Edgy MD

Oh, man. Bad day to choose to stink up the joint, Chasen.

Tigers put up three in the sixth to go ahead against Chasen Bradford, helped along by a leadoff walk and an error by Amed Rosario! Dauntless Mets tie it up in the seventh as Lucas Duda walks, is pinch-run for by Jared King (who? what?), and comes around to score on a double by John Mayberry. Among all these floaters, I haven't seen an appearance by Cory Vaughn. Wonder what he's up to.

Amed Rosario making his debut for the Mets!

Inning ends with Mets up 3-1 after Muno plates the run. The Mets, as they say, rule.

Gets Avila on a fly to center. TripBOOM for Castellanos!

Mets beating the Tigers, 2-1. Up in hits, 8-4. Zach Thornton with two scoreless innings. Leathersich coming on with two outs and two on and lefty Alex Avila coming up.

I feel like I'm trapped in a cycle of success here, starting these threads because the Mets have themselves a little winning streak that nobody is noting. It's spring, so who cares, right? But somehow it's on me to keep carrying it forward, and drawing David Price and the Tigers at home (the Mets' road lineup includes two starters) is a tall order to keep carrying, as the Mets sit 1.5 games off the pace in the fake standings among all National League teams in the spring, and one game out among all Cactus League teams. And frankly, considering that first place in the latter group is currently held by Miami and the Yankees, I'd like to steal the heck out of that bacon. Steven Matz goes for the Mets in replacement of Noah Syndergaard, who was farmed out after taking a practice throw off of his ankle. Life is fraught with peril. Juan Lagares, cfRuben Tejada, ssLucas Duda, dhJohn Mayberry, Jr., lfEric Campbell, 3bAnthony Recker, cAlex Castellanos, 1bDaniel Muno, 2bCesar Puello, rf Steven Matz, sp Rajai Davis, cfAlex Avila, dhJ.D. Martinez, rfYoenis Cespedes, lfNick Castellanos, 3bAaron Westlake, 1bBryan Holaday, cHernan Perez, 2bAndrew Romine, ss David Price, lhp

Matt Wise, I forgot you were a Met!

If my experience is any guide, dim memories should start leaking into your brain in about a half an hour, mostly of him as a Cardinal in the first years of the century. Mike Matthews is a very Cardinal name. Mike Matthews, Matt Matheny, Mark McGwire. The Cards seem to attract MMs like the Mets attract BBs.

Doing some Met research and I stumbled upon Mike Matthews. Took a LOT of brain jogging to remember him. Broke camp in 2005, appeared in six games, and was cut loose with a double-digit ERA. Talk about troubles with left-handed relief. Randolph's first Met team started the season with Matthews and Felix Heredia. They would pitch 7 2/3 innings that season between them and never appear in an MLB game again. Dae-Sung Koo would give them a modestly effective 23 innings before getting coming up hurt with an injury that was ultimately connected to his daring slide into home plate against the Yankees, but the Mets would cycle with frustration through the likes of Royce Ring and Tim Hamulack. No success there, but at least I vividly recall those guys. Matthews didn't even warrant a 2005 Mets Pin.

The difference between April and June won't be as awful in practice as it is in theory right now. We'll have moved on to other disappointments by then.

Folks, I think Buddy Boy is going to make this team.

Reports of Noah Syndergaard's re-assignment to minor league camp is accompanied by news of him being scratched from his scheduled start against the Tigers due to him taking a ball off the ankle during a game of catch. That's less than ideal news. There's going to be at least two roster spot opening up with Wheeler and Edgin assigned to the 60-Day, so Buddy Carlye and Scott Rice have slight edges on bullpen jobs, based largely on the team's past patter of preferring to cycle through vets until the younger guys take the spots away, but time still remains. Vic Black may not be ready either, Goeddel remains in a dogfight with Montero, Mazzoni, Bradford, Thornton and others for that spot, and it's not like Buddy is locked in either. TransactionSent To Minor League Camp Added To Projected RosterRemoved From Projected RosterPosition=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_592789.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_234194.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_592340.jpg[/fimg]NameNoah SyndergaardBuddy CarlyleEric GoeddelDoB8/29/1992 #3412/21/77 #4312/20/88 #62 Your New York Mets Position=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF0000]Relief Pitcher=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_112526.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_594798.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_518716.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_518774.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_477003.jpg[/fimg]NameBartolo ColonJacob deGromDillon GeeMatt HarveyJonathon NieseDoB5/24/73 #406/19/88 #484/28/86 #353/27/89 #3310/27/86 #49MLB Stats15-13, 4.09 202.1 IP, 30/1519-6, 2.69 140.1 IP, 43/1447-8, 4.00 137.1 IP, 43/949-11, 3.40 187.2 IP, 45/138AAA Stats4-0, 2.58 38.1 IP, 10/29Rk Stats0-0, 0.00 2.0 IP, 0/2Position=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_502195.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_234194.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_544727.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_543219.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_516769.jpg[/fimg]NameVic BlackBuddy CarlyleJeurys FamiliaSean GilmartinJenrry MejiaDoB5/23/88 #3812/21/77 #4310/10/89 #2711/4/1986 #3610/11/89 #58MLB Stats2-3, 2.60 34.2 IP, 19/321-1, 1.45 31.0 IP, 5/282-5 (5), 2.21 77.1 IP, 32/732-4, 4.28 73.2 IP, 28/596-6 (28), 3.65 93.2 IP, 41/98AAA Stats0-1 (7), 1.45 18.2 IP, 17/184-2, 2.16 33.1 IP, 12/367-3, 3.12 72.0 IP, 16/74A+ Stats1-0, 0.00 5.2 IP, 0/10Position=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#008000]Catcher=#008000]Catcher=#8000FF]Infielder[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_446488.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_448614.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_518595.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_489232.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_493472.jpg[/fimg]NameScott RiceCarlos TorresTravis d'ArnaudAnthony ReckerEric CampbellDoB9/21/81 #5610/22/82 #522/10/89 #78/28/83 #204/9/87 #29MLB Stats1-2, 5.93 13.2 IP, 12/138-6 (2), 3.06 97.0 IP, 38/96421 PA, .242/13/41 .302/.416//.718189 PA, .201/7/27 .246/.374//.620211 PA, .263/3/16 .322/.358//.680AAA Stats0-0, 3.38 5.1 IP, 4/659 PA, .436/6/16 .475/.909//1.384163 PA, .355/3/24 .475/.909//1.384AA Stats9 PA, .125/1/2 .222/.500//.722Position=#8000FF]Infielder=#8000FF]Infielder=#8000FF]Infielder=#8000FF]Infielder=#8000FF]Infielder[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_446263.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_527038.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_502517.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_514913.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_431151.jpg[/fimg]NameLucas DudaWilmer FloresDaniel MurphyRuben TejadaDavid WrightDoB2/3/86 #218/6/91 #44/11/85 #2810/27/89 #1112/20/82 #5MLB Stats596 PA, .253/30/92 .349/.481//.830274 PA, .251/6/29 .286/.378//.664642 PA, .289/9/57 .332/.403//.735419 PA, .237/5/34 .342/.310//.652586 PA, .269/8/63 .324/.374//.698AAA Stats241 PA, .323/13/57 .367/.568//.935Position=#0000FF]Outfielder=#0000FF]Outfielder=#0000FF]Outfielder=#0000FF]Outfielder=#0000FF]Outfielder[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_150212.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_434158.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_501571.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_543590.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_460055.jpg[/fimg]NameMichael CuddyerCurtis GrandersonJuan LagaresKirk NieuwenhuisJohn MayberryDoB9/27/79 #233/16/81 #33/17/89 #128/7/87 #912/21/83 #44MLB Stats205 PA, .332/10/3 .376/.579//.955654 PA, .227/20/66 .326/.388//.714452 PA, .281/4/47 .321/.382//.703112 PA, .259/3/16 .346/.482//.828168 PA, .212/7/23 .310/.425//.734AAA Stats2 PA, .000/0/0 .500/.000//.50010 PA, .444/0/0 .500/.556//1.056229 PA, .265/11/32 .319/.512//.83138 PA, .182/1/4 .289/.333//.623AA Stats13 PA, .182/0/0 .308/.182//.4909 PA, .250/0/1 .333/.250//.583RK Stats22 PA, .579/0/9 .591/.895//1.4868 PA, .000/0/0 .000/.000//.000 Also on 40-Man Roster Position=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_571927.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_543508.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_606160.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_570663.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_592789.jpg[/fimg]NameSteven MatzCory MazzoniRafael MonteroHansel Robles =#FF0000]Not in CampNoah Syndergaard =#FF0000]Not in CampDoB5/29/91 #6310/19/1989 #4710/17/90 #508/13/90 #678/29/1992 #34MLB Stats1-3, 4.06 44.1 IP, 23/42AAA Stats5-1, 4.67 52.0 IP, 12/496-4, 3.60 80.0 IP, 34/809-7, 4.60 133.0 IP, 43/145AA Stats6-5, 2.27 71.1 IP, 14/692-0, 4.50 12.0 IP, 4/107-6, 4.31 110.2 IP, 43/106A+ Stats4-4, 2.21 71.1 IP, 14/700-0, 5.00 9.0 IP, 3/90-0, 0.00 4.0 IP, 1/4RK Stats0-1, 4.50 4.0 IP, 1/70-0, 4.50 2.0 IP, 0/3Position=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF0000]Starting Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_554430.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/593679/t505/180x270/593679.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_516714.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_572831.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_592340.jpg[/fimg]NameZack WheelerGabriel Ynoa =#FF0000]Not in CampDario AlvarezJosh EdginEric GoeddelDoB5/30/90 #455/26/1993 #631/17/89 #6812/17/86 #6612/20/88 #62MLB Stats11-11, 3.54 185.1 IP, 79/1870-0, 13.50 1.1 IP, 0/11-0, 1.32 27.1 IP, 6/280-0, 2.70 6.2 IP, 4/6AAA Stats3-0, 4.97 12.2 IP, 11/123-2, 5.37 63.2 IP, 30/64AA Stats3-2, 4.21 66.1 IP, 12/421-0, 0.00 5.2 IP, 0/9A+ Stats8-2, 3.95 148.1 IP, 25/1062-0, 0.00 6,1 IP, 3/10A Stats7-1, 1.32 61.1 IP, 14/95Position=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#8000FF]Infielder=#8000FF]Infielder[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_605333.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/592570/t543/180x270/592570.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_458730.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_599096.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_541600.jpg[/fimg]NameJack LeathersichAkeel Morris =#FF0000]Not in CampBobby ParnellDilson Herrera =#FF0000]Not in CampWilfredo Tovar =#FF0000]Not in CampDoB7/14/1990 #5111/14/1992 #649/8/84 #395/3/94 #28/11/91 #70MLB Stats0-0, 9.00 1.0 IP, 1/166 PA, .220/3/11 .303/.407//.710 3 PA, .000/0/0 .000/.000//.000 AAA Stats0-0, 5.40 8.1 IP, 7/14AA Stats3-3 (1), 2.93 46.0 IP, 21/79278 PA, .340/10/48 .406/.560//.967285 PA, .282/2/29 .345/.345//.690A+ Stats309 PA, .307/3/23 .355/.410//.76523 PA, .353/0/4 .522/.588//1.110A Stats4-1 (16), 0.63 57.0 IP, 22/89RK Stats7 PA, .333/0/2 .429/.599//.929Position=#0000FF]Outfielder=#0000FF]Outfielder[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_544925.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_527049.jpg[/fimg]NameMatt den DekkerCesar PuelloDoB8/10/87 #64/1/91 #65AAA Stats174 PA, .250/0/7 .345/.322//.667371 PA, .252/7/37 .355/.393//.748 AA Stats384 PA, .334/8/36 .407/.540//.947 Also in Camp Position=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#FF8000]Relief Pitcher=#BF0000]Catcher=#008000]Catcher[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/607473/generic/180x270/607473.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/543856/generic/180x270/543856.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/550495/t505/180x270/550495.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/476192/generic/180x270/476192.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/608700/generic/180x270/608700.jpg[/fimg]NameChasen BradfordZack ThorntonJon VelasquezJohnny MonellKevin PlaweckiDoB8/5/89 #765/19/88 #465/31/91 #733/27/1986 #192/26/91 #22MLB StatsAAA Stats3-2 (5), 3.52 46.0 IP, 4/413-5 (1), 3.90 67.0 IP, 22/73226 PA, .238/4/24 .301/.364//.665170 PA, .283/5/21 .345/.421//.766AA Stats1-2 (11), 2.02 26.2 IP, 6/254-4 (1), 3.62 54.2 IP, 13/49249 PA, .326/6/43 .378/.487//.864Position=#8000FF]Infielder=#8000FF]Infielder=#8000FF]Infielder=#0000FF]Outfielder[fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/450315/t400/180x270/450315.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/594940/t400/180x270/594940.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://www.milb.com/images/608703/generic/180x270/608703.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://mlb.mlb.com/images/players/mugshot/ph_543008.jpg[/fimg]NameBrandon AllenDanny MunoMatt ReynoldsAlex CastellanosDoB2/12/86 #302/9/89 #6412/3/90 #558/4/86 #16AAA Stats375 PA, .266/13/52 .368/.434//.802435 PA, .259/14/62 .372/.418//.790301 PA, .333/5/40 .385/.479//.864408 PA, .275/8/42 .351/.439//.790AA Stats25 PA, .471/0/5 .640/.647//1.287242 PA, .355/5/40 .430/.422//.852 Coaching Staff Position=#BF0000] Manager=#BF0000]Hitting Coach=#BF0000]Pitching Coach=#BF0000]First Base Coach=#BF0000]Third Base Coach[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/492632.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/438989.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/123951.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/114961.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/123212.jpg[/fimg]NameTerry CollinsKevin LongDan WarthenTom GoodwinTim TeufelDoB5/27/49 #1012/30/6612/1/52 #597/27/68 #277/7/58 #18Position=#BF0000]Bench Coach=#BF0000]Bullpen Coach=#BF0000]Ass't Batting Coach=#BF0000]Strength and Cond. Coach=#BF0000]Strength and Cond. Coach[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/114712.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/111191.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]https://metsinpeace.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/pat-roessler-1.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]https://metsinpeace.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/mike-barwis.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]https://metsinpeace.files.wordpress.com/2015/03/dustin-clarke-1.jpg[/fimg]NameBob GerenRicky BonesPat RoesslerMike BarwisDustin ClarkeDoB9/22/61 #154/7/69 #2512/27/596/6/73circa 1987Position=#BF0000]Bullpen Catcher=#BF0000]Bullpen Catcher[fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/534948.jpg[/fimg][fimg=90]http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/images/coaches/mugshots/430002.jpg[/fimg]NameDave RacanielloEric LangillDoB6/3/78 #547/7/58 #18

It seems he may have broken Ed Lynch's record, spending the longest time in the role of the Not-Really-Part-of-the-Plan-But-He-Pitched-His-Way-Into-the-Rotation-So-We'll-Leave-Him-There-Until-We-Get-Everybody-Healthy-and-In-Place-or-He-Screws-It-Up Guy. Other candidates: Jae-Weong Seo, John Maine. Actually Rick Reed may be the patron saint of these guys, but he got a two-year contract at some point, I think, so he graduated off that list.

Phil Niekro Nolan Ryan

Oh, right. Zack's the extra, huh? Taylor's looking like a real project.

I like the zero-homers bit. I'm starting to have a loss of faith that Sandy got the bargain he wanted in this guy after the meh season in Las Vegas and him surviving two straight Rule 5's.

I dunno. With Flores your shortstop, and Niese and Colon and Gee to a lesser extent primary getting their outs on the ground, there's going to be some work for a defensive replacement, and there's no guarantee that Ruben lasts the whole year considering his most-hated-man status and the logjam of shortstops behind him. Whether as an injury replacement or as a replacement after an infielder is dealt, I think he'll get some reps this season, but not so many at-bats so as to over-expose him. 46 games, 66 plate appearances. .218 / .279 / .319 // .598. One shocking and dauntless steal of third makes him a folk hero. One embarrassing and rally-killing failed steal of third a week later makes him a stooge.

Plawecki, interestingly, had the plate blocked and seemed to slide his leg out of the way before applying the tag. Folks have been conditioned.

HOLYSHITFANTASITICFINISH. Xavier Scruggs (actual name: "Xavier Scruggs") flies out for the second out to Kirk Nieuwenhuis (I don't have to look to spell it). But that's why you bunt the tying run from second to third with no out, so you can score the guy on the second out, right? NOPE! Nieuwenhuis made the catch and nailed the runner at the plate. The old Scrabble-intensive Nieuwenhuis-to-Plawecki putout. GAME OVER! Let's see Jenrry STOMP! And thanks to the miracle of broadcasting and the additional miracle of the internet, you saw and heard it all as it was happening. Oh, wait, no you didn't.

Scoreless inning for Buddy followed by 2/3 by Rice (including a strikeout) and the last out of the eighth obtained by Jeurys. And they go with the culturally correct but logically questionable move of going to Mejia for the ninth. Leadoff double and the runner is sacrificed to third.

That joke... you the one about, "He's 20 and in ten years he has a good chance to be 30"? Well, I'm 23-ish and I already look about 10 years older. So you don't have to worry. But I do what I do and keep on keeping on and at the end of the day, with all the ambiguity surrounding the shortstop position, I can hold my head high and say that I'm still the best defensive option out there. That's got to get me at least a few times through the wash cycle this season I think. What do you think... about my 2015?

Cards take the lead against Torres but a two run shot by Cuddyeryeryer and the Mets take it RIGHT BACK.

Mets hanging onto a 3-2 lead. Carlos Torres on for the Flushings. Cards going with Seth Maness.