Mets Morning News: Rusty Staub ailing; Blevins pens article on his hatred of Field of Dreams

Meet the Mets

Rusty Staub is experiencing kidney failure according to friends who are asking fans to pray for the ailing Mets legend.

Jerry Blevins hates Field of Dreams and he wants you to know it.

Noah Syndergaard says he doesn’t have a second gear and fans should stop worrying about the speed of his pitches.

Tim Tebow says he feels much more comfortable batting this spring.

Juan Lagares just wants a chance to prove his value.

The Mets have been pushing their catchers to be better prepared for calling games this season.

Around the National League East

Scott Kazmir is healing quickly from his hip injury and hopes to be a part of the Braves’ rotation this year.

Federal Baseball was very unhappy that the Nats/Mets game wasn’t available on either radio or television.

The Marlins, encouraged by the Rays’ massive jump in television rights fees, hope that they can more than double their current yearly deal when it comes up for renewal next year.

Around Major League Baseball

The Tigers lost Travis Wood for the season after he tore his ACL and meniscus after just one inning of work in spring training.

A number of teams, including the White Sox, remain interested in Mike Moustakas.

Russell Wilson got his wish and batted for the Yankees in spring training. He struck out, but was too happy to feel disappointed.

The Hardball Times featured an interesting essay on how much Tim Lincecum has meant to the Filipino community.

David Schoenfield argues that the real reason the Rays and Pirates have fallen off so much in recent years is that they’ve done a terrible job in the draft.

This Date in Mets History

Had history been different, NYC might have chosen to build the Giants a preposterous 110,000 seat stadium on the Upper West Side that was proposed on this date in 1956, and they might never have left for San Francisco, and the Mets never would have been born. Great Scott!