Mets Opening Night Roster Revealed…
The New York Mets have revealed the Opening Night roster they will be taking with them to Kansas City, after this afternoon’s game against the Chicago Cubs. Continue reading
Mets vs. Cubs Lineups 4:05 pm et
Cashman field is pictured during a spring exhibition baseball game between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs Sunday, March 16, 2014, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo/Isaac Brekken)
Mets:
1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. David Wright (R) 3B
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) CF
4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Michael Conforto (L) LF
7. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
8. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
9. Steven Matz (R) P
SP: Steven Matz LHP
Cubs:
1. Kris Bryant (R) 3B
2. Jason Heyward (L) RF
3. Ben Zobrist (S) 2B
4. Anthony Rizzo (L) 1B
5. Jorge Soler (R) LF
6. Kyle Schwarber (L) C
7. Addison Russell (R) SS
8. Matt Szczur (R) CF
9. Jason Hammel (R) P
SP: Jason Hammel RHP
- Today’s game can be seen on WGN or MLB.tv if you have a subscription.
Game Notes:
LHP STEVEN MATZ: Will make his sixth appearance and fifth start this spring today…In his last start he allowed one hit and one run over 5.2 innings vs. Washington on March 27…
VIVA LAS VEGAS: This season will mark the fourth year that the Las Vegas 51s serve as the Mets Triple-A affiliate…Notable 51s alumni include Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Travis d’Arnaud, Steven Matz and Wilmer Flores…Wally Backman will manage the 51s again this season… Former Cy Young Award winner Frank Viola will be the pitching coach and Jack Voigt will be the hitting coach… The Mets are making their third appearance at Cashman Field…New York’s last played in Las Vegas in 2014 when they also took on the Cubs.
MEET ME IN KANSAS CITY: The Mets will open the 2016 season on national television on ESPN’s Sunday Night Baseball on April 3 at 8:37 p.m. (ET)… RHP Matt Harvey has been named the team’s Opening Day starter…RHP Edinson Volquez will start the Opener for the Royals…RHP Noah Syndergaard will start the second game of the year on Tuesday, April 5…He will be opposed by RHP Ian Kennedy.
ATTENDANCE: The Mets averaged 6,897 fans over 14 dates in Port St. Lucie…It was the second largest average attendance in Port St. Lucie history over its 29-year history…Only 1988, the first year in PSL, averaged more (7,187 over 13 dates).
Final: Cubs 5 – Mets 1
New York Mets Paul Sewald throws a bullpen during spring training at Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie, Tuesday, March 1, 2016. (Gordon Donovan)
The Chicago Cubs defeated the New York Mets this evening in Las Vegas by the final score of 5-1. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Lucas Duda was 3-4 with a double, and an RBI single.
- David Wright was 1-4 with a run scored.
- Kevin Plawecki was 2-3, with 2 base hits.
- Las Vegas native Paul Sewald received the start and pitched solid 3 innings, allowing no runs, on 1 hit, with 1 walk, and 3 strikeouts.
- Chase Bradford was charged with the loss, allowing 3 runs (1 earned) over 3 hits in 1.1 innings pitched.
- Erik Goeddel allowed a run on 2 hits, with a walk and a strikeout in an inning of work.
- Jim Henderson pitched a scoreless inning only allowing a hit, with one strikeout.
- The Mets winless streak has increased to 14 games.
- The Mets have scored only 2 runs in their last 33 innings.
- The Mets conclude their spring schedule with one more game against the Chicago Cubs in Las Vegas tomorrow afternoon. First pitch is scheduled for 4:05 pm et and can be seen on WGN or MLB.tv if you have a subscription.
- Steven Matz will start the final game of the spring for the Mets, against Cubs right-hander Jason Hammel.
Jacob deGrom pitches in intrasquad game
Jacob deGrom pitched in a minor league intrasquad game this afternoon and threw 71 pitches. The Mets did not provide a final line for deGrom’s afternoon. Orginally deGrom was scheduled to pitch tonight in Las Vegas against the Cubs, but was held back in Port St. Lucie as his wife is expecting their child any day now. He is expected to start their home opener at Citi Field on April 8th. Right-handed pitcher Paul Sewald will start for the Mets tonight in his hometown of Las Vegas.
Former Mets News & Notes
- Former Mets pitcher Matt Bowman is now slated to make the St. Louis Cardinals Opening Day roster due to reliever Jordan Walden battling a shoulder issue. Bowman was selected by the Cardinals in this past December’s Rule 5 Draft, and had been highly questionable to make the Opening Day roster until Walden’s latest shoulder setback. Bowman is required to be on the Cardinals 25-man roster for the entire 2016 season or be returned to the Mets, unless a trade is able to be worked out. Bowman can’t be put on the disabled list until he has been an active roster member for 90 days. The 25-year old right-hander holds a 7.88 ERA in 8 innings pitched this spring, and is ranked as the Cardinals 21st best prospect by MLB.com.
- Former Mets closer Bobby Parnell who had been released by the Tigers earlier in the week, has agreed to a minor league deal to stay with the Tigers. Parnell will report to Triple-A Toledo with the hope of receiving a call-up later this season. Parnell had an 8.68 ERA this spring in 9.1 innings pitched, but has been clocked as high as 96 mph in Grapefruit League action. The Tigers believe if Parnell can get better command of his pitches he could pitch for them at the big league level this season.
- Yankees manager Joe Girardi had stated on air during today’s game against the St. Louis Cardinals, that former Mets right-handed pitching prospect Luis Cessa has made the team out of Spring Training. Cessa was originally included with right-handed pitcher Michael Fulmer to the Detroit Tigers, in the Yoenis Cespedes trade at last year’s Trade Deadline. Cessa was then traded by the Tigers this offseason to the Yankees for left-handed reliever Justin Wilson. Cessa will pitch out of the bullpen for the Yankees, and has a 2.70 in 10 innings pitched.
Travis Taijeron named top rookie in Mets camp.
It is being reported by ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin that OF Travis Taijeron has been named the 2016 John J. Murphy Award winner, for being the top rookie in Major League camp this spring.
Taijeron had a slash line of .348/.432/.658 this spring with two home runs, and 11 RBI’s. Taijeron’s 11 RBI’s led all Mets hitters this spring, and he did all that damage in only 38 at-bats. The 27-year old isn’t on MLB.com’s prospect list, but he hit .274/.393/.536 with 25 HR’s and 71 RBI’s, last season at Triple-A Las Vegas. Taijeron is expected to open this season at Triple-A Las Vegas as well.
I wrote a piece on Taijeron earlier this spring that you can check out below:
Reynolds will make roster, then demoted for Henderson shortly after.
ESPN New York is reporting that Matt Reynolds will head to Kansas City with the Mets and be on the Opening Day roster. Reynolds will be primarily used as bench depth, but when the Mets return to Citi Field on April 8th, Reynolds will be demoted for reliever Jim Henderson.
Henderson has had as strong of a spring as anyone on the Mets roster and is well deserving of a spot in the Mets bullpen. The Mets with Henderson added to the roster, will have a 7-man bullpen to work with. Henderson appeared in 11 games this spring, and had an impressive 1.86 ERA with a walk and 12 strikeouts. Opponents only hit .194 off the 33- year old former Brewers closer, who looks to have revived his career this spring. Henderson who had shoulder surgery in 2014, spent all of last season trying to regain his velocity, and he has been clocked as high as 95 mph this spring.
Final: Nationals 12 – Mets 1
The Washington Nationals defeated the New York Mets this afternoon by the final score of 12-1 at Tradition Field. This game concludes the Mets games at Tradition Field this spring. For a full boxscore recap follow the link below…
Game Notes:
- Matt Harvey got the start and pitched 2 innings, allowing 3 runs on 2 hits. He had 1 walk and 2 K’s. Harvey’s big mistake came on a 3-run home run off the bat of Nationals 1B Ryan Zimmerman.
- Noah Syndergaard came on in relief and pitched 3 innings allowing 2 runs on 4 hits, with a strikeout. Syndergaard’s lone mistake came off a 2-run homer from Nationals LF Jayson Werth.
- Yoenis Cespedes was 2-2 this afternoon with a double.
- David Wright was 1-2 with a single.
- Travis Taijeron was 2-2 with a solo home run.
- Jeurys Familia struggled this afternoon pitching 0.2 inning allowing 5 runs (2 earned) with 2 walks and a strikeout.
- Mets are winless in last 13 Spring Training contests.
- The Mets have scored 1 run in their last 24 innings.
The Mets were simply outplayed this afternoon, as two pitches cost them five runs, and the bats were again silent today. It’s fair to wonder if the players are simply bored at this point with as long as the spring has been, and are ready to get going against Kansas City Sunday night. Either way there shouldn’t be an excuse for poor play today, including a throwing error by Lucas Duda, a misplayed ball by Cespedes, a fielding error by Eric Campbell, a catching error by Familia, and the team in a run scoring drought this late in spring. Antonio Bastardo allowed one of Familia’s inherited runners to score in the 9th before retiring his final batter. I’m leery on Bastardo, but we will see how he performs when the games that matter start. The Mets have two opportunities in the next couple of days to show better results in Las Vegas against another National League favorite in the Cubs. Either way I will not be hard on this team unless this play translates to regular season games, but it is difficult not to ignore the sloppy play recently.
- The Mets will head to Las Vegas to play the Chicago Cubs tomorrow evening, with first pitch at 8:05 pm et. The game can be seen on MLB Network.
- Jacob deGrom has been scratched from his start, as he will stay behind in Port St. Lucie with his wife who is expecting their child any day now. RHP Paul Sewald will make the start for the Mets against Cubs righty Ryan Williams.
Nationals vs. Mets Lineups 12:10 pm et
Nationals:
1. Ben Revere (L) CF
2. Anthony Rendon (R) 3B
3. Bryce Harper (L) RF
4. Ryan Zimmerman (R) 1B
5. Daniel Murphy (L) 2B
6. Jayson Werth (R) LF
7. Wilson Ramos (R) C
8. Danny Espinosa (S) SS
9. Trevor Gott (R) P
SP: Trevor Gott RHP
Mets:
1. Curtis Granderson (L) RF
2. David Wright (R) 3B
3. Yoenis Cespedes (R) CF
4. Lucas Duda (L) 1B
5. Neil Walker (S) 2B
6. Michael Conforto (L) LF
7. Asdrubal Cabrera (S) SS
8. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
9. Matt Harvey (R) P
SP: Matt Harvey RHP
- Today’s game can be seen on SNY.
Game Notes:
RHP MATT HARVEY: Is making his fourth Grapefruit League start of the spring…His last outing came on March 24 vs. Houston…
RHP NOAH SYNDERGAARD: Will make his fifth spring appearance… Syndergaard does not have a decision but has posted a 2.04 ERA (4 ER/17.2 innings)…He has issued one walk and struck out 19…
JIM HENDERSON: Posted 1.0 scoreless inning yesterday…Has allowed two earned runs in 9.2 innings this spring (1.86 ERA)…He has issued one walk and struck out 12 in 11 games…
CURTIS GRANDERSON: Is 7-for-his- last-20 (.350) with four doubles in his last six spring games…Granderson is hitting .295 (13-44) this spring with four doubles, one triple and three RBI.
VIVA LAS VEGAS: The Mets will close their exhibition season with two games in Las Vegas at the home of their Triple-A affiliate vs. the Cubs… The Mets play the Cubs on Thursday, March 31 at 8:05 p.m. (ET) and then play at 4:05 p.m. (ET) on Friday, April 1…
FIT TO BE TIED: The Mets have had five tie games this spring, the most such games in franchise history for a single Spring Training.
Mets Tidbits
- ESPN New York’s Adam Rubin is reporting that manager Terry Collins is reverting from his previous plan of having Yoenis Cespedes strictly stick in center field against left-handed pitching. Originally Collins wanted Juan Lagares to play left field, and Cespedes to stick in center field, in order for Cespedes not to move around as much, when the Mets faced a left-hander. Terry Collins also stated that Michael Conforto may not be used in right field against a left-handed pitcher if Curtis Granderson sits, but Eric Campbell or Juan Lagares could play right field. This is a moot point for the time being as the Mets aren’t expected to face a southpaw the first week of the season.
- Terry Collins stated today that he may use one of his many outfielders as a designated hitter in Kansas City, in order to have Juan Lagares glove in the outfield.
- Terry Collins also stated that game situations in Kansas City will dictate how the rest of the rotation fills out, after Jacob deGrom’s April 8th start in the series against the Philadelphia Phillies. Collins believes it could be Matt Harvey or Bartolo Colon starting on the 9th.
- Jacob deGrom will make his final start of the spring Thursday night against the Chicago Cubs in a Las Vegas exhibition game. Steven Matz will make his final spring start on Friday afternoon’s exhibition game against the Cubs also in Las Vegas.
Above The Mendoza 