Daily Archives: February 23, 2009
As noted earlier, Ryan Church said he talked with Jerry Manuel, who said Church should be preparing this spring to be the team’s starting right fielder.
Here is a clip of Church’s talk with reporters, the full version of which you can watch tonight on SNY’s SportsNite:
Tagged Ryan Church |Here is Episode 11 of my video diary for SNY, including footage from today’s intra-squad game in Tradition Field:
I stopped for lunch off of St. Lucie West Blvd., to grab some food, and 
bumped into the crew from SNY’s Mets Weekly, who I have known for years now. The show’s new host, Julie Alexandria, was doing a segment with David Wright and Howard Johnson, during which they ate lunch and talked baseball.
Short of K-Rod and J.J. Putz, Julie may be the best acquisition this organziation made all off-season. I mean, she painted her toes orange and blue. How great is that?
I have actually learned a lot from her already, just watching her work, as I try to be better about being a huge Mets fan, yet be professional, while also being excited. She really does a great job, and I look forward to watching Mets Weekly this season, as, in addition to bringing her aboard, the producers have made other interesting changes that I think will work well.
Anyway, mid-way through the lunch, Wright spotted some young kids who noticed him and were patiently waiting for an autograph. Wright looked over and asked, “Hey, little guy, you want to be on TV?”
Th kids ran over, giddy, and Wright and Johnson signed a few autographs, which the kids were super ecstatic about.
Julie brought up the rumors about Manny Ramirez, to which Wright asked, “What about Daniel Murphy, he’s the left-handed Manny?”
Later, some how, the topic of American Idol came up, to which HoJo admitted to voting.
He seems to be a legit fan.
He said he voted for the guy who had the last name Gokey, but he couldn’t remember his name.
Off camera, but only a few feet from the table with the producers, I smiled and nodded, because I watch the show, know the singer, and hate that I know the singer.
Wright pointed to me off camera and said loudly, “He knows his name.”
I did, so I said it, then proclaimed that I hate myself for knowing this.
HoJo, on the other hand, seemed relieved to have the answer.
I seriously can’t believe he votes. I cant tell if this is good to know, or not. I mean, my wife and I don’t even vote.
Jerry Manuel talked with reporters from his office in Tradition Field following today’s intrasquad game.
He said he approached Ryan Church, not in response to published reports, but just to check in and let him know he should be preparing to be the starting right fielder.
He laughed, saying he talks so much it’s inevitable that reporters will misunderstand some statements and end up writing a story like, ‘Church is in a platoon,’ ending with a smile, saying, “But it’s all good, it’s all good.”
His goal will always be to do what’s best for the team, and put his players in the best position to succeed, and he’s not concerned with how the players will interpret his decisions, saying, “I will always do whatever is best for the team that day.”
Manuel said he spent time watching the game behind Jose Reyes in the field, to help bark out instruction, and to learn what the young shortstop is doing and thinking in certain situations.
He said he was most impressed today with Dillon Gee and Jon Niese.
By the way, he called him “G,” which made me laugh, even though that is technically how his name is pronounced.
First, the home team, with Luis Castillo and Jose Reyes, defeated the away team today 2–0, in a very low-key, low-action game.
Tomorrow, John Maine will start against Freddy Garcia, with J.J. Putz also scheduled to pitch in relief.
Second, I tasted the wild boar that Tim Redding and Tom Martin shot while hunting in Florida before spring training. I had to do it. It was marinated for a few days and barbecued this afternoon on the grill outside of the batting cage. It was good, but dry and a little overcooked.
Lastly, Daniel Murphy was seen working with Howard Johnson in the batting cage, again, long after the game ended.
This morning, Ryan Church talked with Jerry 
Manuel, who said Church should be preparing this spring to be the team’s starting right fielder.
In response to Manuel’s comments that Daniel Murphy is a better hitter than him, Manuel told Church he believes he is a good hitter too.
Church did point out that he too is impressed with Murphy, who he says has a great work ethic, he’s great to watch and he’s always asking questions.
Church said he is here to win, and will do whatever Manuel asks of him, saying, “He’s our General and I’ll follow him in to battle any day.”
To check out other quotes from Church, who talked to reporters by his locker during today’s intrasquad game, check out David Lennon’s blog for Newsday, Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News, and Steve Popper’s blog for the Bergen Record.
Don’t forget, the deadline to register online for the opportunity to purchase tickets for Opening Day at Citi Field is Tuesday, Feb. 24, at 11:59 pm, which you can do at Mets.com.
So far, the team has received more than 440,000 entries, which is a 410 percent increase over the same period in 2008.
A limited number of fans will be selected in the online random drawing and will be notified via e-mail by Friday, Feb. 27.
The game has started.
I won’t be able to live blog this pitch by pitch, but I’ll do my best to upload video, photos and key moments as the game goes in.
For live, in-game updates, read Adam Rubin’s blog for the Daily News.
I’ll post notes, photographs and video below…
Notes:
11:45 am: Jerry Manuel watches the game from behind second base, like the roamer in softball, as you can see in the pictures below.
12:04 pm:There is an older lady behind me, who is actually booing during an intrasquad game. Ya gotta love baseball.
12:13 pm: Most of the coaches, specifically Howard Johnson and Dan Warthen, sit behind home plate, on plastic chairs, behind two giant metal cages, talking, scribbling on note pads, and giving instruction to players as they walk to the mound or th ebatter’s box.
12:33 pm: There is no score, in case you’re wondering, with not a whole lot of action going on. But, who cares, it’s just great to see live baseball finally.
1:10 pm: I needed a drink, so I walked back to the media room, where I noticed Luis Castillo taking extra batting practice in the cage, after he left the game.
1:15 pm: Most of the regular, every-day players are done. I didn’t spend to much time photographing and video taping them, as I wanted to provide some footage of new guys, who some people may not know about.
Photographs:
Video:
Luis Castillo running from first to second:
Cory Sullivan facing Brandon Knight:
Conor Robertson throwing to Daniel Murphy:
Daniel Murphy striking out against Robertson:
At his blog for the New York Post, Joel Sherman writes that it is too early to crown Freddy Garcia as the fifth starter.
Sherman notes:
“The early read in camp is that Garcia is still tight and not fully unleashing his surgically repaired right arm yet. Maybe he is just conserving bullets or going slowly in a long camp or still has some doubt in the back of his head.”
“But it would not surprise me at all if Livan Hernandez ended up the No. 5 starter.”
On February 13th, Metsblog noted that Garcia said he expects to be in the team’s starting rotation, adding, “Otherwise, I’ll pitch some place else.”
…not that it makes me very excited, but my gut is rooting for garcia to return to his pre-injury form…between garcia, redding if healthy, livan, and niese it should be quite the battle, although i suspect they will all get a shot to start at some point this season…
Tagged Regis Courtemanche, Tim Redding |
This morning was the team’s official photo day, which always brings up memories of Keith Hernandez and Darryl Strawberry.
Th players did the group photo, then one by one they cycled through the visitor’s clubhouse where they did additional photographs for SNY and MLB Network.
The players waited single-file outside of the trainer’s room, which was set up with all sorts of photography equipment.
The more time that passed, and the less the line moved, the players began getting quite antsy, which made me laugh, because, regardless of the fun and excitement of being a baseball player, they, like any of us, also have little things at the office that drive them crazy.
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