Amazin' Avenue, a New York Mets community

"I think Mejia works really hard to throw the baseball," the pitching coach said. "And I worry about the volume of pitches during the course of a year. You get 30 to 35 starts, and you're throwing 100 pitches each time, every fifth day, I worry. ... You just watch his arm swing. It's a long arm swing. His ball natural cuts -- again, [like] a Mariano Rivera. If Mariano had to go out there and throw 100 pitches every fifth day, when a ball cuts all the time, instead of staying behind it, I think you find a lot of torque on your elbow and your shoulder. But, again, that's a singular opinion. He's a very strong individual."

Rubin goes 3,000 words deep on the state of the Mets' roster.

Fernando has appeared in just 385 games over the last five seasons, between the majors and minors.

Recall the Mets' spring training emphasis on their pitchers throwing strikes. Now check this story by Adam Rubin, featuring Dan Warthen blaming Mets' starters decreased velocity on the "throw strikes" plan. Chances are the decreased velocity is mainly a product of something besides the plan but this invokes memories of the 80-pitch drill and the focus on going to the opposite field. Just more weirdness from Mets officials.

The Mets on the 40-man roster out of minor-league options are: Fernando Nieve Nelson Figueroa Pat Misch Anderson Hernandez They can't be sent to the minors without first clearing waivers. Misch and Hernandez have almost no shot of making the Opening Day roster so the possibility of losing them to a waiver claim isn't the least bit frightening. This is good news for Nieve and Figgy, two useful pitchers who might have an early leg up on Jon Niese in the fifth starter race.

Adam Rubin lobby for Fernando Martinez to pee on his hands. Eeew!