Covering: Livan Hernandez, Nick Evans and someone that might fit into the bullpen for the Mets.
Enjoy.
3/20/09
The State of the Mets -- 3/20/09
Here is the 10th edition of The State of the Mets.
Covering: Livan Hernandez, Nick Evans and someone that might fit into the bullpen for the Mets.
Enjoy.
Covering: Livan Hernandez, Nick Evans and someone that might fit into the bullpen for the Mets.
Enjoy.
Jon Niese reassigned to minor league camp; Livan all but locks up fifth starter
Announcing the New York Mets fifth starter: Livan Hernandez!
That's the message the Mets are sending today, as young gun Jon Niese has been sent to minor league camp.
Hernandez all but tied up the spot on the team on Wednesday with five smooth innings, allowing only one run. Niese was Hernandez's closest compeition, especially since Freddy Garcia is a shell of his former self.
Interesting move. I figured this would play out a little longer than it did.
That's the message the Mets are sending today, as young gun Jon Niese has been sent to minor league camp.
Hernandez all but tied up the spot on the team on Wednesday with five smooth innings, allowing only one run. Niese was Hernandez's closest compeition, especially since Freddy Garcia is a shell of his former self.
Interesting move. I figured this would play out a little longer than it did.
Interesting things going on today
A few things to pay attention to as you watch today's spring training game read about it later.
Oliver Perez
Perez is making his first Grapefruit League appearance today again the Orioles after returning from the World Baseball Classic. Perez struggled through the WBC, going 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in 6.2 innings. Perez also expressed that he was feeling "fatigued" after the performance.
Jerry Manuel said he would "dial-back" Perez during spring training action. Expect only a few innings out of Perez today.
Nick Evans
Evans will start in right field today as the Mets try and find a position for the young righty. He leads the team in spring training at bats, likely due to the WBC. Evans is a young guy that should be getting regular playing time, so a bench position may not be what the Mets want for him. Wrestiling away a starting job may be his only chance at making the Opening Day roster, but I don't see that happening.
Ike Davis
The Mets picked Davis 18th overall in the 2008 draft, and he will be starting at first base today.
Adam Rubin posted the write up he completed on Davis on draft day:
Oliver Perez
Perez is making his first Grapefruit League appearance today again the Orioles after returning from the World Baseball Classic. Perez struggled through the WBC, going 0-1 with a 9.45 ERA in 6.2 innings. Perez also expressed that he was feeling "fatigued" after the performance.
Jerry Manuel said he would "dial-back" Perez during spring training action. Expect only a few innings out of Perez today.
Nick Evans
Evans will start in right field today as the Mets try and find a position for the young righty. He leads the team in spring training at bats, likely due to the WBC. Evans is a young guy that should be getting regular playing time, so a bench position may not be what the Mets want for him. Wrestiling away a starting job may be his only chance at making the Opening Day roster, but I don't see that happening.
Ike Davis
The Mets picked Davis 18th overall in the 2008 draft, and he will be starting at first base today.
Adam Rubin posted the write up he completed on Davis on draft day:
Too bad this game isn't on TV.Davis, unlike his father a lefty thrower and hitter, pitched his freshman year, then played right field his sophomore year and first base as a junior. He is hitting .394 with 16 homers and 73 RBI in 49 games for ASU, entering a matchup with Fresno State this weekend for a berth in the College World Series.
"I've played first longer, so I'm probably a lot better at that," he said.
3/19/09
Game Recap: Mets 12 -- Astros 1
Nineteen straight games without a win for the Astros. As Gary Cohen noted, "that's something that would get a manager fired in the regular season."
Pelfrey just looked spectacular out there. If he can stay healthy this year, I'm very excited to see what he can do while on the bump.
New addition Fernando Nieve, who the Mets picked up off waivers recently, pitched a scoreless inning against his former team, allowing two hits. Carlos Muniz pitched the 8th inning, striking out one. Sean Green finished out the game for the Mets, retiring the side in order.
The more I see of Evans, the more I'm impressed. Still, he just doesn't have a spot on the major league roster.
Jose Reyes also had a huge day leading off, driving in four runs with two doubles.
Batting first in the order, just like he will come the regular season.
Fernando Tatis also picked up two RBIs on the day. Ramon Castro and Andy Green also picked up one each.
On The Mound
The Mets jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, anchored by a beautiful performance from Mike Pelfrey. Six innings, three hits and only one run. He walked only one and struck out three.Pelfrey just looked spectacular out there. If he can stay healthy this year, I'm very excited to see what he can do while on the bump.
New addition Fernando Nieve, who the Mets picked up off waivers recently, pitched a scoreless inning against his former team, allowing two hits. Carlos Muniz pitched the 8th inning, striking out one. Sean Green finished out the game for the Mets, retiring the side in order.
At The Plate
Nick Evans continues to shine in his team-leading appearances at the plate. At first base for the second straight game, Evans went 3-5 with two RBIs and two runs scored. Two doubles and a home run for Evans, he seems to be responding to me calling him out for not showing a lot of power.The more I see of Evans, the more I'm impressed. Still, he just doesn't have a spot on the major league roster.
Jose Reyes also had a huge day leading off, driving in four runs with two doubles.
Batting first in the order, just like he will come the regular season.
Fernando Tatis also picked up two RBIs on the day. Ramon Castro and Andy Green also picked up one each.
On Deck
The Mets will travel and take on the Baltimore Orioles tomorrow at 1 p.m. The game is not on TV.
Live Blog: HOU @ NYM
Another day, another spring training game, another live blog.
Live blog complete.
Live blog complete.
Schneider sitting indefinitely
It's spring training, and Brian Schneider's knee is acting up again. Not surprised on this end.
Schneider sat out the game on Wednesday, and had his knee checked out by team doctors. He was diagnosed with a strain of the right posterior capsule.
This happened last year, so I'm not too worried, but with Ramon Castro almost always struggling with health issues, the team may want to take a good look at Robinson Cancel as a player who will be up and down a lot this year.
Schneider sat out the game on Wednesday, and had his knee checked out by team doctors. He was diagnosed with a strain of the right posterior capsule.
This happened last year, so I'm not too worried, but with Ramon Castro almost always struggling with health issues, the team may want to take a good look at Robinson Cancel as a player who will be up and down a lot this year.
Livan for the fifth
Yesterday's performance all but secured Livan Hernandez as the Mets fifth starter. Between his five innings of five hit ball, allowing only one run and Freddy Garcia's two inning, five earned run outing, it seems like Hernandez will be tabbed for the final turn.
And then there is this quote from Jerry Manuel, via Adam Rubin:
He may give up a lot of hits and he may look like he's throwing softball pitches at times, but if Hernandez can get out there for 200+ innings in 2009, he would save the bullpen a lot of work. Even if his ERA is nearing 5.00, I think the offense, on some days, can counter that.
Maybe, just for an added measure, the team can stitch "Traschel" into the back of his jersey, and Hernandez will magically win 15 games.
And as for Garcia, I wouldn't be surprised if by the time the World Baseball Classic is over, he's out looking for work again.
And then there is this quote from Jerry Manuel, via Adam Rubin:
"I'll tell you what, he was pretty good today," Jerry Manuel said about Hernandez. "He has a good presence about him on the mound, in the dugout. It's like he brings a different energy for us. I would have to say he's put himself in a real good position."I'd say that's pretty telling if you ask me.
He may give up a lot of hits and he may look like he's throwing softball pitches at times, but if Hernandez can get out there for 200+ innings in 2009, he would save the bullpen a lot of work. Even if his ERA is nearing 5.00, I think the offense, on some days, can counter that.
Maybe, just for an added measure, the team can stitch "Traschel" into the back of his jersey, and Hernandez will magically win 15 games.
And as for Garcia, I wouldn't be surprised if by the time the World Baseball Classic is over, he's out looking for work again.
3/18/09
Nats sign Beimel
A one-year, $2 million deal got it done for Joe Beimel, as he will head to the nation's capital to pitch for the Nationals.
In a corresponding move, the team cut Shawn Hill.
In a corresponding move, the team cut Shawn Hill.
Live Blog: STL @ NYM -- Join in!
The Atlanta Braves made the trip to Tradition Field today for a 1 p.m. start. I'll be running a live blog from 1:10 p.m. until 4 p.m. Join in!
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