Your Friday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links.
Farewell, Ralph Kiner
Legendary Pirates slugger and Mets broadcaster Ralph Kiner passed away on Thursday at the age of 91. Kiner hit 369 home runs and made six All-Star Game appearances during his 10-year playing career. In 1962, he joined the inaugural Mets broadcast booth with Bob Murphy and Lindsay Nelson, and he would continue working with the Amazins for the next 52 years.
Here's how the Mets internet community reacted to Kiner's passing:
Matt Cerrone says that as a broadcaster, Kiner "made the game romantic, telling stories that combined baseball and Hollywood in a way I never knew existed."
The Eddie Kranepool Society asks: "Who didn't like Ralph Kiner?"
Greg Prince notes Kiner's importance to Mets lore when he says that Kiner "enhanced the expertise and experience of more Mets fans than anybody who ever lived."
Ted Berg says that he'll miss Kiner because "He could talk about baseball forever, and I could listen to Ralph Kiner talk about baseball just as long."
Meet the Mets
The University of Pennsylvania school newspaper did a terrific interview with Sandy Alderson in which the GM talks about how the business of baseball has changed over the years, how he got his foot in the door in Oakland, and why he loves spring training.
If you'd prefer a more hard-core baseball interview with Alderson, check out this transcript of his talk with Keith Law.
The Mets' owners have been maligned in recent years for their financial issues and refusal to expand payroll. However, it may have been Bank of America that blocked the team from spending on players.
The 2014 Topps baseball card set is available. Daniel Murphy looks great, but Wilmer Flores is listed as "shortstop" and Justin Turner is still wearing a blue and orange jersey.
Around MLB
What's better? A pitcher who throws hard but mostly pitches fastballs, or a pitcher with less velocity who mixes things up more? Robert Arthur explores that question with science in this in-depth article.
Tommy John surgery has a pretty high rate of success nowadays when it comes to returning injured pitchers to the mound. However, we still see plenty of setbacks. This is not exactly what Mets fans want to hear right now.
Relief pitchers continue to find new homes. Carlos Marmolhas been signed by the Marlins, and Fernando Rodney has reportedly come to terms with the Mariners.
Yesterday at AA
Our Season Preview series kicked off with a profile on Dillon Gee and another onJenrry Mejia.
The Mets Stat of the Day showed how Stephen Drew's 2013 would rank against the best Mets shortstop seasons.
Mets hero Endy Chavez was born today.
