New York Mets

When the Chicago Cubs called up 20-year-old shortstop Starlin Castro from Double-A Tennessee early yesterday afternoon, many had their doubts as to whether or not the Cubs were making the right move.

It took about 45 minutes into his major league debut to erase any doubts that the Cubs made the right move.

In his first major league at-bat, Castro took a hanging curveball from Cincinnati Reds’ starter Homer Bailey and deposited it into the right field stands for his first major league hit and obviously his first major league home run.

It's hard being the younger, less tradition-rich franchise in the city that never sleeps.

The New York Mets finished up their series with the Cincinnati Reds yesterday. The Reds took two out of three from the Mets as New York continues to struggle on the road this season.

The Mets are now 15-13 on the season and in second place in the National League East. They are 1.5 games behind the Philadelphia Phillies in the division standings.

Here are some thoughts on the series between the Mets and Reds:

Keep It Close

The last time the New York Mets walked off the diamond at Citi Field, they'd just swept the Los Angeles Dodgers to complete a 9-1 homestand for the third time in franchise history. The other two times it happened: 1969 and 1988—pretty special years in Amazin' history.

One Johan Santana meltdown, one Mike Pelfrey implosion, and two walk-off home runs given up later, the Mets can't wait to get back into Flushing for their first home game since April 28.

The parents of Mets catcher Rod Barajas came to the United States from Mexico, and he lives in Arizona. So Naturally, the new immigration law passed in that state has drawn his attention, and his ire.

Barajas was born in Ontario, Calif., three years after his parents moved there from Mexico. His father is from Mexicali and mother is from Michoacan, and his older brother was born in Mexico, too.

The news broke on January 19th of this year that Bengie Molina rejected a two year contract offer from the Mets to sign a one year deal with the San Francisco Giants.

I posted my thoughts about missing out on Molina here.  To summarize:

Before Jose Reyes' thyroid problem, it looked like he was going to be the No. 3 hitter on Opening Day.  His thyroid set him back, but when he returned, the question came up again. 

The only reason the Mets even considered batting Reyes third is because Carlos Beltran is injured.  With Beltran gone, the Mets lineup could use some more depth.

Manager Jerry Manuel decided to stretch out the lineup, and put Reyes at the three-spot.  He had played 591 straight games in the leadoff spot. 

Mets fans were split on the decision to bat Reyes third.

ESPN is reporting Mike Pelfrey had MRI in New York this morning for general shoulder tightness. He's been cleared to start this weekend vs. Giants. I noticed him in these past two starts kind of hunching his shoulder after a couple of pitches as if he were trying to shake it loose. Most pitchers feel tightness especially this time of year, as the weather changes, spring going into summer. He was pitching good baseball until his last start. The Mets are taking no chances.