23
2013
Mets Notes: Let The Games Begin, Wheeler On Tap, Flores And Valdespin Go Yard
An article by 
The beer will be flowing and hot dogs will be devoured as Grapefruit League play is set to begin today. SNY coverage will begin at 11:30 AM, and will carry through the game as the Mets take on pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg and the Nationals. First pitch is slated for 12:10 PM.
Some of the Mets notables scheduled to pitch today are Shaun Marcum and Zack Wheeler, along with Cory Mazzoni, Jeurys Familia, and Darin Gorski.
John Harper of the Daily News wonders if Johan Santana has something wrong with his shoulder.
The Mets are being careful to call this a conditioning issue for Johan Santana, not a medical or, in their words, “structural’’ issue. But they can call it anything they want — it’s clear that something isn’t right with his left shoulder. And after everything Santana has been through the last couple of years, you have to wonder if it will ever be right again.
Wilmer Flores flexed his muscle yesterday, as he launched a three-run blast and drilled a deep sac-fly to drive in four during Friday’s intrasquad game. Meanwhile, Jordany Valdespin gave new Mets reliever Brandon Lyon a rude welcome, as he touched him up for a homer to lead-off the game.
Terry Collins came away from yesterday’s exhibition impressed with some of the Mets young arms, saying that lefty reliever Scott Rice had “great movement”, and described Greg Burke as “very interesting.”
Collins also noted that he is happy to see Kirk Nieuwenhuis using a “shorter swing” this Spring, and he may be able to live with his propensity to strike out if he can hit 16-plus homers and run the bases well.
Baseball is officially back, let the games begin.
About the Author: Dan Valis
I am a staff writer for Mets Merized Online. I am a Mets team analyst with a focus on the minor league system, as well as the major league club. I am a lifelong New Yorker who was born and raised to be a Mets fan. The ups and downs of being a Mets fan is what makes following this team so much fun, but at times so frustrating. You can follow me on Twitter @BgAppleMetsTalk.
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NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 41 | 28 | .594 | - |
| Nationals | 34 | 34 | .500 | 6.5 |
| Phillies | 33 | 37 | .471 | 8.5 |
| Mets | 25 | 39 | .391 | 13.5 |
| Marlins | 21 | 47 | .309 | 19.5 |
Last updated: 06/16/2013
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too bad we couldnt trade wright and slide flores in at 3B….
Or you know, slide him at 2B.
slide wright to 2B?
Woooshhh. Slide FLORES, not Wright.
looking forward to it
Nice to hear about Kirk.
Tejada goes yard against Strasburg. Didnt see that coming.
Even though it was only a groundout i liked Ike’s very first ST AB a LOT. Quick swing and solid loud contact.
oh and duh…his balance looked solid too. No lunging and stayed back. Nice.
Thoughts on Duda? Glad they got rid of that unnecessary movement and opted to rest the bat on his shoulder.
I think Duda can certainly turn it around….absolutely! Wasn’t watching his AB too closely, next time i will.
It looks like Duda is still slightly uppercutting in his swing.
Mets making Strasburg work, I like it.
Nasty !
1st time I’ve ever seen Wheeler. Looks like he throws a heavy ball, nice easy motion that deceives and next thing you know? The ball is in the mitt. Nice.
Nice first inning for Wheeler.
Looks like Wright is reverting back to his ’06 stance again.
Yea, I noticed that also.
Hmm looking at the numbers I have no problem with Chase Headley winning the GG at 3rd.
Wonder if Bayonne was watching when Wright busted it to 1B in his first at-bat and got that infield single? In a spring game no less. I wonder.
Mets young pitchers look awesome.
Now that I’ve gotten a real good look at Mazzoni, there’s no doubt he’ll be moved into a swingman/middle relief role sometime this season.
wheres the best place to watch the game ?!?!?
Two Huge Shames!
1) Valdespin will never be given 500 ab’s to see what he is truly capable of.
2) Valdespin’s maturity issues will never allow him to get 500 ab’s…
If Flores hits 3 to 5 dingers this spring with a healthy BA…He will be your starting second basemen. You will see Murphy Traded to an American league team. Mind you I said if but, you can quote me on it when it happens. Flores can do it..
Very well said Mark about valdespin, your absoutely right.
As for Flores, I would love to see that happen, but it is highly doubtful.
If Murphy does not break camp with the team due to injury, you will probably see Valdespin play some second, same goes for Brandon Hicks, and probably Reese havens before you will see Flores.
Flores took parts of three seasons to get out of single-a, and only has a half a season at double-a under his belt. He won’t skip Triple-A all together
Flores can’t play second. He’s slow as hell, I doubt he’ll even be able to handle 3rd. (that means no outfield either)
he was able to play SS until last year. He may not have league leading range at 2B, but entirely possible he will have enough to get by there. Certainly not an issue at 3B.
Nah. There’s a big difference between not league leading and god-awful. There’s a decent chance he can stick at third, I exaggerated a bit there.
If Murphy does get moved for an OF in favor of Flores being the starting 2nd baseman, most likely, I see him with the Chicago White Sox.
For which outfielder?
Among their outfielders, Rios makes the most sense since Chicago probably wants to get rid of that contract after his strong 2012 season. There’s two things I want to know: Would the White Sox be willing to eat a portion of his contract like the Cubs are willing to do with Soriano and what else would they want back?
I don’t think the White Sox are in a hurry to dump that contract. The division is still open and the Sox competed till the very end with the Tigers last season. I don’t see them in a position to dump salary.
Would you take a gamble on a kid like Dayan Viciedo?
How about not moving anyone around for Flores and hope he goes nuts this year, then trade him with Syndergaurd, and 2 or 3 others for Stanton.
I don’t know. I hear Stanton has attitude problems.
This needs a sarcasm font
lol
Flores has looked good at 2nd base. I’m not saying he will be a gold glover but seems much more fluid turning dp’s than Murph. There is no doubt he can play the position now and well the issues are going to start when he starts filling out that frame of his.But we can play him at 2nd for the next couple of years and worry about it when we have to. He has a big body when he fills out that frame his range may be to limited & it may be harder for him 2 turn 2. However, if he could stick at second which im hoping he will be a monster.