Double IGT, 3/8

[Guest Edgy DC]

In one of the lesser-known Mets spring traditions, March 8 is traditionally designated as DH-the-Fourth-String-Catcher-Candidates Day

1:05pm @ Astros

1. Scott Hairston, CF
   
2. Brad Emaus, 2B
   
3. Ike Davis, 1B
   
4. Lucas Duda, LF
   
5. Zach Lutz, 3B
   
6. Fernando Martinez, RF
   
7. Josh Thole, C
   
8. Dusty Ryan, DH
   
9. Ruben Tejada, SS

Oliver Perez, SP (fight for your life, Ollie!)

1:10pm vs. Nationals

1. Jose Reyes, SS
   
2. Willie Harris, RF
   
3. David Wright, 3B
   
4. Daniel Murphy, 1B
   
5. Nick Evans, LF
   
6. Justin Turner, 2B
   
7. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, CF
   
8. Mike Nickeas, C
   
9. Raul Chavez, DH

Chris Capuano, SP

[Ceetar]

Nats game is on SNY, other one on Astros radio.

[TransMonk]

Terry and Sandy are travelling to see Ollie pitch.

I thought our GM wanted to see Reyes play. Hey, Sandy! Jose's in St. Lucie.

[bmfc1]

I think that we are going to be seeing a lot of Scott Hairston in RF this season.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, we're seeing him in centerfield today, which suggests that they're not looking to even fake it with Martinez there.

[Benjamin Grimm]

If Beltran can't answer the bell, then maybe it's Fernando's time to shine.

[Ceetar]

Actually, i amend my statement, it looks like the game in Kissimmee might be on the radio. I'll tune in and can hear the Astro's announcers impression of Ollie..

[Benjamin Grimm]

They also do a good impression of Cary Grant.

[Guest Edgy DC]

It seems like the Astros have been in Kissimmee forever, but it's been like 27 years.

I think they should move to Cape Canaveral.

[metirish]

TransMonk wrote: Terry and Sandy are travelling to see Ollie pitch. I thought our GM wanted to see Reyes play. Hey, Sandy! Jose's in St. Lucie.

Rubin rather smugly says this is Ollies last time in a Mets uniform.

[metirish]

Carlos Beltran will refrain from any game action for a second straight day Tuesday to rest left knee tendinitis coupled with his chronic right knee woes.

http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets

[metirish]

metirish wrote: TransMonk wrote: Terry and Sandy are travelling to see Ollie pitch. I thought our GM wanted to see Reyes play. Hey, Sandy! Jose's in St. Lucie. Rubin rather smugly says this is Ollies last time in a Mets uniform.

I take that back , he said this

Tuesday marks the final start of Oliver Perez's Mets career

I guess that can be taken many ways.

[TransMonk]

Can Ollie play RF?

[Ceetar]

metirish wrote: metirish wrote: TransMonk wrote: Terry and Sandy are travelling to see Ollie pitch. I thought our GM wanted to see Reyes play. Hey, Sandy! Jose's in St. Lucie. Rubin rather smugly says this is Ollies last time in a Mets uniform. I take that back , he said this Tuesday marks the final start of Oliver Perez's Mets career I guess that can be taken many ways.

The main theme there being that Collins and Alderson are not being open and honest with Ollie, and that he doesn't actually have a chance to win the rotation spot even if he throws 4 innings with 12 Ks at 95mph today.

You have to wonder why they're bothering to watch then.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Come on. There is no evidence of anybody being dishonest. It's been reported all weekend that this is expected to be Perez's last start and that Collins sees his primary opportunity to make the team as the bullpen.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: Come on. There is no evidence of anybody being dishonest. It's been reported all weekend that this is expected to be Perez's last start and that Collins sees his primary opportunity to make the team as the bullpen.

that's contradictory in it of itself. If he's trying to make the team as a starter, what he does today matters. If today was going to be his last start no matter what, then he's not actually auditioning to be a starter.

I know it was always extremely likely and it seemed like Collins told Perez "I'll give you a shot, show me something" and that he hasn't to this point. But to 'report' things as a done deal before it actually happens annoys me.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ceetar wrote: metirish wrote: metirish wrote: TransMonk wrote: Terry and Sandy are travelling to see Ollie pitch. I thought our GM wanted to see Reyes play. Hey, Sandy! Jose's in St. Lucie. Rubin rather smugly says this is Ollies last time in a Mets uniform. I take that back , he said this Tuesday marks the final start of Oliver Perez's Mets career I guess that can be taken many ways. The main theme there being that Collins and Alderson are not being open and honest with Ollie, and that he doesn't actually have a chance to win the rotation spot even if he throws 4 innings with 12 Ks at 95mph today. You have to wonder why they're bothering to watch then.

I'd bet everything that if Ollie threw "4 innings with 12 Ks at 95mph", he'd climb the depth charts. If my mother threw "4 innings with 12 Ks at 95mph", she'd move up the Mets depth charts.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Ceetar wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Come on. There is no evidence of anybody being dishonest. It's been reported all weekend that this is expected to be Perez's last start and that Collins sees his primary opportunity to make the team as the bullpen. that's contradictory in it of itself. If he's trying to make the team as a starter, what he does today matters. If today was going to be his last start no matter what, then he's not actually auditioning to be a starter. I know it was always extremely likely and it seemed like Collins told Perez "I'll give you a shot, show me something" and that he hasn't to this point. But to 'report' things as a done deal before it actually happens annoys me.

No, it's not contradictory.

I think you're kind of conflating Rubin with Alderson here.

[batmagadanleadoff]

Ollie's throwing 84 MPH High School fastballs. He seems done. He's only auditioning because of his $12M contract. What would you prefer the Mets do with him?

[Ceetar]

batmagadanleadoff wrote: Ollie's throwing 84 MPH High School fastballs. He seems done. He's only auditioning because of his $12M contract. What would you prefer the Mets do with him?

leaving the varying degree of fastball out of it, because every report mentions a different number for every start and if he was competant he's got the movement on those pitches to get guys out regardless.

I want them to give him a chance to prove he can make the team, up until they need those innings for the serious races. I don't want him to audition as a lefty specialist because the biggest thing keeping him from being successful is also what's going to make it even worse as a reliever. Walks, and not accepting that walks are the worst thing ever.

If there isn't a chance he's going to be effective, release him. Why pretend he's auditioning for anything today?

Because he _is_. It's probably a .5% chance he earns anything, but it annoys me that people are reporting that it's basically a done deal and yet are all pumped up to give us constant updates as to his status and results. If it's a done deal, I don't need to hear that he threw a ball on a 2-0 count in the second inning do I?

[Guest Edgy DC]

Well, Rubin will predict what he wants. Part of the goal of columnists (and internet posters) is to predict things before they happen. I don't know how we get from there to Collins and Alderson being dishonest.

[G-Fafif]

Meanwhile, at St. Lucie, Capuano having many chances to test his awesome pickoff move.

[bmfc1]

3 in the 1st against Ollie before getting an out. Had enough?

[G-Fafif]

OK, he heard me and stopped putting on Nationals.

[G-Fafif]

Space Coast Stadium should be shaped like Jeannie's bottle. You'd have to bunt a lot, though.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Oliver Perez goes 1-2-3 in the second inning, striking out Michael Bourne to finish.

Mets down by a net score of 5-1 in the two games.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Old buddy Nelson Figueroa and his enormous eyebrows dealing for Houston.

[Ceetar]

Presumably that's it for Ollie. Mostly bad, although doesn't look so bad after the first four batters. did he adjust? (probably not)

Houston announcers said he hit 90 at one point.

Can't see that being enough to earn another start. Will they leave him in Disney? (near Disney) probably not, probably going to throw him an inning or two in relief from here.

[Guest Edgy DC]

A double and an unintentional intentional walk in the third before Ollie gets out of it.

Sounds like it was bad enough to knock him out of the mix for the rotation, but not so bad to knock him out of the bullpen mix, but obviously he's got to show more than that.

[Ceetar]

Edgy DC wrote: A double and an unintentional intentional walk in the third before Ollie gets out of it. Sounds like it was bad enough to knock him out of the mix for the rotation, but not so bad to knock him out of the bullpen mix, but obviously he's got to show more than that.

Rich Coutino said he was averaging 85-88 according to scouts, although the Houston guy said he was peaking at a scouts gun and saw 90, so who knows.

I agree with that assessment though, bad but not bad enough. one of those outs was caught at the top of the wall by Duda.

Announcers said he was still at 89mph in the third.

I wonder if my phone has a speed gun app that I can bring down there next week..