Opinion

It hasn't been the best of springs thus far for the New York Mets.

After being one of the most disappointing teams in baseball in 2009, the Mets and their fans hoped to ring in 2010 with a fast and furious start to the Grapefruit League. It hasn't happened, however, as the Mets have had to deal with many of the same issues this year that plagued the team last season.

As I read the news, watch bits of ESPN ,and look at videos on the Internet, I see some parallels between Houston Astros pitching this spring training and one particular scene from the 1988 movie Tucker: the Man and His Dream .

In 2007, John Lannan came out of nowhere.

An 11th-round afterthought in 2005, Lannan climbed the minor league ladder quickly, going a combined 12-3, 2.87 in 2007 before finishing the season with the Nationals where the 22-year-old went 2-2, 4.15.

As an African-American, I know that racism is still alive.

I know this.

But while I could go on and on about the injustices of this world from my point of view as an African-American, I will say this: Regardless of what color you are, if you play like horse manure, you deserve to get booed.

Period.

On Wednesday morning at my office, I watched the ESPN interview with Milton Bradley, which was more like watching college softball with the really gorgeous-looking players.

If you watch TV or follow anything gaming-related, you already know about 2KSports and their new MLB 2K10 game. Released last week, a large selling point for most people is a contest they’re holding associated with the game: The first player to throw a perfect game will win $1 million.

You heard that right. 2KSports is going to pay seven figures to the first person to throw a perfect game. Is it that simple? Not even remotely.

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes could be sidelined until May or June, according to new reports coming out of spring training today.

He has not played since March 4, when he was sent back to New York for medical tests, and while it was initially thought his overactive thyroid wouldn't prove too much of a distraction, it has now emerged that he may not even resume playing baseball for eight weeks.

With Carlos Beltran out for the start of the year, it's a big loss to be without the speedy infielder for an extended period of time.

Joba Chamberlain first flashed on the major league scene in August 2007. He had been called up to the New York Yankees because they were floundering and needed bullpen help.

Chamberlain came in from the pen in 19 games in August and September 2007. He pitched in 24 innings. He gave up ONE earned run and had an ERA of 0.38. His ERA-plus was a stupid 1204. (There is no decimal point there.)

Eddie Guardado, known largely for piling up strikeouts, was given his walking papers today.

The Washington Nationals released the veteran southpaw after two less-than-stellar exhibition performances. Guardado posted an ERA of 18.00 in just two innings of work this spring.

With Spring Training in full swing, several talented veterans remain unsigned by major league clubs. With injuries (Joe Nathan) and ineffectiveness starting to show as team's put together rosters, many of these players could find a new home.

Here are five players who could instantly contribute to and improve a major league team.

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While browsing through Bleacher Report lately I came across an article, by Nino Colla, about John McDonald being an unheralded backup who deserves more credit.

The fact of the matter is John McDonald does not deserve any more credit, he does not deserve an American League job and he is barely worthy of a National League backup role. Just barely...

The article proposed that backups are a role in the MLB that someone has to play and that John McDonald does it well.

This is plain wrong.