Daily Archives: March 16, 2008
The Mets defeated the Tigers by the score of 7 to 4 in St. Lucie.
- In his first start of the spring, Pedro Martinez tossed four shutout innings while striking four of 15 batters.
- Matt Wise, Scott Schoeneweis, Pedro Feliciano and Steve Register each pitched a scoreless inning.
- Marlon Anderson was 3 for 4.
- Jake Eigsti put the Mets ahead in the eighth inning with a two-RBI hit. Eigsti was selected by the Mets in the 29th Round of last year’s draft.
- The Mets had 14 hits on the day, left 10 runners on base, and hit in to two double plays.
For a full boxscore, check out MLB.com.
…martinez not only looked good, but he looked good against a top lineup from the Tigers, which included Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez, both of whom he struck out with off-speed pitches…
Following his appearance, Martinez was sure to point out that it is still spring training and he still has plenty of work to do. though he is very excited to start the season and he is very happy with how he is feeling both physically and mentally.
Carlos Delgado left the game after being cut on the elbow with the barrel-end of a broken bat, which hit him as he was taking a lead from third base. Delgado received four stitches in his right forearm, according to the team.
Ramon Castro left the game after tweaking his right hamstring while running to first base.
By the way, the Mets split-squad staff, lead by Fernando Martinez, Angel Pagan and Nelson Figueroa, defeated the Astros by the score of 6 to 4 in Kissimmee.
For a full boxscore, go to MLB.com.
The Mets will play the Tigers in Port St. Lucie today at 1 pm.
The game will air live on 
, and on MLB.com.
SS Jose Reyes will bat leadoff, followed by 2B Luis Castillo, 3B David Wright, DH Carlos Beltran, 1B Carlos Delgado, OF Marlon Anderson, C Ramon Castro, OF Brady Clark and OF Endy Chavez.
Pedro Martinez will make his first start of the spring.
…if you recall, he traveled to Viera two weeks ago in hopes of making his first start, but the game was rained out…he has since thrown two simulated games, mostly to minor-league hitters…i’m eager to see him pitch in a real game situation, in which he’ll have to field his position as well, in front of a charged-up crowd…
Willie Randolph told reporters yesterday that he expects Martinez to pitch between three and four innings.
For more on Martinez, read Newsday, the Journal News, and Steve Popper in the Bergen Record.
The Mets will also send a split-squad team to Kissimmee to take on the Houston Astros, which you can follow live on MLB.com.
…Update…2:10 pm…
Carlos Delgado has left the game after being cut on the elbow with the barrel-end of a broken bat, which hit him as he was taking a lead from third base.
…no, i am not joking…it was a bloody mess, too…he had blood on his forearm, on his pants, it was pretty nasty…the good news is that it’s not his hip, hand, or anything else…
Tonight at 7 pm, I will be a guest on Gotham Baseball Live, hosted by Mike Silva, to talk about the Mets and my experience in Port St. Lucie, among other things.
To call in and discuss issues throughout the show dial 646-716-8187.
To listen live, chat or download the replay, click here.
In the Star-Ledger, Carlos Beltran answers a variety of questions on topics ranging from leadership to his quiet personality to what it means to be accountable.
…the name of the person asking the questions is not listed, but whomever it was did a fantastic job, considering beltran is usually fairly guarded when speaking to reporters…
Beltran, speaking about being a quiet leader, and not being as vocal as other players may be, as quoted by the Star-Ledger’s mystery questionnaire:
For me to be a leader, I have to do things right. I have to work hard. I have to show my teammates that I care about them. You know, that’s what a leader is. Fans always look for someone and say, ‘This is a leader because this guy always talks.’ I don’t know…Everybody’s is different. You can be vocal in the clubhouse. I don’t see myself like that. I’m not going to jump around and scream. That’s how I was raised. I try to behave myself. It’s not that I try not to show emotion. I get excited. But in baseball, it’s different. You can be a leader on a team without being all crazy.”
…Mike Piazza, is that you?…seriously, it reads just like one of mike’s responses when asked a similar question…mike got ripped for being a quiet leader to, if he was one at all…frankly, i think leadership is a bit overrated…don’t get me wrong, it’s important, but i think we all tend to overvalue it in the grand scheme of what it takes to win a baseball game…
Luis Castillo made his first start this spring for the Mets yesterday, and went 0-for-1 with two walks in three plate appearances.
Following the game, Castillo told reporters he had no pain in his knee, adding, “I hope I feel like that the whole spring.”
Castro said he hopes to play again today.
For more on Castillo’s return, including details on the game, read Newsday, the Bergen Record and the New York Times.
In a post to his blog for the Journal News, John Delcos predicts how the Mets will fill out their 25–man roster for opening day, such as starting the year with Duaner Sanchez on the disabled list, among others.
To catch up on the state of the team’s injured, check out Adam Rubin at his blog for the Daily News.
In the New York Post, Bart Hubbach tells a story of Billy Wagner getting angry at an SNY broadcaster for saying: Aaron Heilman still wants to be starting pitcher.
Hubbach writes: “Hearing the team’s own network say with out attribution that Heilman wants to be a starter but won’t admit it, Wagner erupted with a string of expletives in defense of his friend in the adjoining locker.”
Hubbach continues on to explore why Heilman is still in the pen, while speaking with Willie Randolph, Heilman and others.
In Newsday, Jim Baumbach catches up with former Mets 2B Ron Hunt, who hopes to get a call from the team to help honor Shea Stadium, since Hunt was there to open Shea.
According to John Delcos, in the Journal News, Nelson Figueroa has plenty to fall back on should he not make the Mets.
Lastly, also in Newsday, Anthony Rieber reminds us of the painful situation Pedro Feliciano and his new-born daughter endured through most of last season.
For more on Feliciano, check out this post from earlier January.
The Mets optioned RHP Ruddy Lugo to Triple-A New Orleans.
The Mets claimed Lugo off of waivers from the A’s in late January.
In 4.1 innings through five appearances this spring with the Mets, Lugo allowed two runs, struck out five batters and gave up five hits and two walks.
Last season, he was 6-0 with a 5.40 ERA in 38 games for the A’s and Tampa Bay Rays.
