Offseason Thread

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- SNY and WPIX announced its spring-training television lineup. All the games will be played in Port St. Lucie and begin at 1:10 p.m., with the exception of the March 27 finale.

Feb. 28, Nationals, SNY
March 1, Marlins, WPIX
March 4, Astros, SNY
March 5, Marlins, SNY
March 7, Cardinals, SNY
March 9, Braves, PIX
March 10, Marlins, SNY
March 12, Cardinals, SNY
March 15, Twins, WPIX
March 18, Tigers, SNY
March 20, Braves, SNY
March 23, Nationals, PIX
March 24, Cardinals, SNY
March 27, Nationals, SNY

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

I'm down with that pickup ^

Potential set-up man, I like it.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Some ST shots.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Looks like Duda has been eating well.......lol

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Looks like Duda has been eating well.......lol

In the ''best shape of his life'' Ughhhhhh.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Mejia has a little Pedro in him lol

 

[Nasty_Magician]

I like the Valverde pickup. The more competition for the bullpen the better and if he can be a fraction of the player he was he'll be a staple and a huge upgrade over last year.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Well Sandy said he wont be the closer, they wanted more veteran prescense in the bullpen.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

The GM, the captain, and the farm....

Alderson on Stephen Drew: 'Unlikely' - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

David Wright weighs in on aging, payroll - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

Farm Preview: System vastly improved - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

We still like Ike, right?
Ike Davis 'little bit' shocked he remains Met - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

LGM!!!!

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. (2/14)

FIRST PITCH: Terry Collins, now MLB's oldest manager at 64, gives his beginning of spring training state-of-the-Mets address at 11:30 a.m. Friday. So stay tuned for updates via Twitter and the blog around then.

Collins is sure to discuss his plan to get Ike Davis 90 or so at-bats during spring training, roughly double last Grapefruit League season’s total. He also will be asked to explain if Eric Young Jr. continues to be his favorite for the leadoff spot, and if that means Juan Lagares’ playing time will be diminished to get EY Jr. in the lineup.

Will Lucas Duda play the outfield? Will Wilmer Flores see time at first base?

The fifth-starter’s race should come up, too. As will how strongly the Mets will consider a prospect such as Jeff Walters, Jack Leathersich or even Rafael Montero for the bullpen.

Oh, and will Matt Harvey toss a baseball on Feb. 22, the four-month anniversary of his Tommy John surgery?

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Flores will get some time at SS this Spring!

Wilmer Flores will play some games at shortstop this spring, Terry Collins announced Friday in St. Lucie.
Collins said last week that he will also use Flores at second and third base (Kernan, Feb. 4).
Team reports indicate Flores improved his agility and quickness at this winter’s strength and fitness camp.
“If that’s the case,” Collins said, “I want to see it.”

 

[Chef99]

We still like Ike, right?
Ike Davis 'little bit' shocked he remains Met - Mets Blog - ESPN New York

At this point, we have no choice. :rollseyes:

I Like Ike!

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

Terry Collins is "leaning toward" starting Jonathon Niese on Opening Day against the Washington Nationals on March 31 at Citi Field, likely opposite Stephen Strasburg. It would mark Niese's second straight opening assignment. The southpaw allowed two runs in 6 2/3 innings against the San Diego Padres in an 11-2 win last season.

Unless John Lannan makes the rotation, Niese may be the only southpaw anyway, so trying to slot him between particular right-handers would not matter.

Adam RubinTerry Collins casually chats with reporters before Friday's press conference.




Collins said the remainder of the first-series assignments likely would be based on who best matches up against Washington.

 

[Tai Chi≈Surfing]

YGB ??? Hmmmmm...

Five wishes for spring training

February, 14, 2014 Feb 14
3:49
PM ET

By Matt Meyers | ESPNNewYork.com

1. Don’t be fooled by Eric Young Jr.

EYJ can play a few positions and run really fast, which makes him an ideal 25th man. But he is not an everyday player. Just because he fits some outdated archetype of what a leadoff man should be (re: fast) does not mean he should hit first. In fact, his career .328 OBP demands he hit down in the lineup or come off of the bench.

More important, any playing time for Young would almost certainly come at the expense of Juan Lagares, a young player with promise who has a chance to be one of the best defensive center fielders in MLB.

It’s very possible Young will post a .390 OBP this spring against (mostly) Triple-A pitching, and Terry Collins will convince himself that Young has made a significant improvement. Spring stats mean nothing. Focus on youth. EYJ is what he is: a solid bench piece.

2. Let Jenrry Mejia be the No. 5 starter

It was only five starts, but Mejia pitched like a boss during his brief big league exposure. But unlike some flukes of seasons past (hello, Jae Wong Seo), Mejia actually has pedigree as an elite prospect with a good fastball and potentially dominant secondary stuff. Unless Mejia is on the DL, he better be in the Opening Day rotation.

3. Find a way to trade Ike Davis or Lucas Duda

It’s obvious that Sandy Alderson is worried that if Davis is traded he will finally discover his swing and become the 30-homer threat he’s shown flashes of. At this point it seems like that won’t happen in New York, and carrying Davis and Duda, two useful but flawed left-handed hitting first baseman, doesn't make sense.

Davis probably has more trade value because of his first-round pedigree and superior defense, but Duda is probably a better bet to post higher OBPs. At this point, you can’t be picky. Move one of them and move on.

4. Give Wheeler a chance to be the Opening Day starter

Zack Wheeler has already said he wants a chance to start Opening Day, and you have to admire the kid’s moxie. Collins has said that Jon Niese will likely get the call, but I hope he keeps an open mind.

The whole “Opening Day starter” thing is generally overrated, but the Mets are selling a youth movement here, and if Wheeler’s stuff looks sharp this spring, the club should should consider giving him the ball on March 31 against Washington. Citi Field will have a better vibe if the lanky right-hander is on the hill, and that’s no knock on Niese.

5. Sign Stephen Drew

There are reasons to pass on Drew that have nothing to do with draft picks or money. To wit: In 2012, Ruben Tejada, who is more than six years younger than Drew, put up a .289/.333/.351 line, and Drew was at .223/.309/.348. If Drew was a free agent a year ago no one would be pining for him.

But Drew played like an All-Star in 2013 while Tejada played like something well short of that, and most Mets fans want the club to sign Drew. They should.

There is a reasonable case to be made that their production won’t differ all that wildly in 2014, but there is no question that Drew’s superior power gives him a lot more upside. And if the Mets are going to be at all interesting this year, they need a little more upside.

Drew’s price has dropped because he has draft-pick compensation attached to him, but he would only cost the Mets a third-rounder. While they certainly shouldn’t give the opt-out after one year he wants, they should sign him if they can get him to agree to a two-year deal.

The Mets’ payroll is currently less than $90 million and the only shortstops in the system who have star potential are in A-ball or below. They must find a way.

 

[Chef99]

Cubbies sign Bonifacio to a minor league deal. Smart move by them, I don't know if we had a chance and passed on him, but I think he would've been a useful guy to have.

 

[Chef99]

YGB ??? Hmmmmm...

What is the big freakin' deal about Stephen Drew???


I honestly don't get it.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

What is the big freakin' deal about Stephen Drew???


I honestly don't get it.

Upgrade over Tejada.

But honestly, I'd prefer Flores get more time at SS this Spring and hopefully play the position full-time for us come opening day.

I just hate Tejada.

 

[Nasty_Magician]

Does Flores have the athleticism required to play short? Obviously we'll get a better picture in spring training. I know he's been working on agility and speed in the offseason but I'm not sure that's the best use for him.

 

[Johnnydollaz89]

Does Flores have the athleticism required to play short? Obviously we'll get a better picture in spring training. I know he's been working on agility and speed in the offseason but I'm not sure that's the best use for him.

I think he can do it, but obviously something he will need to work on.