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Lonely in Port St. Lucie

bmfc1 Jul 23 2009 12:42 PM

Why are the Mets in Port St. Lucie? Whatever the reason, it looks like lots of long bus rides for the Mets next ST: From Joel Sherman: In the Mets New York Mets ' galaxy of problems, losing a regular spring partner really is way down on the list. However, it is a problem that the Orioles are leaving their Fort Lauderdale spring base immediately. That will leave the Mets with even fewer options to play relatively nearby in spring training. Fort Lauderdale is approximately 90 miles from Port St. Lucie. The Mets played the Orioles six times last spring training, three in Fort Lauderdale. Now the Orioles are moving to the western part of Florida in Sarasota. Now the only teams that will be less than 100 miles away will be the Dodgers in Vero Beach (34 miles), the Nationals in Viera (72 miles), and the Marlins and Cardinals, who both train in Jupiter (33 miles). Those are all NL teams, including two from the NL East. Ideally, you want to have opponents from the opposite league nearby so that it matters less than they see, in particular, your pitchers so often. http://blogs.nypost.com/sports/st/archi ... be_lo.html

metirish Jul 23 2009 12:47 PM

Dodgers are not in Vero anymore, right?

Edgy DC Jul 23 2009 12:49 PM

Joel, Joel, Joel. The Dodgers aren't in Florida anymore.

PiggiesTomatoes Jul 23 2009 01:18 PM

Cactus, Joel, cactus for the Dodgers. So much for Captain Obvious.

Farmer Ted Jul 23 2009 02:22 PM

I honestly expect to see spring training west coast trips one day. I think the attraction to PSL, albiet in Bumpkin Fuck FLA, was an inexpensive halfway point between Orlando and Miami. Not to mention the Wilpon's winter home (which likely has been sold, thanks Bernie Madoff).

metirish Jul 23 2009 02:38 PM

Thanks to Cliff I think of the song "black hole sun" whenever PSL is mentioned.

Frayed Knot Jul 23 2009 02:51 PM

The Dodger reference has disappeared from the link.

Mendoza Line Jul 23 2009 02:55 PM

]Those are all NL teams, including two from the NL East. Ideally, you want to have opponents from the opposite league nearby so that it matters less than they see, in particular, your pitchers so often. I'm guessing this is an issue because the Mets play with their eyes shut, so that the disadvantage of opposing NL East teams seeing our pitchers isn't offset by the advantage of the Mets seeing the opposing team's pitchers.

metsguyinmichigan Jul 23 2009 04:02 PM

DOH! The Dodgers moved to 'Zona last year. And it's a shame that the Orioles passed on beautiful Dodgertown for Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, which, when I saw it last, was just a souless pile of poured concrete. It's still not as bad as they say. Lauderdale is indeed 90 miles, but the Astros in Kissimmee -- outside Orlando -- really aren't that much farther than that. My folks live in Jupiter, where the Marlins and Cardinals play. Takes us about 40 minutes to get to St. Lucie. And Disney is about 2.5 hours from them, so you figure the Mets would take under two hours to get up there for both the Astros and Braves. There do seem to me more teams on the West side of Florida now: Orioles, Phillies, Twins, Red Sox, Rangers, Rays. Then the Astros, Braves and Tigers are more in the upper central area.

G-Fafif Jul 23 2009 06:55 PM

When I think of Port St. Lucie during the season, I always think of Kaz Matsui holed up in the clubhouse during a tropical storm warning while on one of his many rehab stays. Could there be anything more depressing than the notion of extended spring training?

Ceetar Jul 23 2009 07:06 PM

="G-Fafif":1weskg80]When I think of Port St. Lucie during the season, I always think of Kaz Matsui holed up in the clubhouse during a tropical storm warning while on one of his many rehab stays. Could there be anything more depressing than the notion of extended spring training?[/quote:1weskg80] Well yeah..you could have to spend 80+ days in Binghamton. At least in Port St. Lucie you're 90 minutes or so from the "Happiest Place on Earth". Up there you're 90 minutes away from..syracuse.