Schedule times and pitching match-ups this weekend:
Fri, Jun 24 8:05 PM
Pelfrey (4-5) vs. Harrison (5-6)

Sat, Jun 25 4:10 PM
Niese (6-6) vs. Ogando (7-2)

Sun, Jun 26 3:05 PM
Gee (7-1) vs. Holland (6-2)

Press release from DKC Public Relations, Marketing & Government Affairs:

On behalf of the Mets Alumni Association Presented by Citi former Mets George Foster and Edgardo Alfonzo will be holding a meet and greet with fans at Citi Bank branch locations in Manhattan and Long Island on Friday May 6th from 12:00 – 1:30 PM. They will be signing autographs and taking pictures with Mets fans and Citi customers. All of the location information regarding branch location can be found below.

George Foster
12:00PM – 1:30PM
309 Canal Street
New York, NY 10013

Edgardo Alfonzo
12:00PM – 1:30PM
3375 Hempstead Turnpike
Levittown, NY 11765

Q. Tell the readers a little about yourself and SethSpeaks.net
A. My name is Seth Stohs, and I’ve been writing the Twins-related blog at www.SethSpeaks.net since May of 2003. I am one of four TwinsCentric bloggers that have written a few books and magazines in the last year. We also provided content for the Twins annual. My blog is on the Twins but focuses also on the Twins minor leagues. I have written 2009 and 2010 versions of the Minnesota Twins Prospect Handbook. I host the SethSpeaks.net Weekly Minnesota Twins Podcast and co-host Twins Minor League Weekly. I am a Regulatory Product Planner for Marvin Windows & Doors, and have an active four year old daughter.

Q. The Twins are currently in first place and are the defending AL Central Champs. What are your thoughts on the Twins 2010 playoff chances and possibly a trip to the World series?
A. I believe that the Twins are the class of the AL Central. I think they easily have the most talent. Right now, they are slumping and struggling and have allowed the Tigers to stick with them and the White Sox to jump right back into the race (although the Sox have won 13 out of 14, so they deserve a ton of credit too). The general belief is that the Twins should win the division title but that without adding a significant piece (see Lee, Cliff), they will struggle against the Rays or Yankees in the playoffs.

Q. Give me one area of the Twins roster you’d like to see them improve?
A. The Twins do need a true ace. Francisco Liriano has been very good again this year. Carl Pavano has more than exceeded any expectations. Scott Baker has been solid for the most part, if inconsistent. Kevin Slowey and Nick Blackburn have been the definition of inconsistent, if I’m being positive. Adding someone like Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt or Dan Haren would help as well. 3B is another area many believe that the Twins could improve, and they could, but it shouldn’t be as high of a priority.

Q. Joe Mauer has struggled a little bit with hitting home runs so far this season. Any concern? What do you think the issue is?
A. Mauer has just three home runs this year. Target Field has been playing very big. He has crushed no fewer than eight to ten balls that would have been homers in the Metrodome that have died in the vast expanses of the gaps and CF at Target Field. Jason Kubel has found a way to pull the ball more at Target Field to hit home runs, but Joe Mauer refuses to change his approach at the plate to match a ballpark. Obviously there aren’t very many Joe Mauers out there, and I don’t think he should change that fluid swing and his approach at the plate. I believe that 28 home runs was probably an anomoly and that 12-18 home runs is more the range he will be in. And I don’t have a problem with that.

Q. Johan Santana was such a dominate pitcher for the Twins and gave you guys a lot of good memories. What are your thoughts on the Twins facing Santana this weekend?
A. It will be kind of fun to see the Twins face Santana. He was such a good friend and teammate to many of the Twins players. It will be interesting to see how he decides to pitch to guys like Mauer and Justin Morneau, guys he played with for several years. Santana was amazing when he was with the Twins. His changeup was incredible, and he has a good slider/curveball too. He won the two Cy Young Awards and really should have won the third (Bartolo Colon won because he had 20 wins one year).

Special thanks to Seth for taking the time to answer some questions for me. Be sure to check him out over at SethSpeaks.net.

Q. Tell the readers a little about yourself and Bronx Baseball Daily.
A. I am a blogger with a journalism degree from “Fuhgeddaboudit University” better known as Brooklyn College. I have worked for the NY Daily News, Pinstripes Plus magazine, and various other sports publications. Bronx Baseball Daily was started about a year and a half ago and has grown into one of the most successful Yankees Blogs on the internet. I also am the publisher of Broadway Hockey Daily and Flushing Baseball Daily, Rangers and Mets blogs respectively.

Q. The Yankees are defending World Series Champs and a favorite to go back to the World Series in 2010. What are your thoughts on a return trip to the World Series?
A. The 2009 Yankees had the makings of a dynasty and I said all offseason that the only thing that could stop them in 2010 were injuries and so far that has been the case. The Yankees came out of the gate fast this season, but have been slowed down by a long list of injuries lately. For the most part they are minor injuries that they will get past though so a trip to the playoffs looks likely. Winning a World Series always takes a bit of luck, but the way their pitching staff has looked this season indicates that a repeat is certainly another possibility.

Q. Javier Vazquez looked like a good pick up for the Yankees at the back end of their rotation. Thus far he’s struggled and the media and fans are all over him. Did you think it was a good pick up at the time and how confident are you in Vazquez?
A. I haven’t given up on the idea that the Javier Vazquez trade will be a fruitful one for the Yankees, but with the way he’s pitching it’s hard to blame those who have. The thing about the trade was that the Yankees didn’t give up a whole lot, an outfielder who is currently hitting .195 for Atlanta, Melky Cabrera, and a good pitching prospect who is probably at least four years away from the majors. The alternative was either Sergio Mitre or Chad Gaudin so I still think the Yankees made the right gamble.

Q. Give me one area of the Yankees roster you’d like to see them improve?
A. As far as improving the Yankees roster, if they get guys back from the DL things will be fine. The biggest issue right now is at DH. The Yankees took another gamble in thinking that Nick Johnson would stay healthy and now he’s probably out until August. The Yankees have other options, but right now you have to wonder how long they are going to hold out until they recall their top prospect Jesus Montero from the minors and plug him in at DH.

Q. The Mets and Yankees play 6 times a year now. Do you like the subway series and what are your thoughts on inner-league play as a whole?
A. I love the Subway Series. No matter how good or bad either team is, this is a series I think everyone in New York looks forward too. Some of the other interleague games seem a bit arbitrary, but the Subway Series makes up for that. The Mets also have a team that I think is right on the precipice of greatness and I’m not sure a lot of Yankee fans realize this. Obviously the Mets have a lot of their own issues right now especially within their rotation, but I think this weekend will open a lot of eyes in the Bronx because the Yankees their fair share of issues with all their injuries. So I’d actually say the teams are pretty closely matched-up right now. This will be an exciting weekend (I just hope that Castillo is practicing those infield flies).

Special thanks to Robert for answering my questions. Be sure to check him out over at Bronx Baseball Daily.

Here is the schedule and pitching match-ups for this series.

For a complete listing of the Mets schedule click here.

Q. Tell the readers a little about yourself and Marlin Maniac.
A. Marlin Maniac is a Florida Marlins blog which focuses on the objective analysis of the team. I try to not be a fanboy, and I try to use sabermetrics and observation to analyze the team and inform my opinions. The staff and I also try to keep everyone informed of the news that goes on with the team, giving a saber-slant to the day-to-day happenings in the game.

Q. The Marlins finished 2nd in the division in 2009 and there were some who expected them to be just as good, if not better this season. How to you feel about the Marlins playoff hopes in 2010?
A. I feel like the Marlins have an outside shot at the playoffs in 2010, but it would require more than a few things falling into place. The team needs close to average production from more than a few players who are currently not providing it. The Marlins need to improve their team defense so that they are not giving up two full wins a year more than the average team due to a lack of range. The team also needs at least one of their starters past Ricky Nolasco and Josh Johnson to perform well for a full season. If so, there is still a chance.

Q. Josh Johnson is the ace of the pitching staff. He’s 3-1 with a 3.35 ERA so far this season. Give me your thoughts on how he’s done so far this year.
A. JJ has been very good so far this year. So far this season, he’s struck out 27.0% of the batters he has faced, though he has also walked a few more than he has done historically. He’s also still doing a good job of keeping the ball on the ground (45.2% GB%, lower than usual, but it should go up) and in the park (0.62 HR/9 innings), which means he is generally in line for a third straight solid season, if this pace continues.

Q. Is there one area of the team you would like to see the Marlins improve upon during the season?
A. I would love for this team’s defense to improve. The Marlins have had a substantially poor team defense over the last few years, worth some 40+ runs worse than average since 2007. This year, the team leads the league in errors and has been about four runs below average according to UZR. If the team could improve defensively, they could give themselves an extra two wins by just being average defensively.

Q. Hanley Ramirez looks to be off to a good start this season. He’s always being mentioned as one of the best players in the game. What’s the one part of his game you enjoy watching the most? and Why?
A. Hanley is a true five-tool stud player, so it is really difficult to pick out what I like to watch most about his game. His baserunning is exciting when his legs are healthy, and his power is tremendous. I also always enjoy when he is able to work a walk or tough plate appearance against a pitcher who challenges him, because it just assures me that we not only have a great hitter, but one with a great eye for the strike zone. That should keep his value afloat even if his gifted athletic skills begin to decline in the (long, long-term) future.

Special thanks to Michael for answering my questions. Be sure to check him out over at Marlin Maniac.

Q. Can you tell the readers a little about yourself and fightinphillies.com?
A. I am the sole proprietor of the blog and have been podcasting a Phillies internet radio show called “Phillies Talk” with a friend of mine named Jim Mulry in addition to the blog, I started out 5 years ago writing and podcasting about all Philly sports but narrowed my focus to the Phillies in the middle of 2007. I am a Sunday season ticket holder for the past few years of the Phillies and enjoy going to the games an writing and podcasting about the Phils.

Q. The Phillies have been to the World Series two years in a row. What chances do you give them to make it again in 2010?
A. Well,the odds have to be against them. Three World Series appearences in a row is about as rare as a snowstorm in Florida in May, but I think this team can do it only because they know what it takes to get there. Getting to the World Series is another matter, I still think that everything has to align for a team to make it. Great play, solid fundamentals, and a little bit of luck get you a long way in the playoffs. Do they have the pitching staff to win it all?

Q. Which team in the NL East has the best chance of dethrowning the Phillies and why?
A. Early in the season I predicted the Mets would give the Phils the best run at dethroning them. Of course I’ve been saying that for a couple of years now. I always meant it too. There is no logical reason the Mets shouldn’t be able to contend. They have the talent, but I think they needed a GM/managerial change about a year ago.

Q. Is there one area of the team you would like to see the Phillies improve upon during the season?
A. Starting pitching after Halladay has been inconsistent. Will this be the reason the Phillies don’t make the playoffs in 2010?

Q. The Phillies and Ryan Howard recently agreed to a 5yr $125 million extension. Howard is currently 31 years old. Do you think the Phillies gave him too long or too much money?
A. He is only 30 as of today the day he agreed to the contract extension, but I think the Phillies did what they thought was right. They offered a contract and the money sounded right to Howard and Company. Was it surprise that it happened now? Yes, I think it came out of the blue and no one expected the Phillies to step up and make this commitment. Howard has been consistent in his run production over the years, he has also struck out a lot in the process. It is scary to think how much better Ryan Howard can improve if he just gets more hits. $20-$25 million a year is now the going rate for real superstars in baseball, and the Phillies organization believes Howard is one of them.

Also, you can check out the Mets questions I answered for Rich over at Fightin Phillies. Special thanks to Rich for taking the time to answer my questions. Be sure to check out Rich over at Fightin Phillies.

Q. Can you tell the readers a little about yourself and Dodgerfan.net?
A. I’m a lifelong Dodger fan who grew up savoring the eloquence of Vin Scully and the Dodger teams of the late-70’s and the 1980’s. I started dodgerfan.net with my brother Alex as a way to discuss the good, the bad and the unthinkable when it comes to Dodger baseball. We think of ourselves as a blog for the everyday Dodger fan, and look for compelling stories that take place between and outside the lines.

Q. The Dodgers have won the NL West the last two seasons. How confident are you in the Dodgers making the playoffs in 2010 and have some of the other teams in the NL West caught up to them?
A. I definitely think it’s going to be a lot tougher for the Dodgers to win the NL West for a third consecutive year – something no team has done in the era since the wild card playoff spots were introduced. The Rockies and Giants are a lot better, and the Padres are playing surprisingly well to start the season. I’m particularly impressed with the Giants pitching, and think they could be a dark horse to compete for the NL West title. The Dodgers also did not make a lot of moves in the offseason to help their cause. I would have liked to see Ned Colletti add some starting pitching, but the divorce of Frank and Jamie McCourt is unquestionably having an impact on the team’s payroll (even though the club officially denies this).

Q. Is there one area of the team you would like to see the Dodgers improve upon during the season?
A. Definitely pitching. At the beginning of the season I would have said that I would have put a quality starter at the top of the list at the trading deadline, but the inability of the bullpen (I’m speaking of Russ Ortiz, Ramon Ortiz and even George Sherrill) has made the need for consistent relief pitching an even greater priority. The Dodgers have got to find a way to get the ball into the hands of closer Jonathan Broxton on a more consistent basis.

Q. Matt Kemp is off to a great start this season. He’s a young player that has been improving each season. Give me your thoughts on Kemp and the type of player he is.
A. Matt Kemp is a phenomenal young outfielder with all the potential in the world. He’s blessed with power and speed, and could hit 30 home runs and steal 30 bases this year. In addition, he’s mature for his age and is a character guy who always answers the tough questions. His defense has slipped since his Gold Glove campaign in 2009, but it’s still a bit too early to tell if this is just a fluke or the beginning of a trend. All that said, and with all due respect to Andre Ethier, Russell Martin and James Loney, Kemp is the best young player on the Dodgers and a perennial All Star in the making.

Q. I think some people thought the Dodgers would have improved upon their starting pitching in the off-season. They didn’t do that. Give me your thoughts on the Dodgers starting rotation.
A. In general, I like the Dodgers starters. The working philosophy within the organization was that the club did not need to sign a #1 starter in the offseason, as both Chad Billingsley and Clayton Kershaw were both #1 starters in the making, and still developing. True, but you can never have a shortage of quality arms. Let’s work through the starters as of today: Chad Billingsley finally had a good start against the Nationals, but has really struggled since the 2009 All Star break. In fact, he hasn’t recorded an out in the seventh inning since July 5, 2009. That’s troubling to me and I sometimes question his mental toughness and ability to develop into a #1 starter, but he has all the talent and potential in the world to make that happen.

Clayton Kershaw is really special and has the potential to be a truly dominant lefty with that absolutely filthy curve of his. Hiroki Kuroda is a very consistent pitcher with the ability to take the Dodgers deep in games. Prior to signing with the Dodgers, Kuroda pitched for 10 seasons with the Hiroshima Carp, earning the nickname “Mr. Complete Game” for the 74 complete games he threw. The Dodgers would love to see some of that magic here in LA on a more regular basis. Vicente Padilla was fantastic for the Dodgers during the 2009 pennant run and is a capable #4 starter, and the Dodgers were glad to sign him for the 2010 season. He just went on the DL today, however, and Josh Towers is reportedly replacing him while he’s out.

In the fifth spot is Charlie Haeger. A knuckleballer, Haeger really impressed Joe Torre during Spring Training, which is tough to do as knuckleballs historically don’t fly that well in the dry Arizona air. He’s off to a rough start, but Torre seems committed to sticking with the kid for a while longer. Is this starting rotation good enough to compete for a title? If the bullpen pitches like it did last year it is, but that hasn’t been the case so far in the 2010 season.

Special thanks to Chris for taking the time to answer some questions for me. Be sure to check out Chris over at Dodgerfan.net.

Q. Tell us little bit about yourself and Braving Baseball
A. I have been a life long Braves’ fan, having been born in Atlanta. Despite not having lived in the city for the majority of my life, I was able to follow the Braves on TBS and was able to make it down to a lot of minor league games with the Braves’ AAA team was in Richmond. I currently teach English just south of Seoul, South Korea. Braving Baseball has been around since the end of the season and is part of the Fan Huddle network. While a lot of sites cover things like game recaps and such, we try to provide timely analysis on the team instead.

Q. The Braves are off to a decent start this season. Some have picked them to win the wild card. What are your expectations for the Braves in 2010?
A. While I certainly hope the team can pull out a win the NL East, my realistic prediction has them winning the Wild Card. With the veteran leadership that the team has, combined with the exciting young players like Tommy Hanson and Jason Heyward, I think this is a strong team that will be tough to complete with in the playoffs.

Q. What’s the one area of the team you’d like to see the Braves improve in order to compete in 2010?
A. The Braves real weakness is the inconsistency of their offense. While they rank in the middle of the pack when it comes to run scoring, they seem to have their good and bad days, much more than other teams seem to have. If they can get more consistency, the great pitching staff would become even more powerful.

Q. Jason Heyward is off to a great start this season. Is there one part of his game that surprises you the most?
A. I think it’s his plate discipline. After all, a lot of young prospects come up and can’t take a walk (for example, Jeff Francoeur). Heyward is only 20, but has still been able to record 10 walks in his first 49 Major League at-bats. The power and fielding ability is a given, but the plate discipline at such a young age is the most surprising part to me.

Q. Chipper Jones and Bobby Cox have been together and in Atlanta for a long time. Give me your most memorable moment of each.
A. Chipper Jones has been my favorite player for a long time. As a kid, I remember watching him play for the Richmond Braves (the teams AAA affiliate until 2009) and have been following his career ever since. While it’s hard to point out out one specific moment, but I really respect and appreciate that he has always been willing to take less money to stay in Atlanta. As for Bobby Cox, as weird as it may sound, I loved when he broke the record for most career ejections. While some may think he is a hot head, I think that he is just passionate about the game and protecting his players. That’s what makes a great manager.

Also, check out some Mets questions I answered for Jim. Special thanks to Jim for taking the time to answer some questions for me. Be sure to check out Jim over at Braving Baseball.

If your having trouble viewing this video, try the Quicktime version

Special thanks to Andrew for joining me. Be sure to check him out over at Purple Row.

If your having trouble viewing this video, try the Quicktime version

Special thanks to Kristen for joining me. Be sure to check her out over at Nationals Buzz and We’ve Got Heart.