New York Mets Winter Report 2012-13

[sonny10305]

I hear you Syam, Often I will share info I get with a couple of the media guys I know but all too often they try and make it into more of a story than they should I get a little frustrated with that

Big Mets Hot Stove tonight, a ton of the players are going to be at Duffy’s with KB should be fun

With all the attention paid to Wheeler yesterday I should have mentioned that Johan Santana also threw a bullpen and he also looked really good, interesting to watch his interaction with Warthen and the catcher. I t looked tom me like he was focused on his changeup release point, follow through, arm slot, and location. Fascinating and very encouraging watching the master at work



Murphy is doing fine feeling better after his Cortozone shot and soft MRI or a magnetic resonance imaging examination in his case rather than go thru that scary tube just the area of the body being studied is placed inside a special machine that contains a strong magnet . The pictures taken are digital images that can be saved and stored on a computer to check on again later. Won’t be long before he back n the field playing with paper airplanes again



There are no words to describe Ike and Justin just being goofy



Sightseeing with JT



After a good day in the field the boys try and relax with some bowling



Kurk waits for his shoes and poses with Mike




Nice form Ike



Group of the guys

 

[sonny10305]

I meant to add this to above post
Intrasquad game about to start
Team 1 Kirk Nieuwenhuis, cf Jordany Valdespin, 2b Collin Cowgill, dh Brandon Hicks, 1b Brian Bixler, 3b Andrew Brown, lf Omar Quintanilla, ss Cesar Puello, rf Anthony Recker, c Collin McHugh, rhp
Team 2 Juan Lagares, lf Matt den Dekker, cf Mike Baxter, rf Zach Lutz, 3b Wilmer Flores, 2b Josh Satin, 1b Travis d'Arnaud, dh Juan Centeno, c Wilfredo Tovar, ss Gonzalez Germen, rhp
Let u know tomorrow how they played.

In the oh oh department Santana just cut short his throwing, something’s up does not appear serious they are sayin something about keeping up his strength. HUh WTF is that?
More tomorrow or as Collins would say surgery on Sunday Nah, I’m sure he’s fine

 

[Sausy]

Great pics, sonny...lol with all the beards these guys would never, ever fit on that other New York club...the ones with a restrictive facial hair policy!

I don't see DWright ever going rebel...stubble,yes but never the beards like we see most prominently on Ike, Turner, and Captain Kirk,lol

 

[sonny10305]

Ok first up let’s talk about Santana and what the heck went on yesterday. When I first saw his bullpen a day or two or so I thought he looked pretty good, I was not concerned about velocity or much just figured he was trying to improve a few things and not really looking to blow anyone away with his form. In fact many of the guys who saw it with me felt the same way. Then all of a sudden yesterday they cut his throwing short which alarmed some of us I mean why would he do that? Then we find out that apparently Collins and Warthen were unhappy with Johan’s session. So what’s up, Johan and the Mets are saying it takes time to build up his arm, and so they are slowing him down. Well than what has he been doing since his surgery, are we to believe the other day was the first time he threw a ball since last summer? Also if he still needs time we are just a few weeks away from opening day how are we to believe he will be ready then. Now they are saying he will pitch in about 3 weeks so I guess we will see but color me concerned and maybe Wheeler had better start looking for an apartment on NY sooner than later. I’m just sayin.

I sure hope you guys watched the season finale of Hot Stove we had a lot of fun. KB interviewed Murphy, Davis, Wright and Harvey you got to see them relaxed and up front and personable the way KB and only KB can get them to feel during interviews. And how about Murphy getting the biggest round of applause, the fans love the Murph. You know I have been tellin you guys to watch out for Duda this year and that he is gonna explode on the scene, well KB asked Murph who he things will surprise this year and without missing a beat Daniel said “The Dude” he expects big things from Lucas as well.
Murphy continues to feel better and better clearly that shot did him a lot of good just as DWright said it would. This morning he is gonna crank up the workout a tad maybe try doing a little light work with the guys he will meet with the trainers in about an hour to decide what he can start doing.

Big day today the first game will be played it’s against the Nats starting at noon on SNY
Here is the Mets lineup card.



Kirk Nieuwenhuis, cf Ruben Tejada, ss David Wright, 3b Ike Davis, 1b Marlon Byrd, rf Lucas Duda, lf John Buck, c Justin Turner, 2b Jordany Valdespin, dh
Shaun Marcum, Zack Wheeler, Cory Mazzoni, Jeurys Familia, Darin Gorski will all pitch


The guys wait to get interviewed last night

 

[Sausy]

Great sets of pics, sonny...loved the special Hot Stove last night too! Worked so I had it taped and saw it like 3am

Terrific, fun interviews especially the KB ones with Collins, DWright, Ike, Murph and Harvey. A real cute look at a day in spring training with KB highlighted by some wonderfully goofy Ike-KB banter( Ike was REALLY into that newspaper in the clubhouse, wasn't he,lol?!!!)They all looked like they were having fun(Murph even showing offf some dance moves as they played Caribbean style music whle going into commercial,so cute!) Really enjoyable hour from Duffy's.... KB is great, especially with his easy one on one ability personally with the guys. DEFINITELY Ike especially was much more animated, having fun compared to that one a couple weeks back with Gary Apple...he's as much a leader in his own way as DWright is and feels it's his responsibility(which he gladly accepts, and even has fun with) to help out DWright with being a leader in the clubhouse. Thanks sonny for promotng the show, it was definitely enjoyable for me as a Mets fan and with that voice and personality how can anyone not be a KB fan?!!!!!!

 

[Sausy]

Great first win, first game out of spring training with the Mets over the Nats 5-3. Rookie phenom Zack Wheeler pitching two innings was EVERYTHING advertised and more...Shaun Marcum got roughed up some in his Mets game debut but he admits his key is location of his fastball, which he didn't have today. Sonny will have a lot of great perspectives and I'd rather wait to hear from him before I add too much. Our boy is down there in Florida front and center so it's really got to be fun!!!

 

[sonny10305]

Yeah Saucy no one does what he does better than KB it has all to do with his personality and mischievous ways. The guys all love him and are always up to speaking with him cause they know he be fun to talk to and he will never cross any lines.
I am glad you guys got to see what I have known for a while now with a look at the players and their personality’s, the are quite a unique bunch of guys all friends who spend a lot of time together off the field be it having some food, bowling, or if KB is around, basketball, they enjoy being together they are brothers who have each other’s backs and always support and encourage one another. KBs interviews give you a taste of what the boys are like off the field and I am always happy when you get to see that.

Yesterday was exciting for me cause finally we got baseball games underway. When I saw Gary Cohen walking around the clubhouse I thought yeah this is it we are really gonna play some ball.
The game of course was all about Zack Wheeler and he was so calm before and after seriously that kid usually does not get all worked up out he is just calm confident and professional. He does not let all the talk about him get to him remains humble and true to himself.
But yesterday he was just a bit different than I have ever seen him he seemed to be just a tad amped up at first maybe over-throwing a bit. In fact DWright and a bunch of the guys came up to him at one point and David said “take a breath” and Buck said relax you seem a little amped, that was all Zack needed he was more relaxed and pitched more at ease more natural you might say. His velocity and fastball command look great really strong, it was clear that was not the case with his secondary stuff but you can easily see the potential. Although I admired his curveball which is straight over the top with good drop, his slider had good downward movement. I also don’t think he throws any change-ups; I seem to recall him saying he really does not have that ready as yet. Of course we did see what I always loved seeing him do and that was that swing-and-miss stuff I think I wrote about that after watching him in Buffalo. No prob with his mechanics which seemed smooth and ya have to love, and I know I wrote about this before, how good he is at repeating them. His velocity ranged from 94-96 mph. He threw 30 pitches 19 for strikes I told you he would be fun to watch
Cory Mazzoni surprised me with some really impressive velocity, he threw up to 96 MPH. Interesting hitch in his motion during the leg lift, and he kinda sits down on the back leg for a moment, still trying to figure that one out. I def need to ask him bout that. I also thought his mechanics were a little all over the place and found it interesting if not odd that his follow-through takes him toward first makes me just a tad concerned that command and consistency could be a problem for him.
But speaking of leg lift Darin Gorski really over-rotated during his leg lift, I can only think that makes it hard to keep a consistent release point, that’s gotta affect command and control.
Bobby Parnell put the game to bed nice not have to watch Frankie waddle out and blow the game was it not?

As to the hitting the hero for the game to me was Collin Cowgill I love his batting stance and the way he moves into the plate love love his hitting style. When he scored from second on grounder to first the dugout went nutz, which was awesome and was the play of the game for me. DWright said later “We need more Cowgill” I haven’t meet him yet looking forward to that and I am already in his corner for one of those outfield jobs.

We got a look at “The Dude” and his new swing which is absolutely longer and clearly his take back has changed for the better, trouble I thought, and he agrees, is he still needs to shorten his swing. I still saw his left elbow fly up high as his hands drop, trouble with that is it leads to a kinda loopy, arm swing which leaves him vulnerable on fastballs above the belt. You can expect to see Lucas make all the adjustments he needs in spring so that he will improve on working the count, being patient waiting for pitchers to mess up and then pound the ball over the fence. It’s coming take it to the bank cash that check.

Daniel Murphy did some pregame stretching and ran a bit that intercostal muscle region feels so much better Murph said it really feels better than it has in a while. They don’t want him swinging a bat yet should not be long before he can.

The game today is not televised.
Next televised game is Monday night

 

[sonny10305]

So I guess if I don't post anything new here no one else does either.
My thanks to Saucy and Syam for their thoughts and posts
But with so many lerkers and so few contributors I just don't see much interest in this thread
so I am outta here

 

[Sausy]

Oh no, sonny...please don't go from this thread. Just work and haven't slept great some nights I get kinda tired and sometimes so many things buzz through my head, I just don't know which to stick with and not make my posts too expansive and unwieldy! Nice to see the pipeline for starting pitching growing all the time with this Montero kid who has a great arm and is another potential highly regarded starter. Mets play to a 4-4 tie with the Nats as Matt den Dekker has a nice game getting a key hit, stealing a base and scoring a run. Matt probably is destined for Las Vegas for the early part of this year at least as he proves he can make better contact. His defense though is first rate, made a highlight reel catch at the wall to rob a home run a couple nights back.

Looks like Zach Wheeler should be able to return within a week and Daniel Murphy I read is about a week or so from being ready to get into full workout action. David Wright leaves this wekend for Team USA, which is an honor that he really appreciates and is proud to be a part of.

Sonny, don't you go anywhere now...come back!

 

[sonny10305]

As I wrote Saucy I am very much appreciative of the posts from both you and Syam but there are a lot of people who come in here every day read our stuff and contribute nothing and that’s not the way it should be.
I assumed that more readers would have a voice express thoughts and opinions that we could share and explore. Too many lurkers not enough contributors so I have lost interest in posting here
By all means keep the thread going if you like but I’m done.

 

[Sausy]

As I wrote Saucy I am very much appreciative of the posts from both you and Syam but there are a lot of people who come in here every day read our stuff and contribute nothing and that’s not the way it should be.
I assumed that more readers would have a voice express thoughts and opinions that we could share and explore. Too many lurkers not enough contributors so I have lost interest in posting here
By all means keep the thread going if you like but I’m done.

Sorry to hear that sonny and I hope you do reconsider in the near future. You give so much here and I guess it does seem frustrating not enough Met fans feel passionate enough to post some stuff here. Especially when the future seems so bright especially with the influx of so many talented young pitchers, some just coming up..others shortly ready and still others in the pipeline not too far off. Feel kinda sad nowbut will still keep making contributions as often as I can but truthfully don't know if without increased interest the whole sports forum will be gone soon.

 

[Sausy]

Looks like though he had a hard tumble and hit his knee hard Kirk Nieuwenhuis didn't tear a ligament but only had a bad bone bruise...probably out for a week. Daniel Murphy is getting back into activities and should be ready to play soon. Mets struggling a bit in early spring training but are using a lot of younger players early ... glad to see Lucas Duda back, had a great game the other day with two hits including a big opposite field homer but going to miss David Wright's presence while he''s among Team USA representatives at the World Baseball Classic until he returns late this month.

 

[syam24]

Glad that Kirk's knee is relatively a minor affair, at least, so far. We thought that with Ike's ankle a couple of years ago, too. Anyway, it's been hard to get too excited with this extended spring training season this year. Like some of the young players displaying their wares, I'm sure they are getting a good education in what it takes to be major league ready. Some pitchers are taking their knocks, but also getting some good experience. Mr Cowgill has been performing very well, hope he can continue as the spring wares on, and not flame out at the start of the season. Miss you, Sonny.....

 

[Ninja108]

Had to chime in on Santana. Sad to say but that no hitter came at a cost. And that cost might just have been his career.
As for baseball itself..my Yanks look to be in for a rough year. I think this is the year age and long term contracts catch up to us.

 

[Sausy]

Sorry to see Davis didn't get added to the WBC team to replace Mark Teixeira(8-10 weeks out with a wrist sprain..damn, Ninja not going to be easy for the Yanks this year)... Ike is MUCH better than that KC first baseman they picked but hell it's their loss, and the WBC as fun as it, having both Ike and DWright out for three more weeks with this punchless club isn't ideal for the Mets. Santana is a worry Ninja but I'm of the opinion better bring him along slowly than rush things and cause problems developing in the season. Did the no hitter hurt him overall? 134 pitcheswas a lot for him getting over his health issues and Terry Collins has said at times he does regret letting him finish it out, but it's really premature to write Santana off this early.

Love Collin Cowgill, syam...the kid's a throwback player who will beat you any way he can. Mets fans will love him. Definitely impressed his teammates and coaches so far. Hoping Kirk will be okay in a week or so as they say he only bruised the knee, no ligaments were damaged but we'll see. The kid deserves a chance to prove himself after falling apart offensively with all those strikeouts after a really solidfirst couple of months.

I think sonny will pop up from time to time...just really passionate about our Mets and the organization as a whole and wishes more fans would post more often rather than lurk and not bring their perspectives.

 

[sonny10305]

Yup Saucy I will “pop up” here and there all I ask is that you guys share your opinion and thoughts about the Mets, Great to see some of you guys back in and posting I also know there are a lot of guys who come in read and don’t post (you know who you are) come on you guys write something, anything just share your thoughts we won’t bite, I promise.

Ike Davis at first thought no way he would be picked he considered for replacing Teixeira he figured himself the long shot but still he was excited about the possibility and was humbled to be considered. DWright sent Ike a text saying WBC manager Joe Torre was asking about him. But in the end all Ike got was about being on a taxi squad or being a potential injury replacement. As it turns out in my opinion Ike would have been the better choice here than the way they went. But Ike has a lot of great years ahead of him and there will be plenty of WBC opportunities for him I am sure. If there is a bright spot it is that now instead of missing three weeks of spring training Ike can concentrate on a tremendous 2013 season.

Nieuwenhuis is doing much better yesterday he was no longer limping or favoring the other knee he should be fine. However he has a long tough rode to make the team with the competition for that outfield job getting tougher to beat. Cowgill is just plan awesome how to you not love that kid. Den Decker is showing some really nifty defensive skills as well showin us he knows how to move around that outfield. Duda is slowly coming back now that they have backed off all those changes to his swing which was clearly too much too soon.

The Santana drama has eased up a bit he has been keeping to himself and not making himself available to the press after that little hissy fit over Alderson’s comment. Thing is we all know what a proud completive player Johan is and if anyone can make it thru this he can. I still do not believe he will be the starter on opening day I just don’t see him ready by then but we should get a better idea when he finally pitches in a game which right now is scheduled for March 14. If he keeps that date it would give Santana three starts to prepare for the regular season. But the Mets are not concentrating on Johan making opening day, what they want is for him to make 30 starts. We expect to see Johan resuming mound work any day as well as another bullpen session, prolly get some batting practice in as well the use of a DH is about over. If after that the decision for Johan to not pitch opening day, the Mets could backdate him on the disabled list into spring training which would minimizing Santana’s regular-season loss.

Zack Wheeler also coming along nicely from his injury he threw on flat ground Wednesday for the 2nd day but I am pretty sure he is going to end up in Vegas AAA to start the season little doubt about that even if Santana completely falls on his ass I don’t see the Mets changing their mind about Zack. I am not sure I like the idea of sending him to Vegas it’s a tough place to pitch with that high altitude and dry conditions that send balls flying out of the park. If you know pitching you also know the dry air can make it more difficult to snap off breaking pitches. I sure am gonna miss Buffalo.

Daniel Murphy is doing great, I mean really really great, and is thisclose to playing in a game. He has started swinging in a batting cage and only needs to take full batting practice before we see him in a game.

So you may have heard that K-Rod wants to come back. Well no thanks we have had enough of that guy the Mets are a team of mostly new and exciting players we no longer have room for been there done that players forget it no way thanks you very much.

SNY will telecast todays Mets- Marlins game at 1pm the lineup will be Valdespin at second Quintanilla-Short, Davis-first, Byrd-Right, Duda-Left, Buck-DH, Recker-Catching, den Dekker-Center, and Hicks-third. Harvey-on the mound. Kevin Burkhardt has the play by play KB will be filling in for Gary Cohen over the next few weeks Keith Hernandez will join Kevin in the booth today.

 

[syam24]

Looks like Matt Harvey had a fine day today, scoreless pitching and a handful of K's. This catcher, Anthony Recker has had a pretty good spring and is hitting pretty well. His defense may be a little shaky, but he can hit. Mr den Dekker hit a homer, which I did not see, but did see his spectacular catch a few games ago, robbing some dude of a HR. Also saw where DWright had a couple of hits in a WBC tuneup game yesterday.

 

[Sausy]

So glad to see sonny back on and also syam and ninja... hopefully as the season gets under way others will give their perspectives too and that's what we want...Mets fans to come together and talk about the Amazin's!

Great win today against Miami with a dominant, no hit four and a third innings and most importantly showing command. Got ahead of the hitters, had great control and that's one thing the fiercely competitive righty wants foremost to accomplish...get deeper into games and throw fewer pitches so he can get farther into games. One of his few flaws is an inconsistency of command....he has the stuff to get by even when off but he doesn't want to be a five or six inning pitcher. Matt wants to be a bulldog and if there are some complete games to get by dominating and just using his command and trusting his defense he will be a much better pitcher and more effective for the Mets.

Matt den Dekker had a couple of hits including a homer and really has intrigued Terry Collins with his speed and defense as well as his natural power. While few expect den Dekker, a left handed hitter, to make the club out of spring training so he could refine his swing at AAA and cut down on strikeouts Collins sees him if he can make some mechanical adjustments as a real help who could provide a .250-
.260 bat at least with twenty plus homers and steals a year. He loves his glove and all out style of play, which matches his righty counterpart Collin Cowgill who plays good defense, has some speed and power with a ballsy, all out style that fans wll love and could form a very solid platoon pair in the near future in center.When sonny likes someone like Cowgill, you know he's got the chance to be pretty good... the way he plays will only endear him to the fans of New York baseball.

Ike had two hits today and looks much more comfortable than the Desert fever plagued, just coming off the ankle injury Ike of last spring training. Very happy he got considered for the Mark Teixeira spot and deserved it more than the guy Hosner from KC as Sonny also stated. He's better off now just getting ready for a great Mets season and like sonny said now has the respect in the baseball world that he will be strongly considered for future WBC tournaments.


Just wanna see Kirk Nieuwenhuis get his confidence back, kid also plays the game the right way and has good defensive instincts with some power and speed. He just has to get his approach at the plate together and not be fooled into so many bad swings, he was getting into such a strikeout rut. Zach Wheeler looks almost ready to resume his regular activity, while AAA being now in Las Vegas not optimal because of the less than pitcher friendly conditions with the desert air I'm sure the Mets just want to make sure he isn't rushed, gets to work on command and secondary pitches. It also probably very important to them to wait a couple of months so they can keep him under their control an extra year. I don't love it but I get it. If the Matt Harveys and Zack Wheelers are are as goodas advertised though the Mets be better willing to sign em to five year or so extensions after their first three years because great pitching won't come cheap. Great thing is we have such a chain just under them(Jeurys Familia, Mike Fulmer, Noah Syndegaard, Rafael Montero, Cory Mazzoni, Hansel Robles that future depth or trading pieces for offensive upgrades elsewhere give the Mets real options for our future).We also have a damn good young one in Jonathan Niese under contract for four more years and potentially solid one in Dillon Gee up already with the major league club.

Glad to hear Murph is just about ready..kid must have been going nuts not able to do his regular routine! As for K-Rod...like sonny pretty much says:"Been there, done that, NO thanks"!

Love when KB does games, he is always fun and what else can you say about Keith Hernandez, but he's a legend who means so much to Mets fans.

 

[sonny10305]

Well you guys really nailed yesterday’s game it was one of those you just love to see our boys play. Just to add a quick addition Matt Harvey was spectacular he has been working on that change up and clearly he is close to perfecting that pitch. I loved watching him establish himself in and then get em with that sinking change; I mean seriously that’s good stuff. Matt has also made progress in the number of pitches he throws to get his man something else he is trying hard to do. Of course he is never a wild pitcher anyways but now what we see are strike after strike.

Duda has got to stop chasing pitches the way Ike used to do; too many times we see hi9m turn what should have been a ball end up a strike.

Yeah Saucy KB is becoming quite the polished play by play guys if you ever heard him do basketball games you would know just how good he can be. We will see Kevin for the next few weeks till Gary returns end of the month. This Saturday he will have Keith again in the booth with him and then Ronnie will take over for the next few games till Keith returns on 3/22.

Today’s game will not be televise cause it is not at home, The guys got onto busses this morning for the trip to Lakeland which is about 2 hours away. A Few of the guys on the bus were Tejada, Valdespin, Cowgill, Baxter, d'Arnaud, and Gee they will play Detroit today.

Justin Turner finally got a few innings out in left field, Collins wants JT to try his skills out there which will make him more useful his season already he can cover all 4 infield positions and we all know how valuable he is with his bat and is ability to bring the runners home.

Murphy hitting live pitching in the batting cage today on his way to getting back into the game…my heart sings.

So here is PR guy Jay Horwitz with Telling Collins “I’m tellin you Wheeler needs to make the roster.



Hey Decker could you tell Spin he ain’t 15 anymore; what’s up with the way he wears that hat?



How do you feel after that game yesterday Matt my boy?

 

[Sausy]

Great pics, sonny! Damn hate it when the games aren't televised!