In-Game Thread, 3/9, vs. Baltimore

[Guest Edgy DC]

Brandon Knight gave up three in the top of the first. We got 'em back in the bottom of the second off of Koji "Lieutenant" Uehara. Castillo had a two-run single.

Jose Valentin is at short today. Josh Thole walked as a pinch-hitter and is holding his own against big leaguers in camp.

[A Boy Named Seo]

Poor Duaner's throwing slow, straight, belt-high fastballs and The O's have a run in, 2 on, and just one out.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

I suspect Duaner will soon be joining Eric Gagne among baseball job-seekers.

[bmfc1]

I'm sorry to see this from Duaner, not just from a Mets perspective but personally--he was nice to me and the other Fantasy Campers. The reality is that The Mets will save a million dollars if they release him and have two Rule V guys they have to keep in the majors or return.

[A Boy Named Seo]

He gave another hit and a run, then K'd the last 2 dudes. FB was 83-84. Didn't look so hot.

I thought he won a raise pre-arb? The Mets would eat that money, wouldn't they?

Duaner looks dejected in the dugout.

[Guest sharpie]

They've got a decision to make on Duaner (this from SI):

]Duaner Sanchez might not have much longer to prove himself to the Mets. If the Mets release the right-handed reliever by April 1, they would save three-fourths of his $1.6875 million contract, and yesterday, manager Jerry Manuel made it clear Sanchez is in a dogfight this spring. Sanchez, who walked two in one scoreless inning, is under the microscope because he has yet to show the Mets he is the same dominant, high-velocity pitcher he was before wrecking his shoulder in a July 2006 taxi accident in Miami.

[Benjamin Grimm]

2006 is a long time ago now. What he did then shouldn't weigh at all in whether or not he makes the 2009 team.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Rocky Cherry.

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Roid-worthy power from Nick Evans on a 420-foot 8th-inning blast. Pinch-hit, too... maybe this is your 2009 ROABY? (Righty One-At-Bat guY)

[Frayed Knot]

And Rene Rivera wins it w/a walk-off HR in the 9th.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

A grund-slummer from Evans too.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I'm liking Evans. I know he was rushed last year. Maybe he can really contribute this year. Do you keep him as a the back-up first-base and outfield guy and pinch-hit guy? Or keep him in Buffalo to get more steady at-bats?

Looking at the earlier thread, can you keep both him and Marlon on the roster?

[Benjamin Grimm]

Right now my inclination would be to send Evans to Buffalo to be the everyday first baseman, hoping to make him a viable candidate to succeed Delgado in 2010.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Evans will be a Met at some time this year, but he's likely not what they're looking for at the start of the season. He might be better off with fulltime work at Buff.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

metsguyinmichigan wrote: I'm liking Evans. I know he was rushed last year. Maybe he can really contribute this year. Do you keep him as a the back-up first-base and outfield guy and pinch-hit guy? Or keep him in Buffalo to get more steady at-bats? Looking at the earlier thread, can you keep both him and Marlon on the roster?

I like Evans enough to think he oughta play allatime at AAA and be setting the place on fire demanding that we find him a role by June or July. It's only since they both were promoted to the big leagues that Murph was regarded any higher than Evans, since Murph was obviously better in their respective stints. But all the way until you'd have probably guessed Evans had the better future, and he could still again.