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All-purpose spring training news and non-news thread

KC Mar 01 2007 04:59 PM Edited 1 time(s), most recently on Mar 01 2007 09:08 PM

Lastings got plunked on the hand yesterday and got xrays today which were negative. I think as a group we need to get a little more interested in spring training NOW!!!

sharpie Mar 01 2007 05:15 PM

Mets won today. Reyes hit a home run, Beltran a triple. Sosa gave up two homers in an inning.

KC Mar 01 2007 09:09 PM

Glavine was sharp through two.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 01 2007 09:10 PM

Watching the replay I've learned their names are Ruben Go-TIE and Chip AM-breeze, not Ruben Go-TAY and Chip AHM-breys. Jose Reyes Junior (cleverly wearing No. 77) hits one to the fence.

KC Mar 01 2007 09:14 PM

Exactly. Take these these things and run with them ... 2007 is gonna rock!

metirish Mar 01 2007 09:16 PM

Ruben Go-TIE wearing # 6....Jose A Reyes middle name is Aureole.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 01 2007 09:29 PM

Well, golly. Burgos (Fries and a Shake) just whiffed the last batter of the game with the tying run on 3rd and looked very much like a younger, slightly smaller, Armando Benitez. The slightly bent-kneed start -- and the finishing fist pump -- are the spitting image.

metirish Mar 01 2007 09:46 PM

Insert Armando jokes here.................Burgos is an exciting pitcher to watch....Feliciano looked good getting his last guy looking and yapping at the ump.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 01 2007 09:55 PM

That was the first time I ever recall watching Burgos. For all the talk of 100 MPH, the TV gun read his fb at 91. He gave up a single (fat pitch), threw a WP but otherwise looked competent. What he looked like was Benitez. I mean, really!

metirish Mar 01 2007 10:01 PM

Yeah I was waiting for the big heat,maybe Peterson had him working on other stuff.....although he not tell him to throw the fast ball slower.....would he?..although Gary did mention him throwing really hard one pitch...didn't get the mph on it.

Frayed Knot Mar 01 2007 10:07 PM

"Mets won today. Reyes hit a home run" No he didn't ... he hit a FUCKIN' BOMB!!!! There's a grassy knoll beyond the RCF fence which leads uphill to a concession area and that shot just about beaned some peeps waiting in line for drinks. No bout a doubt it.

iramets Mar 02 2007 05:20 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: What he looked like was Benitez. I mean, really! Then I don't care what he throws like, I want him outta here! NOW!!! For whatever we can get for this headcase loser!

metirish Mar 02 2007 09:24 AM

The beat writer from the Post says Burgos was throwing in the mid ninties...Burgos himself says he'll be throwing harder soon enough....I found this quote from him funny. ] "I feel like I just got called up to the big leagues," he said when asked what his reaction was about getting dealt to New York. "I feel in Kansas City that I was in Triple-A."

Centerfield Mar 02 2007 11:27 AM

You can't give locker room material like that to a dangerous team like KC.

Centerfield Mar 02 2007 12:01 PM

Little tidbit from Metsblog.com: Last season, Jose Reyes stole 64 bases, and 60 the year before. If Reyes can still 60 bases each of the next 20 seasons, up through his 43rd birthday, he will still be roughly 100 stolen bases shy of Rickey Henderson’s record of 1,406.

Frayed Knot Mar 02 2007 12:48 PM

From the, it's probably nothing file; Chan Ho Park was unable to pitch in today's exhibition game because ... he's having some kind of visa problem. Apparently he's not in danger of being deported or anything, but this is denying him a work permit which, in turn, means he can't pitch in any game where there is admission being charged -- which I guess is the definition of 'work'. So, instead, he pitched in the morning in some intra-squad deal (looked good according to Eddie C on WFAN) and will need to confine his throwing to spots like that until this mess gets cleaned up. It wasn't apparent to EC why this hadn't been taken care of earlier.

KC Mar 02 2007 01:07 PM

Hope he has better representation than Soler had.

attgig Mar 02 2007 02:40 PM

who gave up the four runs?

Frayed Knot Mar 02 2007 04:25 PM

Damn! I should have started a new thread to announce the Chan Ho news simply so I could use the subject heading of: 'Park Benched' I hate it when I think of stuff like that too late.

metirish Mar 05 2007 09:59 AM

Wright would move for A-Rod is the hot story in every local paper today..... [url=http://www.newsday.com/sports/baseball/mets/ny-spmets055118926mar05,0,6703226.story?coll=ny-sports-headlines]Yeah I'll move[/url] [url=http://www.northjersey.com/page.php?qstr=eXJpcnk3ZjczN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXkyNjgmZmdiZWw3Zjd2cWVlRUV5eTcwODgwNzgmeXJpcnk3ZjcxN2Y3dnFlZUVFeXk2]Yeah I'll still move[/url]

MFS62 Mar 05 2007 10:12 AM

metirish wrote: Wright would move for A-Rod is the hot story in every local paper today..... Take THAT, Captain Clutch. I wonder how many reporters covering Yankee camp will mention that to Jeter? Later

metirish Mar 05 2007 10:18 AM

A-Rod is flattered..... ] When told of Wright's comments by Record beat writer Pete Caldera, Rodriguez seemed stunned. "Did he really say that?" A-Rod said of Wright. "Wow, tell him I'm flattered."

seawolf17 Mar 05 2007 10:24 AM

Dammit, Alex, stop hitting on David Wright. Derek's going to get jealous.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 05 2007 10:29 AM

I haven't seen David Wright with a chick on his arm recently. Have you?

Frayed Knot Mar 05 2007 10:41 AM

This "story" is a non-starter AFAIC. First of all, you ask virtually ANY player what he thinks about importing Joe Superstar from another team and he'll be all over it. To treat such a statement as 'news' is just silly. And then there's the whole story about whether ARod is actually going to opt out of his existing deal and what kind of contract he'd deserve if he did (too boring to rehash). I seem to be in opposition with most of the news media on this topic but I'd bet on him sticking with his existing deal barring some kind of total meltdown in Yanqui-land this year. The press seems fixated on the whole "spooked by NYC" angle (or maybe it's just by northern NYC) but I ain't buyin' it.. That he managed to win an MVP while being so afraid of his shadow seems to be dismissed whenever this discussion comes up.

MFS62 Mar 05 2007 10:42 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: I haven't seen David Wright with a chick on his arm recently. Have you? He's waiting until Britney comes out of rehab. He is such a nice guy, he knows he can get her life back on track. Later

Frayed Knot Mar 05 2007 10:53 AM

Oh yeah, and one more thing; "Some believe the opt-out clause in [A-Rod's] contract was inserted by agent Scott Boras as a way to somehow get Rodriguez to Flushing, even after committing to another team." HORSESHIT!!!! It was done to ensure he could get another crack at FA-gency if the market moved in the interim and he was no longer MLB's highest paid player.

Yancy Street Gang Mar 05 2007 10:53 AM

Johnny Dickshot wrote: I haven't seen David Wright with a chick on his arm recently. Have you? Are you implying that a Piazza-like press conference might be in order?

Edgy DC Mar 05 2007 10:57 AM

David Wright's girlfriend. Prepare to get dumber.

Vic Sage Mar 05 2007 11:00 AM

the only way A-Rod opts out is if he can get a penny more than the $25m/yr for the next 3 years that he's guaranteed under his current deal. Since its unlikely he'll be able to, even with the boom in the market, he'll be staying put (unless he's traded). period. end 30.

smg58 Mar 05 2007 04:07 PM

It's actually $27M per year for the next three. He may ask for a trade -- and if he wants to go that badly the feeling would probably be mutual and the Yankees would quickly oblige him -- but I just don't see him simply walking away from that money. He could probably get 8 years and $160M if he opted out, but he'd need a reason to think he couldn't get 5 and $80M three years from now for it to pay. (The Texas Rangers, who are slated to pay him over $21M over the next three years to play for the Yankees, would probably throw a huge party if he did opt out, though.) And besides, A-Rod would bet a better fit at second base than Wright.

Nymr83 Mar 05 2007 05:14 PM

Wouldn't Reyes get moved to 2B again? Isn't this the dumbest speculation ever?

smg58 Mar 06 2007 09:29 AM

Nymr83 wrote: Wouldn't Reyes get moved to 2B again? Isn't this the dumbest speculation ever? I'd hope not, and of course it's dumb but the subject came up so I guess we're talking about it.

metirish Mar 13 2007 01:09 PM

Ben Shpigel from the NYT thinks it's down to Park and Pelfrey for the fifth starters spot,with Pelfrey his favorite.( Shpigel is a good beat writer IMO) ] Needing One Starter, Mets Measure Park Against Prospect By BEN SHPIGEL Published: March 13, 2007 VIERA, Fla., March 12 — Chan Ho Park thought he threw one bad pitch in Monday’s game against the Washington Nationals. So did his catcher, Paul Lo Duca. The problem was, they were talking about different pitches, and that difference of opinion summed up Park’s performance in the Mets’ 9-6 loss. No one came away from the outing especially impressed — or distressed. But in the continuing competition for a spot in the rotation, Park did nothing to prove that he should receive any more consideration than the other candidates. In the first two innings, he pitched as if he deserved a spot. Over the next inning and a third, he did not. His unflattering pitching line: three and a third innings, five hits, four runs, two walks, six strikeouts, a wild pitch and a hit batter. “He was struggling with his command, but it’s only his second time out,” Manager Willie Randolph said. “I don’t take a whole lot away from that. I think he threw the ball O.K. But it was like the first time out; he was a little erratic in the zone.” With John Maine and Oliver Pérez practically assured of making the rotation, the competition for the final spot figures to intensify this week. Randolph refused to handicap the field, saying, “I’m not ready to start plucking guys out.” But the race has begun to sort itself out. Of the seven contenders, only Mike Pelfrey has consistently impressed team officials this spring. His slider is improving, and he throws a heavy sinking fastball that gives hitters little choice but to pound it into the ground. Against Baltimore on Thursday, Pelfrey faced 13 batters and induced 12 ground balls. In five innings, he has not allowed an earned run. He is scheduled to pitch four innings Wednesday against Detroit. The Mets signed pitchers like Aaron Sele and Park to provide insurance in case prospects like Pelfrey and Philip Humber were not ready. Humber could help the team later this season, but he has not pitched well this spring, allowing eight runs in three innings. The Mets would love to have Pelfrey continue to pitch well and claim the final spot. Park may be the biggest obstacle. Earlier in his career, when he had success with the Los Angeles Dodgers, Park threw his fastballl in the mid-90s, complementing it with a slider that he prefers to call a “hard curveball.” His velocity has decreased since then, forcing him to rely more on his off-speed pitches and a sinker that he picked up toward the end of his time in Texas in 2004. “He can throw four pitches for strikes,” said Lo Duca, who first caught Park when they played for the Dodgers. “But when he has to, he can run it up there.” Park allowed one hit through the first two innings, striking out three — all on breaking balls. Leading off the third, Nook Logan ripped a triple that skipped past first baseman Carlos Delgado and right fielder Lastings Milledge. Park struck out the next two hitters, but on a 2-2 pitch to Chris Snelling, his inside fastball tailed in and clipped Snelling on the ankle. That was Park’s bad pitch. Ryan Zimmerman followed by belting a hanging slider — Lo Duca called that Park’s bad pitch — for a ground-rule double. Another run scored on a wild pitch. After striking out Robert Fick to end the inning, Park allowed a walk, a single, a sacrifice and a two-run single in the fourth before being replaced by Alay Soler. Park threw 76 pitches on a warm afternoon, and he said he started tiring toward the end. “My legs, not my arm,” he said. Soler did not help himself either, allowing two runs and raising his earned run average to 8.22. He, Humber and Sele stand the least chance of making the team. Sele, signed to a minor league deal, has been hit hard and is a candidate to pitch for Class AAA New Orleans. Among the rest, Jason Vargas has pitched well, but not as well as Pelfrey. And Jorge Sosa could prove more of an asset in the bullpen, especially considering the uncertain status of Duaner Sánchez, who is coming off shoulder surgery. That leaves Park and Pelfrey. In the first eight days of the season, the Mets have three days off that are spaced so that Randolph has the option of not using a fifth starter until the 12th game, April 15. If Pelfrey makes the roster and does not start until then, Randolph could make the smart first step in limiting Pelfrey’s innings and keeping him fresh for later in the season. The Mets have less than three weeks to choose their rotation. That should be enough time for them to decide whether Park is one pitch from a great outing, or if he has thrown one bad pitch too many. INSIDE PITCH Willie Randolph said he did not like that the Mets were 2-8-1 in their past 11 games, but he said he had not started worrying about it — yet. “I’ve been to a lot of spring trainings, and many times the record doesn’t mean a thing,” he said.

soupcan Mar 13 2007 01:20 PM

Is anyone giving any weight whatsoever to the Mets ST record of 4-9-1? I don't think I care for all the reasons that we all know - It's Spring Training, the games don't count, the managers don't manage to win, the players are working on things rather than doing what they might normally do in a given situation in the regular season. The Mets have lost a few games by blowing late leads that would normally have been protected by established bullpen vets rather than unproven minor league talent or starters and such in unfamiliar roles, etc., etc. I'm thinking that this team is pretty solid and Willie will have them together and ready when the bell rings.

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 01:31 PM

I'm human and I'm a Met fan. I care when the Mets lose. Or guys wearing the Met uniform who may never be Mets lose. Intellectually, I'm usually able to divorce my disappointment from the higher stakes of the regular season. I'm more concerned with matters of key individuals. Green, Delgado, Hernandez, Adkins, Franco. Heilman also.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 13 2007 01:34 PM

I'm concerned, not because of the record necessarily but how we've acheived it -- with Alou not contributing, and Delgado & LoDuca hurting; and without Sanchez, and with Burgos pitching poorly. If missing important parts of the O, and getting shoddy bullpen work is what we might expect for the season we're gonna be in trouble.

Johnny Dickshot Mar 13 2007 01:36 PM

On a positive note we're beating the fat out of CC Sabathia right now. Green and Reyes have HRs in the 2nd inning and it's 4-0.

Edgy DC Mar 13 2007 01:42 PM

Green's little rennaissance has been a sweet little ride this week. Let's hope it's a real one.

Frayed Knot Mar 13 2007 01:49 PM

. <moved>