Jan
20
2011

An Optimistic Collins Rounds The Bases

An article by John Delcos

It was cold and rainy outside, but there was a definite feel of spring in the air inside Citi Field this afternoon when manager Terry Collins and several players played host to 25 fifth and sixth graders at the Mets’ third annual After School Sports Program.

COLLINS: Getting ready for spring training.
With spring training less than a month away, Collins touched on a myriad of issues, saying:

1. Mike Pelfrey will be his Opening Day starter against Florida. Said Collins: “He deserves it. Right now, I think Mike Pelfrey should be the No. 1 guy on this staff.’’

2. He will meet with Carlos Beltran at the start of spring training about a move to right field. Beltran will get a chance to prove he’s healthy. Collins said a decision would be made after roughly 10 games.

3. The top five in his batting order would be: Jose Reyes, Angel Pagan, David Wright, Beltran and Jason Bay. Collins said Beltran and Bay are ready physically.

4. Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez are expected to be in camp and not released before. Collins said Castillo could still win the second base job.

5. With Reyes healthy, “I’ll turn him loose,’’ and he could be a 50-60 steal player again. Reyes said he’s ready for spring training, and regarding his contract situation, added that’s not on his mind. “I want to play baseball and see what happens,’’ Reyes said.

6. Could live with 150 strikeouts from David Wright “as long as he’s driving in runs.’’ Wright’s production should increase and his strikeouts decrease with a healthy Beltran and Bay behind him.

7. He is set with three starters Pelfrey, RA Dickey and Jon Niese, with and Chris Young, Dillon Gee and Chris Capuano competing for the fourth and fifth spots.

8. Will stress fundamentals in spring training, adding he’s aiming for 30 innings from the starters and 70 at-bats from the starting position players.

9. The Mets anticipate adding another left-handed reliever.

Photo courtesy of ESPN New York

About the Author: John Delcos

I am an active member of the BBWAA and have covered Major League Baseball in several capacities for over 20 years, including ten in New York working the Mets' and Yankees' beat. I covered the Baltimore Orioles for eight years and the Cleveland Indians before that. I currently serve as an editor and senior staff writer for Mets Merized Online. Follow me on Twitter @jdelcos.

3 Comments + Add Comment

Bayonne Mets Fan January 20, 2011 at 12:28 pm

I still think it’s silly to name an Opening Day starter in mid-January. You usually wait until spring training is winding down before doing things like that but then again this front office and manager likes to make all kinds of final decisions before ST even starts.

What if Dickey has a great spring training and Pelf is smacked around? Not that it may mean much but still. What if Niese shines in ST? I don’t buy the argument that it’s a confidence builder for Pelf. What if he feels it’s too much pressure now? In Jan? And what about the rest of the staff?
I dont think naming your OD starter in the middle of Jan does any good.
- Mr North Jersey January 20, 2011 at 12:35 pm
  
  The great thing is Collins can change his mind if he sees Pelfrey really struggling in camp and needs more time to work his issues out but Pelf is the longest tenured starter in this rotation and if he is ready to go North with the team for Opening day he should be the Opening Day starter.
  
  Collins is showing how much he thinks of Pefrey by making this what for many is the obvious decision barring injury.
- alwaysnextyear January 20, 2011 at 4:08 pm
  
  much of the talk now is essentially mind games. Giving veterans a pat on the back, trying to get guys thinking a certain way, stuff like that. He probably wants Pelf to get focused and used to the idea so he can just concentrate on getting ready in ST.
  
  Dickey also seems mature enough to understand how the game works, and not be bothered or offended by anything.
  
  he also is not guaranteeing anything, just saying that they intend it to be this way. If like you say Pelf is a train wreck and Dickey unhittable, they make change things up.
  
  But no real chance that they jump Neise to opening day just based on ST results.
  
  other than that, what big decisions have they made and set in stone? An intended top 5 batting order? so what, that is subject to change, but again, it lets guys know what to expect and prepare (mindset) for.
  
  and wasn’t a big knock on Jerry that guys never knew what their role was, or what to expect day to day?

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