Your Friday morning dose of New York Mets and Major League Baseball news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
The Astros and Nationals could both be moving to a new spring training complex in West Palm Beach, which is about 40 minutes from the Mets at Port St. Luicie. First, the two clubs need to submit a proposal.
FanGraphs reviewed the minor league seasons of three teams, one of which is our beloved Mets.
It's supposedly an obvious choice for the Mets to trade young pitching to help out the lineup, but the team should be careful to not deal too many arms away.
The Star-Ledger graded the 2014 performance of Wilmer Flores.
Rising Apple reviewed the tumultuous campaign of Curtis Granderson.
Around the Majors
The ALCS start tonight at 8:00 p.m. You can watch on TBS. To get ready, read this Marc Normandin preview.
Grant Brisbee takes on the NLCS, which begins on Saturday night at 8:00 p.m. on actual network television.
To get you ready to root against the Cardinals, here are some examples of sports writers drooling over them.
Free agents are already flying off the market with J.J. Hardy approaching an extension with the Orioles.
The girlfriend of Athletics closer Sean Doolittle posted an emotional story about Doolittle's community work and the importance of Sean Doolittle Appreciation Day.
With Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti on the hot seat, the team may be targeting Tampa Bay GM Andrew Friedman as a replacement.
Game 1 of the ALCS doubles as a free agent audition for Royals starter James Shields. The Red Sox, who just parted ways with Jon Lester, appear to be interested in his services.
Around the NL East
Talking Chop has their version of how the 1999 NLCS went.
Fish Stripes discusses the need for Nathan Eovaldi to learn a changeup.
Federal Baseball asks if the Nationals should exercise the $15 million option for Adam LaRoche in 2015.
Yesterday at AA
Remember when being a Mets fan was fun? Even if you do, read this excellent Matthew Callan story about Robin Ventura and the Grand Slam Single.
Steve Schreiber reminded us of another happy 1999 memory.
Matt Varvaro dived into some terrific shift analysis.
Michael Avallone looked back at the 2014 season of Jon Niese.
James K handed out the hardware to honor the Mets' worst relief pitcher of the year.