabermetric Baseball Encyclopedia, Billy Wagner was ranked second behind Mariano Rivera.

Also on Mets.com: Ron Darling Chat Transcript
If you missed the 2 PM chat, read all about it at Mets.com. Some highlights:

• Q: How does the current Mets team compare to the 1986 team?
  It is hard to compare the '86 starting pitching staff with this team. But the offense for the 2006 Mets, with Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Cliff Floyd, David Wright, etc., seems as strong or maybe stronger than that '86 team.
  
  
• Q: Should the age of the starting pitching and the lack of a quality setup man in the bullpen worry Mets fans in regards to how far this team can actually go?
  Well, I'm not bothered by the age of the starting pitching. Arguably Tom Glavine was the Mets' best pitcher in the second half, winning seven games with an ERA just over 2.00. Pedro (Martinez) is always going to be Pedro. He can beat you with an 82 mph fastball or a 92 mph fastball. But I believe Kris Benson is the key to this year's rotation. He had 10 wins last year, but is capable of much more.
  
  
• Q: What will the Mets do with Victor Zambrano? Seems to me they are reluctant to cut ties with him because it would admit it was a terrible deal.
  Victor Zambrano has a fine arm, great fastball, great breaking ball. Everyone knows that he struggled with his control, and it's an interesting question. Because of the trade, you might think the Mets are holding onto him to justify the trade, but I believe they are keeping Zambrano because sometimes power pitchers take a little longer to develop, and I believe he'll develop into a strong Major League pitcher some day.
  
  
• Q: Are you excited to be working with Keith again? Have you guys kept in touch since leaving the Mets?
  We have kept in touch and have seen each other off and on over these 20 years. And I'm excited to have the opportunity to occasionally share the booth with Keith, to be the Mets' color analyst with Keith, and to learn from Keith, since he has a lot of experience doing Mets games. That's going to help me develop in the long run.