Mets Mini-Camp Ends

Mini-camp has come to an end, and we're a little over a month away from pitchers and catchers reporting to spring training. Since it seems unlikely that there are any big deals in the works for the Mets, there probably won't be a lot of news to talk about for the next month. I plan to keep posting, of course, but I also have some thinking to do about the direction that I want to take this blog. It's just sort of evolved without any real plan, and I'd like to have it a little clearer in my own head what I want to do here. Whatever it is, I'll be around. You can't get rid of me that easily...

Anyway, the news:

Newsday: One more on Pelfrey
Mike Pelfrey was, of course, the big story of the day. Jim Baumbach describes Pelfrey's first day as a Met:

Mike Pelfrey's first visit to Manhattan lasted just 20 hours Tuesday, and much of it was spent either sleeping or going through a physical.

Pelfrey managed to slip in a brief visit to Times Square Tuesday before hopping on a plane and flying here to finalize his contract, which guarantees him $5.2 million and could be worth as much as $6.5 million depending on how quickly he makes the majors.

During his visit to the team's minor-league complex Wednesday, Pelfrey, who turns 22 Saturday, spoke with general manager Omar Minaya, manager Willie Randolph and pitching coach Rick Peterson, and then put on a Mets' T-shirt and shorts and joined a handful of youngsters on the field for the last day of the team's optional minicamp.

Baumbach cites Larry Chase, a scouting superviser who followed Pelfrey for five years, noticing Mike's dedication which led to marked improvement every year:

His command has greatly improved, and so has the movement on fastballs. He developed a changeup that he didn't have in high school, and he's grown up physically.

Perhaps Rick Peterson had the best last word on Pelfrey:

He's going to make us all look smart.

New York Times: Darling and Hernandez
In a Times Baseball Roundup, Richard Sandomir reports that, Ron Darling and Keith Hernandez will share the analyst job on SNY, with Hernandez handling the majority of games. Sandomir also reports that no role has yet been decided for Ralph Kiner, and Tom Seaver will not have a position.

AP: Julian Tavarez signs with Red Sox
Howard Ulman reports that the Sox and volatile relief pitcher Julian Tavarez have reached agreement on a $6.7 million 2-year deal, pending a physical.