Monthly Archives: February 2007
At FOX Sports, Dayn Perry continues to keep tabs on a number of position battles around the major leagues, including the Mets search for a fifth starter.
Last week, Perry noted that Jorge Sosa was the leading candidate.
…of course, he was the only person on earth who was writing this…
This week, he lists Chan Ho Park as the favorite, writing…
“Recent indications are that they’ll play the veteran hand with Park in the early going. Otherwise, they might try out one of their top two pitching prospects, Humber or Pelfrey.”
…as you know, most every report, including my own, suggest that park is viewed as the fifth starter and it’s up to the other pitchers to knock him off that spot, whether it’s pelfrey, humber, Aaron Sele, or someone else…
The Mets signed RHP Lino Urdaneta during the July, 2005 from Cancun of the Mexican League.
His only experience in the major leagues came during 2004 with the Tigers, when he allowed six runs on five hits and walked one and was removed before retiring a batter.
In the New York Times, Ben Shpigel profiles Urdaneta, and talks with the pitcher about returning to baseball after his one-inning disaster in Detroit.
As Shpigel notes, Urdaneta is one of 19 pitchers who have allowed an earned run without retiring a batter, in other words he has an ERA of infinity.
…i’ve been told he throws in the 90– to 95–mph range, with a fastball that has little movement…occasionally he’ll throw a weak slider…he has the make-up of a closer, but has been plagued with elbow trouble on and off for a few years…
Mets RHP John Maine is the subject of some ink today, as he is profiled in the Journal News, the New York Post, the Star-Ledger, and Newsday, where David Lennon writes…
“Maine is a favorite of pitching coach Rick Peterson, and after last year’s breakout season, when he went 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA – and streak of 26 scoreless innings – he’s in a good spot to repeat.”
Maine, on competing for the rotation, while talking to reporters yesterday…
“I’m not taking anything for granted. I don’t think I’m any more a front-runner than anybody else that’s here…Last season was last season, and this spring’s a whole new thing and I’ve got to go out there and pitch well.”
During yesterday’s intrasquad game, the 23–year-old, side-arming Joe Smith struck out Lastings Milledge on three pitches – the last of which 
was a slider that caught the attention of Willie Randolph.
Randolph, on Smith’s slider, as quoted by Steve Popper in the Bergen Record…
“That’s nasty stuff, man. The ball looks like a fastball, but when it gets on that cutout of the home plate area, it just spins away from you. He’s impressed a little bit, but it’s early in camp. You like what he brings to the table because of his unorthodox way of throwing the ball, and he obviously has some arm strength. He’s one of those guys you pay attention to.”
To learn more about Smith, who has no major-league experience, yet is a legitimate contender for the final spot in the bullpen, read Adam Rubin in the Daily News, David Lennon in Newsday and Steve Popper in the Bergen Record.
Philip Humber, on Smith, who was his teammate in Double-A last season, as quoted by Rubin…
“If you’re a righthanded batter, good luck.”
Lastly, in his column for the Daily News, Rubin relays the following story, 
which both Lennon and Popper touch on as well…
“The rookie reliever Smith laughed as he revealed that his mother’s name is Lee, identical to the retired closer with 478 career saves. “She’s got a ball that says, ‘To Lee Smith, from Lee Smith,’” Smith said. “My uncle used to work for Pepsi. He gets to meet a lot of people. He saw Lee Smith and he’s like, ‘I’ve got to get you to sign a ball.’”
…the general buzz out of tradition field suggests that if Ambiorix Burgos does not make the team, or if Duaner Sanchez or Juan Padilla are not ready, the team could turn to smith…otherwise, it is likely he will start the year in the minors, though he will most certainly pitch in the major leagues before the season is over…
According to multiple reports, Carlos Beltran and Paul Lo Duca were scratched from the lineup for yesterday’s intrasquad game, though both will play in today’s first exhibition game against the Tigers.
Beltran was held aside due to stiffness in his neck and right quadricep. He downplayed the tightness in his neck while talking with reporters.
Meanwhile, Willie Randolph told reporters he was simply giving Lo Duca a rest, knowing the game would be only a few innings.
Lo Duca recieved a cortisone shot in his hand last week, as he has done nearly every year of his career.
…also, the word from tradition field is that Jose Valentin complained of a sore ankle following yesterday’s game, and, though he may miss a game or two, it is not considered serious…
At his blog for the New York Post, Kevin Kernan writes about Gil 
Hodges, the Hall of Fame and a collection of interesting notes from yesterday’s intrasquad game, including the following…
“After the game, the home plate umpire asked Jose Reyes for his autograph.”
…now that’s when you know you’re a budding superstar, if you’re not one already…
At FOX Sports, Ken Rosenthal recently visited Tradition Field and reports 
on the hype surrounding Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez.
Rosenthal leads by writing…
“Imagine a 6-foot-4 outfielder who is faster than Jose Reyes. The Mets have him.
“Now imagine an 18-year-old outfielder whose pure hitting ability is reminiscent of a young Manny Ramirez. The Mets have him, too.”
Rosenthal quotes a variety of Mets players on Gomez, including Carlos Beltran who says…
“He’s more talented than I was at his age. He weighs about 200 pounds. When I was that age, I maybe weighed 175. He’s a very strong kid.”
Speaking of the 21–year-old Gomez, John Delcos, at his blog for the Journal News, writes about how Willie Randolph played a practical joke on the young outfielder after today’s intrasquad game.
…over the last week, i have heard from a few people about gomez, the most bizarre story being that he apparently talks to his bat when he steps to the plate, holding it up to his mouth, whispering, as if in private…
…it seems like forever ago that the Mets aired on MSG…i actually miss Matt Loughlin, who was always kind to MetsBlog, especially during the site’s early days…speaking of the early days, remember 
this design…yikes…
…anyway, MSG’s online home is back in full effect, apparently, and doing its best to cover new york sports…the site looks good, and functions really well…
…also, they are linking to MetsBlog, among other blogs, which is a sign that they are embracing new media…on the other hand, they are embracing new media, such as giving Fran Healy his own podcast, titled Batt’r Up, which he hosts alongside loughlin…
…batt’r up is clever and all, but i think we all know the title should have been Can of Corn…
According to a lengthy, and inspiring article, by Ben Westhoff in the River 
Front Times, former-Mets OF Darryl Strawberry is now living outside of St. Louis, while working at Church on the Rock in St. Charles County.
Strawberry, on living in St. Louis, home of the Cardinals, his top rival in the 1980s, as quoted by Westhoff…
“I was like, ‘There’s no way I’m going to St. Louis,’ this was my rival town, but it’s a place where I believe God sent me and my wife.”
…thanks to greg f for the link…
Carlos Beltran, Jose Reyes and David Wright took time to film an All-Star Game commercial for FOX yesterday in Fort Pierce, Fla.
Adam Rubin has posted pictures from the photo shoot at his blog for the Daily News.
…if i believed in superstition, this would concern me…
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