Kanadesaga

Notes: Sanchez takes first step
Righty 'on the way back' after 26-pitch intrasquad outing
By Marty Noble / MLB.com

PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- For a few moments, his first moments in a game scenario since July 2006, Duaner Sanchez was the junior high schooler trying to impress the varsity coach. His final warmup pitch and the first two pitches Sanchez threw to Ramon Castro in the Mets' intrasquad game on Monday were all about velocity. Technique, location, setting up the hitter -- none of that mattered.

"That was a pitcher who hadn't pitched in a year and half," said Randy Niemann, the man who directed Sanchez's rehabilitation from two right shoulder surgeries. "He just had to get through that."
Niemann was quite encouraged by the velocity of the three caveman pitches and more pleased by Sanchez's subsequent pitches -- sliders, changeups and more fastballs.

"He threw fastballs inside to left-handed hitters," Niemann said, "and they didn't come back [over the plate]" -- a sign that Sanchez's pitches had power behind them.

Sanchez faced six batters and threw 26 pitches, more than he had planned.
"I'm going to go home and sleep now," Sanchez said after his shower. "I feel like I pitched 15 innings."

On the first day of competition -- such as it was -- in Mets camp, Sanchez's six-batter sequence was clearly the focal point. The Sandy Alomars defeated the Jerry Manuels, 7-5, in six innings. And most of the participants were uncertain of the identity of their team.
But most of them had watched Sanchez's return through the prism of what he can mean in the summer when the swings and misses he accumulates in inordinate numbers will have consequence.

"It looks like he's on the way back," manager Willie Randolph said. "It's very positive to see him now after a year and a half."

The more things change, the more they stay the same: First game, second at-bat -- a Jose Reyes triple. He had singled in his first at-bat. For those who believe in what happens in February, catcher Brian Schneider was the only other player with two hits.

Breakfast of champions: David Wright is a marketer's dream. Young, successful, earnest, articulate, et al. There appears to be only upside in having the Mets' third baseman as a spokesman. The folks at Wheaties thought so. And before the 2006 postseason, they contacted Wright. An agreement was in place. The all-American boy would grace the Wheaties box if the Mets won the World Series.
But they didn't quite make it, and no subsequent arrangements have been made. The Mets can't win the 2006 World Series anymore.
"But we can win in '08," Wright said.

Breakfast of champions II: When the Mets' clubhouse microwave had done its normal duty on Monday morning, Marlon Anderson entered the kitchen, glove in hand, fully prepared to nuke it. For years, Mets infielders, outfielders and the occasional catcher relied on the expertise and generosity of Buddy Harrelson. He broke in their gloves the old-fashioned way. Now, microwaves soften the leather.
"Thirty seconds, then 45," Anderson said. He removed the glove after the first session, flexed it several times and subjected it to 45 more seconds of heat. And it became noticeably more pliable.
Ah well, another baseball tradition is fading.

Keith Hernandez, who won five of his 11 Gold Glove Awards with the Mets, used water, shaving cream -- because of the lanolin in it -- and time to break in his gloves. Microwaves were not recommended.
"You can't put metal in one of those things," Hernandez pointed out last year. "And gold is a metal."

Wright back: Wright returned to camp on Monday after spending two days in Virginia to attend the funeral of his paternal grandmother. Helen Wright -- about 80, her grandson said -- died last week. And with her passed an affection for the Mets and Duke basketball.
"Mee-maw," as Wright called her, had lived with her son, daughter-in-law and four grandsons since the Mets' third baseman was a junior in high school. His parents had sold their house on Virginia Beach and Mee-maw's house in nearby Chesapeake and brought both grandparents to share their new home in Chesapeake. Wright was in high school when his grandfather died. Both grandparents were stricken with Parkinson's disease.

Wright's grandmother loved the Dukies, but Mets blue took precedence over their blue. She had campaigned in the house to sign up for Major League Baseball's cable package. And though she didn't grasp the game's finer nuances, she understood the bottom line of it.
"But 0-for-4 or 4-for-4, she'd greet you the same," Wright said.
Angel in the outfield: Well, halo in the outfield is more like it. One day later, a circular bruise has formed on the left tricep of Carlos Beltran, evidence of his being struck by one of Johan Santana's batting-practice fastballs.

The imprint of the stitches remains.

Furthermore: Randolph likes the small curveball of left-handed rookie Jonathon Niese. "You don't see many left-handed curveballs anymore," Randolph said. ... General manager Omar Minaya said Niese is on the same level as Deolis Guerra, the most highly regarded of the three young pitchers the Mets moved to the Twins in the Santana trade.

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Kanadesaga

Pelfrey sharp in Mets' Grapefruit opener
Castro, Machado drive in early runs in loss to Tigers
By Jason Beck / MLB.com

TIGERS 4, METS 2
at Lakeland, Fla.
Wednesday, Feb. 27

Mets at the plate: Back-to-back singles and a walk in the opening inning set up Ramon Castro's sacrifice fly to score Angel Pagan. Anderson Machado tripled in Michael Abreu an inning later.
Tigers at the plate: Magglio Ordonez's infield single leading off the second inning was Detroit's only hit through the first six innings, until Mike Hessman tripled off the center-field fence with one out in the seventh. Marcus Thames doubled him in, then Wilkin Ramirez's two-run single put the Tigers ahead. Brandon Inge, who replaced Curtis Granderson in center field, had an RBI single and a walk.

Mets on the mound: Mike Pelfrey began his case for a spot in the Mets' rotation by tossing two scoreless innings with one hit and a strikeout. Matt Wise, Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano and Jorge Sosa followed with a scoreless inning apiece. All four runs came off of Willie Collazo.

Tigers on the mound: Jeremy Bonderman, pitching without his breaking ball to focus on his other pitches early, allowed two runs on four hits in two innings. Jason Grilli and Zach Miner each pitched two innings of scoreless relief.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 0-1, Tigers 1-0.

Up next: The Mets are closer to their Spring Training home, but still on the road Thursday when they visit the Cardinals in Jupiter for a 1:05 p.m. ET game at Roger Dean Stadium. John Maine is slated to start for New York, followed by Duaner Sanchez, Scott Schoeneweis, Joe Smith, Ruddy Lugo, Steven Register and Juan Padilla. Anthony Reyes is the scheduled starter for St. Louis.

The Tigers stay home Thursday to host the Blue Jays in a 1:05 p.m. matchup at Joker Marchant Stadium. Nate Robertson is the scheduled starter, followed by Aquilino Lopez, Armando Galarraga, Jeff Gerbe, Matt Mantei and Bobby Seay. Jesse Litsch and Gustavo Chacin are among the pitchers slated to throw for Toronto.

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DanS.

Go Tigers!!!!!

poetrychic

or the twins


at least you didn't say "go mets"

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"it was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation, yes we can!"

Kanadesaga

It's only spring training, it doesn't count.

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poetrychic

welcome back! now stop getting yourself put in timeout

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"it was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation, yes we can!"

Kanadesaga

Yes Ma'am.

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Kanadesaga

02/28/2008 3:34 PM ET
Mets looking to tomorrow
Santana makes his Spring Training debut vs. Cards on Friday
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

CARDINALS 7, METS 0
at Jupiter, Fla.
Thursday, Feb. 28

Mets at the plate: Though the six Mets regulars struggled to provide any offense, top prospect Fernando Martinez and utilityman Marlon Anderson each recorded singles. Third baseman David Wright nearly drilled a run-scoring double in the second inning, but Cards outfielder Rick Ankiel robbed him of the hit.

Cardinals at the plate: Juan Gonzalez was back to his old slugging ways on Thursday, rapping out two singles and driving in a run. Infielder Brian Barden knocked in two more runs with a single in the sixth inning, while third baseman Troy Glaus drove in two runs and outfielder Skip Schumaker had two hits and an RBI.

Mets on the mound: John Maine's perfect first inning melted away when a wild pitch, a bloop single and a chopper over third base all plated runs in the second. Maine threw 45 pitches, but he recorded only five outs, allowing four hits and a walk. Relievers Scott Schoeneweis, Juan Padilla and Steven Register combined for 3 1/3 shutout innings, while Joe Smith and Ruddy Lugo allowed two runs apiece.

Cardinals on the mound: Battling with two others for a spot in the rotation, Anthony Reyes made his first convincing argument on Thursday. Reyes tossed three scoreless innings against a Mets lineup composed almost entirely of regular players, allowing two hits and walking none. Equally impressive was Hugo Castellanos, who tossed three shutout innings of his own.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 0-2, Cardinals 1-0.

Up next: Johan Santana makes his official debut in Friday's Grapefruit League home opener, which doubles as perhaps the most anticipated Mets Spring Training game in years. He, along with Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and four bullpen hopefuls, will pitch in a 1:10 p.m. ET start against the Cardinals at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Fla.

Lost in all that Santana hype is Cards starter Adam Wainwright, who will also make his Grapefruit League debut. Billed as the unquestioned Cards ace heading into this season, Wainwright will be followed on Friday by Mike Parisi, Kyle McClellan, Tyler Herron, Randy Flores and Ryan Franklin.

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poetrychic

do you play fantasy baseball? if so, you wanna play in our league? sean has a post around here somewhere with a few details...

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"it was a creed written into the founding documents that declared the destiny of a nation, yes we can!"

Kanadesaga

I have never played any of the fantasy sports. Not sure if I could ever pick a Spankee or brave as any of my players.

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