New York Mets

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William Perlman/The Star-LedgerAaron Heilman went 3-8 last season with a 5.21 ERA and 80 strikeouts over 76 innings.

As the New York Mets look to build their offseason bullpen and acquire a closer, one staffer is openly unsatisfied with his role. Middle reliever Aaron Heilman, according to his agent, won't settle for anything less than a spot in the rotation. Should his demands not be met then Heilman will ask for a trade.

Star-Ledger file photoJohan Santana was huge for the Mets down the stretch.

It's baseball postseason awards week (they'll name rookies of the year later today) and one of the more interesting races will be for National League Cy Young: Will the Mets' Johan Santana win it? you'll find out Tuesday when they NL Cy is announced.

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerA certifiable closer is Omar Minaya's top priority.

The GM meetings wrapped up in California yesterday, leaving New York Mets GM Omar Minaya with an idea of who to pursue for the closing role this offseason.

AP PhotoFree-agent righthander Fernando Cabrera might be a reliever on the rise.

The bullpen may have cost the New York Mets a playoff berth, but Joe Sheehan of Baseball Prospectus writes the Mets should resist the urge to spend big money on Francisco Rodriguez and Brian Fuentes as an Rx for bullpen success.

William Perlman/The Star-Ledger

Now that the Philadelphia Phillies are off to the World Series, New York Mets fans are not holding back from sharing their thoughts on the Phillies' success.

In light of the win, more than a few fans on NJ.com's Mets Forum are admitting they are now Tampa Bay Rays fans. For good or mad, here is what fan blogs are saying.

Citi Field isn't even open yet and one rude New York Mets' fan is already banned. Christian Hansen Tuesday pleaded guilty to shoving kids and badgering the Mets' mascot at Shea Stadium May 31.

In addition to being fined, part of Hansen's punishment is that he's not allowed to visit Citi Field, the Daily News reports.

A giant Times Square billboard touting TBS coverage of the major league baseball playoffs features New York Mets' 3B David Wright, who of course will NOT be in the playoffs ... but we don't need to go over that again.

See the billboard in this New York Post report

Noah K. Murray/The Star-LedgerWill the Mets pick up Carlos Delgado's option for next season?

The Star-Ledger's Jeremy Cothran wasn't kidding when he said New York Mets' GM Omar Minaya has a difficult offseason ahead of him.

Star-Ledger File Photo

Monday's Top 10 list highlighted features of the rejected $700B financial bailout. And at No. 6:

A billion dollars to rebuild the Mets bullpen

Funny!

Thanks to bobmurphy in the Mets Forum.

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerMets fans anxiously await the final pitch of Sunday's heart breaker.

New York Mets bloggers are going through the motions following this season's end. Without mentioning the dreaded talks of a ___lapse (promise), here is what Mets fans are saying.

Anthony De Rosa from Hot Foot Blog is without words, so he relies on pictures to express his opinions.

AP PhotoThe New York Mets may have an interest in CC Sabathia when he hits the free agent market this offseason.

Put the collapse behind you. The season is over for the New York Mets and that can only mean one thing - what can they do to better their chances next year? One newspaper columnist believes he has the solution.

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerMike Piazza, left, and Tom Seaver

I feel that a respectful amount of time has passed after the Shea Stadium closing ceremonies so that we can all now speak frankly about what we thought of them: What did you like, what didn't you like, who looked good and ... well, you get the idea. I went over some bloggers' reaction to Shea Goodbye, now let's get yours. I watched it on SNY just like most of you did.Q

Photo by Matthew Artus / Always Amazin'

Some New York Mets fan bloggers wrote eloquently about the closing of Shea Stadium and the postgame ceremony that followed the Mets latest and last heartbreaking loss in the stadium.

Photo By Tim Farrell / The Star-LedgerIt's going to be a long winter of what-ifs for New York Mets fans.

Instead of analyzing playoff pitching matchups, New York Mets fan bloggers today are sorting through another wrecked season gone too soon. Angry, stunned, sad and more emotions are on the web today.

Photo by William Perlman / The Star-LedgerDavid Wright finished the season with 124 RBI, but came up small in many big spots down the stretch.

The New York Mets aren't going to the playoffs. Again. Sunday's loss clinched that, but it's no surprise considering how inconsistent the team was down the stretch.

So now what?

Photo by William Perlman / The Star-LedgerIs it really the final game at Shea Stadium?

The best way to keep tabs on today's huge Marlins vs. New York Mets game is on NJ.com's Mets page.. The score update on the right side has pitch-by-pitch coverage, and expect blog posts from The Star-Ledger's Dan Graziano and Jeremy Cothran all afternoon as the Mets go for a playoff berth and try to close down Shea Stadium's regular season in style.

Star-Ledger File PhotoNew York Mets starter Oliver Perez enters today's game with a 3-0 record and a 2.03 ERA vs. Florida this season.

New York Mets fans woke up this morning this close to a playoff berth ... and just as close to a second-straight September flop. After going through so many emotional wins (and seemingly twice as many heart-wrenching losses), where is your head at today, Mets fans? Are you confident? Morose? Toggling between the two?

George McNish/The Star-LedgerHere's a New York Mets fan who's trying to think positive. Of course the photo is from Tuesday's game, but still ....

How about Jim Baumbach in Newsday today, writing that fans should take it easy on the Mets and quit booing at Shea. The column is buzzing around the web today and eliciting some strong responses. I'll bet you've got some too.

George McNish/The Star-LedgerMets manager Jerry Manuel's frequent pitching changes may be blowing out the Mets bullpen.

You knew the New York Mets bullpen stinks, but here are the numbers to back it up.

Jay Jaffe of Baseball Prospectus has an item on SI.com today that sheds some light on the bullpen's culpability for this season's September swoon. It's pretty interesting reading, even if you don't know what an WXRL is (I don't).

William Perlman/The Star-LedgerJohan Santana struck out 10 over eight innings in Tuesday's game against the Chicago Cubs.

As one of the most reliable guys on the New York Mets' roster, does Johan Santana have what it takes to finish the season as a Cy Young or MVP candidate in the National League?

Scott Lituchy/The Star-LedgerFan on the Mets Forum share their thoughts on GM Omar Minaya.

When Jeremy Cothran unveiled the news of an extension in the making for New York Mets general manager Omar Minaya, the Mets Forum on NJ.com lit up with commentary and has hardly slowed since.

George McNish/The Star-LedgerJohan Santana struck out 10 batters in Tuesday's 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.

New York Mets ace Johan Santana battled through eight innings on the mound before opening it up to the bullpen in a much-needed 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs.

BUFFALO, N.Y. -- The Mets are hooking back up with an old friend.

The Mets signed a two-year player development contract with the Buffalo Bisons on Monday, 45 years after the Bisons became New York's original Triple-A affiliate. The Mets broke ties with the New Orleans Zephyrs after just two years, paving the way for their deal with Buffalo.

If you haven't seen this by now, then you're definitely missing out. A drunk fan passes out at Shea Stadium and fans play a cup stacking game of Jenga on his head. Thankfully a video camera was on hand for the fun.

AP PhotoHey Jose Reyes ... Yeah you: The New York Mets fans need you now!

Tuesday night's closed-door pregame meeting didn't work, so New York Mets fan Bryan felt he had to address the team himself. Posting in the blog Mets Lifers, Bryan (who is from Jersey, BTW) took his lunch hour today to pen a poignant yet firm message to his beloved team: