That's right. I've dragged myself out of bed for this.
It was quite the fanfare in Japan for the Boston Red Sox and the Oakland A's game.
Dustin Pedroia just led off the season with a single up the middle. What an odd sentence.
As "cool" as this is, the game and everything, why in the world (pun) would an American sport, "America's past time," start it's season at 6 a.m. on the other side of the world? This makes literally no sense to me. The season should have started with the Nationals, in their new park, because they are the Nationals. The Washington Nationals. How much more American can you get?
Well, if anyone else is up, which I doubt, enjoy the game. Here comes Daisuke Matsuzaka.
3/25/08
Mets playing cards close to their chest
Johan Santana and Pedro Martinez will skip their Grapefruit League starts in an effort to keep them from facing the teams they will pitch against during the first week of the season.
In their place, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell make the starts against the Braves and the Marlins.
Very clever, Willie Randolph, very clever.
I'm just waiting to read something claiming Niese is pitching because he's going to be the 5th starter. I can't wait.
In their place, Jon Niese and Bobby Parnell make the starts against the Braves and the Marlins.
Very clever, Willie Randolph, very clever.
I'm just waiting to read something claiming Niese is pitching because he's going to be the 5th starter. I can't wait.
3/24/08
Photo of the Day: Maine
John Maine had one of his best starts, allowing only 1 hit over 6 innings.The best 4th starter in baseball, ladies and gentlemen.
(AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Game Recap: Mets 1 -- Orioles 0
Good: John Maine was absolutely stellar today.
Bad: The offense only managed 3 hits.
Maine went 6 innings, allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk. He struck out 7 batters while on the bump. He faced only 19 batters, only one over the maximum.
That just about says it all right there. What else could you want from your number four starter? Amazing.
Joe Smith and Nelson Figueroa combined to finish out the game, with Figueroa allowing the only hit between them. Smith pitched 1 2-3, walking one and striking out two. Figueroa pitched 1 1-3 of an inning, allowing that one hit and striking out one.
Spectacular. Figueroa for #5? Anyone?
Luis Castillo picked up as many hits as the Orioles team, going 2-3, with a double and the lone RBI of the game. Brady Clark scored the only run in the third inning, walking and scoring on Castillo's hit. Marlon Anderson walked twice as the DH, and Ruben Gotay also walked once.
Castillo has been very hot as of late. Lets hope he can carry that into the season.
Ryan Church picked up the other hit for the Mets, and also swiped his first stolen base of the spring.
Church may be coming on here, so keep your eye on him. I foresee big things for him this year.
Game Ball: Maine. No doubt.
Bad: The offense only managed 3 hits.
Maine went 6 innings, allowing only 1 hit and 1 walk. He struck out 7 batters while on the bump. He faced only 19 batters, only one over the maximum.
That just about says it all right there. What else could you want from your number four starter? Amazing.
Joe Smith and Nelson Figueroa combined to finish out the game, with Figueroa allowing the only hit between them. Smith pitched 1 2-3, walking one and striking out two. Figueroa pitched 1 1-3 of an inning, allowing that one hit and striking out one.
Spectacular. Figueroa for #5? Anyone?
Luis Castillo picked up as many hits as the Orioles team, going 2-3, with a double and the lone RBI of the game. Brady Clark scored the only run in the third inning, walking and scoring on Castillo's hit. Marlon Anderson walked twice as the DH, and Ruben Gotay also walked once.
Castillo has been very hot as of late. Lets hope he can carry that into the season.
Ryan Church picked up the other hit for the Mets, and also swiped his first stolen base of the spring.
Church may be coming on here, so keep your eye on him. I foresee big things for him this year.
Game Ball: Maine. No doubt.
Lineup vs. the Orioles
The Mets will travel to Fort Lauderdale Stadium to take on the Baltimore Orioles today at 1:05 p.m.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
1B Damion Easley
DH Marlon Anderson
LF Fernando Tatis
RF Ryan Church
CF Brady Clark
C Brian Schneider
RH John Maine
Clark in center is interesting. Looks like they're seeing if he has the range to cover center in case thy take him north and need him to fill in for Carlos Beltran.
And that is not a mirage, Schneider is actually starting another game.
Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
1B Damion Easley
DH Marlon Anderson
LF Fernando Tatis
RF Ryan Church
CF Brady Clark
C Brian Schneider
RH John Maine
Clark in center is interesting. Looks like they're seeing if he has the range to cover center in case thy take him north and need him to fill in for Carlos Beltran.
And that is not a mirage, Schneider is actually starting another game.
The Traded Twins: Gomez wins CF job
We'll keep tabs on the Mets prospects that were traded away for Johan Santana every once in a while.
Carlos Gomez has won the starting center fielders job for the Minnesota Twins, as Denard Span and Jason Pridie, Gomez's main competition, were sent down to minor league camp.
Gomez is batting .286, with 1 home run, 6 RBI, and 10 steals this spring.
Good luck to Gomez, and I am glad he is out of our league. I think he'll be a pretty good player one day, and I'm just happy as long as he's not on the Mets, he's far, far away. Ten steals is spectacular.
When I watched him against the Yankees this spring, he didn't look too hot in center. He made two pretty miserable throws, trying to gun someone out at the plate. His first throw was air-mailed to the backstop and his other went halfway up the first base line.
Obviously, he's performed well enough to win the job, so he must have been doing some things right when I wasn't watching.
Carlos Gomez has won the starting center fielders job for the Minnesota Twins, as Denard Span and Jason Pridie, Gomez's main competition, were sent down to minor league camp.
Gomez is batting .286, with 1 home run, 6 RBI, and 10 steals this spring.
Good luck to Gomez, and I am glad he is out of our league. I think he'll be a pretty good player one day, and I'm just happy as long as he's not on the Mets, he's far, far away. Ten steals is spectacular.
When I watched him against the Yankees this spring, he didn't look too hot in center. He made two pretty miserable throws, trying to gun someone out at the plate. His first throw was air-mailed to the backstop and his other went halfway up the first base line.
Obviously, he's performed well enough to win the job, so he must have been doing some things right when I wasn't watching.
Figueroa and Sosa
Can the Mets actually turn to Jorge Sosa or Nelson Figueroa?
With the health of Orlando Hernandez and the poor performance from Mike Pelfrey, Sosa or Figueroa could be an option for the 5th starter spot.
Sosa, who went 7-6 with a 4.59 ERA as a starter last year, would be able to slip into that position, but they seem more content with keeping him out of the bullpen in the long relief role. Sosa went 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA coming out of the bullpen last year after shifting there due to a string of bad starts.
Figueroa, who has a 7-17 career record with a 4.65 ERA, has been pretty impressive so far this spring. He has a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA this spring. He has mainly appeared in minor league games lately, but after yesterday's absolute disaster, I think the Mets should take a serious look at him.
At best, Figueroa can fill in at the 5th spot, while Pelfrey and El Duque spend time at the extended minor league spring training, getting in more work and trying to stay healthy.
I can't believe it's come to this, as it's a sobering look at the Mets after all the hype of Johan Santana and the like. This is something the Mets should get used to, as the biggest issue facing them this year is injuries.
With the health of Orlando Hernandez and the poor performance from Mike Pelfrey, Sosa or Figueroa could be an option for the 5th starter spot.
Sosa, who went 7-6 with a 4.59 ERA as a starter last year, would be able to slip into that position, but they seem more content with keeping him out of the bullpen in the long relief role. Sosa went 2-2 with a 4.18 ERA coming out of the bullpen last year after shifting there due to a string of bad starts.
Figueroa, who has a 7-17 career record with a 4.65 ERA, has been pretty impressive so far this spring. He has a 2-1 record with a 3.38 ERA this spring. He has mainly appeared in minor league games lately, but after yesterday's absolute disaster, I think the Mets should take a serious look at him.
At best, Figueroa can fill in at the 5th spot, while Pelfrey and El Duque spend time at the extended minor league spring training, getting in more work and trying to stay healthy.
I can't believe it's come to this, as it's a sobering look at the Mets after all the hype of Johan Santana and the like. This is something the Mets should get used to, as the biggest issue facing them this year is injuries.
3/23/08
Lesser of the two evils
As absolutely bad as Mike Pelfrey was (4 1-3 IP, 8 ER, 13 hits, 1 walk, 1 K), I still think he earned the spot in rotation over Orlando Hernandez, due to the rest of his spring and the ability to throw over 85 mph. Oh, and to stay healthy, of course.
El Duque only lasted 3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks, while striking out 1. El Duque topped out at 85 mph, and had to be pulled from the game before his slotted four innings. Eddie Kunz had to come out for the 4th because Pelfrey was not ready to come into the game as early as they needed him.
I am officially cutting all emotional ties to El Duque.
We have the best 1-4 starters in the league, and the biggest question mark in the 5th spot.
I'm penciling in Pelfrey as the 5th starter, but you never know...Nelson Figueroa could make a late spring push. Wouldn't that be nice?
El Duque only lasted 3 innings, allowing 5 runs on 4 hits, 2 walks, while striking out 1. El Duque topped out at 85 mph, and had to be pulled from the game before his slotted four innings. Eddie Kunz had to come out for the 4th because Pelfrey was not ready to come into the game as early as they needed him.
I am officially cutting all emotional ties to El Duque.
We have the best 1-4 starters in the league, and the biggest question mark in the 5th spot.
I'm penciling in Pelfrey as the 5th starter, but you never know...Nelson Figueroa could make a late spring push. Wouldn't that be nice?
If the glove don't fit...
From Yahoo!:
Either way, say the Mets trade away a guy like Scott Schoeneweis for Thames, which I don't see happening, who takes the hit and loses his spot on the bench?
Ramon Castro or Raul Casanova (if Castro starts on the DL) - Safe. You always need a backup.
Damion Easley - Safe. Can play all the infield positions.
Marlon Anderson - Safe. Way too valuable as a pinch hitter.
Endy Chavez - Safe. He'll see a lot of time filling in for Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church.
Ruben Gotay - Goner. He'd be the odd man out here, so if this deal does come to fruition, maybe the Mets can toss Gotay in and get something back in return, you never know.
Still, I don't see the Thames deal going down, at least not with the Mets, but it's just something to keep your eye on.
The New York Mets have scouted Detroit Tigers first baseman/outfielder Marcus Thames so much this spring that they could be accused of stalking according to the Boston Glove.Hmm...I've never heard of that newspaper before.
Either way, say the Mets trade away a guy like Scott Schoeneweis for Thames, which I don't see happening, who takes the hit and loses his spot on the bench?
Ramon Castro or Raul Casanova (if Castro starts on the DL) - Safe. You always need a backup.
Damion Easley - Safe. Can play all the infield positions.
Marlon Anderson - Safe. Way too valuable as a pinch hitter.
Endy Chavez - Safe. He'll see a lot of time filling in for Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church.
Ruben Gotay - Goner. He'd be the odd man out here, so if this deal does come to fruition, maybe the Mets can toss Gotay in and get something back in return, you never know.
Still, I don't see the Thames deal going down, at least not with the Mets, but it's just something to keep your eye on.
Weather may be an issue
El Duque and Mike Pelfrey are set to square off against the St. Louis Cardinals today, as they battle for the 5th spot in the rotation. It is raining in Port St. Lucie right now, and looks like it's going to rain the rest of the day.
There was a comment from Matt Tracy on the last post that stated:
The coaching staff would want to evaluate El Duque as much as possible before giving him the green light to make his first spring training start, don't you think?
I think that El Duque and his career are running on fumes, trying anything to speak into the rotation. Today will be the tell all. Hopefully El Duque can prove me wrong and solidify the 5th spot, but I just don't see that happening.
Happy Easter to all those celebrate, and enjoy the game if you're able to catch it. I'll be back later with a game recap.
There was a comment from Matt Tracy on the last post that stated:
People still don't know what went on behind closed doors before duque's last start, so to already start assuming he is going to throw slow today is not a real good assumption.Maybe if the Mets were just getting him back before a postseason start, I could see this. You know, trying to mask his ability and speed. But before a spring training start just doesn't make sense to me.
Who knows, maybe he was told to slow it down the other day because of something to do with his routine, pitching schedule, whatever. Maybe they said since you are throwing a real game next, throw slow now and fast then? You never know.
The coaching staff would want to evaluate El Duque as much as possible before giving him the green light to make his first spring training start, don't you think?
I think that El Duque and his career are running on fumes, trying anything to speak into the rotation. Today will be the tell all. Hopefully El Duque can prove me wrong and solidify the 5th spot, but I just don't see that happening.
Happy Easter to all those celebrate, and enjoy the game if you're able to catch it. I'll be back later with a game recap.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)