Artwork courtesy of Joe Petruccio’s My NY Mets Journal Blog
Mar 21
Joe Petruccio Shares What May Be His Last Ollie-In-The-Box Art Piece
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- NL East Notes: Braves, Brown, Quintero
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59 comments
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-1:18pm at 1:18 pm (UTC -4)
And last but not least, the Ollie box is now empty.
On another note, listening to the SNY booth at the game today and they were discussing a congenital defect Heyward was born with that involves his spine.
They say it’s ‘manageable’.
Sounds to me like his current back problems therefore will be a reoccuring them his entire career.
TRS86
3/21/2011-1:22pm at 1:22 pm (UTC -4)
Fmart.
stickguy
3/21/2011-1:32pm at 1:32 pm (UTC -4)
heyward has a case of Fmart? Wow, that is serious!
Backs are much worse than what Martinez is supposed to have (and I still say it is overblown, having been 1 off hand comment about minor arthritic issue in his rehabbing knee). No reason that it should have any impact on his career in the near future, with all the meds and training that players have access to. It should be “manageable!”
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-1:34pm at 1:34 pm (UTC -4)
I didn’t catch it all but something about some separation or too much separation with the discs somewhere.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-1:30pm at 1:30 pm (UTC -4)
Gary and Keith interviewing Sandy in the booth right now.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-1:39pm at 1:39 pm (UTC -4)
Here’s one for you, Stick.
Sandy talking about a RF if Carlos can’t start. He mentioned Hairston/Harris combo. He said Lucas Duda who ‘we feel is a very good option’.
He also mentioned Nick Evans.
I’m trying to envision a scenario where both Duda and Evans makes the team if Beltran is on the DL. I think though that can only happen if Harris doesn’t make the 25 man.
I think Hairston is a lock to make it.
TRS86
3/21/2011-1:42pm at 1:42 pm (UTC -4)
Hairston is a lock. At this point so is Harris I am guessing. If Murphy is just the LH IF guy then you could make a case for Evans over Harris.
Ceetar
3/21/2011-2:03pm at 2:03 pm (UTC -4)
Hairston’s looked good, but i’m not sure anyone is a lock. hopefully not Harris, not a big fan of his. There appears to be a lot of different ways they can go with the “5th” OF spot, and it probably depends on Beltran and who wins 2B.
TRS86
3/21/2011-2:08pm at 2:08 pm (UTC -4)
Hairston’s a lock as he has an MLB deal. They are keeping him regardless IMO.
stickguy
3/21/2011-2:18pm at 2:18 pm (UTC -4)
I expect right now that Duda will start the year at AAA to play every day, and get more practice in the OF. Though it will be interesting to see the pecking order of who gets left and right between him and Martinez!
still, it probably has a lot to do with Beltran. If he starts opening day, or is backed dated for 5 games and realistically expect then, Duda will go down, and Evans probably hangs as the spare part. Hairston and Harris will platoon maybe. If Beltran is shut down for an extended period, then someone else (such as Duda) will get PT.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-2:13pm at 2:13 pm (UTC -4)
Jeeze, Pelf getting lit up here in the 4th.
Six straight hits and no outs.
stickguy
3/21/2011-2:15pm at 2:15 pm (UTC -4)
damn. from checking gameday before, seems he was cruising through 3.
maybe he is working on 1 specific pitch (hey, can always hope, right?)
stickguy
3/21/2011-2:21pm at 2:21 pm (UTC -4)
Did the big dumbass get pulled due to pitch count, or just general suckitude? Hopefully not because he was hurt!
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-2:28pm at 2:28 pm (UTC -4)
I think pitch count.
You know, I don’t want to hear the Pelf explanation of ‘it’s hard to get up for these games’. Second to last start before opening day and you do this?
That was just ugly. I think he gave up 6? 7? straight hits before he even recorded an out.
stickguy
3/21/2011-2:33pm at 2:33 pm (UTC -4)
I only looked at the gameday line. so, half of them were listed as ground balls, and Wright mixed in an error to let a guy on too. Were they all really tattooed?
I think this was the start last year where he started dialing it in. I know the last one was excellent, so hopefully he pulls that trick again!
hey, at least he did walk anyone!
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-2:35pm at 2:35 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, just about. I don’t recall any cheap hits, bloops, bleeders. I have no idea what Pelf was doing out there. I don’t think I saw one swing and a miss for the first 7 batters.
Ceetar
3/21/2011-3:10pm at 3:10 pm (UTC -4)
nah, there wre one or two bloopy type hits. and it seemed like he got two strikes on a bunch of them, so maybe he was experimenting with his K pitch, who knows. Wright’s error would’ve been two outs also.
but it’s Spring Training, and It means nothing.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-2:44pm at 2:44 pm (UTC -4)
Hey, just read FMart went 3 for 4 yesterday with 2 HRs and a walk.
Now if he can only stay healthy…..
http://buffalo.bisons.milb.com/news/article.jsp?ymd=20110321&content_id=17046536&vkey=news_t422&fext=.jsp&sid=t422
stickguy
3/21/2011-2:50pm at 2:50 pm (UTC -4)
I’m cautiously optimistic about that. He seems much more mature (all grown up?) this spring, so maybe he has grown into his body a bit? And other than the mythical arthritic knee (which is more something to pain manage than stop him from playing now), nothing else he had was really chronic.
hopefully he will be like reyes was at about the same age, when he got past the growing pains and just played for a few years!
I dod suspect they are going to have a serious need for an everyday RF, sooner than they were hoping to.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-2:52pm at 2:52 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, another hit and RBI for Bay. He’s got 3 of the 4 Mets have so far.
Booth quoted Bay as saying he’s abandon everything he’s been doing in ST this far and going back to his normal swing, starting today.
I’d say so far, so good. Even though he’s still not lifting the ball to get it out of the park.
stickguy
3/21/2011-3:04pm at 3:04 pm (UTC -4)
still all singles.
I guess though if he can hit .325 with an OBP of .380+, and drive in runs with singles/doubles, it will still be a vast improvement over last year.
Better to do that than swing for the fences when you can’t reach them, and K as bad as DW does now!
Oh, hit bay 6th also, if beltran is playing.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-2:58pm at 2:58 pm (UTC -4)
Meanwhile, I think Wright has 2 Ks so far today.
Keith and Ralph commenting on how far back he stands in that box. Neither believe he’s got the strength/quickness to cover the outside part of the plate standing so far back.
I wonder what Hudgens is telling him.
stickguy
3/21/2011-3:03pm at 3:03 pm (UTC -4)
most likely to move up on the plate.
that beaning still in his head (figuratively) you think? My guess is yes.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-3:09pm at 3:09 pm (UTC -4)
I really don’t know but what other reason would he have for standing so far back in the box when he keeps striking out at such a high clip?
stickguy
3/21/2011-3:18pm at 3:18 pm (UTC -4)
sometimes you back off if you are getting tied up with inside pitches, but I don’t think that ever was the problem. If it wasn’t the beaning, must be related to his attempt to become a dead pull HR hitter a couple years ago?
considering he has been completely at the mercy of any outside breaking pitch, someone needs to tell him to suck it up and take a step in. If he is that afraid of the ball, retire.
Ceetar
3/21/2011-3:24pm at 3:24 pm (UTC -4)
That’s not it. I read the explanation for it earlier this spring, but i’ve forgotten. had everything to do with pitching/hitting and nothing to do with comfort.
stickguy
3/21/2011-3:29pm at 3:29 pm (UTC -4)
What, you think he is ever going to admit to that? He could be peeing in his pants before every AB, and would still have some mechanical excuse.
whatever the reason is, it sure as hell doesn’t seem to be helping, unless he likes seeing his OBP plummet while his K rate skyrockets.
Maybe try moving in a bit (and hell, if Keith and Ralph say to do it, he should listen), just to see what happens. Like, say, he did in 2005-2008 when he was putting up MVP caliber years?
Ceetar
3/21/2011-3:33pm at 3:33 pm (UTC -4)
It’s been well over a year now. That’s just not it. He’s working with a second hitting coach now, and those discussions mean a lot more than what a couple of old guys say in the booth, as smart as they are.
kingman 26
3/21/2011-3:52pm at 3:52 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, a Hall of Famer like Kiner who led the league in HR seven straight years and a career .300 hitter like Keith who led two title teams don’t know jack.
Just a couple of old guys blabbing.
Bay should move FURTHER back, he might make more solid contact that way and maybe hit 7 HR this year.
stickguy
3/21/2011-3:16pm at 3:16 pm (UTC -4)
Pagan quietly looking pretty craptastic lately too.
But, considering the 25+/- media types covering the team have so far in the spring only managed to write about madof/wilpons finances, Castillo, Ollie and Beltrans knee, hard to even know that there are other players on the team (or at all how they are doing).
Man, the season needs to start soon!
Ceetar
3/21/2011-3:17pm at 3:17 pm (UTC -4)
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/_KGc5WkTnjzo/TYV7CzRl3AI/AAAAAAAAAfk/rQ0ZUvIpL68/s640/IMG_5071.JPG
Mejia as ballboy.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-3:56pm at 3:56 pm (UTC -4)
LOL.
stickguy
3/21/2011-3:27pm at 3:27 pm (UTC -4)
the mets certainly seem to have a knack lately for having 1 inning where they give up all the runs, and are almost unhittable in all the other ones.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-3:57pm at 3:57 pm (UTC -4)
Yes but for the most part, the BP has looked good. Minus Perez and a bad outing from O’Connor and Parnell here or there.
I’m not enamored with the hitting yet. Seems like some of the guys hitting consistently are ones that will either be on the bench or not expected to make the team.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-3:59pm at 3:59 pm (UTC -4)
O.K., Lucas. Now would be a good time for one of your bombs.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-4:06pm at 4:06 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah, they tied it!
Coulda been won by now if now for some minor leager named Scott who came in to specifically pinch run and promptly got picked off.
Not a good beginning to your televised career, kid.
stickguy
3/21/2011-4:14pm at 4:14 pm (UTC -4)
now this is a finish I like to see, and hope to see more comebacks this year.
The Jerry teams of the last couple years would have been packed and on the gangsta bus instead.
my boy Duda, a key walk off of a LH pitcher.
kingman 26
3/21/2011-4:22pm at 4:22 pm (UTC -4)
Just remember, spring training results mean NOTHING.
stickguy
3/21/2011-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
some do my friend.
and this isn’t numbers we are talking about. It is grit, hustle (Grustle), balls, stones, cajones, intensity, fear of a tongue lashing by the crazy old manager with the bug eyes.
whatever it is, hopefully the mets have IT this year (and not the Phils, who seemed to have lost some of IT when their binoculars were confiscated).
seriously though, if they are grinding it out until the end of the game in ST and not quitting, it is hopefully a good sign they will do the same when the games count.
Ceetar
3/21/2011-4:51pm at 4:51 pm (UTC -4)
It’s the accountability and caring that sets Collins apart from wahtever that guys name was that should’ve been fired three times over.
Collins came to the back fields around noon on Saturday and said to (I think it was Rubin) “I’m just back here checking on Boof Bonser to make sure he doesn’t screw up his spring”
or how Ollie said that they treated him fairly this spring and gave him his shot. Castillo seemed to continue to harbor a grudge from previous administrations though, since he claimed he didn’t even though he got as much playing time as anyone else.
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-5:29pm at 5:29 pm (UTC -4)
LOL…grustle.
kingman 26
3/21/2011-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
Your sarcasm meter is off today pal.
It’s just that when it is bad for the Mets lots of folks say they results of ST mean nothing; when they are doing well, well then it’s different!
I am the apostle of the idea that sometimes, these pesky spring results DO foretell what is to come….
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-4:22pm at 4:22 pm (UTC -4)
If this was the regulars for the Braves BP, I’ll look forward to facing them in the season.
Ceetar
3/21/2011-4:30pm at 4:30 pm (UTC -4)
speaking of which, the Mets staged a nice rally off of Papelbon the other day. They were down 7-0 and actually chased him from the game. Didn’t win, think it was 7-4 or 7-5, but was fun to see.
stickguy
3/21/2011-7:14pm at 7:14 pm (UTC -4)
and they managed to do it without Omir Santos, which was more amazing.
stickguy
3/21/2011-4:31pm at 4:31 pm (UTC -4)
hey, can we backdate the regular season and count this game as a real one?
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-6:59pm at 6:59 pm (UTC -4)
O.K., this is just too funny (over on MLBTR):
Yankees Have Some Interest In Oliver Perez
They can’t be serious.
stickguy
3/21/2011-7:13pm at 7:13 pm (UTC -4)
him, in that tiny little park? They must remember what he did to them that game back in 2008!
I was thinking that St Louis for Duncan made sense. They seem short on SP anyway.
kind of curious actually to see who will pick him up (someone will, being so cheap), but mostly as to if he makes it to the majors or not!
metsfan4decades
3/21/2011-7:37pm at 7:37 pm (UTC -4)
Saw this little tidbit on a Anthony McCarron post concerning Met players reaction to the Perez release:
Amid all this, the Mets played an interesting game. Mike Pelfrey was knocked out in the fourth inning and Collins said he started to get a blister…
Wonder if the start of a blister was affecting him in that 4th. He looked fine before that.
hazmet
3/21/2011-8:39pm at 8:39 pm (UTC -4)
And David booting a routine ground ball with the bases loaded that could have been a double play didn’t help.
Better a blister now than 10 days from now.
hazmet
3/21/2011-8:40pm at 8:40 pm (UTC -4)
minor correction: not fielding, went right through him as opposed to booted implying he actually touched the ball
TRS86
3/21/2011-8:55pm at 8:55 pm (UTC -4)
Looks like I may have been right on Ollie and the Yanks.
http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2011/03/yankees-have-some-interest-in-oliver-perez.html
Mr North Jersey
3/21/2011-9:34pm at 9:34 pm (UTC -4)
You and a ton of other people.
It seems like many were speculating on Ollie going to the Yankees. Though I think some meant it tongue in cheek.
Still like Castillo with Phillies it was not hard to see a scenario where the Yankees would consider Ollie.
TRS86
3/21/2011-9:38pm at 9:38 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I am not sure the Ollie to the Yanks comes true though. I could see the Cards maybe. Wonder if he would take a MILB deal now? LOL.
Mr North Jersey
3/21/2011-9:44pm at 9:44 pm (UTC -4)
Well Duncan is like a miracle worker so I guess if I was Ollie That is one place I would def consider.
metsfan4decades
3/22/2011-12:10am at 12:10 am (UTC -4)
Does Ollie even know who Duncan is?
And what’s with these so called elite teams picking up the Mets castoffs? Ollie and the Yankees?
Man, if the Mets had no further use for these guys what does it say about these teams that are taking a chance on them? And more to the point, how come we don’t see any sarcastic or tongue in cheek posts from these beat writers on that angle?
stickguy
3/22/2011-12:32am at 12:32 am (UTC -4)
yanks have been taking stars for years to yank met fan chains.
But the recent fascination by the phils of met cast off scrubs is perplexing, to say the least.
metsfan4decades
3/22/2011-7:19am at 7:19 am (UTC -4)
Yes, I know that but I wouldn’t exactly call Ollie a star.
Now if Reyes winds up in Yankee pinstripes that will be a whole ‘nother story.
I still think that story about Yanks looking at Perez is nothing more than a rumor.
oleosmirf
3/22/2011-12:49am at 12:49 am (UTC -4)
If Dave Duncan can fix Ollie then he gets my vote for the HOF…