Anthony DiComo reported today that outfielders Scott Hairston and Andres Torres will both be ready for Opening day in all likelihood.
Both will provide depth in the outfield that the Mets have been desperately searching for since Hairston and Torres went down with
(Photo Courtesy of Minor League Ball)
Injured earlier this spring, Hairston will make his spring debut on Wednesday, after playing in a minor league game today in Port St. Lucie. Torres, on the other hand, has already played in nine Grapefruit League games this spring. He, according to DiComo, was able to play catch and hit in the batting cage. He is nursing a strained calf which has kept him out of action for eight days.
Having both Hairston and Torres on the roster will mean that Terry Collins will have more flexibility on his bench, because he doesn’t have to worry about carrying a natural center fielder on the Opening Day roster. This means that it will be even more likely that Mike Baxter, who is not a natural center fielder. will travel north with the team.
Torres will likely retake the role as leadoff hitter and starting center fielder if he is ready to return when the Mets open up their regular season on April 5. Hairston will also likely regain his role as the team’s fourth or fifth outfielder.
49 comments
Stickguy
3/27/2012-10:26pm at 10:26 pm (UTC -4)
Job 1 out of ST: break camp with everyone healthy and ready to go, and it now appears that it could happen (with the exception of Byrdak for a week or so, which is not a big deal).
darknova306
3/27/2012-11:47pm at 11:47 pm (UTC -4)
Meaning that if the team sucks, there are no excuses this time.
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-7:15am at 7:15 am (UTC -4)
Now that we’re getting close, is there any Met fan that sees this team finishing above 5th place? Outside of our Optimistic Met fan?
I’m thinking that everything would have to break right for us, just about everything would have to break wrong for the rest of the NL east, for us to finish with a better record than we did last year.
Stickguy
3/28/2012-8:54am at 8:54 am (UTC -4)
Sure they can finish out of 5th place and with more wins (what was that, 77 last year?
What will it take to finish in 4th with 80 wins? Normal health and production from the key guys for a change. reasonably expected step up campaigns for a couple (say Duda and Neise). And 1-2 other teams to just get hit by the injury bug the mets have been slaughtered by the last few years. Oh, and not having a fire sale of their best players again (not expecting that this year).
Can the Braves overcome a few big pitching injuries (they would be depending on very young guys, right? And Hudson is already down)? The Fish only won 71 games last year, and if JJ goes down as usual and reyes yanks a hammy again, are they really that much better? I have no clue about the Nats (I just know they added some pitchers).
Baseball works in strange ways sometimes.
NJstuckinTX
3/28/2012-9:16am at 9:16 am (UTC -4)
Not with Palmfrey in the SP. Just too many ?’s with the SP.
That said, I certainly think they can finish higher than last, but not a whole lot higher. Health is a huge portion of this.
For this year, I want to see growth from the kiddie corps. Duda making steps, Murph showing he can be anything more than concrete hands out in the field (Go Big Murph!), Ike getting back to what we think he can, Tejada showing he can belong in the bigs and not be affected by the shadow of Reyes’ hair, Niese, Gee, Parnell, etc. maturing… That’s all I’m looking for. My expectations are tempered. I just look forward to some games.
kingman 26
3/28/2012-9:54am at 9:54 am (UTC -4)
Personally, I see 81 wins and 4th place as the absolute ceiling. Which would be fine, considering losing Jose and Beltran and cutting so much payroll.
I actually think the starting pitching can be decent if no one gets hurt, the pen and fielding will be awful, and the offense will take a big step back.
I think Duda really looks like the real thing, when one examines his entire minor league career, the improvement he showed later in the season last year (in true NON-Met like fashion) and the impressive opposite field HRs he has hit this spring.
But otherwise, I think Ike and Murph have shown their best already, I think Wright and Bay are likely to continue their swoons, and the rest of the lineup simply is a bunch of powerless punch-and-judy hitters as Ralph would say.
I think upper 70s in wins and 4th place is likely, if one of the other division teams really tanks, and I really only see the Braves as being that possibility.
The Phillies have too much talent and experience and are too solid, the Nats are loaded with young talent and have a great manager, and the Marlins also have too much talent and a good manager.
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-10:20am at 10:20 am (UTC -4)
Of all the NL east right now, the Mets seem to be the only ones not dealing with any extended DL candidates to the starting 25, unless you want to count Carrasco, which I certainly don’t.
Of all years to finally be starting the season healthy…..
- Phillies are missing Howard and Utley until who knows how long? Blanton is back in the rotation. I don’t see them winning 100 games.
- Braves early on look to have pitching problems.
- Nats look pretty good on paper.
- I’m not buying the Marlins improved enough to go from last place to first.
Our BP scares me right now. Hoping for better results on those we brought in then I’m seeing in ST.
Defense doesn’t project to look very good. Maybe Murph and Duda will hold their own – too early to tell.
Catching is going to be a problem. I see a running game against the Mets this year.
Might win a few more games than last year. But wouldn’t surprise me if we lost a few more. However, I’m not in the camp of those who see this as a 100 loss team.
trs86
3/28/2012-10:43am at 10:43 am (UTC -4)
Honestly if things don’t break right for the Phillies they could have a really bad year (for them). Their offense is the weakest in the division by far, and bullpens come and go. Who knows how Paps will hold up to the different pressure of Philly and the pressure of the contract?
Ceetar
3/28/2012-11:03am at 11:03 am (UTC -4)
And they lost Lidge and Madson. Does Papelbon make up for both of those?
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-11:52am at 11:52 am (UTC -4)
And I’m not sure anyone else in that BP other than Papelbon is all that great.
They lost Madson. Looking Contreras might start on the DL. Looks like Herndon will be back but I don’t recall him being all that sharp last year.
I don’t even know the rest of those guys in the BP. I know Raul Valdes was vying for a spot.
Stick
3/28/2012-12:02pm at 12:02 pm (UTC -4)
Bastardo was their hot-shot lefty for most of the year, but he fell apart toward the playoffs, and this spring has been a weird combo of hurt and innefective. I would not be at all surprised if he is injured and at some point will need work done.
But without him, outside of Paps, their pen is a crap shoot too.
Would certainly help the cause if the Pen started blowing games left and right, since odds are they will be playing a lot of close low scoring ones!
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-12:12pm at 12:12 pm (UTC -4)
Forgot about Bastardo.
You know if that BP is not getting it done, they’ll just throw Halladay, Lee and Hamels out there for 9 innings – lol.
Hazmet
3/28/2012-12:20pm at 12:20 pm (UTC -4)
Would it be politically incorrect to taunt Bastardo with a cheer of: “Who’s your daddy?”
bdumph dumph….
MetsFan4Decades
3/29/2012-6:54am at 6:54 am (UTC -4)
LOL, Kingman.
wanny
3/28/2012-10:36pm at 10:36 pm (UTC -4)
brad lidge piched 19 innings last year. i’d hardly consider him lost this year. as ll cool j might tell you, he’s been lost for years!
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-11:46am at 11:46 am (UTC -4)
Looking at early predictions for the Phillies is was winning 98 games. Then dropped to 95. Then dropped to 91.
Two days ago, I saw 88.
The Phillies win only around 88 and this division will be wide open for the taking.
Stick
3/28/2012-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
they are starting to look like some of the old Mets teams. Great top of the rotation, not much else.
I have said before that they can swing wildly in wins based on the SP. Hard to see them getting 700+ Cy Young quality innings out of 3 guys again. A couple of injuries/problems there, and they will come right back to the pack.
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-1:38pm at 1:38 pm (UTC -4)
On that note, I see Philly just picked up Hu.
LOL.
Stick
3/28/2012-1:55pm at 1:55 pm (UTC -4)
that qualifies as hard up for IF help.
wonder what the MMO core will say, now that a ‘rea” GM picked up their favorite whipping boy?
TRS86
3/28/2012-10:56pm at 10:56 pm (UTC -4)
LOL, did anyone throw that up there yet?
gategem
3/28/2012-12:04pm at 12:04 pm (UTC -4)
Last year Florida won 72 games so how in the world can they be expected to compete for the division this year with only a name change? May I use the opportunity to remind people there once was a team that won only 73 games and followed it up with a season where they won 100 games. Now how can that be? It’s impossible. Isn’t it?
kingman 26
3/28/2012-12:13pm at 12:13 pm (UTC -4)
They changed managers, got an excellent SS, dramatically upgraded 3B, got an excellent closer, a durable good starting pitcher, a good new manager, have a 22 CF who appears to be a possible major star, and they have–as always–other young players loaded with potential.
Ceetar
3/28/2012-12:49pm at 12:49 pm (UTC -4)
i assume you mean RF and Stanton not Bonifacio who basically sucks, but is fast. He’s not even projected to be a very good defensive player. Hanley definitely has bounce back potential, but that’s not a ‘dramatic upgrade’ it’s Reyes over coughlin/petersen probably that’s the offense switch.
nevermind that they’re probably the worse defensive team in the division.
kingman 26
3/28/2012-1:54pm at 1:54 pm (UTC -4)
Of course I meant Stanton.
And Hanley’s not a dramatic upgrade over Greg Dobbs?
Ceetar, why do you have to make it so damn hard to be civil to you?
Hanley’s not a dramatic upgrade over Greg Dobbs.
Ugh.
Stick
3/28/2012-1:59pm at 1:59 pm (UTC -4)
based on last year, they had almost identical #s. Scary how close they were.
besides, since they both played last year, the real comparison is dobbs to Jose.
Ceetar
3/28/2012-2:55pm at 2:55 pm (UTC -4)
I clicked the wrong year, thought it was Petersen/coughlin he was replacing.
Regardless, what Stick said. It’s Reyes over Dobbs. is that ‘dramatic’? yeah, I guess so. But you already mentioned adding Reyes, you can’t count him twice.
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-1:40pm at 1:40 pm (UTC -4)
I predict Ramirez doesn’t make it past half a season at third base.
wanny
3/27/2012-10:52pm at 10:52 pm (UTC -4)
well, this is as exciting as hearing the microwave notify you that your frozen pizza is ready for dinner.
Mr North Jersey
3/27/2012-11:56pm at 11:56 pm (UTC -4)
If there was ever a market for sarcastic greeting cards you’d be rich.
Stickguy
3/28/2012-8:44am at 8:44 am (UTC -4)
that is only because Darknova would buy them all.
darknova306
3/28/2012-2:07pm at 2:07 pm (UTC -4)
Hah! I would, too!
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-7:04am at 7:04 am (UTC -4)
LOL
Everyone knows you can’t get a decent pizza out of the microwave.
Hmm….clever. We need to get that pizza in a brick oven b/c everyone knows the results would be so much better.
NJstuckinTX
3/28/2012-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
your snark is in mid-season form, unlike many of the players on this team, sans Dickey and Duda.
kingman 26
3/28/2012-9:22am at 9:22 am (UTC -4)
Unlike baseball teams, snark is unaffected by payroll cuts.
NJstuckinTX
3/28/2012-10:12am at 10:12 am (UTC -4)
I believe there is an inverse relationship, actually. Pittsburgh Snark is like a fine wine, I hear.
kingman 26
3/28/2012-11:20am at 11:20 am (UTC -4)
Ah, but the Cleveland snark on a cold winter day–très magnifique!
kingman 26
3/28/2012-9:20am at 9:20 am (UTC -4)
Wanny, you must have a conventional oven!
Keep those pizzas AWAY from the microwave!
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-7:12am at 7:12 am (UTC -4)
Read yesterday that Byrdak came whizzing by Rubin into camp yesterday on a bicycle so he’s close. Something about with ST and back dating DL he’ll likely only miss 4 days.
Regarding that BP….from what I’m seeing the guys we signed this year are far under performing those we brought back from last year. Between Johan and Pelfrey you know that BP is going to get much work. Could be a problem…..
trs86
3/28/2012-8:32am at 8:32 am (UTC -4)
So assuming that Byrdak will be that close will they go with another offensive player or with Guerra?
Stickguy
3/28/2012-8:48am at 8:48 am (UTC -4)
a lot could depend on the 40 man, and whether they have guys that they either expect will 100% sneak through waivers, or flat out don’t care about losing. If not, for 4 days, just put Byrdak on the roster and have a 6 man pen to start out.
Will it make that much of a difference being short a lefty specialist for those few days, if the alternative is losing a player that you would really rather keep?
so to answer the question, if they have someone they plan to cut anyway, keep that guy on the roster (though will they then owe them a full years pay?)
trs86
3/28/2012-8:50am at 8:50 am (UTC -4)
I also wonder if they can waive Carrasco while injured. No one is going to claim him anyway.
I really need to take a detailed look at the 40 man. Hey you have author privileges, could be time for you to get off your rump and make a post. LOL.
Stickguy
3/28/2012-8:56am at 8:56 am (UTC -4)
I’ve been meaning to, but I really can’t during the day from work. Can’t get to very much useful n the Net. Plus I am theoretically supposed to be, well, working.
gategem
3/28/2012-12:21pm at 12:21 pm (UTC -4)
Spend the time you usually reserve for visiting all the Mets blogs and author a post. I need the levity as a diversion from trying to prepare my taxes.
Stickguy
3/28/2012-9:02am at 9:02 am (UTC -4)
besies, my first post should be about why Duda is going to win the MVP award, but looks like someone beat me to it. Cerrone had a morning post up about him and somewhere in it a comment said he would be winning one.
for some reason the post disappeared though. Odd.
Collins likes him at least:
“Collins believe Lucas Duda is going to be a dynamic hitter, as he has “supreme” power. He has proven he can hit both lefties and righties. Furthermore, Duda believes he belongs in the big leagues.
Collins is pleased with Duda’s progress in right field, thanks in part to the work Tom Goodwin has done with him.”
kingman 26
3/28/2012-9:57am at 9:57 am (UTC -4)
I look at his OBP at all levels–and it really is impressive. The power and OBP combo is deadly, and he also can hit for a decent average. And does not K too much.
Let’s not overburden the guy with too many unrealistic expectations.
.280/.380/.500?
25 HR, 35 2B, 90 RBI?
Remember, he has a pretty weak lineup around him. Which could be VERY weak.
trs86
3/28/2012-10:33am at 10:33 am (UTC -4)
I still don’t think the lineup is that weak around him but pending where he hits he may indeed have no protection. IF he and Davis can prove they can hit LHP it will give them the opportunity to hit back to back and offer protection for each other. With his OBP skills I could see him developing into a #3 hitter and Davis a #4.
darknova306
3/28/2012-2:22pm at 2:22 pm (UTC -4)
Bingo. He looks like he’s going to have a very productive career, but some of the expectations for his first full season are going completely off the deep end.
MetsFan4Decades
3/28/2012-9:13am at 9:13 am (UTC -4)
Guerra…..don’t know who that is, unless you meant the little lefty Herrara? If yes, that’s what I’m reading this morning.
trs86
3/28/2012-9:33am at 9:33 am (UTC -4)
Whoops, it’s early.