Mets: Mike Pelfrey, Jon Niese, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Daniel Murphy

As for the upcoming season, Pelfrey’s certainly not exciting, but he should once again be a serviceable member of the rotation. It appears that pitching – especially starting pitching – will be the Mets’ biggest flaw this year, but if Pelfrey were tucked away behind four excellent pitchers, he might not look so bad. If things go his way, the results could look pretty good like they did in 2008 and 2010, and if they don’t, they’ll probably look like 2009 and 2011. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/14/2797772/2012-mets-player-profile-mike-pelfrey

Jon Niese - Niese was a replacement-level fantasy pitcher in mixed leagues last year. Well, okay, he was worth two cents, but since your average minimum bid was a dollar, he was actually a little below replacement. Niese also had a 3.36 FIP, which was anything but average (90 FIP-). Why he's spent over 6000 pitches showing a .329 BABIP is anyone's guess. Maybe his 90 MPH gas is too hittable, his curveball is not enough of an out-pitch, and his cutter is just "nice" not "niesty." But, more likely, he finally sees a decent BABIP this year and has an ERA under four for the first time. If he can continue to show the above-average control, he could even have a league-average WHIP. The wins might not be there though. Ah, stupid real-life baseball showing its head again. http://www.amazinavenue.com/2012/2/14/2795663/fantasy-mets

2-10-12 - http://seedlingstostars.com/2012/02/10/s2s-2012-team-prospect-lists-new-york-mets/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter   -  Outfielder #2: Kirk Nieuwenhuis. Nieuwenhuis hit .298/.403/.505 in the International League, which is nothing to sneeze at, especially from a center fielder. The 24-year-old strikes out a bit too much and doesn’t have any overwhelming tools, but he could be the long half of a platoon in any of the three outfield spots or a second-division starter as soon as 2012. Grade: B-

Daniel Murphy and Tim Teufel, the Mets’ new infield coach, stood together on an empty practice field Tuesday morning and took turns pantomiming a steal play at second base. Murphy scuttled to the bag, slapped down his mitt and whipped his left leg around behind him. Then Teufel followed, doing the same. They paused for a round of animated discussion, then did it again. They continued this way, well after other Mets infielders finished their drills, because in their minds, there is no time to waste.  After weeks of talking and planning — on the phone or at off-season functions — Murphy and Teufel must hit the ground running toward their aim of transforming Murphy into an effective second baseman  http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/sports/baseball/mets-daniel-murphy-gets-help-at-second-from-tim-teufel.html?_r=1&ref=sports