Mini-Camp

[Guest Edgy DC]

Yes, many mumbling Mets are working out in St. Lucie, particularly rookies and rehabbers.

Some Adam Rubin highlights:

• Eddie Kunz is slimmer, but failed to use the magic "best shape of my life" phrase.
  
  
  
• Returned from bone spur surgery is Mike Nickeas.
  
  
  
• John Maine canceled "due to weather."
  
  
  
• Perez, Murphy, Chris Carter, Shawn Boman, Kunz, and Nickeas all arrived and began working out before the Minaya, Manuel, and the rest of the management even took off from New York.
  
  
  
• Can't see a surgery scar on Johan's elbow. Can you?
  
  
  
  
• Ollie Perez, pain-free and in good shape.
  
  
  
  
  
• The new hats look as lousy as you would think. What's wrong with royal blue. Why are all these alternative hats either a deeper blue or a paler one?

Does the guy behind Johan have amissing arm? Have the Mets signed Pete Gray?

[metirish]

I'd really like to see Razor a good twenty feet away from Santana.

[Benjamin Grimm]

[*]Can't see a surgery scar on Johan's elbow. Can you?

[Ceetar]

I'd really like to see Razor a good twenty feet away from Santana.[/quote:1yqcl4v8]

That's roughly how far away he'll be in the dugout while Santana pitches.


Niese is on pace to be 100% healthy for Spring Training, threw off a mound.

some mini-camp humor:

Ceetar: Jeff Francoeur still swung at both. @joe_demayo Oliver Perez has thrown 2 balls over the fence tossing with Santana

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Is anyone else not feeling the usual level of anticipation re: pitchers-and-catchers' arrival this year?

[TransMonk]

*raises hand*

I'm really interested to see what the expectaions are for this season by the pundits and the like. I have a feeling that the bar may be set low enough that they can exceed expectations for the first time in a few years.

I'm also dreading that they may not get any better and this year will be a repeat of last year, matching or coming in below expectations.

[metirish]

Is anyone else not feeling the usual level of anticipation re: pitchers-and-catchers' arrival this year?[/quote:27wr0wag]


Jets just lost so perhaps you are not feeling tip top as is?

It's still a bit early to get excited but this time next month I expect I will be.

[Ceetar]

No, I'm practically counting down the hours. I'm even more excited because it almost feels like I haven't seen them play since 2008. To see Santana take the mound with Reyes behind him on Opening Day? That's going to be a good feeling.

I also feel this team is good enough to win though. No reason to think they won't be competitive, barring injury of course.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Is anyone else not feeling the usual level of anticipation re: pitchers-and-catchers' arrival this year?

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

P&C is a giant cocktease, I've come to hate the whole watched-pot aspect of it, plus the fact that all of us can prolly name 24 of the 25 guys who'll break camp with the club right now. Plus it's become one of those phrases that fake baseball fans use to try to appear as if they're real baseball fans.

On the other hand, it's better than College Bowl season.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think reporters look forward to pitchers and catchers because they get to escape the cold and go to Florida.

I don't know why fans would look forward to it, unless they're taking their lead from the reporters, which is certainly possible.

[Ceetar]

I think reporters look forward to pitchers and catchers because they get to escape the cold and go to Florida.

I don't know why fans would look forward to it, unless they're taking their lead from the reporters, which is certainly possible.[/quote:37ucb7wy]

If you have time (and this is the first year in a couple I won't be either unemployed or visiting Florida) it can be a lot of fun to enjoy Spring Training. I enjoy watching or visiting, and while figuring out the 25th guy on the roster is 'eh', it's fun to watch the prospects. I enjoyed watching Ruben Tejada last year, someone I hadn't heard of prior to going to Port St. Lucie. You get a feel for the little guys, and how they're viewed by the team.

Tejada, (who i got to sign a baseball) coincidentally must've been viewed well, as he got a lot of playing time, and even played in the Red Sox Citi Field exhibition. I also discovered that the Spring Training uniforms are not all..uniform. During the away game in Tiger Town, Tejada played and wore #87 (no name, he's not that special..) the next day at Tradition field he wore #86 and it took me a couple of minutes to confirm that it was in fact the same guy running around out there. (I guess either the home uniforms don't have a 87, or the away ones don't have an 86. )

I enjoy listening to the WFAN broadcasts just as a memory of baseball. Gary Keith and Ron are priceless if you actually listen to the whole broadcast in Spring. (I was flipping around the radio the other day and stumbled on Gary Cohen doing whichever meaningless college team he does. that was a jolt of 'is baseball here yet?' that stuck.)

[Guest Edgy DC]

I like baseball and lub the Mets, and P&C means more information about the two.

[Fman99]

It isn't even about baseball, to me. It means spring is nigh.

[Chad ochoseis]

It isn't even about baseball, to me. It means spring is nigh.
[/quote:1nob0fj7]

In other words, just four short months away for you guys in Syracuse.

But, yeah. It means nothing to me in and of itself, but everything in terms of spring, longer days, the real baseball season, &c., &c., &c., soon approaching.

[Guest attgig]

getting kinda anxious for santana's mound session.... just 20 stinkin pitches, but man....

wish they would webcast this stuff...

[Benjamin Grimm]

Mets' Santana has successful return to mound

11:11 AM, January 26, 2010 ? By KEVIN KERNAN

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- A Mets franchise desperately in need of some good news got some today when Johan Santana threw a successful bullpen session at the team�s mini-camp in Port St. Lucie.

Santana arrived at the Mets� minor-league facility at 9:55 this morning, started with some running and light tossing. But the real test came when the Mets ace threw off a mound for the first time since undergoing August surgery to remove bone chips from his left elbow. Santana threw 24 pitches over six minutes and was seen laughing with manager Jerry Manuel and GM Omar Minaya after the session.

Santana did not expect any problems, but with the way things have gone for the Mets recently this had to come as a great relief to the team. The session went perfectly with Santana mixing in some changeups. His goal is to reach 90 pitches by the end of spring training.

"I�m feeling good,�� Santana said yesterday. "What happened last spring had nothing to do with the surgery I had. At this point I feel way ahead of what I was last year at this point. I can�t wait to be in spring training and see where we are at.��

Santana threw alongside a group of four pitchers, including Oliver Perez. He was watched closely by Chris Correnti, the Mets� rehab specialist, who came over from Boston when they signed Pedro Martinez. Correnti spoke with Santana in between pitches.

The Mets strength and conditioning coordinator, Rick Slate, was also on hand and had more good news. Santana had already ordered lunch for everyone at the mini-camp sandwiches from Subway. If choosing between ham and turkey was one of Santana�s concerns, well that could be a bad thing.

[MFS62]

If choosing between ham and turkey was one of Santana�s concerns, well that could be a bad thing.

He yelled out "turkey" and Omar entered the room.
Coincidence?

Later

[Guest LeiterWagnerFasterStrongr]

Is Subway paying him in kind?

'Cause if that's the case... man, should've held out for Quizno's.

[metirish]

Good news with Ollie


New York Mets pitcher Oliver Perez says knee not a problem

PORT ST. LUCIE - Oliver Perez has gotten rid of his modest Mohawk and grown a beard. But of much greater interest to the Mets than the lefthander's follicle follies, Perez declared himself "strong," with no lingering knee problems after an injury-wrecked 2009 season. After spending the winter training in Phoenix at a well-regarded facility with other major leaguers at the Mets' behest, Perez undoubtedly is in better shape than a year ago. Last March, Perez drew criticism from pitching coach Dan Warthen for returning from the World Baseball Classic unprepared for a major-league season. Perez relocated this offseason from his native Culiacan, Mexico, to Arizona to train at Fischer Sports, the facility credited with preparing Randy Johnson during his career. Other than two weeks spent in Mexico around Christmas, Perez said he's spent the entire winter in Phoenix working out at that training center with major leaguers including Kerry Wood, Chris and Shelley Duncan, Sergio Mitre and Mike Hampton. "A lot of good players there," Perez said. Perez said he's religiously at the facility by 7 a.m. and stretching 90 minutes later. The southpaw went 3-4 with a 6.82 ERA in 14 starts in 2009, in the first season of a three-year, $36 million deal. He spent May 7-July 8 on the disabled list with right patellar tendinitis, and ultimately underwent Sept. 1 surgery to remove scar tissue from the knee. "Right now I don't feel anything," he said Monday. "I think that's why I'm really happy. I feel really strong." Of course, Perez's trademark wildness comically remained Monday. As he long-tossed with Johan Santana on a windy morning at the Mets' complex, Perez twice overshot Santana with throws on a back field and cleared a fence. "It's going to take a couple of weeks," Santana turned and offered with a smile.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Ollie's gonna kick ass this year, just watch.

[metirish]

Ollie's gonna kick ass this year, just watch.[/quote:1wvrcx2u]


Yep , I really think he will too.

[TransMonk]

Agreed, I think Ollie and Maine will both be improved this season.

I also think this is Pelfrey's put up or shut up year.

[Guest holychicken]

I hope Ollie follows Greinke's lead, sorts out his mental issues and unlocks his true potential.

[Guest Edgy DC]

I don't think there's any evidence Oliver Perez ever had any mental issues.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I think it would be hard to find "evidence" of any pitcher having mental issues.

[Frayed Knot]

Well, with Greinke there is which is where the comparison was being made.

[Guest metsguyinmichigan]

I would not be surprised if Perez throws the first Mets no-hitter. I also would not be surprised if he followed that game up with six-run, seven-walk, three-inning disaster.

I think he gets it all together this year and makes us proud.

[TransMonk]

I don't think there's any evidence Oliver Perez never had any mental issues.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I used to think that Sid Fernandez (who in many ways was like Oliver Perez) would throw the first Mets no-hitter, and that he'd be the losing pitcher because of walks.