To be quite honest, in case you were wondering, I've had enough of this snow. I don't even want a snow day on Wednesday...I just want the snow to stop. I want the temperature to stay above 40 degrees...I'll even take 35 degrees at this point. Even 30. Baseball season can't get here soon enough.

Sorry about the lack of postings the past couple of days. School. So the Mets won their spring training game Tuesday night. Kris Benson pitched 3 innings (41 pitches), gave up one earned run, and 3 hits.

A lot has been going on since I've last written. Cablevision is in a fight with Time Warner Cable (I think, I'm not even really sure how this thing works - I try to pay attention, but it either makes me really mad or bored and I stop reading the articles about it). Basically, it means MSG Network and Fox Sports New York will be dropped from Time Warner Cable. That means most Mets games (and all Knicks games, but who really cares about that...come on) will not be seen on TV for Time Warner subscribers. That means the House, sponsored by DirecTV, in Framingham, Massachusetts, can get Mets games, but Joe Schmo in Queens, right down the street from Shea Stadium, can't watch the Mets on TV. (Of course, I'd tell Joe to get off his fat butt and go to the game, but I'm 200 miles north of him, so I guess he can do whatever he pleases.) Anyway, this happened last year around Opening Day (I think), but the two arguing sides reached a deal before the blackout happened. Now, the blackout has happened, and the channels have been replaced on the cable outlet, so I'm not sure there's any turning back. Now I've written a whole paragraph on something I don't care about...and both of my readers have probably already tuned out.

FYI - the Mets are rumored to be developing their own television network for next season. The Mets network would try to rival YES, the Yankees network...but nothing's decided on that, I don't think. The Mets' contract with MSG/FSNY doesn't go beyond this season.

So, back to the on-the-field stuff. Jason Phillips is lighting it up so far in spring training - he even legged out an infield hit on Monday. However, he had two poor throws from behind the plate in that game. He will probably make the team as the backup catcher...and he doesn't figure to get much time at first base this season...so he'd better work on the behind-the-plate stuff and keep his focus there.

The Mets' bench is shaping up this way: Miguel Cairo and Chris Woodward look like they'll be backup infielders, along with Marlon Anderson, who can also play outfield. Phillips will be the backup catcher (remember, Vance Wilson was traded to the Tigers in the off-season), and he doesn't figure to get much time at first because Andres Galarraga looks like he's going to make the team. Galaragga is one home run shy of 400 career homers, but the Mets think he has more than just one homer still in his bat.

So who does that leave out? Well, for one, Joe McEwing. McEwing is a nice guy to have around a team (he has been the biggest mentor to future Hall of Famer David Wright since Wright joined the major league team last summer), but let's face it - McEwing's production has gone down. The last time I remember him being effective was 2000-2001. Look for McEwing to be traded before the Mets come north - rumor has it the Cardinals (where McEwing is still a fan favorite) and the Astros are interested in McEwing's services.

In other trade rumor news, Aaron Heilman has given up three homers in three appearances so far this spring, and overall has been pretty disappointing as a New York Met. But other teams have interest, namely the Pirates, Cubs, and Diamondbacks. So don't be surprised to see a deal involving Heilman before the year's up.

Well, it's Wednesday, so it's time to check the e-mail-bag:

"Dear JohnnyMets,

After a week (or so) of spring training, here's how they stand in the NL East

Team W-L GB

Atlanta 5-0 --
Washington 4-1 1
New York 3-3 2.5
Philadelphia 1-4 4
Florida 1-6 5

Is that how you pick 'em to finish?

Dave in Brighton"

Well. Dave, I certainly don't expect the Braves to go undefeated, I think the Mets will be better than .500, and I don't think the Marlins will finish in last place. I will probably make predictions right before the season starts, so I'll hold off on that for now...but I will say a couple of things.

First of all, as loyal readers of my site will remember, I think the Phillies are a bunch of chokers, always have been, always will be. And with the improvement of all the teams in the NL East, I think the Phillies have last place written all over them. And I've said it before, I'll say it again, you can't discount the Braves until they actually do NOT win a division title. Hopefully this will be the year that happens, but until it happens, I don't know how you can pick against it (although when I make my picks, I almost certainly will pick it to happen).

Anyway, thanks for the e-mail - again, I will make predictions later in the month.