Daily Archives: February 16, 2010
David Lennon of Newsday says on Twitter that Jose Reyes arrived to Tradition Field in St. Lucie, adding, “I think Reyes looks faster.”
To follow Lennon on Twitter, go here; to read his blog, go here.
…i hear reyes and Mike Jacobs are playing catch… which is pretty cool… it must be fun for mike, to connect with reyes, David Wright and Jason Bay, all of which played occasionally together in the team’s minor-league system several years ago…
By the way, Lennon also says there is now a Chipotle in Port St. Lucie.
…great news… plus, any chance i get to use the Chipotle App i am a happy guy…
…by the way, i switched the Twitter widget in the sidebar of this blog from Hot Stove buzz to Spring Training coverage from the team’s beat reporters…
…i will be down in St. Lucie starting next Monday, Feb. 22, through March 6… i can’t wait… the plan is to do some live blogging, video diaries, interviews, and i should have live streaming capability, as well… i’m also working on a very interesting, unique interview, as well as a tour of the minor-league complex, while getting some video of and interviews with the team’s top prospects…
“I got a little nervous when I heard he would be watching my bullpen session,” John Maine told David Waldstein of the New York Times, “and then I didn’t have a good one. But needless to say, it’s an extreme honor to have him around.”
In a post to his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin explains why he is virtually positive Mike Jacobs will not end up in Triple-A, in the event he doesn’t make the Mets Opening Day roster.
“He’ll compete for the job,” Mets GM Omar Minaya said of Jacobs, according to the Star-Ledger. “I think it’s fair to say that Murphy has proven himself worthy of being considered, but he’s going to have to continue. It’s an open competition.”
…i don’t know, i just don’t think it’s as much a competition as omar is making it out to be… i mean, sure, if murphy is a mess, i can see jacobs getting the job… but, if murphy is murphy, i see him as the starter… the question will be, does jacobs fit in as a left-handed power bat for the bench, since he’s essentially a one-dimensional player… the most proven, best statistical fit is probably murphy, with Fernando Tatis occasionally spotting him against left-handed pitchers…
Jacobs, 29, hit just .226 with 18 HR; but he hit 32 HR with 92 RBI the season before that.
He is batting .234 with three HR in just 51 at bats as a pinch hitter.
Nevertheless, Rob Neyer of ESPN.com is confused by Minaya’s plan for first base.
Hyde says, “Moviel might figure out the slider and become a back of the rotation or bullpen candidate by late 2011,” or, “He might not, and he’ll never get anything except a cup of coffee past AAA.”
According to Adam Rubin of the Daily News, David Wright has been working out at Tradition Field in St. Lucie since before the Super Bowl.
…that’s awesome… i’m so excited to see how wright and Jose Reyes lead camp this spring, considering a) they’re essentially the longest tenured players, and b) without Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, it’s their camp, it’s their time to lead…
In the report, Rubin writes, “Among the reasons for his struggles (last season), Wright suggested, was too much of a concentration on going opposite field last year.”
…wasn’t that the goal of Jerry Manuel’s 80–pitch, batting drill last spring… ummm, ooops…
To read more from Wright, including his thoughts on Jason Bay, the batting order, and ‘going right to center,’ and trying not to hit home runs, read Rubin’s report for the Daily News, here.
In an effort to continue MetsBlog’s projections, please take the following survey about Wright:
In November, a report on Globedia.com said the Mets and White Sox were the front-runners to sign free-agent Cuban RHP Yuniesky Maya, who threw for scouts in the Dominican Republic in December.
What’s more, these pictures, here, taken by someone in Santo Domingo, sent in from Billy Bob in Queens, show Maya in Mets gear working out at the team’s facility in the Dominican Republic.
However, yesterday, Rob Bradford of WEEI initially said the ‘Red Sox would soon sign Maya,’ but later corrected his post, which now reads:
“According to a source familiar with the negotiations, the idea that the Red Sox would soon sign Maya might not be accurate at this time. There is a good chance that Maya will choose a team that offers a better opportunity to immediately enter its starting rotation.”
Bradford says, “Maya was named Cuba’s top right-handed pitcher in both 2009 and ‘09 before defecting in the Dominican Republic last September.”
In December, Jorge Arangure of ESPN.com quoted a scout who watched Maya as saying he threw in the 88–92 mph range, while sporting a fastball, two-seamer, a slider, curveball and a changeup.
Maya’s agent says his client should be a starting pitcher, not a relief pitcher, as he’s in the prime of his career, and ready to pitch in the big leagues.
In one start and two relief appearances, during last spring’s World Baseball Classic, the 27–year-old Maya allowed one earned run in seven innings, while walking two batters and striking out four.
To see video of Maya pitching against Ichiro Suzuki in last year’s WBC, click here; and to see him pitching to Kosuke Fukudome, also in the WBC, click here.
…hat tip to Ed Ryan from Mets Fever for the weei link…
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