Bracing for the potential loss of starter Yorvit Torrealba, the Rockies have expressed preliminary interest in free agent catcher Brian Schneider.

According to Adam Rubin, in a report for the Daily News , the Mets off-season shopping list is as follows: Catcher to replace Brian Schneider .

Ed Ryan, in a post to his blog for Mets Fever , discusses the market for free agent catchers and that Matt Treanor , Yorvit Torrealba , and Ramon Hernandez have all had their options declined by their respective teams.

The Mets have told reliever J.J. Putz that they are likely to decline his $8.6 million option for 2010 and buy him out for $1 million instead, his agent said yesterday.

Not to rush the season or anything, but the Mets may begin their Holliday shopping forthwith.

As the Yankees face off with the Phillies in the World Series , Mets fans who are not cringing at the thought of either their cross-town rival or their division nemesis collecting a World Series ring, will give a collective yawn.

I've been a Mets fan for 40 years. Looking back at 1969 and '86 with Donn Clendenon and Keith Hernandez suggests that a productive and defensively-skilled first baseman is what it takes to have a contending team.

Who would you like to see put in a weather balloon to float away? Metstradamus 11 Wednesday, October 21, 2009 What Have You Learned is our very special off-season series that will outline what you've learned, what I've learned, and hopefully what the 2009 Mets have learned about themselves, others, and 2010.

Former Mater Dei star Josh Thole did nothing to hurt his chances of becoming part of a long-term catching solution for the New York Mets during a late-season audition.

Let's cut to the chase. Is it time for a complete overhaul? The Mets can't hit at all -- 12 home runs for their home run leader.

Now that the smoke has cleared from this 2009 baseball season and all games are now in the books, it's a good time to objectively reflect on the regular season.

Nelson Figueroa throws first career complete game as Mets close season to forget with 4-0 win.

As the man in charge of the massive video scoreboards at Citi Field , Adam Garrido is a busy person with important responsibilities.

Faith and Fear in Flushing made its debut on Feb. 16, 2005, the brainchild of two longtime friends and lifelong Met fans.

The hazing of rookies is a big part of baseball life in late September and yesterday was no different for the Mets.

Back when the Omir Santos honeymoon was in full swing, Mets manager Jerry Manuel spoke frequently of his belief that Santos -- a career Minor Leaguer before this season -- possessed the necessary skill set to become a starting catcher in the big leagues.

The Marlins could not hold back the Mets in the ninth inning and dropped Friday's game, 6-5, before 39,031 at Land Shark Stadium.

Some quick pre-game notes from Citi Field, where Snoopy is prancing around the Mets' dugout before the game and posing for photos with players : -- Manager Jerry Manuel said Pat Misch will be available out of the bullpen Wednesday and could be replaced in the rotation Sunday by Tobi Stoner or Lance Broadway .

Atlanta Braves second baseman Martin Prado, left, drops the ball as New York Mets' Brian Schneider safely into second with a seventh-inning double as Braves shortstop Yunel Escobar watches.

I made what will probably be my final visit of 2009 to Citi Field last night, and what came to mind was Meredith Grey's pronouncement from this episode of "Grey's Anatomy" : "It's over.