The Crane Pool Forum

We don't yet have a lineup for this evening's matchup hosting the Cardinals, or even an announced Mets starting pitcher, but we know that the Mets intend to establish International Squirrel Day by presenting Jeff McNeil's 2024 debut. He could be in the infield or he could be in the outfield. He could be the DH, or circumstances could conspire to knock him out of the lineup one more day, but that's not the intent of the Mets, and so far, it's not what we anticipate.

Today we anticipate Jeff McNeil, but until we see a Mets lineup, here are the minor league lineups for two games against Cardinal minor leaguers, plus a third game featuring red-hot Mets-on-Mets action.





That starting pitcher for the Brooklyn Cyclones is Zach Thornton, but he's a totally different guy from the Zack Thornton who pitched AAA ball for the Mets in 2015 and 2016. This is the confusion Congress should have anticipated back in the nineties when they decreed that every third male-child should be named after a member of Hanson.

Can't wait to see the box scores.
The "will the real Thornton stand up" situation is like the two players named De Los Santos who play for the Mets in the minors. Omar De Los Santos has appeared with the major league team this spring (I'm not sure if he has been sent to the minor league camp yet), while J De Los Santos will be starting for St. Lucie.
Omar has, as Murph would say, "A world of speed", but hasn't shown much else.
Later

Interestingly enough, the Mets have posted a batting lineup, but not a starting pitcher. The Cardinals have reported a starting pitcher/crime-solving chimp, but not a batting lineup, presumably waiting for the Mets to show their high card first.

In fact, it pretty much looks like we're seeing the Mets' expected Opening Day deployment (minus the pitcher, of course).

#	Player	Pos.	#	Player	Pos.
1	Masyn Winn (R)	ss	1	Brandon Nimmo (L)	lf
2	Jordan Walker (R)	rf	2	Francisco Lindor (S)	ss
3	Alec Burleson (L)	lf	3	Pete Alonso (R)	1b
4	Iván Herrera (R)	c	4	Jeff McNeil (L)	2b
5	Thomas Saggese (R)	2b	5	Starling Marte (R)	rf
6	César Prieto (L)	3b	6	Francisco Alvarez (R)	c
7	Luken Baker (R)	dh	7	Brett Baty (L)	3b
8	Alfonso Rivas (L)	1b	8	Mark Vientos (R)	dh
9	Michael Siani (L)	cf	9	Harrison Bader (R)	cf
	Lance Lynn (R)	sp		Sean Manaea (L)	sp

Well, we've got a Cards lineup (see above) but still are forced to live in want of a Mets starting pitcher.

And the Cards are ... not exactly parading a bunch of household names out there. Masyn Winn, who had a pretty terrible rookie year as a shortstop in 2023, despite his prospect pedigree, was a killer pitcher as a schoolboy and scouted as a two-way player, but has only been allowed to throw one inning as a pro.

Down with specialization.

I know Alvarez can hit and throw. But can he play center field?
Later

Looks like we've got some confirmation that Sean Manaea is our starting due.

Sitting behind the center of the 1st base dugout. 60/40 mix of Mets/Cardinals fans on this side, but wanted a different point of view from Sundays Walk off. Looks like we get to see the Mets regular lineup.

Enjoy the game, HoCo!

Gary Apple calling the action, along with analysis from Jerry Blevins.

McNeil confirmed as present and accounted for in the lineup.

Ed Kranepool throws out the first pitch. Nice moment.

We hope cutting his hair doesn't have a Sampson effect on Sean.
Later

Jen Pawol calling the balls and strikes as Manaea makes quick work of striking out Masyn Winn.

And he mows down the side!

Two hard-hit outs and then a hard single to center by Alonso, and here comes McNubbins.

McNeil in mid-season form, already seeing 10 pitches in his first trip.

OE: 11-pitch walk.

Nice -2-6-2 play to end the inning.

And a sweet BatyBoom to tie the game.

Bases juiced for big Pete.

Packed sacks and a pitcher wearing #89 on the mound. McNeil gets a 2-0 pitch and ... drives the rightfielder back to the wall. Just a tick off.

Mets up 2-1.

Last thing we need is McNutty batting cleanup and swinging for the fences.

So, the Cards were able to hook Lance Lynn when he hit a threshhold of X number of pitches in an inning, and then send him out again the next inning.

Jive-assed re-entry rules.

Manaea gobbles up his five innings in just 69 pitches. 2good2btrue!

Alvarez with a double makes it 3-1.
Later

Let's hear it for Hot Corner, bringing victory wherever he goes.

First game of 2024 that I watched from end to end. They looked good, not a ton of hitting but enough to get it done. Manaea looked sharp as well

The Mets won. I sat in the press box.
https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show ... ss-e2had0b