Daily Archives: March 10, 2009
Following today’s game, Mets GM Omar Minaya said Angel Pagan has decided to have surgery to repair a bone spur in his right elbow.
Pagan will have surgery in Manhattan on Wednesday, and is likely to be out for 6 to 8 weeks.
…man, pagan can’t catch a break… last season, he looked great in spring, cracked the roster, then cracked his shoulder and missed the rest of the season… this spring, again he was looking good, and likely to make the roster, now this… sorry, man…
To watch this week’s edition of New York Baseball Today, during which SNY’s Ted Berg and Alex Belth from BronxBanter.com talk about Alex Rodriguez and Pedro Martinez, click play below:
The Mets and Nationals tied, 5–5, today after 10 innings in Viera.
- John Maine let up five runs, thanks to home runs from Elijah Dukes and Brad Eldred. Maine gave up five hits, walked two and struck out two in three innings. Later, Maine told reporters he felt good on the mound, adding, “I was right there, just barely missing.”
- Cory Sullivan was 3 for 3 with two walks, one RBI and a run scored.
- Marlon Anderson was 3 for 4, though he left two runners on base, and is batting .421 this spring.
- Nick Evans had a two-out RBI.
- Ryan Church is now batting .308 this spring.
- Jose Valentin was hitless in three at bats, he also committed a fielding error.
- Darren O’Day pitched a scoreless inning, letting up one hit, but getting three ground ball outs – he has a 1.50 ERA this spring.
- Robert Parnell, Kyle Snyder, Ron Villone, Rocky Cherry and Eddie Kunz each pitched a scoreless inning as well.
The Mets are off tomorrow, and return to action on Thursday, March 12, when Johan Santana will make his spring debut against the Marlins at 7 pm, in Tradition Field, live on SNY.
Phillies closer Brad Lidge will be making his first appearance of the spring on Wednesday in an intrasquad game. He’s been experiencing tightness in his forearm, but felt fine after Sunday’s bullpen session in Clearwater.
Florida Marlins left-hander Andrew Miller is working on his delivery and trying to regain the feel for his sinker.
Miller has recently stayed away from the pitch that gave him so much success at North Carolina and helped him become the 6th overall pick in the 2006 First Year Player Draft.
In a piece I missed yesterday, Bill Shanks from the BravesShow.com watched Tom Glavine throw batting practice on Sunday.
Said Bill, “His stuff was ordinary and it just didn’t look crisp. Maybe he’ll improve in the six weeks before his scheduled start on April 19th, but there are already whispers that this Glavine comeback is in jeopardy.”
…Interesting…this could open the door for young Tommy Hanson.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
Tagged MetsBlog |
Buster Olney of ESPN.com believes there is ‘no chance’ the Mets signed Pedro Martinez.
In a post to their spring training blog, ESPN writes, “The source said that the reasoning is not financial, but based on concerns about Martinez’s pitching command.”
Earlier today, Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com said Martinez is still seeking a guaranteed contract, similar to what John Smoltz signed with the Red Sox, i.e., one year, $5.5 million guaranteed and another $5 million in incentives.
…i know the source told olney it’s about command, not cost… but, the Mets are clearly cutting costs, not expanding them…
…i mean, they could have waited to release Duaner Sanchez… but, instead, they chose to cut him today, and save $1.6 million…
…so, if they’re looking to save $1.6 million, at the expense of a relief pitcher, i’m thinking there is little chance they’d reach out and sign pedro, guarantee him a spot in the rotation, and spend $5 million…
…i actually think i would prefer Livan Hernandez as the team’s fifth starter, at this point, over pedro… because, i don’t expect my fifth starter to win a Cy Young… i want him to accumulate innings and help save my bullpen, and livan does that… pedro, god love him, does not… plus, he’s pedro, and i believe the team will benefit by keeping his dominant personality out of the clubhouse this time around…
…by the way, for similar financial reasons, i see no way Pudge Rodriguez is signed as well… i mean, if some team were to suddenly want to trade for Ramon Castro, or he got hurt, i bet pudge’s name resurfaces… but, as is, i just don’t see it…
Tagged Pedro Martinez |
The Game:
The Mets (5-6) continue their Grapefruit League Schedule against the Nationals (6-5) today at Space Coast Stadium in Viera, Florida, starting at 1:05 p.m. EDT.
The Lineup:
- CF Cory Sullivan
- 2B Marlon Anderson
- LF Rob Mackowiak
- 1B Nick Evans
- RF Ryan Church
- 3B Andy Green
- SS Jose Valentin
- C Robinson Cancel
- P John Maine
The Pitchers:
John Maine starts for the Mets. Ron Villone, Rocky Cherry, Casey Fossum, Kyle Snyder and Connor Robertson are also schedule to pitch.
Jordan Zimmerman is scheduled to pitch for the Nationals.
How To Catch It:
Tagged Mike Nichols |Today’s game will not be broadcast locally. However, you can follow the live GameDay boxscore, by clicking here.
Update, 10:07 am:
Angel Pagan will miss six to eight weeks if he chooses to have surgery on the bone spur in his right elbow, according to the team.
Original Post:
Pagan will return from New York on Tuesday, and discuss with team doctors whether to undergo surgery.
…this early in the spring, i bet he has surgery… this always seems to end in surgery anyway, and it would seem crazy to play through the pain and inflammation on and off for the next seven months…
The Mets released Duaner Sanchez, avoiding the mid-March deadline that allows them to save $1.6 million of his 2009 salary.
The Mets told Sanchez when he arrived to Tradition Field this morning.
…my hunch is that Tim Redding may end up with the fifth starter’s job, and Brian Stokes and Ron Villone are now in pretty good position to crack the Opening Day roster, because a) stokes is out of options, and b) villone is successful against left-handed hitters he can also be a long man…
Update, 9:52 am:
“We looked at it, really, his overall performance based upon last year to where he is now,” GM Omar Minaya is quoted as saying by Adam Rubin of the Daily News. “We really didn’t see the improvement we felt was needed to be effective in the major leagues.”
According to Rubin, Minaya said the Mets had too many other attractive options in the bullpen.
Go to Rubin’s blog to read quotes from Sanchez.
