Cliché Stadium Stands

Just saw David Wright on MLB Network declare the Mets need to let “our bats and gloves do the talking” when it comes to competing with the Phillies.

“Hey David,” said his bat, “don't be afraid to make contact with me if there's a runner on third and nobody out.”

“Yeah David,” added his glove, “and steady yourself before throwing to first. Just a little friendly advice.”

Over on SNY, the reairing of SportsNite led with a scare tease about “THE FIRST INJURY OF METS SPRING TRAINING…AND IT'S A PITCHER!” while images of Santana, Rodriguez and everybody else whose health you value at least as much as your own flashed across the screen.

Tim Redding's shoulder is a little strained was the news. Not that that's good news. Projection: he will try to come back too soon, overcompensate in some way, give up some huge homer in long relief and be booed out of The Field @ Shea Point before revealing, probably in late September, “I shouldn't have rushed back.” Not wishing any of that on Tim Redding at all. But if you have Tim Redding injury news, don't show me Johan Santana's picture unless it's to assure me not to worry, this has nothing to do with Johan Santana beyond the empathy he feels for a teammate (what a great guy).

At least five Mets are lookin' good, according to SNY: Putz (throwin' darts), Maine (feelin' loose), Church (dizzy not), Castillo (lighter than air) and Sanchez (at long last not rehabbing, just concentrating on pitching). Jerry Manuel said you don't practice baseball, you play baseball, which is probably the most substantive bulletin you can expect out of Spring Training on the last weekend before the Mets spend every weekend through late October playing baseball.

That is if their bats, their gloves and maybe their balls do the talking.

Amazin' angst and optimism alternate throughout the pages of Faith and Fear in Flushing: An Intense Personal History of the New York Mets, available for pre-ordering now via Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other fine retailers.