No matter what the outcome from last night’s Mets Grapefruit League opener – barring injury or death – it was great to see New York Mets baseball played for the first time since October of last season. Yes the offense proved to be rusty, and there were two errors on the defensive side, but we have to remember this is Spring training, and hopefully some of the gaffes that we saw last night will be ironed out by the time Opening Day ( April 5 ) presents itself to us.
But here are some of the things that I got from last nights game.
Andres Torres has good base running instincts, and is not afraid to try to force the opposition’s defense to try to throw him out.
Dillon Gee’s first inning was excellent. But he had problems locating his pitches in the second inning. He ended giving up one run ( a Rick Ankiel homer) on 2 hits .
Matt Harvey looked great in his first inning, but had issues with his location during his second inning of work. I am not concerned about this Harvey’s control last night. I think was partly due to the fact that this was the first time he ever pitched against MLB hitters.
Daniel Murphy turned a routine doubleplay ball without getting injured.
Ruben Tejada looked sharp both in the field as well as at the plate. He went 2-2 with 2 singles.
Frank Francisco looks like a dead ringer for one time Mets closer, Armando Benitez. The funny thing is he pitched more like John Franco ( nibbling at the plate rather than going after opposing batters).
“Captain” Kirk Nieuenhuis made two exceptional catches in the outfield, but also dropped a routine pop-up which resulted in the Nationals scoring their second run.
Reserve outfielder candidate, Adam Lowen looks like a Young Grizzly Adams.
Lucas Duda was hit in the back by a errant a pitch. Lucas shook it off as if nothing happened.
And it was just good to hear Gary, Keith and Ron in the broadcast booth.
And with that said….. HERE COMES THE INFAMY !!!!!
Mets alumni celebrating a birthday today includes:
Mets third base coach from ’97-’00, Cookie Rojas is 73 (1939).
The Los Angeles Dodgers signed reserve catcher, Rick Wilkins of the New York Mets as a free agent on March 6, 1999. Wilkins had 15 at bats for the Mets during the ’98 season. He batted .133 with 1 r.b.i.
The New York Mets signed free agent outfielder,Tony Tarasco on March 6, 2001.
The New York Mets signed free agent middle reliever, Orber Moreno on March 6, 2003. Moreno pitched for the Mets from ’03-’04, compiling a record of 3-1 with an E.R.A of 4.22 with one save in 40 appearances.
The 83 million dollar judgement that was awarded to the victims of Madoff could help feed Mo Vaughn for a week !
10 comments
darknova306
3/6/2012-6:59am at 6:59 am (UTC -4)
There’s only one thing worth taking away from the first game of baseball these guys have all played in 2012, and that’s the fact that they were healthy and didn’t injure themselves in that game. Otherwise, it’s just the least meaningful game these guys will play until they clinch 5th place in late August.
Daniel Murphy doing something at second base without getting hurt is nice to hear, though.
Stickguy
3/6/2012-7:22am at 7:22 am (UTC -4)
I’m with Dark. At this point of ST, getting through the game in one piece is all that really counts!
Though seeing bay apparently (since I didn’t technically see it) in mid season form with no bat speed is somewhat depressing. Though maybe not, since I have no expectations that he will be valuable to the mets, or tradeable, so the best thing might be for him to suck so bad they have to do something with him (cut, bench, at least a heavy platoon).
anyway, seeing the results of a “real” game vs. another team, and having the weather lady mention daylight savings time for (I think) next weekend, means soon it will be warm! Other than the 70 it is supposed to hit Thursday of this week of course. I may have to mow the lawn this weekend.
MetsFan4Decades
3/6/2012-7:48am at 7:48 am (UTC -4)
Baseball is back!
My observations:
- Pretty sad that we’re all watching Murph out in the field waiting for the shoe to drop there. Gotta give the kid A for effort. Even though he looks awkward out there, you can tell he’s been working hard on his defense.
- Can’t get excited about the lack of offense considering more than half the guys who made an appearance don’t have one shot in a million of making the 25 man.
- Too early to be worried about any of the pitcher struggles we saw last night but Francisco was the least impressive, IMO. I believe Gee should be a serviceable 5th starter this year and Harvey has a head on his shoulders. Got himself out of that bases loaded jam of his own making by inducting a ground ball double play.
- The running game was out in full force last night. Saw a comment from Robert Carson watching the game in the clubhouse who said: ‘Satin stole a base???’ LOL. Think they said he had like 4 SBs in 3 years.
- I know it’s early but Bay seems to be picking up right where he left off.
- Two hands, Kirk.
NJstuckinTX
3/6/2012-9:00am at 9:00 am (UTC -4)
It’s only one game (and ST no less), but if this is what is to come from Bay, I don’t even think he’ll make the paltry numbers I predicted for him in the other thread.
Ceetar
3/6/2012-10:28am at 10:28 am (UTC -4)
Things reporters should ask but won’t: The stolen bases. I wonder if it’s part of a general philosophy on Collins part. Making sure everyone is at least keeping the option open, tracking pitchers time to the plate, etc. Learning to get jumps and read pitchers and secondary leads and all that. Don’t have to be fast if the pitcher is not paying attention, sometimes they practically give it to you and the Mets should take advantage of that.
It’s also something that you really just can’t practice except in game action. (Particularly against _opposing_ pitchers.)
Thole looked good throwing guys out too.
TRS86
3/6/2012-10:30am at 10:30 am (UTC -4)
I think it could also be a “Hey we don’t have Reyes but we are still going to run” statement to the fanbase and maybe the league.
Ceetar
3/6/2012-10:49am at 10:49 am (UTC -4)
or Pagan (who apparently got chased by bees the other day?).
Maybe. I think there’s value to making opposing pitchers/teams have to think about the guy on first no matter what. Wish the Mets had waited a week for that Terry Collins conference call so I could’ve asked him. Guess if it keeps happening someone will eventually ask him rather than retweeting Ollie stat lines or pondering what Chris Carter is doing.
MetsFan4Decades
3/6/2012-9:35am at 9:35 am (UTC -4)
Off topic:
Did you all discontinue the Sportspyder widget to the right?
Or is that still there under the heading ‘Mets Headlines’?
trs86
3/6/2012-10:25am at 10:25 am (UTC -4)
Yeah, the widget “Mets Headlines” is Sportsypder but I can’t figure out how to change the title on the widget.
MetsFan4Decades
3/6/2012-12:58pm at 12:58 pm (UTC -4)
O.K., no problem. Just checking….