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News From Port St. Lucie

metirish Feb 10 2009 02:09 PM

Some players are there already , this note from David Lennon... ] With a few days left before the Mets get down to official business, it's a more relaxed atmosphere early this week, and the clubhouse discussion this morning turned to movies. Yes, life over here is a little different than what's happening across the state. As J.J. Putz and Sean Green rattled off a few of their recent favorites-- Valkyrie, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button -- Mike Pelfrey chimed in, asking if anyone had seen "Marley and Me." After some laughter from his teammates, Pelfrey talked about the emotional ending, and then tried to find someone else in a near-empty clubhouse who had seen it. No luck. Just more harassment. With Pelfrey decked out in a Livestrong canary-yellow t-shirt, Duaner Sanchez cracked, "You look like Big Bird." As for this evening's movie? As they were leaving, a few of the Mets were deciding between Paul Blart: Mall Cop and Taken. Santana threw briefly from the mound today and announced that he should be ready for the season opener. ]"That's what we're shooting for," Santana said. "Of course, we have to be very careful and not try to rush anything. I go by the program, so right now it's just about playing catch. Today was my first day on the mound, just to get the feeling for it, and we'll go from there. We'll see what the next step is." This is a Alex Rodriguez free zone

attgig Feb 10 2009 03:53 PM

no dog lovers in the mets clubhouse. poor Pelf. they need a clubhouse dog.

Frayed Knot Feb 11 2009 06:38 AM

Jose Valentin back on a minor league deal. I have no idea if he'll agree to play minor league ball if he doesn't make the team. This could just be a way of either; - filling out the NYM roster while a bunch are away w/their WBC teams or - giving him an audition for other teams looking around

metirish Feb 12 2009 07:25 AM

] PORT ST. LUCIE - After a 101-loss season with Seattle in 2008, it isn't a stretch to suggest that J.J. Putz, Sean Green and Jeremy Reed are eager to get this season started. So it's no wonder the three ex-Mariners, who landed with the Mets in a Dec.10 trade, already have arrived at camp. The trio, working out with new teammates on the minor-league side of the Mets' complex since pitchers and catchers don't officially report until Friday, occupied consecutive locker stalls Wednesday. Their Mariners tote bags conspicuously rested on top. "It was a long season - not just the physical grind, but it was kind of a mental grind," Green said. "Everybody was struggling, and coaches are getting fired and players are getting released. It was kind of a tough situation." It's no secret that Putz will set up new closer Francisco Rodriguez, but Mets officials expect the 29-year-old Green will play a pivotal role in the revamped bullpen, too. The lefty-hitting Reed is projected to take over Endy Chavez's backup role and is capable of playing all three outfield positions. Putz used the same word - "versatile" - to describe both players. He believes Green, who relies on a heavy sinker that he throws from varying arm angles, can rise to another level without the overuse he had in Seattle in '08. Green made 48 first-half relief appearances, the most in the American League. Green's 29 relief outings of more than one inning during the season ranked third in the majors, behind Josh Rupe and J.P. Howell (31 apiece). "He was as lights out as anybody was the first half of last year," Putz said. "The way that they kind of abused him last year - he probably won't say it - but I think it really did take a toll late in the season. "He can pitch in a number of different roles. He's always been a guy that's never shied away from taking the ball. He can go three innings or four innings, then come back and give you another inning the next day." Green went 4-5 with a 4.67 ERA and one save for Seattle last season, his third in the big leagues. He also overcame adversity even before turning pro. Green was cut his freshman year of high school, and stayed around the baseball team as equipment manager. By his senior year he was throwing in the low-90s on varsity, setting up a college career at Louisville. "My body kind of caught up. I started throwing a little harder," Green said. "I really didn't have any plans to go to college to play going into my senior year, but I started throwing hard during the season and got drafted late by Toronto and ended up going to U of L." Poised to be selected in the first few rounds of the draft as a college junior, Green went 0-10 that season and slipped to the 12th round. "It was awful," he said. "Going into that season I was looking pretty good, like I was a fairly decent prospect." Reed, 27, was a major prospect in the minors for the White Sox and played for former Met Wally Backman at Double-A Birmingham. He was traded during the 2004 season to Seattle for Freddy Garcia, now a teammate. Reed had 488 at-bats and was the Mariners' regular center fielder the following season, but has since been a role player. "I'm really excited to be over here," Reed said. "I think the National League fits my game better - the fact that I've played all three outfield positions and, in the past, I've played some first base. I kind of want to work on that a little bit more just to have that. I feel like defensively I can go out there at any time and help the team. Gosh, I have a little over three years' service time and I've gone into one spring training knowing that I was going to play every day. So I'm kind of used to that. I'm used to going out there and fighting and giving myself the best opportunity to win a job."

metirish Feb 13 2009 12:25 PM

Sked [url=http://web.sny.tv/teams/tvschedule.jsp?oid=36018:2sn9r8ac]SNY -CW11 Schedule[/url:2sn9r8ac]

metirish Feb 20 2009 12:59 PM

Good news John Franco in PSL as a guest instructor and during the season will serve in the Mets front office in either marketing, baseball operations or television. ] "I took some time off to be with family, but now I've got the itch again to come back in little baby steps," he said. "I am delighted (the Mets) have invited me down to come back into the organization to try to give back and try to help out as much as I can, whatever they want me to do. Whether it's on or off the field stuff, I am willing to do it, and I look forward to it."

metsguyinmichigan Feb 20 2009 02:08 PM

I'm glad. I know his departure wasn't the nice send-off it should have been -- which was largely Franco's fault. But it's nice to see him back in the family. He should have a spot in the Mets Hall of Fame when they get their act together.

Fman99 Feb 22 2009 02:06 PM

According to [url=http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20090222&content_id=3864922&vkey=news_nym&fext=.jsp&c_id=nym:k2seyo57]MLB.com[/url:k2seyo57] and other sources, Jerry is now calling Murph his full time LF and having Tatis as his first righty off of the bench (and possibly to swap in for Church if we see the 2nd half Church). I love it. Let the kid play.

bmfc1 Feb 22 2009 06:25 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Feb 22 2009 07:28 PM

I wrote something questioning Jerry for insulting Church by saying that Murphy was a better hitter than Church is, "right now" but after reading some accounts with more context, I wasn't sure if he really was insulting Church at all.

Kong76 Feb 22 2009 06:36 PM

avi, is that you?

Edgy DC Feb 23 2009 07:09 AM

I think Jerry is nonetheless overplaying it. Whether Murphy starts seven days in ten or nine days in ten is immaterial at this point. He's got less than a third of a season in the bigs and he needs to approach the yearas if he's got to earn whatever PT he gets. Church, on the other hand, has been fighting uphill to get back on the field since he gave up his body and mind trying in vain to save his team from a double-header sweep. He was hitting the cover off the ball at the time, and for his effort starts the season by getting knocked below a guy with 45 games under his belt. I know that whatever Church gave, he gave to Willie's cause, while Murphy gave to Manuel's, but Church seems like the one who needs his manager's confidence at this point. There's always next year for Murphy, but this is make-or-break for Churchie.

holychicken Feb 23 2009 08:49 AM

Not sure what he has been up to this offseason, but I found this quote from Beltran to be a bit. . . odd: "When you’re good, you can be in any hole."

metirish Feb 23 2009 08:51 AM

="holychicken":2pkybnfn]Not sure what he has been up to this offseason, but I found this quote from Beltran to be a bit. . . odd: "When you’re good, you can be in any hole."[/quote:2pkybnfn] Fman, please add to this , thanks. Edgy DC Feb 23 2009 11:50 AM ="Adam Rubin":1jpiqoju]Ryan Church said Jerry Manuel came up to him during stretching Monday morning and made things clear that Church is the right fielder. "He's very approachable," Church said. "He'll tell you how it is. He came up to me and said, 'You're preparing to be the everyday right fielder for the Mets.'" Church said he never doubted that anyway and just looked at Manuel's original comments as a challenge. "He always said he's going to challenge guys in spring training," Church said, "because come September we don't want any more collapses."[/quote:1jpiqoju] Benjamin Grimm Feb 23 2009 01:04 PM I have a feeling that all three of them will get plenty of playing time. In many seasons you see four outfielders with a lot of plate appearances, especially when, like this year, there may not be a lot of difference in the production of the second, third, and fourth guys. My prediction, in order of number of plate appearances in 2009: Beltran, Murphy, Church, Tatis. (Also, Tatis may get some additional time in the infield, backing up Delgado and/or Wright at times.) Edgy DC Feb 23 2009 01:23 PM It would be nice to not let the corner infield skills of Murphy fade either. I realize the primary goal this year is to get him up to speed as big league outfielder --- rather than the fill-in he was last season --- but it would be a shame to pigeonhole him in his career just because left is the position that is open right now. Benjamin Grimm Feb 23 2009 01:28 PM One theory I read is that Murphy will stay in the outfield for a year or two, and then possibly be groomed to be Delgado's successor at first base. (I think that plan will only work if you get first-base-style production from his bat. Otherwise, having him replace Castillo a little further down the road makes more sense. If, of course, he can play the position.) Edgy DC Feb 23 2009 01:55 PM Senior 1, Junior 0 Anybody have their money on Jon Switzer? He scrod up an intra-squad no-hitter. Mets batting .136 so far. ="Adam Rubin":2riue7ci]UPDATE: Lefthander Jon Switzer allowed two runs in the eighth inning in a 2-0 intrasquad win by Sandy Sr. Cory Sullivan had an RBI single and Andy Green had a bases-loaded walk. Sandy Jr. Name-AB-R-H-RBI Cora, ss, 3-0-0-0 Anderson, 2b, 4-0-0-0 Murphy, lf, 3-0-0-0 Thole, ph, 1-0-0-0 Beltran, cf, 2-0-0-0 Pagan, cf, 2-0-1-0 R. Martinez, 3b, 3-0-0-0 Rivera, ph, 1-0-0-0 Church, rf, 2-0-0-0 Mackowiak, rf, 0-0-0-0 Evans, 1b, 3-0-2-0 Schneider, c, 2-0-1-0 Cancel, c, 1-0-0-0 F. Martinez, dh, 3-0-1-0 Pitcher-IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO Gee 2-0-0-0-0-0 Knight 2-0-0-0-2-1 Parnell 2-0-0-0-0-1 Muniz 1-0-0-0-0-1 Switzer 0-3-2-2-2-0 Sandy Sr. Name-AB-R-H-RBI Castillo, 2b, 1-0-0-0 Green, 2b, 1-0-0-1 Reyes, ss, 2-0-0-0 Coronado, ss, 1-0-0-0 Wright, 3b, 1-0-0-0 Valentin, 3b, 1-0-0-0 Delgado, 1b, 2-0-0-0 Abreu, 1b, 1-0-0-0 Kielty, rf, 3-0-0-0 Reed, cf, 3-1-1-0 Castro, c, 2-0-0-0 Santos, c, 1-1-1-0 Sullivan, lf, 3-0-1-1 Rivera, dh, 2-0-0-0 Thole, ph, 0-0-0-0 Pitcher-IP-H-R-ER-BB-SO Niese 2-0-0-0-0-2 Figueroa 1.2-2-0-0-1-1 Snyder 2-1-0-0-0-2 Robertson 2-1-0-0-1-2 Ruelas 1-1-0-0-0-2[/quote:2riue7ci] A Boy Named Seo Feb 23 2009 02:29 PM Nice to see Pagan's name on a boxscore again. And he picked up right where he left off. And there are apparently two Riveras on the team and I have no idea who either one is.