Even if Shawn Green hits .220

ESPN.com's Page 2 ran a story yesterday about Dmitriy Salita, an observant Jewish boxer from Brooklyn.

Jeff Pearlman wrote about how Jews have a great love for Jewish professional athletes. You should read the story in its entirety, but here's an interesting excerpt:

"while Jewish people often struggle when it comes to slugging a baseball or dunking or knocking out a bully, we worship the chosen few among us who can. It's why, even if Shawn Green hits .220 for the Mets this season, he'll never have to worry about losing a core fan base. It's why former 49ers offensive lineman Harris Barton can walk into any Bay Area synagogue and be swarmed. It's why Perry Klein and Steve Ratzer and Steve Dubinsky -- anonymous sports schlubs to 99.9 percent of America -- maintain a special place in the hearts of Jewish die-hards. We loooooove our athletes."

It's so true. Sad but true.

Spring Fever

Spring is here and Opening Day is approaching quickly. The Jew York Mets blog -- celebrating Shawn Green on the Mets -- is back in business.

The Mets will open the 2007 season with three Jewish players - Shawn Green, David Newhan and Scott Schoeneweis. Only Green played for the New York Mets last season. Schoeneweis signed a three year contract to join the Mets bullpen. Newhan's role will be limited to late-inning defensive replacement and pinch hitting.

Shawn Green's role is not certain. He had the starting right field job coming into spring training, but he has struggled at the plate in exhibition games. Lastings Milledge has been hot all spring. There's a chance he could overtake Green for the starting job. We'll see over the next 10 days.