Cerrone: I am always left regretting 2006.  To me, Endy Chavez’s catch, so far, is the peak of the Omar Minaya Era.  Chavez crossed the infield, ball in glove, the crowd was electric, the rain was falling, and, despite the score, I think most Mets fans felt momentum and maybe even fate was on our side.  Then, strike three.  What happened?  Since, it feels like it has all been down hill.  That said, thereare still 60 games left in 2009…

Cerrone: I have heard from people with other teams that Jennry Mejia is seen as a potential front-end starting pitcher, maybe even an ace some day.  I have been waiting for the Mets to develop another Dwight Gooden since, well, Dwight Gooden.  I thought Scott Kazmir was it.  Turns out, even if he was on the Mets, he wasn’t going to be that guy.  I’m not saying Mejia will be it, for all I know it will Brad Holt, or neither, but who knows… I like Josh Thole, too.  He reminds of David Wright and Daniel Murphy mixed in to one player.  He’s a not a catcher, though.

Cerrone: I am very happy with Murphy has done this season.  Baseball fans are impatient.  Ryan Braun and Evan Longoria are so rare.  Instead, a young hitter must adjust to the adjustments made against him.  There’s a learning curve.  I think Murphy has done a good job weathering the storm.  He was on the brink of falling off the planet in June, but he fought through it and is holding his own.  To get through that, plus handle the pressure of New York, the media, these injuries, and the circus that has been 2009, and still be standing as at his age, this is a great sign.  He’s defense has been fantastic, as well.  I still expect him to be a Dave Magadan, John Olerud type.  I bet, in time, he’ll be the type of player Mets fans consider to be a huge part of the team and a possible captain, because of his work ethic and toughness, all while the rest of the league thinks were are crazy and sees him him as being overrated.

Cerrone: I’d like to go back in time and hang with Keith Hernandez, Ron Darling, Rusty Staub, and those guys from 1986, piling in to Staub’s van, talking baseball on the way to his steak house in Manhattan at 1 am, followed by the type of debauchery that team was legendary for getting in to.

OM:  How do you motivate Mike and Regis to make posts? I find myself having to crack the whip on Osse Jorosco quite a bit…you know, show him who’s boss.  What kind of motivational advice can I give Osse.

Cerrone: I ask very little of those guys.  It’s my blog.  I write it.  In the end, MetsBlog.com is Matthew Cerrone, and I take a ton of pride and work very hard to be the guy people trust to always be on watch, i.e., you go do your homework, or tuck in your kids, and when you get back, I’ll let you know what is going on, what’s important, what isn’t, who said what, what I think, and what to read and where to read it.  It is unrealistic to expect someone else to assist in this.  I’m online essentially 24 hours a day, even when I’m sleeping.  I ask the other writers to pick up the slack when I lose steam.  They do an amazing job when called in from the bullpen.  I appreciate them more than they know.

OM:  In your opinion, who got more women on the road? Keith Hernandez or Tim Mccarver in his hay day?

Cerrone: It has to be Keith.  McCarver probably lost his fair share by telling endless, boring stories talking up Steve Carlton.

OM:  Razor Shines… Hot or Not?

Cerrone: Tepid.  I think he’s too aggressive as a third-base coach.  Of course, I only say that when a runner is thrown out.  I never give him credit when a runner is safe.  That said, guys respond to him pre-game, as a leader.  He motivates them, and deserves credit for that, especially considering the endless chatter about heart, pride and intensity about players among fans. (Editors Note:  Amazing dodge by Cerrone here, he’s not falling for any of our sexually perverse questions)

OM:  Over the past few years there has been quite a bit of speculation on whether or not Jesus Christ could hit a curve ball.  Where do you stand on this debate?

Cerrone: Who’s pitching?  Actually, what does Joe-Boo, say?

Cerrone: My grandfather, Sal Cerrone, thinks it’s hilarious.  Enough said.

Cerrone: I’d be doing what I was doing before I started blogging in 2005, which was working media relations.  In some ways, I guess I still am doing that.  I love politics and media, so I am certain I would be working in that field, and would like to get back in to it again some day.

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