Daily Archives: February 17, 2010
In a post to the New York Times, David Waldstein says Mets RHP Kelvim Escobar felt some discomfort in his right shoulder, while working out in advance of reporting to Tradition Field.
According to Waldstein, “He will not be up to speed with the rest of the pitchers when he reports to camp on Thursday.”
Escobar had surgery on his shoulder in 2007.
He missed all of 2008 and pitched only five innings last year for the Angels.
Here is video of David Wright talking to reporters today in PSL:
In a post to Mets Fever, Ed Ryan shares a conversation he had with Corky Gaines from Rays Index about C Shawn Riggans, who the Mets signed to a minor-league contract last week.
According to Gaines, Riggans handles pitchers well and is good at blocking balls, but due to his weak arm, he has trouble throwing out base runners.
In addition, Gaines says his health is always a concern, as he is always dealing with a nagging injury that ends his seasons prematurely.
…he is certainly worth watching, especially if the Mets don’t acquire Rod Barajas this spring…i think he has a chance at cracking the opening day roster if Omir Santos or Henry Blanco falter during the month of march, but given the competition he will have between them and Josh Thole, it’s a long road ahead for Riggans…
In 64 games with the Rays over the past three years, the 29 year old Riggans has hit just .202 with one home run and three RBI and threw out just four out of 29 base runners over that span.
CHONE projects Riggans will hit .242 with nine home runs and 33 RBI in 104 games this season.
For more on Riggans, check out Mets Fever here.
I uploaded a YouTube video — This is a Test Video http://youtu.be/yyf8PO-FEXI?a
David Wright had the following to say, according to SNY, when speaking to reporters today:
In regards to his offense:
“I can’t necessarily go in and say I’m going to work on hitting more home runs, or trying to hit for more power. It’s part of my game, but it’s not the part of my game. I try to go in there, drive runs in, score runs, and if I hit home runs, I do. If I don’t, if I’m still that run producer that I think I am, then I’ll take that.”
In regards to his expectations for 2010:
“The expectations that we have for ourselves are the same expectations we’ve had coming off a relatively successful year. We’re expecting to go out there and win the National League East, go deep in the playoffs and win a World Series.”
In regards to why he expects to win the NL East:
“The fact that we did it with basically the same core group of guys in 2006; the fact that we got some guys that are looking good, that are healthy. Just because we don’t make a lot of moves during the off-season doesn’t mean the ones you did make weren’t good. You have a guy in Jason Bay who’s an RBI machine, who’s a run producer. You put him in the middle of that healthy lineup, and you’re going to create some matchup problems for different pitchers. Of course, there’s a lot of optimism for every team going into spring training, but with us, with how Jose Reyes looks, and just a lot of people with something to prove, I like our chances. I guess it’s a combination of optimism and confidence I have in this team.”
To listen to Wright’s Q&A with reporters, check out Brian Costa’s blog for the Star-Ledger, here.
Here is a video simulation, posted on YouTube, from MLB 09: The Show, showing what it would look like if the outfield wall in Citi Field was blue:
…i wrote last year, on MetsBlog, here, that the Mets should make the wall blue, and after seeing this video i feel even more certain it is the right move…
…hat tip to Mets Police for the link to the video…
David Wright told reporters today he expects the Mets to win the NL East.
…well, good, he should… i am glad the team’s leader expects to be the best…
According to SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt on Twitter, Wright said, “I hope its not the underdog role that gets guys fired up, I hope its the embarrassment of last year.”
…of course, Gregg Jeffries did inspire me to swing a baseball bat in the pool…
…so, it wasn’t a total waste…
Red Sox 3B Mike Lowell still thinks he could be traded during Spring Training, he told Rob Bradford of WEEI in Boston.
In January, Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com said he heard the Mets had talked with the Red Sox about trading for Lowell in exchange for Luis Castillo, but he was not sure how serious it ever was. However, Bradford later said no such deal between the Mets and Red Sox was ever close.
The Rangers and Red Sox agreed on a deal during the Winter Meetings, which would have sent Lowell and money to Texas in exchange for minor-league C Max Ramirez, but the deal fell through when a physical revealed Lowell would need surgery on his thumb.
The 36–year-old Lowell hit .290 with a .337 OBP, 17 HR and 75 RBI in 119 games for the Red Sox last season, during which he hit .301 against left-handed pitching.
He has only played third base, and nine games at second, during his 12–season career.
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