Edgy MD

Pelf, Niese toss blanks; Baxter goes deep March, 4, 2012 By Adam Rubin Mike Pelfrey and Jon Niese tossed two scoreless innings apiece and Ramon Ramirez, Manny Acosta and Garrett Olson each had scoreless frames as the Mets played a four and a half inning intrasquad game in their final tune-up for Monday night�s Grapefruit League opener. Mike Baxter delivered a two-run homer on a slider from left-hander Chuck James and Bobby Parnell recorded only two outs while allowing three hits, two walks and hitting a batter. Parnell has an option remaining and can be sent to the minors without passing through waivers if he is ineffective in camp. The game was called after Parnell plunked Zach Lutz in the left elbow. Parnell was disconcerted after drilling Lutz and had to be consoled on the field by pitching coach Dan Warthen as well as Terry Collins, although Warthen said the game was stopped at that point only because Parnell had reached his pitch allotment. Warthen said he was unconcerned about Parnell�s control on March 4 because flamethrowers take longer in camp to get their arsenal in order, the pitching coach suggested. As for Parnell being visibly upset after plunking Lutz, including pacing around the infield grass, Warthen said: �When you hit one of your teammates, you�re always bent out of shape.� Lutz chatted with trainer Ray Ramirez and had the elbow wrapped after the game, but said he did not need X-rays. He twice was hit in the head with pitches last season and missed significant time with a pair of resulting concussions. �Just my luck,� Lutz said about getting plunked Sunday. Pelfrey allowed no hits and one walk while striking out two. He worked exclusively from the stretch to try to quicken his time to the plate and reduce stolen bases against him this season. Pelfrey surrendered 29 steals last season, with only two would-be base-stealers caught. The 94 percent success rate against Pelfrey was fourth-worst in the majors last season among pitchers who logged at least 190 innings and had at least 10 steal attempts against them. Pelfrey was better than only Edwin Jackson (22 of 23 successful, 96%), Randy Wolf (18 of 19, 95%) and Ted Lilly (35 of 37, 95%). Pelfrey was pleased on Sunday with his sinker, which he hopes to rediscover after allowing a career-high 21 homers in 193 2/3 innings last season. He allowed a homer in 2011 at a rate twice as frequently as the previous season. �I was happy with the movement, the sink on it,� Pelfrey said. �That was the pitch that I went into the offseason and thought I had to get back, and it was good today.� As for pitching without working from the windup, Pelfrey added: �I felt last year that one of the problems was that I gave up too many stolen bases. I�m just trying to get quicker from the stretch. I�m trying to get more comfortable there.�

It would be four and half years before the any players or key executives would pass on with the Mets on his or her r�sum�. The Mets built their early leadership crew with some experienced veteran guys, and they all started falling down like toy soldiers in the first half of the seventies, but nobody would have expected the first would be then-current GM John Joseph "Grandma" (Johnny) Murphy, who died on January 14, 1970 following a New Year's Eve heart attack, at 61, three months after seeing the most miraculous of World Championships come to pass on his watch. dlbH-JJSLFU Murphy had a heckuva career before the war, and came back with some success after, pitching for the Yankees as a relief specialist in the days before relief specialists. He started 20 games as a rookie and then only 20 more the rest of his career, spanning 415 appearances. He racked up 107 saves before anyone knew what a save was and he pulled off a Yankeerific .637 winning percentage, spanning the years from Ruth to Berra. His career interruption was not for overseas service but due to a voluntary retirement during World War II so he could be part of the wartime civilian workforce. Big of him, I would guess. Moif finished his career with a single season in Boston, and despite a 2.80 ERA, Tom Yawkey instead offered him the job of director of minor league operations, with is a pretty nice plum for a guy's pudding. He spent 13 seasons managing their development and/or scouting departments, generally surrounding himself with white folks, until he was dismissed following the 1960 season --- the type of year that gets a team gutted. In 1961 --- like another Murphy late of the Red Sox --- he joined George Weiss with the Mets, worked his way up to vice president, and was the guy in the right spot later when then GM Bing Devine returned to the Cardinals. As Johnny Dickshot has argued persuasively, the team that won the 1969 championship was mostly Devine's team. Murphy's main contributions were taking Wayne Garrett in the Rule V draft, and trading for Donn Clendenon, who he went for over Joe Torre. Also worth noting is that he briefly filled in as a coach under first-year manager Gil Hodges in 1968. Following his heart attack, Murphy was initially believed to be in satisfactory condition, but unlike the team he led, he failed to rally, and died two weeks later. When the attack hit, his duties had initially been divided up among (as it was reported, in order) Whitey Herzog, the farm director, Joe MacDonald, the farm secretary, and Bob Sheffing, the "special scout" who Reggie Jackson would much later accuse of passing him over because of race hangups. Two of those guys would go on to succeed Murphy as Mets GM. The third would go on to the Hall of Fame. But it's better to be lucky than good, and Murphy died with his boots on and a trophy in his back pocket, and now sits forever enshrined in the Mets Hall of Fame. Or at least as long as forever lasts in the baseball sense. The remains of Johnny lie beneath an unremarkable stone in New York's world famous Woodlawn Cemetery. He had a wife and two kids and it's kinda sad to see him lying there alone, especially considering he put together an impressive career despite having to carry "Grandma" around as a nickname. But no point in being mawkish about lonely bones. May his real name be long remembered.

Got a beat on Wid Matthews. Apparently buried in Roseland Park Cemetary in Hattiesburg, MS. Can't find the site, yet, but I expect any and all Met fans within spitting distance of Hattiesburg to get us some photos. Other folks with remains buried here include Rob Tyner of the MC5.

Yes, I read what you wrote.

OK, words and actions from this week seem to place Poor Man's Ankiel clearly ahead of Captain Kirk (at this time, anyhow) as far as lefties who can place centerfield. Rottino, then, looks to fill the righthanded reserve outfielder slot. Also plays corner infield. Added to Projected RosterRemoved From Projected Roster =#0000FF]20 Adam Loewen DoB: 4/9/1984 =#0000FF]33 Vinny Rottino DoB: 4/7/1980 =#0000FF]12 Scott Hairston DoB: 5/25/1980 =#0000FF]72 =#FF8000]Kirk Nieuwenhuis DoB:8/7/1987 Your Projected 2012 Mets (Orange Indicates Players Have Options) Starting Pitchers =#0000FF]43 R.A. Dickey DoB: 10/29/1974 =#0000FF]35 =#FF8000]Dillon Gee DoB: 4/28/1986 =#0000FF]49 Jonathon Niese DoB: 10/27/1986 =#0000FF]34 Mike Pelfrey DoB: 1/14/1984 =#0000FF]57 Johan Santana DoB: 3/13/1979Relief Pitchers =#0000FF]46 Manny Acosta DoB: 5/1/1981 =#0000FF]40 Tim Byrdak DoB: 10/31/1973 =#0000FF]77 D.J. Carrasco DoB: 4/12/1977 =#0000FF]48 Frank Francisco DoB: 9/11/1979 =#0000FF]39 Bobby Parnell DoB: 9/8/1984Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders =#0000FF]52 Ram�n Ram�rez DoB:8/31/1981 =#0000FF]60 John Rauch DoB:9/27/1978 =#0000FF]4 =#FF8000]Mike Nickeas DoB: 2/13/1983 =#0000FF]30 Josh Thole DoB: 4/28/1986 =#0000FF]13 Ronny Cedeno DoB: 2/2/1983Infielders =#0000FF]29 =#FF8000]Ike Davis DoB: 3/22/1987 =#0000FF]28 Daniel Murphy DoB: 4/1/1985 =#0000FF]11 Ruben Tejada DoB: 10/27/1989 =#0000FF]2 Justin Turner DoB: 11/23/1984 =#0000FF]5 David Wright DoB: 12/20/1982Outfielders =#0000FF]44 Jason Bay DoB: 9/20/1978 =#BF8000]. =#0000FF]21 =#FF8000]Lucas Duda DoB: 2/3/1986 =#BF8000]. =#0000FF]20 Adam Loewen DoB: 4/9/1984 Not on Roster =#0000FF]33 Vinny Rottino DoB: 4/7/1980 Not on Roster =#0000FF]56 Andr�s Torres DoB:1/26/1978 =#BF8000]. Also on 40-Man Roster Starting Pitchers =#0000FF]73 =#FF8000]Robert Carson DoB: 1/23/1989 =#0000FF]75 =#FF8000]Jeurys Familia DoB: 10/10/1989 =#0000FF]53 =#FF8000]Jeremy Hefner DoB: 3/11/1981 =#0000FF]32 =#FF8000]Jennry Mejia DoB: 10/11/1989 =#0000FF]66 =#FF8000]Armando Rodriguez DoB: 1/28/1988Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers Infielders =#0000FF]63 =#FF8000]Chris Schwinden DoB: 9/22/1986 =#0000FF]27 =#FF8000]Pedro Beato DoB: 10/27/1986 =#0000FF]64 =#FF8000]Josh Stinson DoB: 3/14/1988 =#0000FF]71 =#FF8000]Wilmer Flores DoB: 8/6/1991 =#0000FF]74 =#FF8000]Reese Havens DoB: 10/20/1986InfieldersOutfielders =#0000FF]65 =#FF8000]Zach Lutz DoB: 6/3/1986 =#0000FF]3 =#FF8000]Josh Satin DoB: 12/23/1984 =#0000FF]61 =#FF8000]Jordany Valdespin DoB: 12/23/1984 =#0000FF]76 =#FF8000]Juan Lagares DoB: 3/17/1989 =#0000FF]67 =#FF8000]Cesar Puello DoB: 4/1/1991 Also in Camp Starting PitchersRelief Pitchers =#0000FF]47 Miguel Batista DoB: 2/19/1971 =#0000FF]70 =#FF8000]Matt Harvey DoB: 3/27/1989 =#0000FF]38 Garrett Olson DoB: 10/18/1983 =#0000FF]58 Fernando Cabrera DoB: 11/16/1981 =#0000FF]19 Danny Herrera DoB: 10/21/1984Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders =#0000FF]36 Chuck James DoB: 11/9/1981 =#0000FF]16 Rob Johnson DoB: 7/22/1982 =#0000FF]62 =#0000FF]Lucas May DoB: 10/24/1984 =#0000FF]15 Val Pascucci DoB: 11/17/1978 =#0000FF]6 Omar Quintanilla DoB: 10/24/1981Outfielders =#0000FF]23 =#FF8000]Mike Baxter DoB: 12/7/1984 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]68 =#FF8000]Matt den Dekker DoB: 8/10/1987 =#BF8000]. . =#0000FF]12 Scott Hairston DoB: 5/25/1980 Looks to Open Season On DL =#0000FF]72 =#FF8000]Kirk Nieuwenhuis DoB:8/7/1987 =#BF8000]. . Free Agents Starting Pitchers =#0000FF]55 Chris Young DoB: 5/25/1979 Coaching Staff ManagerBench CoachBatting CoachPitching CoachThird Base Coach =#0000FF]10 Terry Collins DoB: 5/27/1949 =#0000FF]7 Bob Geren DoB: 9/22/1959 =#0000FF]51 Dave Hudgens DoB: 12/5/1956 =#0000FF]59 Dan Warthan DoB: 12/1/1952 =#0000FF]18 Tim Teufel DoB: 7/7/1958First Base CoachBullpen CoachBullpen CatchersHead Trainer =#0000FF]26 Tom Goodwin DoB: 8/27/1968 =#0000FF]25 Ricky Bones DoB: 4/7/1969 =#0000FF]78 Eric Langill DoB: 4/9/1979 =#0000FF]79 Dave Racaniello DoB: 10/15/1981 =#0000FF] Ray Ramirez =#BF8080].Assistant Trainer =#0000FF] Brian Chicklo

MFS62 wrote: Would you trust the Mets doctors to treat YOU for something that could kill you? Send him somewhere else for a second opinion and any necessary treatment. The Mets' doctors are apparently the ones who caught it.

We all got it where I come from.

I think I have it.

Hey, man, wait! Late votes! Oh, well, I concede.

Flores sidelined with a sore shoulder. Wright scratched with sore left side.

Team Blue lead 2-1, bottom five. Bay 2-2, 2B; Davis 2-2, 2B; Duda 2-3, 2B; Dickey 2.0 scoreless innings, 3K.

And so... we're under way. Hairston suffers oblique re-injury By Adam Rubin Scott Hairston strained the same left oblique muscle that prompted him to finish last season on the disabled list, the outfielder said. Hairston, who suffered the injury swinging in the first inning of Saturday's intrasquad game, expects to receive a cortisone shot Monday. Terry Collins said he is "concerned" and "worried" about Hairston because it is a repeat of last year's severe issue. The manager said lefty-hitting Adam Loewen will now get more reps in center field. Hairston has been slated to be the primary backup to Andres Torres in center field as well as the righty-hitting backup for the bench. Loewen started three games with the Toronto Blue Jays last season in center field, and also manned the position for 16 games at Triple-A Las Vegas in 2011. Hairston strained the left oblique Aug. 23 of last season against the Philadelphia Phillies and did not return. "Same as last year, pretty much," Hairston said about the current issue. "I felt it on the swing out there. I felt it grab. And once I felt it grab, I figured it wouldn't be a good idea to take another swing. ... I wouldn't think it's as serious as it was last year. I think right now, the way I feel, it's one of those things where I know it's injured, but it's not severe." If Hairston were to start the season on the DL, the righty hitters in camp who could step into a backup outfield role include Vinny Rottino. The Mets also could be in the market for outfield help at the end of spring training, since they already were not sold entering camp about whether Loewen or Mike Baxter would be productive enough to be the lefty-hitting backup outfielder. Hairston said he worked out during the offseason without issue, but his left side started feeling sore the past couple of days. "But it's just really something that comes out of nowhere," Hairston added. "I took BP today and I felt pretty good. But once you get in a game-like situation, you get the adrenaline going and you're trying to hit a 92 mph fastball instead of a 56 mph one in BP. I think that quicker reaction and the muscles firing, when all that happens -- if you have an injury, or you're rebounding from injury -- you become vulnerable if you're not fully healed. I guess that was the case. "If I were to guess, I might have had some scar tissue there from before. And it was probably close to being fully healed. But the strenuous work that you do as a ballplayer when you're on the field, maybe I did a little too much. Maybe I wasn't doing my routine the way I should be. I don't know. Maybe it's just the way my body is. With the injectoin, probably it will speed things up. Last year I didn't get one. This year hopefully it will be different and I'll be back as soon as possible." Said Collins: "I'm concerned. I certainly can't address how long it's going to be, but I'm concerned about it. ... The only thing that scares me about Scott is he did it bad last year. His was bad."

Can't believe I scratched out a tie. Wolfie, deal us a new card or whatever you think best.

I want you to take me. I need you to bring me. I'd love you to drive me. I beg you to pay for me.

You don't have to be a Mets fan to talk ball in here.

Sec-ond place! Sec-ond place!

Terry promises to get the starters all in tomorrow's lineup. Starting infielders on one team, starting outfielders and catcher on t'other.

Please. She funny.

Psyche.

And in thanking the scads of you who played, we will roll out the obvious and report that Rustic Accents Dickey is our barnpainter and Chuck James is our doors and windows man. Have a Met build a house for you today! And really, can we all commit to bringing one [crossout:1rj9pdf5]sucker[/crossout:1rj9pdf5] friend to the Crane Pool in the next month or two. This place is deader than an Egyptian tomb. Like, you can really tell when somebody goes on vacation.

That Ted Berg character wrote: Kirk Nieuwenhuis just hit a monster home run to left off Danny Herrera. Danny Herrera thinking about future. <------

1. d =#0040FF]2. e 3. b ? 4. i =#FF0000]X 5. g ? 6. a 7. f =#FF0000]X 8. c 9. h ? We are improving in our Carrascoloration, our Dickeyness, our Wrighteousness.

metirish wrote: Edgy DC wrote: Harvey opens 2012 by getting DD on a groundout. are you down there? Sounds dirty. No just following online Grays1Whites1den Dekker4-3Rottino2BSatinKPuelloBBLoewen6-3LagaresPO-4Turner1-3BaxterFO-7

Harvey opens 2012 by getting DD on a groundout.