Camping with the Castaways

[Edgy MD]

How are your recent ex-Mets doing in their first spring training with another team? You don't want to root against them, but you want to think that the Mets were smart enough to move on when they did. OH, you're so TORN!!

Darrell Ceciliani, Toronto Blue Jay is 8 for 18 with a homer and four RBI, for a line of .444 / .565 / .778 // 1.343. Yikey.

Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Milwaukee Brewer, on the other hand, is 4 for 22, with 1 RBI, slashing at .182 / .250 / .364 // .614. That's even a little more foreboding when you see he's piled up a very Kirky 12 strikeouts.

But Daniel Murphy, Washington National, looks upon Kirk's .614 OPS and wonders where he can buy some of that. Daniel is 3-20 so far, and while two of those hits are doubles and he's knocked in four runs, a .150 / .190 / .250 // .440 line is not what the Nats are paying for.

But Daniel's not the only modest-powered, white second baseman/utility guy the Mets let fly this offseason. Why, there's Kelly Johnson, Atlanta Brave. Kelly's boomeranged back to the Braves with a .263 / .417 / .421 // .838 line that shames nobody. He's gone 5-19 and he's second or third on the depth chart at four or so positions, so he'll be starting soon enough.

You can't think of Kelly without calling to mind Juan Uribe, Cleveland Indian, who arrived in the same trade. Juan's a pro and he started out as if to show he's put his bruised torso (and scary windedness) behind him, getting three hits in his first six at-bats. But he was forced to leave camp last week to clear up a visa issue. Good luck with that, Juan! We'll be counting on you when the Indians face the Yankees.

Want to know know who's tearing up the Grapefruit League. Why, Wilfredo Tovar, Minnesota Twin, that's who! Tovarisch has gone to the plate 19 times and line up .333 / .368 / .389 // .757 display on the scoreboard, which I'm certain is better than anything you've ever done.

But you know what the world needs? Catchers. Burly, rugged, handsome catchers. And that's why we turn our attention to Anthony Recker, Cleveland Indian. There's nothing wrong with his visa, and frankly if he had to enter the country, they would just let him walk right in, knowhatimean? Anthony has had limited experience, because you don't want to over-expose an attraction like that, but he's gone one for three with a walk and a homer. That's as it should be.

And happy times seem afoot for Eric Young, Jr., Milwaukee Brewer. Eric has been to the plate 21 times, and racked up a .368 / .381 / .368 // .749 line. He'll be doing there what he did for us, desperately trying to compete for playing time with Kirk Niuwenhuis.

Let's look at the pitchers. That starts with Jonathon Niese, Pittsburgh Pirate. Niesey has thrown but five innings for his new team, but that's been enough to log an 0-2 record and a 14.40 ERA. He has walked three and struck out but two. Clearly the Mets defense is still hurting him.

You can't think of Niese without your mind immediately wandering to Dillon Gee, Kansas City Royal. Dillon has had a far healthier five innings, going 1-0 and posting a 1.80 ERA. He has walked two and struck out three and maybe we'll see him in our opening series.

You know who spent a lot of time as a Met? Bobby Parnell, Detroit Tiger did. And despite being a bull penner, he's logged more time than his starting teammates above this spring, having thrown 5.1 innings to the tune of a 3.38 ERA. He's walked four and struck out four and I can't think of anything that sounds more Parnellian than that.

Did somebody say walks?! Well, that brings to mind Álex Torres, Atlanta Brave. Alex is unsecured upon in his five innings of work thus far, protecting Atlanta leads as doggedly as he protects his noggin. Álex has whiffed four and to his credit, walked but one. Álex Torres, ladies and gentlemen.

But you can't talk about Álex without thinking of Carlos Torres, Atlanta Brave (also!). The longtime Met garbage-time reliever is matching his namesake almost batter for batter, throwing a scoreless 4 2/3 innings, striking out three and walking two. He's yielded but one hit!!

Relievers throwing goose eggs? Well surely that's not the situation with Tyler Clippard, Arizona Diamondback. Well, not quite, but that little mercenary isn't doing too bad either, yielding one run in four innings which adds up to a 2.25 ERA. He's struck out five and walked three and THAT'S NOT SUSTAINABLE, TYLER!

Surely, you say, surely Eric O'Flaherty, Pittsburgh Pirate isn't mowing them down so prolifically. Well he fookin' is! That ol' Irishman Airc Ó Flaithbheartaigh has pitched through St. Patrick's Day to the tune of five innings and a 1.80 ERA. And while that tune may sound like a sweet Irish air, he's walked two and given up seven hits, so this tune may turn sour soon enough.

Scott Rice, Arizona Diamondback has reason to be pissed. He got re-assigned to minor league camp without having faced a single batter. What a bunch of crap! I bet Clippard put a scorpion in his bed or something. That would be so Tyler Clippard.

Also re-assigned-without-activity has been Jack Leathersich, Chicago Cub. Unfortunately, we know his bad fortune isn't Clippard-related, but rather the result of a bum elbow. Jack will miss all of 2016 with Tomato Juice surgery. Best of luck, Jack!

Anyhow, thanks for playing Camping with the Castaways. I'm Bob Ewbanks and we'll see you tomorrow.

[Benjamin Grimm]

This is the tale of our castaways
They're here for a long long time
They'll have to make the best of things
It's an uphill climb

[Lefty Specialist]

Overall, I'd say that them's what we kept are better than them's what we let go.

[Edgy MD]

And add in thems wot we've acquired. #NeilWalker #AntonioBastardo #ThatHendersonDude

Still, that seems a lot of Met dudes with with big-league pedigree that they've shed in one offseason, no?

[Guest d'Kong76]

I'm rootin' hard for Murphy to be a flop! How many muffies
does he have? hee hee

It's an uphill climb

Funny, for over forty years I was hearing it's enough you'll find.
Learn something new every day here.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Murphy and Uribe too
Will do their very best
To make their clubs imcomparable
Like the 2015 Mets

[Benjamin Grimm]

No apple! No bridge!
No chop-shop 'hood!
Not a single luxury!
Like Robinson Crusoe
As primitive as can be.

[Edgy MD]

Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale
A tale without censorship
It started with a title run
And a bold World Series trip

The Mets were a mighty baseball team
And they added several guys
Between all them and those replaced
There’d be many goodbyes!

The series outcome sure was rough
And the add-ons had a cost
The hardest choices still to come
O, many Mets were lost!
O, many Mets were lost!

The team ground through the winter months
With Mets tossed on the pile
Like Niuwenhuis!
And Clippard too!
O’Flaherty!
And Scott Rice!
Juan U-Ri-Be!
Jack Leathersich and Dillon Gee!
HERE IN METLY EXILE!!
___

So this is the tale of Met castaways
Some Mets for a long, long time
They’re spread all throughout Florida
Or Arizona’s clime

Eric Young and Bobby P
Will do their very best
To make another roster and
To pass each steroid test

No Niese!, No Murph! No Recker here!
A handsome catcher he
Like Cary Grant in Houseboat
He’s sex beside the sea!

So join us here each week my friends,
For updates with a smile!
Of all these twenty-fifteen guys
LOST IN METLY EXILE!!!

[Guest d'Kong76]

Like Niuwenhuis! And Clippard too! O’Flaherty! And Scott Rice! Juan U-Ri-Be! Jack Leathersich and Dillon Gee!

Sing it!!

[Frayed Knot]

Edgy MD wrote: ... Jonathon Niese, Pittsburgh Pirate. Niesey has thrown but five innings for his new team, but that's been enough to log an 0-2 record and a 14.40 ERA. He has walked three and struck out but two. Clearly the Mets defense is still hurting him.

The Pirates are about the defensively-shiftiest team out there - and while the defensive metrics crowd may love them for it, one wonders whether Niese will appreciate (or even recognize) when the radical shifts are saving him runs or is he only going to get that 'WTF are youse guys doing to me out there?' look on his face if/when a grounder finds an unguarded hole somewhere.

[Guest Mets Guy in Michigan]

The Tigers are a watering hole for former Mets pitchers this year. Parnell joins Mike Pelfrey and K-Rod and, eventually, near-Met Michael Fullmer, who was assigned to the Mud Hens last week.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Bobby Pee released by the Tigers

[Chad ochoseis]

Great list, but the guy I just watched on my telly flubbing a play at second base and wearing bright red didn't make the cut. Ruben Tejada's legs appear to be doing just fine, as he's OPSing .865. I could't find a split between how much of that hitting was done as a Met and how much was done with a bird on his bat.


and...oops...hadn't noticed this was a March 18 post. Tejada was still Metly ten days ago, I think.

[Zvon]

Edgy MD wrote: Just sit right back and you’ll hear a tale A tale without censorship It started with a title run And a bold World Series trip The Mets were a mighty baseball team And they added several guys Between all them and those replaced There’d be many goodbyes! The series outcome sure was rough And the add-ons had a cost The hardest choices still to come O, many Mets were lost! O, many Mets were lost! The team ground through the winter months With Mets tossed on the pile Like Niuwenhuis! And Clippard too! O’Flaherty! And Scott Rice! Juan U-Ri-Be! Jack Leathersich and Dillon Gee! HERE IN METLY EXILE!! ___ So this is the tale of Met castaways Some Mets for a long, long time They’re spread all throughout Florida Or Arizona’s clime Eric Young and Bobby P Will do their very best To make another roster and To pass each steroid test No Niese!, No Murph! No Recker here! A handsome catcher he Like Cary Grant in Houseboat He’s sex beside the sea! So join us here each week my friends, For updates with a smile! Of all these twenty-fifteen guys LOST IN METLY EXILE!!!

Takes the ball, runs with it, TOUCHDOWN!!!lolol. That's classic.

[Edgy MD]

Still waiting to hear where Carlos Torres lands after his release from the Braves.

Another Met cast into exile this offseason, but not mentioned above was Wilfredo Tovar, who hit a surprising .292 / .346 / .333 // .679 with the Twins out of Lakeland, but was a late cut, going down to minor league camp last week.

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Carlos Torres hooked on with his old pals Kirk Niuewenhuis -- and Blaine Boyer (!!) -- in Milwaukee. Gave up 2 runs in his first inning.

Niese made his first start as a Pirate (wearing no. 18?!) and was Niese-like: 5 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 4 ER, 7 Ks. Gave up a 2-run homer to Jerk Geddco, got a no-decision. Ironically, screwed over by an error by the vaunted Pirate defense he couldn't wait to throw for.

[Edgy MD]

John Cougar Lunchbucket wrote: Carlos Torres hooked on with his old pals Kirk Niuewenhuis -- and Blaine Boyer (!!) -- in Milwaukee. ...

And Chris Capuano!

Just kidding. Nobody was friends with Capuano.