To Bunt or Not To Bunt?

Carlos Beltran has a 7 year contract worth $119 million. Do you get paid that amount of money to bunt? Well, ever since his overhyped, underachieving season of 2005, Beltran should no longer be considered a slugger, but he can slug one out if he had to. The power should be coming off the bats from Carlos Delgado, David Wright, and Cliff Floyd. I know the Mets are spending a ton of money on him, but if bunting helps get runs on the board and runs batted in for the sluggers, then let it be. If he's bunting, and popping them up, or not sacrificing, then there is a problem. Fans might not want Beltran bunting because of his previous success as a power hitter, but I think Beltran and everybody knows he is not going to be a power hitter in the Big Apple or Shea Stadium. There is a chance of getting more home runs when the new stadium is built, but he is going to be over 30 years old by then. A switch-hitter of his size is not really a power hitter. Too bad Carlos Delgado wasn't a bit younger... he could have fun in the new stadium, since it's going to be more friendly to hitters. But for the time being, Carlos Beltran is better suited to bat second, move runners along, and make contact. And in the second place of the lineup, fastballs come along a lot. Beltran is a good fastball hitter.

A lineup of Jose Reyes, Beltran, Carlos Delgado, David Wright, Cliff Floyd, Paul LoDuca, Xavier Nady, and Anderson Hernandez is a fantastic looking lineup. Once you get towards the bottom though, it is not a very scary lineup. But I think we have all the offense we need in the first half of the lineup.

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SNY is changing its focus to signing with satellite companies.
"Now the focus will turn to the two major satellite distributors. An industry source said DirecTV almost certainly will sign on in time for the April 3 opener."

About time. I am a very impatient person, and this will finally make me a little bit more patient about the DirecTV-SNY situation. I'm just hoping they broadcast it in HD.

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Tom turns 40 today.
"Willie Randolph obviously isn't concerned about Glavine's age, either, telling reporters shortly after the game, 'He's our Opening Day starter. We're in good hands, that's for sure.'"

Tom feels good, and that's all that counts. When you're 7 years younger than a player on your team when you turn 40, you know you're still young at heart.

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The Mets take on the Astros today at 1:05 pm. The game can be seen on WB11 and MLB.TV, and can be heard on Gameday Audio. Brian Bannister, who has a shot to be the 5th starter, will start for the Mets in Kissimmee, FL, the spring home of the Astros. Andy Pettitte will start for Houston.