The struggling bank is slated to pay $400 million over the next 20 years to name the stadium Citi Field.

The bank made the commitment years ago, when it was flush with cash. Now that Citigroup is getting billions of dollars in federal aid, Staten Island Republicans Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo say the ballpark’s name should be changed to Citi/Taxpayer Field.

Citigroup and Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon have been saying that they have no plan to alter the naming-rights deal for the ballpark, which hosts its regular-season opener April 13.

Wilpon and Citigroup spokesman Steve Silverman said they had no comment on the proposal.

So what do you think? Is this a good idea, or just posturing by legislators who should find better way to spend their working hours?

Alicea spent the past two seasons as first-base coach of the
Red Sox after managing Class A Lowell of the New York-Penn League in 2004-05 and Class A Greenville of the South Atlantic League the following year. He spent 13 seasons in the major leagues with St. Louis, Boston, Anaheim, Texas and Kansas City.

Alicea joins newcomers Randy Niemann (bullpen) and Razor Shines (third base), and holdovers Sandy Alomar Sr. (bench), Dan Warthen (pitching), Howard Johnson (hitting) and Sandy Alomar Jr. (catching).

Oberkfell was reassigned after the season along with bullpen coach Guy Conti and third-base coach Luis Aguayo.

So what do you think? Should the Mets make an all-out pitch to retain him? For all his inconsistency, he does have a lot of talent. And he’s only 27. Personally, I’m not big on giving pitchers more than four years. Too fragile. What would be a fair offer, though?

Be honest: Who thought last June that Delgado would be back. His bat seemed dead and he looked older than his 36 years. But then he hit .308 with 27 homers and 80 RBI in 84 games from June 27 on. That left him with a final average of .271 with 38 homers and 115 RBI.

“Carlos is a key part of our plans for 2009, and we wanted to let him know as quickly as allowed that we wanted him back,” GM Omar Minaya said in a statement. “Yesterday — the day following the conclusion of the World Series — was the first day that we could pick up the option per the contract. It was our full intent to promptly close our deal with Carlos, and that’s what we did.”

So what do you think? Are you glad to have Delgado back? Does he have another big season in him?

Cliff Lee from the Indians won the AL award. Tatis, who was out of baseball in 2004 and ‘05, hit .297 with 11 homers and 47 RBI in 92 games. He hit 21 homers for Triple-A New Orleans in 2007.

America’s Sports Talk Radio Leader to Broadcast Mets Under Long-term Agreement

FLUSHING, N.Y., October 20, 2008 – The New York Mets and Sports Radio 66 WFAN, the most listened to sports station in America, today announced an extension of their broadcast partnership for live play-by-play coverage of Mets preseason, regular season, and postseason games. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Additionally, under the new agreement, WFAN will produce exclusive Mets programming with players and coaches, daily highlights packages, and pre-game and post-game reports both on-air on WFAN-AM 660 and on the station’s online audio stream at www.wfan.com. For the first time, all of the station’s Mets content, including game broadcasts, will be available on FM radio at 92.3 HD3.

The extension is slated to begin February 2009 with live coverage of the team’s training camp from Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

“For the past 22 seasons, Mets fans in the New York tri-state area and well beyond have enjoyed the best local radio broadcasts in baseball on the most powerful sports radio station in the nation,” said Dave Howard, Executive Vice President, New York Mets. “We look forward to working with WFAN promotionally to enhance our connection with our fans, both old and new, and help WFAN maximize its partnership with the Mets.”

“WFAN is proud to continue our longstanding tradition of broadcasting New York Mets baseball,” said Mark Chernoff, Operations Manager, WFAN. “This was a banner year for the team as Mets excitement continued from Opening Day through the final day of the season. We look forward to carrying the Mets from their new home at Citi Field as well as on the road in 2009 and beyond.”

Mets broadcasts have been a staple of WFAN’s marquee programming since the station’s inception in 1987.

Speaking of what’s not hot, Joe Torre apparently is being roasted throughout the L.A. area for his pitching moves (i.e. pulling Derek Lowe after five and bullpen choices) in Game 4 that backfired against the Phillies, who will look to clinch tonight.

People’s people did state that Beltran gave Mrs. Beltran an engraved ring and provided rings as presents to the famous friends, who were in town to celebrate Anthony’s 40th birthday. Lopez was said to be looking “beautiful” in her black dress.

And that’s our celebrity gossip for the day. Now back to waiting for the Peoria Saguaros game—Daniel Murphy and friends are playing Surprise this afternoon—plus Red Sox-Rays and then Phillies-Dodgers tonight. Maybe the pitchers can aim for the plate this time.

Our Mets-related story involves Donovan Mitchell, manager of the Single-A Savannah Sand Gnats, giving back to the game, leading a kids clinic last weekend in Briarcliff and about to give another this weekend to try to prepare high school players for what the college coaches and pro scouts want.

In the Arizona Fall League, the Peoria Saguaros—the team with some Mets’ personnel—are up to 5-0. Shane Bowman, the Double-AA Binghamton third baseman trying to put some significant back issues behind him, is off to a great start—.545 (6 for 11) in three games, with two doubles, two homers, five RBI and five runs scored. And Eddie Kunz has now finished all three games in which he has appeared, tossing three scoreless innings, allowing two hits and two walks while fanning four.

Maybe the money would be better spent on pitching, CC or the pen, and Orlando Hudson for second base. Thoughts about passing on Manny?

As for hitters who are currently under the Mets’ control, Daniel Murphy is off to a good start in the Arizona Fall League. He played second yesterday in the Peoria Saguaros’ 7-5 win over the Peoria Javelinas and went 2 for 2 with a two-run homer and two walks. He’s 4 for 10 after his first three games. Shawn Bowman, a third baseman who hit .290 in 55 games combined at St. Lucie and Binghamton this season after returning from back surgery, is 4 for 6 with a homer and four RBI in two games.

Eddie Kunz has finished two games, throwing two scoreless innings. And Bobby Parnell started yesterday’s game and went a scoreless inning. There were 201 fans there to see it. The Saguaros, by the way, are off to a 4-0 start.

Summing up the various Mets reports from the week, John Maine told MLB.com his shoulder is feeling good after having a big bone spur shaved, the team has sold all its luxury boxes at Citi Field, according to the Post, and Ambiorix Burgos is in jail right now because of the hit-and-run incident in the Dominican that left two women dead. It’s supposed to be a three-month stay before his trial. He claims not to have been the driver.

From the Mets’ front, the Peoria Saguaros’ game at Scottsdale hasn’t begun yet. That Arizona Fall League opener starts tonight at 7:05 Arizona time. Of course, Daniel Murphy, Bobby Parnell, Eddie Kunz and Jason Vargas are on Peoria. For those who have already decompressed from the Mets’ ending and want more, MLB.com allows you to follow the game.

I don’t think there would have been a sweep because nothing would have been easy with that bullpen and the up-and-down clutch hitting, but I certainly would have given the Mets a real chance to advance, especially with the Cubs’ October track record. And if the Dodgers had beaten the Phillies in the other first-rounder, the Mets would have set up well against L.A.’s righty pitching.

OK, this is a form of fantasy baseball. But it’s intriguing to think that if the Mets had thrown away just two less games in the first 162, they would have had an opportunity, and then you never know.

CC Sabathia, by the way, said yesterday that he doesn’t want his situation dragging out all winter and that he isn’t going on a free-agent tour. Teams are going to have to come to his door and make their pitch. It’s obviously going to take Santana money. Sabathia threw 256 2/3 this year, including his one postseason start, and he isn’t always Mr. October, but do you invest in having two aces and take the stress off the bullpen those two days?

It sounds like a Southern California team would be his preference, though, if one would be willing to crack open the vault. It also sounds like Milwaukee may try to make a pitch as well. He liked it there, but it’s hard to see the Brewers going that high.

Daniel Murphy on third, nobody out, last of the ninth, tie game with the Cubs, Mets don’t score and then lose. Does this ring a bell? Manuel said the Angels “are a good model for what needs to be done.”

Manuel didn’t seem upset over getting just two guaranteed years to go from interim manager to manager, saying he feels good about the commitment, said it still gives him time to prove himself. That “commitment” could really put the pressure on him to get to the playoffs this year. But he said he always thinks being the manager is an “interim” thing, which is usually true. He said if the team is struggling, he wants the emphasis on him and not the players. “If we go through this thing and have no significant setbacks and underperform, then that’s just part of the job,” he said. Manuel said the delay in coming to an agreement was just part of the negotiating process. Omar Minaya said the Jewish holiday and the need to run things by ownership slowed the process as well.

Manuel said he thinks the leadership is here in the clubhouse, praising Carlos Delgado for his work in that regard, and he said Delgado’s presence wasn’t inhibiting the leadership of David Wright and others. Manuel said he will begin talking with the GM about the coaching staff in the next day or so. He said he hasn’t been watching the playoffs. But he’s looking forward to trying to help the Mets get there.

“It’s going to be a great opportunity for me,” Manuel said. “Hopefully I can take full advantage of it.”

OK, those were the highlights. He has a good idea about what he’s doing. Now he needs a few reinforcements, too.

“My policy is that the manager and the general manager get together and we select the coaches together,” Omar Minaya said the other day. “As a whole, the manager pretty much picks most of his staff. There are some times that there are some key situations that we have to agree upon them. It’s a mutual understanding.”

Dan Warthen came up from Triple-A to become the pitching coach when Manuel took over for Willie Randolph and Rick Peterson got fired. The pitchers seemed to like dealing with Warthen. But overall we’ll see who stays, who goes and who comes aboard.

There’s a conference call scheduled with the media for 1 p.m. today with Manuel and Minaya. So we’ll also see if anything of note comes out of it besides “happy to be back” and “happy to have him back.”

Also, there’s an arrest warrant out for Ambiorix Burgos in the Dominican over the hit-and-run Tuesday that killed two women. And Mets medical director Dr. David Altchek will be doing Mariano Rivera’s shoulder surgery on Tuesday. He also did Jorge Posada’s shoulder surgery during the season.

The negotiations were supposedly snagged when the Mets just offered two years at first. But Omar Minaya had said on Thursday that the process was focused only on Manuel and he hoped to get a deal done. So there will be no Bobby V sequel. And now we’ll see if Manuel tries to bring in any coaches of his choice. The current coaches’ contracts are set to expire.

There’s also a to-do list for Minaya and top 5 lists of his best and worst moves. I put Pedro on both lists. Any one best or worst immediately come to your mind? I put Santana No. 1 best and Castillo No. 1 worst.

The Mets made just an initial two-year offer to Manuel, which, even if I had a late-September smudge on my resume, I wouldn’t be thrilled with if I were him. I’d want three, especially going 55-38 after taking over for Willie Randolph. Both sides have professed a desire for the marriage to continue, so we’ll see if they can quickly find a compromise.

Bobby V told 1050 he’s interested in the job. Don’t you think that ship has sailed? Move forward, not back. Newsday threw some possible names out there as an alternative list in case the Manuel talks reached an impasse—V, Rudy Jaramillo, Larry Bowa and Manny Acta. Jaramillo is proven as a hitting coach, not a manager. Bowa’s hard-driving style got old in Philly. And we suspect Acta would be pretty good with a good team, but he still has a deal with the Nats.

Manuel would seem to be the right guy at this time, especially since he already commands the respect of the players, has proven to be a good communicator, did his best to try to win with what he had and can handle the media part. Want him back?

“Omar is our guy,” Wilpon said.

Minaya is focused on getting Manuel under contract, discussions/negotiations continue. The Mets reportedly first offered two years. Maybe that was just a negotiating tactic because you would think three years would be the standard.

Also, Minaya indicated that Carlos Delgado’s $12 million option will indeed be picked up, no surprise with a $4 million buyout. That, of course, doesn’t preclude the Mets from making a deal with him once they do. Minaya was asked if he might be open to dealing one of the big three, Wright, Reyes, Beltran, to solve multiple problems. He said he has to keep an open mind right now, but that he does think they’re winning players.

Minaya said he would have to factor into any acquisition how a player would handle the pressure of New York. Wilpon said these two collapses only fuel the suspicion that this group is lacking some intangibles to get it done here.

It wouldn’t be the most shocking thing if they moved Delgado at 36. But could you as a fan swallow them dealing Wright, Reyes or Beltran?

As for Rich’s posted suggestions for improving the team (Kevin Youkilis, Milton Bradley, Daniel Murphy at second, Derek Lowe or Jon Garland, Huston Street and/or K-Rod), let’s start with Youkilis. Bringing him here to play first wouldn’t be a bad idea. He’s the kind of solid-hitting, winning, intense player they any team could use. But I’d be shocked if Boston dealt him. Carlos Delgado said the other day he wants to play two more years and then reassess. There are some who think now’s the time to let him go. My guess is they’ll pick up his option and then decide whether to deal him, since the buyout is stiff at $4 million.

Bradley is a good hitter, but he’s sensitive to criticism, so this may not be the best place for him. Murphy is headed to the Arizona Fall League to play some second, but it’s hard to envision him having the range to play that position up here. He could be a future first baseman, though, especially with David Wright blocking third.

I like Lowe over Garland, especially since he’s been through the Boston experience and has been through a lot of pressure situations, but the commitment can’t be too long at his age. I would think Huston Street could be had the way the A’s dump their people, but can you count on him? K-Rod is attractive coming off this record-breaking season, but the Mets are concerned about the number of years it would take in relation to the thought that closers can break down, as they saw with Billy Wagner. K-Rod is known to have an awkward delivery. People also say his velocity is down. And yet he seems to get out of every jam. We’ll see if they change their feelings. It will be worth watching Rodriguez in the postseason.