New York Mets

NEW YORK -- A computer program seemingly has altered how we measure the offensive prowess of players nowadays. No longer do simple totals satisfy us. It seems we need to know more than Ted Williams batted .406, Sammy Sosa drove in 160 runs and Craig Biggio was hit by a pitch 34 times. Now, because we can know, we have an appetite for these convoluted and concocted statistics such as Chipper Jones is the first player to bat .300 and produce at least 115 runs, 40 doubles, 45 home runs, 110 RBIs and 25 stolen bases in one season. See what Bobby Bonds has wrought? Not merely the father of Barry,...

NEW YORK -- Far removed from the sterile world of hospital beds and heart monitors -- the world where Paul Lo Duca usually gives back -- the Mets catcher was caught off guard last month when a group of sick children wandered onto the field at Shea Stadium. These were the children whose lives, thanks to Lo Duca, had been changed. So when one little girl in particular spotted the catcher, she wasn't shy about running over and greeting her hero. "She came up and just said, 'I want to give you a big hug,'" Lo Duca said. "She was only like a 9-year-old girl and she was very sick, and I almost started...

September 5, 2007 -- This is it, Met fans - crunch time. No, we're not talking about beating up on the Phillies or the Braves and finally winning the World Series again. We're talking about our lovable stitch-head, Mr. Met, who is battling for the city's honor for a coveted slot in that pantheon of goofy sports icons - the Mascot Hall of Fame. Vote For Mr. Met Here The internet polls close today at noon in Mr. Met's bid to join the Phillie Phanatic, the Famous Chicken et al in the hallowed hall of Rushmore-sized heads and gargantuan feet. But he needs your help in putting away some mascot-come-lately...

September 3, 2007 -- ATLANTA - David Wright%u2019s thumbs were killing him, courtesy of a couple of hard sinkers delivered by John Smoltz, the latest scars in what has been a career-long misadventure against the Braves%u2019 future Hall of Famer. Forty-three times he%u2019d faced Smoltz in his career before yesterday afternoon, and he%u2019d collected eight hits and four walks against 17 strikeouts. That%u2019s the kind of history that will give a guy a splitting headache. Wright got hit No. 9 in the first inning yesterday, a ball that may have traveled 30 feet total, and felt like 450. %u201CIf...