Daily Archives: March 23, 2009
Amanda B: Who will be the fifth starter?
Matthew Cerrone: Jerry Manuel told reporters he will use five different starters in the first five 
games of the season, which means Livan Hernandez should get the start on Friday, April 11.
Hernandez will be better than people think, since he’s healthy and playing for a better team than he was with last season.
Nevertheless, he’ll probably be one of a handful of pitchers to be used as the fifth starter before the season is over.
Cris: I know that the Mets have a patch for Citi Field… but why don’t they have a patch for the 40th anniversary of the 1969 Mets? I know that they had a patch for the 20th anniversary for the 1986 Mets in 2006.
Matthew Cerrone: I don’t know. I do know they intend to honor the team, and have a fancy special planned for SNY, but I am not sure why there is no commemorative patch. Unless, they don’t want yet another patch to be designed, ridiculed and then clutter up the uniform. Who knows?
Tatiana: Who will be throwing out the first pitch in Citi Field?
Matthew Cerrone: There are rumors in New York that it will be Tom Seaver throwing to Mike Piazza, as a symbolic continuation of how the 
same two icons teamed up for the final pitch in Shea Stadium – though, according to this video, I threw the final pitch in Shea Stadium.
Frankly, I prefer the Mets shelve Piazza and Seaver for this specific moment. I love them, of course, but I look at Citi Field as the home of the future Mets, my generation’s Mets, a place for new memories, etc., not the past, which now belong to the ghosts Shea. I have no idea what that means for a first pitch ceremony, however.
That said, if it has to be two people from the past, I do dig the image of Seaver and Piazza walking in to Citi, like they walked out of Shea, and picking up the legacy from one era to the next – assuming the rumor is true.
PC: What do you think the Opening Day batting order will be?
Matthew Cerrone: I believe Jose Reyes will bat leadoff, followed in order by Daniel Murphy, David Wright, Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Ryan Church, Brian Schneider, Luis Castillo and the pitcher.
It would not surprise me to see Castillo batting second to start the season, but Murphy will be in that spot eventually – if not sooner than later.
Tommy M: How do you see the Mets bench and bullpen shaking out?
Matthew Cerrone: Here is my guess as of today…
Reyes, Murphy, Wright, Beltran, Delgado, Church, Schneider, Castillo, Castro, Cora, Tatis, Marlon Anderson and Reed are locks to be position players – 13 players.
Santana, Pelfrey, Maine, Perez, KRod, Putz, Feliciano, Green and Parnell are locks to be on the pitching staff, with O’Day and Stokes more than likely to make it as well – 11 players.
Redding will start the year on the disabled list.
Nick Evans will likely make the Opening Day roster, as the 25th man, but be demoted to make room for Livan Hernandez, roughly four or five days in to the season as soon as he is needed to be the fifth starter.
According to the Washington Post, free-agent RHP Shawn Hill signed a non-guaranteed, minor-league deal with the 
Padres.
Adam Rubin of the Daily News said this morning that he expected the Mets to make a push to sign Hill, who was released by the Nationals last week.
In 2008, Hill went 1-5 in 12 games with a 5.83 ERA in 63 innings pitched.
Tagged Mets Spring Training |
This morning at Tradition Field, Livan Hernandez and Freddy Garcia pitched in a minor-league, intrasquad game.
In five innings of work, Hernandez allowed one run on four hits while striking out seven.
Garcia allowed three runs on eight hits over four innnings of work.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
In a post to his blog for ESPN.com, Buster Olney lists the Top 10 Players to Watch in 2009, and lists Daniel Murphy third, writing:
“Everybody who sees his at-bats walks away thinking they’ve just seen one of the most savvy young hitters in the sport.”
Meanwhile, Joe Lapointe of the New York Times looks at Murphy’s progress in the field.
For a pop culture look at Murphy, check out SI.com‘s Pop Culture Grid, where Murphy gives a one word review of Watchmen, what’s playing in his iPod and what he would do if he was on The Bachelor.
…note to self: don’t bother murph while he is trying to hit…damn, this kid does mean business…
Tagged Mike Nichols |Metstradamus lashes out at the national media, who likes to ’stir the pot.’
Former Met and new Long Island Ducks manager Gary Carter thinks it’s 
time to forgive Alex Rodriguez, reports Newsday.
The Wright Stache is trying to drum up support for David Wright to grow a mustache.
Eric Simon of Amazin’ Avenue takes a look at the Mets projected starting lineup.
Lastly, Ken Davidoff of Newsday answers five questions he tired of answering, including how Citi Field will play and if Omar Minaya will be on the hot seat if the Mets get off to a slow start.
Tagged Mike Nichols |
David Lennon of Newsday will be doing a live chat with readers on his blog, starting at 1 pm EST.
Later, at 2 pm EST, Bart Hubbuch will do a similar chat on his blog for the New York Post.
…enjoy, and tell them i said hello…
The Mets have been giving tours of Citi Field the last few days to season ticket holders, members of Club Mets, etc…
The definitive review, which is super long, but a ‘must read,’ is Mets Grrl, who does a great job of describing the stadium, while reconciling her biggest worries, complete with outstanding photographs.
…notice, the old skyline from the Shea Stadium scoreboard is now on display above the concession stand beyond center field…
…by the way, i will be on a private tour early Wednesday morning… i plan to bring my camera, and do a live, real-time blog and photostream from my iPhone… i will later post video, as soon as i can get it edited and uploaded…
…so, if there is anything specific you want to see or read about, let me know in the comments section and i will do my best to get to it…
For more photographs from March 21, go to Stadium Page.
Tagged Shea Stadium |Venezuela and Team USA were eliminated from the World Baseball Classic over the weekend,
meaning David Wright, Francisco Rodriguez and J.J. Putz will soon return to Mets camp.
Bob Klapisch of the Bergen Record explains why the Mets success, particularly David Wright, in the WBC, may benefit them later in the season, writing, “Plant a seed of success today, and September’s fruit will, for once, be good enough to eat.”
For more on the statistical effect on playing in the WBC, checkout Andrew Beaton’s latest post on Hot Foot.
Speaking of players in camp, the Mets optioned Brandon Knight to Triple-A Buffalo over the weekend.
Tagged Mike Nichols |Johan Santana pitched five innings yesterday, allowing one run on two hits (1 HR), and a walk, while striking out seven.
Santana is 1-1 with a 4.70 ERA this spring, with nine strikeouts in 7.2 IP.
In Newsday, David Lennon says, “His changeup appeared to be in mid-season form.”
To watch video of Santana’s post-game comments to reporters, check out Bart Hubbuch’s blog for the New York Post.
Tagged Mike Nichols |Carlos Beltran was a late scratch from yesterday’s lineup with a stiff neck.
Brian Schneider, who is recovering a strained right knee, and Carlos Delgado, who continued to receive rest after playing in the World Baseball Classic, also missed yesterday’s game.
Jerry Manuel told reporters that Carlos Delgado, Brian Schneider and Carlos Beltran will not travel with the team on Tuesday, and should in the lineup on Wednesday in St. Lucie.
According to the Daily News, “Schneider plans to come to the complex during Monday’s off-day to run the bases for trainers.”
Tagged Mike Nichols | ← Older posts
