It’s been a fairly quiet off-season for the Mets so far… they’ve been linked to free agent second baseman Ben Zobrist, but I have a hard time believing they will be the top bidder for his services.
Outside of that? Crickets… at least in terms of high demand free agents.
With spring training nearing an end, the New York Mets and other teams are making their final preparations for the regular season.
Dillon Gee will make his last Grapefruit League start tonight against the Houston Astros to get ready for his first career Opening Day assignment.
Ike Davis and Lucas Duda will both make the Opening Day roster, though it’s still up in the air which one will get to face Stephen Strasburg on March 31st. (I don’t think it matters that much. As long as Terry Collins sticks with a platoon of Davis or Duda and Josh Satin at first base – something he’s probably not going to do – the Mets should manage to get some production out of the spot. If he decides one is an everyday player, I expect to see a repeat of last year’s performance.)
Sandy Alderson suggested that Juan Lagares would get the nod over Eric Young Jr. for the third spot in the outfield. If that decision lasts longer than Collin Cowgill’s status as the everyday centerfielder did last year, the Mets are making the right call – defense is worth more than stolen bases.
Continue reading “Wednesday morning roundup as the Mets move towards Opening Day”
Traveling correspondent Vinny Haynes (@buhudabear) sent these photos from Saturday’s matchup of ex-Mets at Skydome Rogers Centre.
Mike Pelfrey‘s Minnesota Twins got the better of R.A. Dickey‘s Toronto Blue Jays as he and three relievers combined to pitch a four-hit shutout.
From my point of view, the wrong ex-Met won.
buhudabear
With today’s Mets-Twins series finale postponed until August due to weather conditions, the Mets can celebrate the abbreviate series sweep as they head to even worse weather in Denver.
I watched Matt Harvey flirt with a no-hitter into the seventh inning yesterday. Mike Pelfrey‘s fast start in 2010 should remind me not to overestimate a few early season games, and Harvey own limited major league track record (Saturday was just his 13th big league game) is another reason not to jump the gun… but he sure looks like something special so far, doesn’t he?
I missed most of Friday night’s fireworks while I was attending a friend’s surprise 60th birthday party, but I have to admit that the offense has been a lot more productive than I expected so far this year. I suspect a lot of it has to do with the quality of opposition the Mets have faced, but they still lead the league in runs scored and are in the top five teams for just about every basic offensive category. Let’s enjoy it for however long it lasts.
PaulHadsall.com 