Link: Manuel and the media

Bob Raissman has a wonderful column about Jerry Manuel and his use of the media. Click here to read the article.

Johan mentored Perez

Joel Sherman has an interesting tidbit about Johan Santana and Oliver Perez in his Hardball column today.

Mets pitching coach Dan Warthen told me that over the final two months of last season into this spring training camp that Santana has taken on Oliver Perez Oliver Perez as a "special project." According to Warthen, Santana is a tremendous asset in the continuing efforts to get Perez to a) concentrate consistently and b) deliver each pitch with conviction, purpose and accuracy.
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"Maybe for the first time in Ollie's life he's ready to listen and Johan is there to help," Warthen said. The Met pitching coach said that Santana's stature and ability to speak to Perez in Spanish help deliver messages that Warthen might have difficulty getting Perez to fully comprehend. "We are mainly talking pitching theory and philosophy, and I think it means something coming from Johan Santana," Warthen said.

Santana becomes more and more valuable as time wears on. If Perez, a certified head case, is willing to listen to Santana (and hopefully Warthen), then the Mets may have made a great signing.

If he reverts back to fooling around and changing his delivery at will, then they're due for what they've come to know from Perez.

If Santana can impart just small traces of what he knows and how he handles pitching on Perez, then the Mets are in good shape.

Prospects dominate first intrasquad game

Though no stats are kept on these games, it's nice to see three young guys, who all have an outside chance at making the team, perform well in their first game action of the spring.

Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell and Dillon Gee each threw two innings of shut out baseball yesterday.

At this point in spring training, the pitchers are usually light years ahead of the batters, so don't read into it too much. Still, it's nice to see these guys out there and pitching well. They're likely the future of the franchise.

Ryan Church will be the Mets starting right fielder

Following up "Daniel Murphy will be the Mets starting left fielder," we have this...

Ryan Church will start in right.

Via Adam Rubin:

“I figured I’d talk to him,” Church said. “I knew all I had to do was talk to him. He’s very approachable. He’ll tell you how it is. He came up to me and said, ‘Don’t worry about it.’ You’re getting prepared to be the everyday right fielder for the Mets.’ That’s what my whole goal is.”

Good.

This keeps Fernando Tatis, a right hander, on the bench, giving the Mets one player in that category. I'm very happy with Jerry Manuel, so far.

It's photo day

It's photo day for the Mets down in Port St. Lucie. Here's a shot of John Maine and Duaner Sanchez goofing off.

AP Photo / Jeff Roberson

Daniel Murphy will be the Mets starting left fielder

All off season, the Mets were touting their left field platoon of Daniel Murphy and Fernando Tatis. Now, before any sort of spring training game, Jerry Manuel has tabbed the young Murphy as the starter in left, for now.

Not only did Murphy get the starting nod, but it seems Ryan Church's job might not be a lock.

Via Adam Rubin:

"I kind of see Murphy being a little better hitter right now, so Tatis could go that way," Manuel said, referring to Tatis being used in right field against southpaws. "It all depends on how well they're doing. If they're not getting hits, they're not going to play."

Bottom line: Murphy will be a starter, Church might have to split time with Tatis.

Putting the left handed Murphy in the field every day will keep the right handed Tatis on the bench. Tatis would be the only righty on the bench, save for anyone making a strong push during spring training.

It's a testament to Murphy's work ethic that before even an intrasquad game (first one today), Murphy has shown that he's a pure hitter and capable enough in the field to be an everyday LF. This nod must give Murphy a ton of confidence.

On the flip side, this might set off a red light for Church, who will stick around camp with Murphy, even when everyone else has already left.

Everything is not set in stone, so if someone is not hitting, they won't be playing. Simple as that.

Joel Sherman brings up a good point in his Hardball blog.

But what this also says to me is that Fernando Martinez is on the clock from the outset of the season and if the touted prospect ever stays healthy long enough to prove he is the real deal then Church's day as a Met are going to move toward extinction.

So, for now, the Mets have Murphy in left, Church in right and Tatis back on the bench. This makes sense to me.

Sunday afternoon reading

I'm in New York City for the day with my parents, so I figured I'd dish you a little bit of my "other" writings.

I work for The Chronicle, the student-run newspaper at Quinnipiac University. I have a weekly opinion column called The Weekly Peeve, which I thoroughly enjoy writing.

Here they are, for your enjoyment...

• People suing McDonald's
• The word "diversity"
• Baby on Board
• So called "fans"
• The tomato
• "I saw mommy kissing Santa Claus"

Enjoy your Sunday.

Video: Vintage Steve Somers

I can't get over these old videos of Steve Somers. I can't even begin to explain my thoughts when I watch these.

Enjoy.

Redding out indefintely

Bart Hubbuch is reporting that Tim Redding, fifth starter hopeful and long relief possibility, is out indefinitely as he recovers from a previous foot injury.

From Hubbuch:

Redding said the surgery was to repair a stress fracture in the second toe on his right foot, a problem that bothered him throughout the season in Washington.

Redding has been able to throw off flat ground from 100 feet and said he is hopeful of being able to throw off the mound by the end of next week. Manuel, on the other hand, said he did not know when Redding would be allowed to throw again. "We're taking it slow with him," the manager said.

And the Mets signed him for $2.5 million.

Did the Mets know about this before hand, because if so, $2.5 million guaranteed is a bit silly.

The team knew about the surgery. Still seems like a lot for a guy with a bum foot. We all know how that can end up.

Via Adam Rubin:

Pitching coach Dan Warthen said the Mets are taking it slowly because of the length of spring training, and Redding is on target to make his first Grapefruit League appearance March 8.

Does this scoreboard test mean anything?

Via ProSportsDaily forum member METS4LIFE1988...

(Circles are mine.)

The David Wright stats are just funny, but Daniel Murphy listed at second base?

Obviously, Johan Santana isn't going to make the start in the exhibition game, as he'll be the opening day starter. So why fill in someone that won't be there?

Hmmm...