Daily Archives: March 12, 2008
As noted earlier, WFAN’s Ed Coleman reported on-air that the Mets and Red Sox are discussing a swap of Angel Pagan for Coco Crisp.
…however, i was able to speak with two people connected to the Mets, both of whom dismissed the idea of trading pagan for crisp…
Furthermore, the Boston Globe recently wrote the following to their blog, Extra Bases:
“Ignore that rumor started about Coco Crisp heading to the Mets for Angel Pagan. Theo Epstein, through media relations director John Blake, said that the Red Sox have not been talking to the Mets.
“That the story was a fabrication.”
Also, at his blog for Newsday, David Lennon relays his talk with a Mets official, who more or less says the same thing.
By the way, Pagan hit a two-run home run today and is now batting .419 this spring with 10 RBI.
The Mets defeated the O’s 6–2 in St. Lucie today.
For a recap and boxscore, go to MLB.com.
- Oliver Perez faced 15 batters and allowed just one run and three hits, while walking striking out one, but walking none, through four innings.
- Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman, Joe Smith and Ricardo Rincon each pitched an inning and did not allow a run.
- Duaner Sanchez was credited with a blown save.
- Jose Reyes stole a base and was 1 for 3.
- Fernando Martinez was 1 for 4, dropping his spring batting average to .294.
- Carlos Delgado was 0 for 3 with three strike outs. He was 0 for 2 with two strike outs in his last game.
- Carlos Beltran was hitless in three at bats.
According to WFAN’s Ed Coleman, the Mets and Red Sox are discussing a swap of Angel Pagan for Coco Crisp.
…it’s not an official trade…all ed said was that 
it’s a rumor, which is gaining steam…of course, Mike and the Maddog then proceeded to discuss the potential deal as though it had already been completed, which it hasn’t…
In 2005 with the Indians, Crisp hit .300 with 18 HR and 15 stole bases.
However, since going to the Red Sox, in 2006 and 2007, spanning 940 at-bats, he’s hitting just .266 with 73 extra base hits, 50 stole bases while striking out 151 times.
…this trade is confusing to me…i suppose coco is the more established of the two players, but i just can’t figure out why either team is interested in such a swap…i’m wondering if maybe there is more to it, maybe a pitcher involved, etc…
Crisp will earn $4.75 million in 2008, followed by $5.75 million in 2009, after which he can be a free agent unless his team exercises a $8 million option for 2010.
…Update…3:01 pm…
Pagan just hit a two-run home run during today’s spring-training game against the Orioles.
The Mets will face the Orioles today in St. Lucie at 1 pm.
The game will air live on 
, and MLB.com.
SS Jose Reyes will bat leadoff, followed by OF Fernando Martinez, 3B David Wright, DH Carlos Beltran, 1B Carlos Delgado, OF Ryan Church, OF Brady Clark, C Robinson Cancel and 2B Anderson Hernandez.
…no Luis Castillo, at least in the starting lineup…
Oliver Perez will start for the Mets. Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Duaner Sanchez are expected to pitch in the game as well.
Using a new, toned-down delivery, Orlando Hernandez threw a 60–pitch, three-inning simulated game this morning in Port St. Lucie.
He told reporters afterwards that he is now ready to pitch in a real, live game.
For more on Hernandez’s outing, check out blogs from the Bergen Record, Newsday, and the New York Post.
Tagged Orlando Hernandez |According to Joel Sherman in the New York Post, the Mets 
have contacted the Blue Jays about OF Shannon Stewart and Reed Johnson.
…i intend to ignore the idea of stewart…if i do this, hopefully it will just go away…
In 79 games last season, before having surgery on a herniated disk, the 31–year-old Johnson hit .236 with two HR and 14 RBI, while also batting .325 against left-handed pitchers.
The previous season, having played in 134 games, Johnson hit .319 with 12 HR and 34 doubles while striking out 81 times.
Again, he hit .323 against left-handed pitching in 2006.
Johnson has consistently played all three outfield positions.
…he’s an intriguing player, who can clearly hit lefties…the Blue Jays have been hitting him leadoff, which is a huge mistake…so, who knows how that may impact his stat line…
…however, the question is: is johnson better than Angel Pagan…
…right now, i’m not so sure that he is…he could be…but, right now, i just don’t know…plus, johnson will cost a player in trade, while pagan is here now…
According to Eric Simon’s Make-the-Mets-o-Meter at Amazin Avenue, Pagan’s chance of making the Mets has increased over the last week, while Brady Clark has remained the same.
Pedro Martinez successfully tossed a 59–pitch simulated game yesterday at Tradition Field.
To watch video of Martinez’s session, go to the Daily News.
Martinez talked with reporters after the ‘game,’ and said:
“I think the stamina’s there, the strength is there to go over four innings…I got a little more than 55 pitches and still felt pretty good…Today, I just felt like I was starting to warm up. I’m thinking, if it was a real game and I felt so good, it would have been the same. The key is just to feel healthy, and I really felt that today. I feel like I’m really, really healthy…
For more on Martinez’s day, including more quotes from Martinez, as well as from Rick Peterson, read the Bergen Record, Star-Ledger, the New York Times, and the Journal News.
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
Orlando Hernandez will throw a simulated game at Tradition Field today.
…it’s looking more and more, to me, like el duque will just stay back at camp when the team begins the season, where he can continue to work and be ready about the time the team first needs a fifth starter around the middle of April…he’s just way off the pace…
Meanwhile, on Monday, Luis Castillo told reporters that he intends to play in a game today or tomorrow.
…today is a home game, which will air on , so i suspect he’ll push for today instead of traveling to Jupiter…
To read quotes from Castillo, and to learn more about his status, check out Peter Botte in the Daily News.
Speaking of second base, Ruben Gotay has been doing light batting practice and fielding drills.
Lastly, Carlos Beltran told reporters yesterday that he felt a bit sore following his first game of the spring. However, “It’s a good sore,” Beltran explained.
For more on Beltran, read Rieber’s report in the Newsday.
Tagged Orlando Hernandez, Ruben Gotay |
In a post to his blog, MattTracy.com, the young Matt Tracy took advantage of his day with press credentials at Tradition Field to talk with David Wright.
Wright talks with Tracy about his off-season schedule, his goals for 2008, the team’s newest players, and his advice for young kids who play baseball.
…matt works hard and does a great job with his blog…he’s very young, but has a ton of potential…keep up the great work…
Speaking of interviews, Mike from Mike’s Mets joined Mets Grrl, Always Amazin and Shea Nation for a blogger’s roundtable at the Happy Recap message board.
Also, speaking of interviews, Joe from Mets Today took part in a Q&A with Cory Humes of Seamless Baseball.
Oh, and speaking of interviews, Faith and Fear in Flushing’s Greg Prince took part in a Q&A with the outstanding MBTN.
Meanwhile, the Associated Press details Johan Santana’s quick visit to Twins camp yesterday.
Lastly, according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Tom Glavine is not just a pitcher, he’s a spy.
