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Luis Castillo did not play in yesterday’s game, as he told reporters he would do earlier in the week.
Instead, he intends to play on Saturday.
…he probably could play today, but would rather not travel to do so…instead, he’ll work out in Tradition Field, and start new at home on Saturday…fair enough, luis…
Meanwhile, Marlon Anderson is once again sidelined with residual pain in his chest - due to his collision with Ryan Church on March 1.
Ruben Gotay did some light base running yesterday, but continues to limp while walking.
Carlos Beltran is expected to play in the outfield this weekend.
During yesterday’s game, Duaner Sanchez returned to allow two hits and a run and a blown save.
Sanchez was in good spirits after the game, telling reporters he finally feels as good as he did before the taxi accident.
…do not worry about duaner’s results…he’s not using his change-up as much, which if you remember is what he used to be so dominant in 2006…these days, because it’s so early in spring, he’s just throwing fastball after fastball to test out his arm…
I’m starting to seriously worry about Beltran, who was said (in the Post) something to the effect that he was not nearly ready to play the outfield because his knee was up to the running.
according to Adam Ruben: Carlos Beltran is playing center field for the first time in a Grapefruit League game today against the Cardinals. There’s no DH today.
in other non-Angel Pagan news Ruben continues: Fernando Tatis has arrived, leaving pitcher Tony Armas Jr. as the lone remaining no-show because of visa issues. … Lefthander Jason Vargas expects to miss three months with a labrum tear in his left hip that will require surgery. He’s headed to a doctor in Vail, Colo. … the Mets make their cuts on Thursdays. This week’s casualties are first baseman Michel Abreu and relievers Willie Collazo and Carlos Muniz, who head to minor-league camp. … Ruben Gotay planned to hit in a cage today for the second time since spraining his right ankle. Gotay agreed he didn’t look overly comfortable running yesterday, but said he’d continue to do so. “It’s going to be that way for a while,” Gotay said. … Neither Brady Clark nor Olmedo Saenz is expected to accept going to Triple-A New Orleans if not included on the major-league roster. …
Matt,
Your analysis of Duaner is NOT accurate.
He threw his change-up 50% of the time in game yesterday, and he threw it extremely well.
His problem yesterday was that he was overthrowing his fastball and couldn’t get it over the plate.
I think what you may be thinking of is that he didn’t throw any sliders.
But if you watched the game, it is 100% completely apparent (and also a topic of conversation among Mets broadcasters), that Duaner is not only throwing his changeup, but throwing it exceptionally well.
And out of curiosity, what was your source and what led you to the conclusion that Duaner was not throwing his changeup??
I can’t see how anyone watching the game could draw that conclusion.
There is an article out there this morning (in the Post) that leads one to think Sanchez did not use his change up much. But, it’s not that specific. Here’s a quote from the article:
“Sanchez relies on a terrific change-up, but the Mets want him to throw more fastballs to test his arm and build up strength. Sanchez did that yesterday and liked what he felt.”
Clearly, if you had JUST read the article, you would assume that Sanchez used more fastballs than change-ups in a porportion greater than usual. One could deduce then that Sanchez didn’t throw the change-up when he normally would, which would make him less effective.
Thanks Charlie….
So the blame falls on the author of that article. Watching the game I would really have to disagree with that assessment.
In fact, the pitch that Duaner gave up the double on was a changeup that he left a bit up and towards the middle of the plate.
He did throw his fastball quite a bit, and it was routinely up and in at around 89-90 MPH on righties….and he was only able to get it over when he toned it back and threw it 87…a point mentioned specifically by Keith Hernandez.
But Burkhardt and Keith were raving about his changeup yesterday and saying how he has been throwing it well since Day 1 of Spring Training.
And again, based on memory, I would put the ratio at 50/50…..
No problem, Moze.
I think he was using his change-up more than 50% of the time.
Yes, the booth was commenting on how great his changeup was yesterday while his fastball was erratic due to overthrowing in an attempt to get the velocity on it up.
Still no change in the comment by Cerrone…
Hey Matty!!!! You there buddy!!!???
You are providing false information to your readers. Very uncharacteristic of you, I must say.
The most important question is, what are the chances of him being ready for opening day?
Well Wise is throwing the ball well in spring and outside of one bad inning, so has Register, so I think I would rather Duaner keep working either in rehab or in the minors to build up arm strength for the first month of the year if that’s what we needs.
A bullpen of Wagner/Heilman/Feliciano/Show/Sosa/Wise/Register should get the job done. The Mets also have to consider what they can do with Rincon, who also is throwing the ball well. I’d rather they keep him and find a way to dump Show for spare parts or minor league depth.
I did not see the game or the highlights but heard similarly that he was good with his change but overthrowing the fastball and could not control it. Velocity was said to be 90 with some accounts saying 93. But he could not control it.
To me it means little right now. He will relearn how to control his pitches. I am more concerned about how he feels. If he feels good.. especially the day after an outing…then I am growing increasingly comfortable that Dirty will be all the way back.
It is getting a tad too close to opening day to be still worrying about being able to pitch on a normal schedule, and to be relearning to control his pitches.
IMO, the team (and Duaner) will be better off if he gets left behind to get fully into game shape. Give one of the other options (say, Register) a chance to establish himself. And make Sanchez prove that he is all the way back.
Like I said yesterday, worst thing is they break camp with Sanchez, in the process losing Register or Wise, then Sanchez reinjures himself and they are doubly screwed.
Right now, the pen has Wags, Heilman, Feliciano, Shoe and Sosa pretty much locked in (barring any trades). That is 5 spots.
For the last 2, Wise and Register have looked pretty good (particularly Wise). Never mind the long shots like Stokes, Lugo and Smith. Then throw Sanchez into the mix, and you got way too many guys! And i am sure that i am missing some others…
So, if they send to AAA the guys with options (Smith, etc.) and start with Sanchez on the DL (if he isn’t 100% ready and dominating), they won’t have to lose anyone important.
I don’t think Wise can be lost. His contract states he gets 750K if he goes to AAA, and 1.2 mil if he makes the ML roster. Register on the other hand would be lost if he doesn’t make the roster since he is a rule 5 pick.
cool. I thought he was a use it or lose it guy. But the way he has pitched this srping(I think he has been good, right?), he may end up being a big part of th epen this year. I would also hate to lose register since he gives a lot of depth.
With Register being a Rule 5, he has to stay on the 25-man all year or we have to offer him back to Colorado in addition to clearing waivers.
Wise is out of options, so any time he goes down he’d have to clear waivers also. So, if one of the guys with options – Smith, say – starts tearing it up, it’d make sense for the club to start Wise in the minors.
Woops, I made my post above and then read yours. Sorry for the redundancy. Needless to say, I agree with you.
Moze i thought the same thing as i was reading Matts piece… I was like his change up looked excellent. Definitely OVER throwing the fast ball. Matts a busy guy tho, probably just went of the article ya know….
NO WORRIES MATT!!! Ya c when your big time ya gotta take some heat sometime!
I wouldn’t worry about Duaner, when he’s ready he’s ready. Right now it looks like we have a lot of good options for the pen if he’s not ready for opening day.
Call me Silly, but I’d rather these guys take their time and be ready for the second half of the year. I’d be more worried if it’s the All-Star break and we still have these questions.
He certainly used his change quite a bit yesterday, you guys are correct. But I think what Matt and the above-mentioned article are alluding to is the fact that he is currently in the process of working on his fastball and stretching out his arm. Meaning, that while he did throw changeups, he probably also threw fastballs in certain counts and against certain batters more to work on his own stuff, rather than to actually record an out.
Maybe Matt was alluding to that fact, but that isn’t what he said…his exact words were:
“he’s not using his change-up….these days, because it’s so early in spring, he’s just throwing fastball after fastball to test out his arm…”
Which is completely inaccurate…
anyone who watched the game yesterday could see that his change-up was his most effective pitch and that he used just as much as is fastball…keith and kevin alluded to the fact that he was overthrowing it at 90mph…then after he threw one at 87 mph that hit the black on the outside corner and keith said thats what he should focus on more than just throwing as hard as he can
Come on, Matt! Where are you???
Edit this post already. I think we’ve pretty well established that Sanchez has been throwing at least 50% change-ups in game action.
You can text Kevin and ask him…
Yeah….this post is still misleading to the people who didn’t watch the game or read our comments here…
This type of misinformation will not lead to me having to deal with fans who take Matt’s word for it and will now argue his incorrect point….
We actually have quite a bit of bullpen depth. Figueroa, Stokes, Wise, Diaz, Rincon are all new additions and are all pitching well. If anyone will take the Show (although he is pitching well also) for an extra bat I would do it soon. The good thing is I think all of these guys would go to AAA temporarily if needed.
The Zephyrs are gonna have the filthiest BP in the PCL.
they’ll need it with the disaster of a rotation that they are going to have…
Brian Shneider said on WFAN that he re-tweeked his hammy.
He did say that he would play if the games counted.
“Gulp”