Let's Go Camping (Spring training 2006)

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Saw this note on mets.com. I guess we can attempt a catchall St. Lucie thread

]NEW YORK -- The Mets announced Tuesday they had signed three players with Major League experience and invited them to Spring Training and invited an additional nine players to attend camp. The Mets signed catcher Bobby Estalella, who was out of baseball last year after spending Spring Training with Cincinnati. Estalella, 31, spent 2004 with Arizona and Toronto, batting a combined .185 (5-for-27) with two home runs and four RBIs in 12 games. Right-hander Jose Santiago, 31, who appeared in four games with the Mets last season, was also signed. He had a 3.18 ERA in 5 2/3 innings. He pitched in 28 games, including 17 starts, with Triple-A Norfolk, posting a 7-6 record with a 4.26 ERA in 122 2/3 innings. Also signed was right-hander Jeremi Gonzalez, a veteran who spent last season in the Boston organization. He was on the Major League roster from May 2-25 and from July 4 to the end of the season. In 25 relief appearances, the 31-year-old Gonzalez was 1-0 with a 5.57 ERA, and he was 1-1 with a 7.71 ERA in three starts covering 14 innings. Non-roster players invited to camp include right-handed pitchers Rafael Cova, Tim Lavigne and Jason Scobie; catchers Drew Butera, Zac Clements, Aaron Hathaway and Andy Wilson; infielder Brett Harper and top outfield prospect Lastings Milledge. The team so far has invited 27 non-roster players to its training camp, including 12 pitchers, eight catchers, three infielders and four outfielders.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Notice the absence of the other two Piazzae, even though most able-bodied catchers get the call.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

The 25-man roster thread linked to a better version of thgis story (thanks mfs62)

In convenient list form, so's we can strikethru guys as they're cut:

Pitchers:
Rafael Cova
Pedro Feliciano (L)
Jeremi Gonzalez
Jeremy Hill
Tim Lavigne
Dae-Sung Koo (L)
Darren Oliver (L)
Jose Parra
Matt Perisho (L)
Jose Santiago
Jason Scobie
Mike Venafro (L)

Catchers
Drew Butera
Zac Clements
Bobby Estalella
Jesus Flores
Aaron Hathaway
Joe Hietpas
Sandy Martinez
Andy Wilson

Infielders
Brett Boone
Juan Tejeda
Brett Harper

Outfielders:
Lastings Milledge
Julio Ramirez
Tike Redman
Todd Self

[MFS62]

Edgy, I believe the Mets released catcher Tony Piazza (at the end of) last season.

JD, you're welcome, and you can start the edit by striking off Tike. He was DFA'd yesterday to make room on the 40 man for one of the latest acquisitions.

Later

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

No, above is a list of NRIs in camp. Unless he's been claimed?

[A Boy Named Seo]

How 'bout Mr. Koo getting invited back to the party? I liked that crazy bastard. Not much room for him, though. It seems like if we did find a Roberto Hernandez among the bunch, the only real bullpen spot that's not guaranteed is Padilla's. Duaner may have options, I guess. Dunno.

Bobby Estalella used to be a Mr. Universe-looking monster who couldn't really hit too much. He always made me think steroids before my brain was programmed to think steroids all the time.

Aaron Hathaway for some reason I remember from last year's draft. He was a senior catcher out of Univ. of Washington, but I don't remember another thing about him.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

They always have a shitload of catchers at ST to catch all the pitchers: I doubt anyone gets a good look.

Koo's lefthandedness might help him some, even if he wasn't especially useful vs. 'em.

[MFS62]

Johnny Dickshot wrote: No, above is a list of NRIs in camp. Unless he's been claimed?

He hasn't been claimed yet, but I don't think this is technically the same as being put on waivers.

I believe there's an X-day waiting period, during which they have to trade or release him. And that period will expire before ST officially starts.

So, unless he doesn't catch on with another team or get dealt (and I'd be surprised if Boston doesn't take a looksee at him for centerfield) he could still be with the team by then. So until we know for sure, you might as well keep him on the list.

Later

[A Boy Named Seo]

Bobby Esta-lay-'ya courtesy of Outsports. No kidding.

(Cue the "Blue Oyster" tango...)

[Guest abogdan]

Koo should be in the running for the 2B job. He hit better than the folks who played there last year.

[Diamond Dad]

Didn't Estalella get cut by the phillies?

Great -- reject Phillies.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Mike Venafro (Ven-, meaning "large," and -Afro, meaning "afro") might be the lefty that comes out of this. Sure stats show he got busted up good by AAA hitters last year, but the competition ain't strong here and he brings the funk, sidearm style.

Just curious about him I learned he's a Catholic Boy (redeemed through pain, not through joy) and once apparently answered a few question on an internet board.

http://www.catholicherald.com/articles/00articles/venafro.htm

http://forums.mlbcenter.com//showthread.php?t=3488&page=1&pp=20

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

Lima blasphemes Turk and becomes the New Guy with the Highest Number In Camp:



I-riki, you're so fine. You're so fine you blow my mind


That sonafabitch Henry Owens, blew off Roland's head (inside the box LoDuca's carrying, obviously)

[Guest abogdan]

Mr. Koo:

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

[Guest Edgy DC]

It's the angle, I guess, but those are some clownish-sized shoes on Hank Owens.

[seawolf17]

AAAAAAA! Wagner hurt his shoulder!

(Just kidding. Those are some bitchin' socks, by the way.)

[metirish]

Sorry i should have posted my pics here...

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I meant for this to be the "you're cut" thread. I posted photos to mark the beginning of ST.

[Guest KC]

Programming note: ESPN has the Mets on Sun at 2 vs. Puerto Rico (I
guess it's a split squad because they're supposed to play the Dodgers)
and Mon at 1 vs. Cleveland.

[Guest Yancy Street Gang]

So for which team do Beltran and Delgado play?

I'm guessing Puerto Rico.

[soupcan]

Not so bad down here lazily watching exhibition games in 85 degree weather. We're at the Holiday Inn in Port St. Lucie where supposedly the Single A St. Lucie Mets are also holed up. I say supposedly because all we've actually seen are a bunch of tall, fit latin men wearing flashy jewelry. Could be the St. Lucie Mets or it could be the Dominican Chippendales travelling squad.

Went to the game today and it was fun. My son got exactly two autographs - Jose Valentin and Royce Ring (who couldn't be nicer - lucky for him). No Pedro sightings, but we did see the Puerto Rican WBC team doing some stretching. Bernie Williams is quite a bit bigger than I ever thought.

Took a few pics, here ya go.



soupcan, Jr. welcomes you...


As do the two Puerto Rican National Team's Carloses, Beltran (who it appears has had that nasty 'thing' removed from the side of his head finally) and...


...Delgado. Clean shaven right down to his chocolaty smooth chrome dome


"soupcan, Jr.! soupy! Can we get a quote?! A comment? Anything? How's your toe?"


The Woodman looking to be in fine shape


Cliffy apparently believes Met fans are not alone in their thinking that the starting pitching may be a bit thin.


Xavier Nady asking Floyd if he thinks he'll have a better chance at the opening day roster if he works on his slider too.


Best t-shirt I saw today.


On a serious note - why are these foul/fair poles so short??


Where stadium security found me after babysitting a crying 'lost' soupcan, Jr. for an hour.


"Pizza Guy. Who ordered the pepperoni?"


My first look at Lastings Milledge. I'm liking the socks.


Lastings again (this kid needs a nickname bad), it was just a groundout but exciting anyway.Ooh sorry, bad job on the resize.


soupy, Jr. cooling off in the Holiday Inn pool after a long hot day

[Guest cooby]

What kinda dad deserts his kid and goes to a Tiki Bar?

(very nice pics)

[Willets Point]

cooby wrote: What kinda dad deserts his kid and goes to a Tiki Bar?

Sounds like a typical dad. Except maybe the Tiki part, that's kind of sissy.

[Guest cooby]

Now, if it were me, I would have deserted my kid and gone out there and sunbathed on one of those towels beyond the outfield fence

[Guest ScarletKnight41]

]Could be the St. Lucie Mets or it could be the Dominican Chippendales travelling squad.

It's all good, either way

Thanks for sharing your travel tales soup - great pix. Who was interviewing your son?

[metirish]

Great pics, thanks for sharing, yeah who's interviewing little soup...MLB TV?

[Guest KC]

Nice pictures - I gotta have one of of those C ork tee shirts

[Guest cooby]

Soupcan, were there more people there yesterday than Saturday?

[soupcan]

="ScarletKnight41"]Thanks for sharing your travel tales soup - great pix. Who was interviewing your son?

That was for the new Mets channel - SportsNet New York. They were interveiwing kids about how to get autographs, etc. He thought it was just great.

="KC"]Nice pictures - I gotta have one of of those C ork tee shirts

Yup. Me too.

="cooby"]Soupcan, were there more people there yesterday than Saturday?

Oh yeah, a capacity crowd I think. Very funny though. Being a New Yorker and attending games up here you get used to the 'merengue night atmosphere' that often accompanies games at Shea. The locals from Port St. Lucie however, were not and it was very funny to see their reactions. The Latinos were boisterous and loud and dancing in the aisles. Mariatchi bands would arise spontaneously throughout the stadium. It was fun. Again though the locals did not know what to make of it. A lady sitting next to me was so freaked out she left in the 6th to 'beat he traffic'. They were amazed at the amount of alcohol consumption noticable because the beer vendors were only servicing those sections where the 'Boricuans' were (hey, beer vendors aren't stupid - they go where the denmand is).