I hope this steroid/HGH talk begins and ends this week

Dr. Anthony Galea is a name I hope I don’t hear much more.

Because a steroid scandal is the absolute last thing the Mets need.

Carlos Beltran and Jose Reyes have both been questioned by the FBI in connection with their relationship and visits to Dr. Galea’s office for treatment.  Galea is being investigated by Canadian authorities for attempting to smuggle human growth hormones into the US.

Both players have met with investigators and discussed their treatment with Galea.  Both claim that HGH or steroids were not involved or discussed.

Hopefully, as this week winds down, we hear less and less of this story.  Unfortunately, steroids are too juicy of a story to overlook, so as long as it’s slightly relevant, it will be written about and discussed at length.

But please, for the sake of Mets fans minds everywhere, let’s hope we don’t hear much more of it.  I think we have enough to worry about.

Manuel’s Musing

“He was so caught up in that Canada thing that he needed a day to breathe.”

-Jerry Manuel on Jason Bay

First spring training lineup from rainy Florida

The Mets will travel to the ESPN Wide World of Sports to take on the Atlanta Braves in what will likely be a rainy and wet afternoon of baseball.  Reports are that the weather is clearing up.

The game, scheduled for 1:10 p.m., will be broadcast on SNY.

Here’s the lineup the Mets will trot out…

1. Gary Matthews Jr. – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. Jose Reyes – SS
4. David Wright – 3B
5. Jason Bay – LF
6. Mike Jacobs – DH
7. Jeff Francoeur – RF
8. Ike Davis – 1B
9. Chris Coste – C

Due to the impending weather, a lineup change was put through.  Your new lineup…

1. Jesus Feliciano – LF
2. Ruben Tejada – SS
3. Gary Matthews Jr. – CF
4. Mike Jacobs – DH
5. Mike Hessman – 3B
6. Ike Davis – 1B
7. Chris Coste – C
8. Jason Pridie – RF
9. Luis Hernandez – 2B

Nelson Figueroa will get the start.  Pedro Feliciano, Bobby Parnell and Ryota Igarashi are slated to pitch as well.

Don’t read too much into this lineup.  Yes, Reyes is batting third again, but who knows what Jerry Manuel will do tomorrow, in a week, in a month.

Baseball, with the weather cooperating, may be back on TV today.

This headline made me giggle

Matthews: I'm natural choice for Mets leadoff spot

Not that Gary Matthews Jr. can’t help the Mets (if any, not by much), but if he thinks he’ll be hitting leadoff (yes, he is today, but so what?) regularly, the Mets have much, much more to worry about.

Jose Reyes hits two-run triple in first AB [Quote]

Via NJ.com…

“To be honest with you, it felt a little weird when I stepped in the batter's box,” Reyes said. “It was a long time that I don't face a big-league pitcher. When I hit the ball, I said, ‘Oh, God, I have to run now.’”

Reyes said he never thought about stopping at second, though. He said he wasn't running quite at full speed, but with the ball rattling around the right-field corner, he didn't have to.

Sorry if you drool on yourself after reading this.

Manuel’s Musing

“Johan is that good where he’s at a stage in his career where I don’t think that much matters.”

-Jerry Manuel on Johan Santana having a personal catcher

The first lineups of the season

And because it’s an intrasquad game, we get two for the price of one.

Visiting team

1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Alex Cora – 2B
3. Jason Pridie – LF
4. Jeff Francoeur – RF
5. Mike Jacobs – 1B
6. Fernando Tatis – 3B
7. Josh Thole – C
8. Ruben Tejada – SS
9. Chris Carter – DH
   ---
10. Tobi Stoner – RHP

Home team

1. Gary Matthews Jr. – CF
2. Luis Castillo – 2B
3. Jose Reyes – SS
4. David Wright – 3B
5. Daniel Murphy – 1B
6. Fernando Martinez – LF
7. Henry Blanco – C
8. Kirk Nieuwenhuis – RF
9. Frank Catalanotto – DH
   ---
10. Jon Niese – LHP

Matt Cerrone over at MetsBlog will be streaming some of the game, which begins at 11 a.m.

Spring Training chat

Join in for a spring training chat all about the New York Mets
and their outlook for 2010.


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2010 Mets uniforms, via Wikipedia [Image]

I don’t know why, but these interest me.  Here are the Mets uniforms for the upcoming season from the Mets Wikipedia page…

Now if they’d only bring back the Mercury Mets uniforms.  Heck, I think they’d be a hot item.  I’d buy one.

Escobar might start season on DL, says Manuel

The back-and-forth on Kelvim Escobar’s shoulder soldiers on.

First, he was fine.  Then, he couldn’t grip a baseball.  After that, he could throw just fine with Johan Santana.  Now, he’s taking it slow and might start the season on the DL.  At least, according to Jerry Manuel.

Also, since he’s in camp but still not able to throw, he’s well behind in the race for the set-up man.  The likely leading candidate is Ryota Igarashi.