The true Met Faithfull were rewarded yesterday when the news trickled out of Florida that Reyes has been cleared to play ball again. Yea, Opening Day is a long shot, but playing in April sure sounds a hell of a lot better than May. Let’s keep our fingers crossed here, just in case. But kinda thinking about it, this could be a regular occurrence for the Mets.
If all goes well ( and we stress the IF here again) Beltran could be playing again in May.
Lets go for broke, how about Davis in June?
And F-Mart by the All-Star Break.
It’s like the off season without really spending any money, or trading any prospects. I have an idea, lets’ start with our first “pickup” of Spring Training- Mejia. I really can’t see the Mets leaving PSL without him.
I think he has earned a spot, don’t you?Â
O.K, I’m sorry, one step at a time, one step at a time.
Reyes getting back on to the field puts a little spring in every Met fans step today. I personally can’t wait to see the highlights tonight on the news of Reyes smiling on the field, talking, laughing, taking batting practice and running those bases.Â
It seems like an eternity since he hit that triple in the first Inter Squad game.
27 comments
rustyjr
3/24/2010-9:06am at 9:06 am (UTC -4)
Gonzo did u ever consider that the mets would have to be tanking in order to bring up Ike & f- mart ?
Kingman 26
3/24/2010-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, good point!
Hopefully the outfield will be as solid as it appears to have the potential to be, and hopefully Murph will continue what he did in August and September.
As for the starting rotation, well, let’s just hope!
And NO to Mejia.
The Junior Core of Mejia, Davis, FMart, Thole, Tejada and friends should gel together at Buffalo this year.
stickguy
3/24/2010-9:15am at 9:15 am (UTC -4)
not really. They could be right in the thick of the race, but having certain indivual players (murphy and F Core in this case) underperforming.
Or of course, being the Mets, someone could get hurt!
And probably the best case, Frenchy is hitting well but F Mart is lighting up AAA, and they find a way to trade Frenchy for something of value to free up a spot. Not likely to happen of course, but it is OK to dream.
trs86
3/24/2010-9:19am at 9:19 am (UTC -4)
Yeah I have thought about the best case scenario a lot because that’s who I am. The Frenchy one puzzles me a little. If Frenchy is hitting average and playing good defense yet Fmart is lighting it up what do we do? Stat wise it would make sense to move Frenchy and bring up the kid. However, as fongy would tell you everything is not played in the boxscore. How do we measure the impact of Frenchy on the bench? It seems as though that may be his best atribute.
metsfan4decades
3/24/2010-9:31am at 9:31 am (UTC -4)
Good point. There are dozens of stories this past winter on how Franceour has almost single handedly change the culture of that clubhouse.
stickguy
3/24/2010-9:32am at 9:32 am (UTC -4)
that’s what is known as a good problem to have. And the talent on the field has to take precedence over any perceived happy vibes.
I don’t think F Mart coming up would tank any delicate balance in the clubhouse and cause them to fall apart.
Castillo did that! Sorry, couldn’t resist.
gategem
3/24/2010-12:59pm at 12:59 pm (UTC -4)
Camaraderie in the clubhouse and on the bench, while essential in basketball, football, etc., is overrated in baseball. I have seen many instances of winning teams in baseball where the players did not particularly get along. The St. Louis Cardinals “gasshouse gang” of the 1930’s (no, I did not personally witness this
) being the most notorious.
gategem
3/24/2010-1:01pm at 1:01 pm (UTC -4)
” The St. Louis Cardinals “gasshouse gang†of the 1930’s (no, I did not personally witness this
) being the most notorious.”
Wow, an incomplete sentence. I should write for the Daily News.
trs86
3/24/2010-1:06pm at 1:06 pm (UTC -4)
Not saying he makes them all get along. But perhaps his effect on the clubhouse is still something needed to keep the team loose or to even be the one taking the heat after a loss.
ceetar
3/24/2010-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
Flip him back to Atlanta for Hanson. or Jurrgens. (Hey Atlanta, we fixed Frenchy! here you go!)
I think Jose Reyes will be back in time to have a good 155+ games to solidify his MVP candidacy.
CaseStreet
3/24/2010-9:34am at 9:34 am (UTC -4)
+1
stickguy
3/24/2010-9:19am at 9:19 am (UTC -4)
No, I do not think Mejia has earned a spot. I keep harping on “it is only ST”, and that goes for guys that are doing notably better or worse than expected.
So, I think you need to take their full body of work into account when making roster decisions. And for Mejia, that means the 100 or so innings he pitched last year, including the 50+ at AA and the AFL where he did not show much control (or “proved” himself ready for the majors).
11 innings in ST, most of them throwing 1 pitch to an assortment of scrubs and NiL fodder, are not enough to override all of last year.
trs86
3/24/2010-9:21am at 9:21 am (UTC -4)
I disagree on only throwing one pitch. From the appearances I have watched he has mixed in off-speed pitches. In fact one outing he most likely threw too many of them. Yesterday he did use mostly the cutter to the 1st two batters but just baffled the 3rd with a few off-speed pitches including a nasty curve. It all depends on how he is used.
gategem
3/24/2010-1:08pm at 1:08 pm (UTC -4)
Jerry and Omar want the kid up and in the bullpen because they are trying to save their collective asses. With the talent and command Mejia has shown in ST he looks like he has the ability to duplicate what Joba did in the bullpen. OTOH if he is sent down and is able to build up arm strength he could later slip in as the #2 starter in this rotation.
trs86
3/24/2010-1:10pm at 1:10 pm (UTC -4)
Perhaps they believe that he is another year away from helping in the rotation? Also, even if they are trying to save their jobs, IF there jobs are really on the line that much I refuse to believe that everyone else would just let them do something they believe is disastrous to the future of the team.
GravediggerHebner
3/24/2010-1:13pm at 1:13 pm (UTC -4)
The best silver lining I can put on Mejia to the bullpen is this:
He starts the season in the MLB bullpen, then Calero and/or Escobar gets fully healthy and activated taking his spot and he goes to AA to stretch out and start.
stickguy
3/24/2010-9:23am at 9:23 am (UTC -4)
I also don’t see any reason that Reyes won’t be back for opening day. A couple of weeks of normal working out, and a few ST games, and he should be in playing shape. At that point, even if he isn’t totally locked in, he might as well be playing for the Mets than in extended ST.
hell, he could start tomorrow and be better by far than the alternatives.
metsfan4decades
3/24/2010-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Well, if he’s deemed back in ‘fighting’ shape by opening day, I hope to see him in that lineup. ‘Leading off for the NY Mets, Jose Reyes’.
I wouldn’t mind if they gave him the next couple of games off to build back his stamina and leg/hamstring strength. Just something about seeing him in that Opening Day lineup…..
stickguy
3/24/2010-9:30am at 9:30 am (UTC -4)
changing topics, now with Reyes back (and I am pencilling him in for OD!), I wonder what they are goin to do with the lineup? Not that it makes mehappy, I still expect Castillo to be in the 2 hole.
So, I expect to see this:
Reyes
castillo
wright
bay
murphy
frenchy
pagan
barajas.
I think I would prefer:
Castillo
pagan
reyes
wright
bay
murphy
frnecy
barajas.
Actually, I prefer Cstillo to not be in the lineup, but I guess that ain’t happening!
Could also just slide everyone up 1, and put castillo 8th. I could live with that.
And with Beltran back, I think:
Castillo
reyes
wright
beltran
bay
murphy
frenchy
barajas
Now that looks like a lineup that can score some runs!
CaseStreet
3/24/2010-9:39am at 9:39 am (UTC -4)
I like
Castillo
Reyes
Beltran
Wright
Bay
Frenchy
Murphy
Barajas
stickguy
3/24/2010-9:45am at 9:45 am (UTC -4)
I don’t think they will have wright, bay and frency in a row. Lot’s of quick innings there for a RH RP. K, K and a pop up.
CaseStreet
3/24/2010-9:58am at 9:58 am (UTC -4)
Career OPS vs. RHP
Wright .864
Bay .883
Doubt there will be “lots of quick innings” for anyone facing Wright and Bay.
stickguy
3/24/2010-11:40am at 11:40 am (UTC -4)
but you gotta admit, lot’s of Ks!
ceetar
3/24/2010-9:44am at 9:44 am (UTC -4)
Forgotten in lineup proposals is that Reyes wants to lead off. 2010 Mets motto: “Keep Reyes happy and excited”
stickguy
3/24/2010-9:47am at 9:47 am (UTC -4)
he wants to play. And who is to say that once he gets to hack away in a run producing spot like 3rd, he won’t fall in love with it?
I never got the impression that he really wanted to have to take tons of pitches to work the count and try to squeeze out a walk. And since DW steals 30 bags hitting 3/4/5, no reason reyes can’t run plenty even hitting 3rd.
ceetar
3/24/2010-9:50am at 9:50 am (UTC -4)
I’m sure he’d grow used to it, but his identity is as a leadoff hitter, and right now that’s what he wants. It’s a theoretical exercise anyway and not a given to be a better lineup. And It’s really more about Murphy anyway. Try to limit the experimention in my opinion.
GravediggerHebner
3/24/2010-11:31am at 11:31 am (UTC -4)
I listened to Ice Cube’s “Today Was A Good Day” a few times.