What’s a baseball game without food?

Hot dogs are standard, but when you go to a game in Port St. Lucie, FL, you have to Go Big or Go Home.

Bisons.com took on the challange of Tradition Field’s Taco in a Helmet…

The helmet is about twice the size of your average Dip N’ Dots helmet, and makes for one hearty meal. Salsa, sour cream and jalepeno peppers top your normal taco fillings.

And when your done, a nice little souvenir of your conquest.

As for the game, the Nationals score six in the ninth to beat the Mets, 6-2. Fernando Tatis had three hits and one of the two RBI for New York.

-Brad Bisbing

We’ve made our way to Tradition Field, where at 1:00 p.m. today the Mets will host the Washington Nationals.

Tradition Field has been the spring home of the Mets since 1988 and seats about 7,000.

“Hit Man” Coming to Buffalo

Herd skipper Ken Oberkfell said new Bisons Hitting Coach Luis Natera carries around the nickname of the “Hit Man.” Says Oberkfell: “Wherever he goes, the hits follow.”

The 2009 season will be Natera’s 18th in the Mets’ organization and of course, his first in Buffalo. He spent last season with Double-A Binghamton and two years ago, his Class-A St. Lucie Mets led the Florida State League with a .273 batting average.

Natera seems to rubbing off on the players here in Mets camp. New York has 10 or more hits in 12 of their first 15 spring games, averaging .297 as a team.

The entire Ken Oberkfell interview can be heard on the second installment of the Bisons Spring Training Radio Show, Sunday at 5:00 p.m. on WWKB 1520 AM.

-Brad Bisbing

Former Bisons reliver Ron Villone is in New York Mets Camp.

A late camp signing, Villone has pitched a pair of scoreless innings, hoping to be another lefty option out of the bullpen for skipper Jerry Manuel. The 39-year old walked one and struck out one in New York’s 9-3 victory over Detroit on Friday.

Villone pitched 23 games for the 1998 IL Championship Bisons. He was 2-2 with a 2.01ERA and seven saves that year with the Herd.

-Brad Bisbing

We have officially arrived in the Sunshine State and started to settle in for our stay in Port St. Lucie, the spring training home of the New York Mets. In the days ahead, there will be plenty of reporting, interviews, conversation and networking. And, of course, a lot of time at the yard.

One of the productions that will originate from our Grapefruit League coverage will include the second of five Bisons’ Season Preview Shows that air on WWKB-AM 1520 from 5-6 p.m. Sunday.

We’ll be happy to take you questions and comments via email at broadcast@bisons.com.

Not only will this get you ready for Opening Day but it will give you a unique look at places that go unseen during the regular season. It is your one day ALL ACCESS pass to Coca-Cola Field.

The Buffalo Bisons, Triple-A Affiliate of the New York Mets, will hold their annual Family Day Open House on Saturday, March 21. This event is FREE to the general public.

One of the Bisons great off-season traditions, the Family Day Open House has something for fans of all ages, including:

• FREE Russer Hot Dogs on Midstate Bakery Rolls and Coca-Cola Soft Drinks
• NEW TEAM LOGO Gear available in the Batter’s Box Gift Shop
• 2 LIVE Shows from Children’s Music Entertainer Glenn Colton (12:15pm/1:30pm)
• Show Your Spirit with Brush of Class Face Paintings
• Test Your Skills in the Bisons Batting Cage and Radar Gun
• Swing for the Fences on Nintendo Wii Home Run Derby
• Take a Spin on the Bisons Prize Wheel to Win some Great Prizes
• Get an Inside Look at the Bisons Home Clubhouse, Press Box and Party Suites
• Classic Bisons Trophies and Artifacts AND MORE!!!

Doors will open at 11:00 a.m. for Bisons Season Ticket Holders. Everyone else is welcome to join the fun starting at 12:00 p.m.