New York Mets

We may never know if the Wilpon family, principal owners of the New York Mets, benefited or lost as a result from dealings with Ponzi schemer Bernard Madoff.

However, we will soon know if the Wilpons' involvement with Madoff will cost their beloved Mets on the field.

The recent lawsuit against the Wilpons will cost them millions. It's not relevant if they win or lose in the courtroom.

The past few seasons, the Mets and Yankees have been on opposite ends of the baseball spectrum. 

The Yankees have continued their winning ways, culminating in a World Series Championship in 2009.  Meanwhile, over the past few years the Mets have spiraled into obscurity and—even worse—became the butt of all jokes around the league. 

There isn't a lot to look forward to when it comes to the New York Mets in 2011. There are more questions than answers surrounding this team right now, and with the lawsuit stemming from the Bernie Madoff Ponzi scheme hanging over their heads, fan morale is at an all-time low.

Well cheer up Mets fans! It's Spring Training, and with it comes a clean slate. Will the Mets win the World Series this season? Probably not. Can they win the World Series? Sure they can; any team can. That's why it's a clean slate.

On this date in 1934, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Casey Stengel to a two-year deal to be their manager.

Today, 77 years later, Terry Collins will look to the example set by Stengel in running a baseball team. Though they Mets were downright terrible during Stengel's tenure, the fire and energy he brought as the first Mets manager rang true with the players.

The 2010 season probably doesn't rank very high on the list of great seasons in Mets history. The Mets finished the season 79-83, fourth in the NL East, with their ace, Johan Santana, on the disabled list.

There weren't many bright spots last season.

After yet another disappointing season, Mets fans have been clinging to the warm memories or R.A. Dickey and his 2.84 ERA, Angel Pagan's eye-opening season and Ike Davis and his 19 home runs.

MLB Spring Training has only just started, but the MLB buzz is continuous. There is already buzz about mid-season trades to come. There's also already buzz about the free agents after this season.

Albert Pujols and C.C. Sabathia will probably continue to dominate the MLB buzz. There are some other buzz stories past Pujols and Sabathia, though.

Here are some of the latest buzz in the MLB world.

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Normally, a team will have two or three players competing for a position in Spring Training. The Mets, who have had a hole at second base for the past few years, will have as many as six different players competing for the second base job. Each player has his strengths and weaknesses and will have a chance to win the job.

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Let's face it: The economy isn't getting any better. Gas prices are going way up and the jobs market still stinks, regardless of what Mr. Obama is telling you.

In the spirit of wasting money, here in no particular order, is the unofficial Evan Haffner "5 Most Overpaid Bums In New York Mets History."

And congratulations to Kei Igawa for winning the award four years in a row by stealing money from the Yankees!

How can we not start with Bobby Bonilla?  Good old Bobby Bo from the Bronx.  With that fake smile that only a used car salesman could love! 

David Wright is well on his way to becoming one of the best hitters the New York Mets have ever seen.

He has already set a number of franchise records, and he may have another eight or nine years ahead of him.

 With apologies to Helen Gurley Brown who wrote the book, "Sex and the Single Girl" in 1962, (which was not only groundbreaking but also considered quite taboo and provocative, especially considering it was the Feel-Good '60's) my version is much tamer.

This is my first baseball season as a single Dad.