Mar
6
2013

Morning Grind: What’s On Tap, Mets vs Venezuela, Good To Be Back

An article by John Delcos

tradition field spring Good morning from Port St. Lucie, where there’s a chill in the air and the sun is just coming up.

Had dinner last night with a friend on the Mets’ beat and like most people I speak with in the media he’s not enthusiastic about them having a good season.

Drove around a little last night and this place has changed over the past few years. Really built up. New hotels and restaurants, including a sushi place not far from where I am staying.

Walked into the lobby and three hotel staffers remembered me by name. Felt like Norm for Cheers. Was a good feeling.

Heading to camp in a few minutes. David Wright is at the WBC and Johan Santana is still here from when I traveled with the team on a regular basis.

Will make a run at Santana for obvious reasons, including a new one – the president of Venezuela died yesterday. Need to get a reaction from him. Ironically, the Mets are playing the Venezuelan team today.

Also Ike Davis to see what he knows about being added to the WBC now that Mark Teixeira is injured. Yankees can’t be too happy about that. I never have, and never will, be a fan of the Classic. It means so much more to players from other countries, especially Latin America than it does to players from the US. But, Felix Hernandez isn’t pitching (could it be that new contract?) and the Japanese players in the majors aren’t all participating.

Wright is on board, but many big name players are not. Have to wonder why.

No, there are no plans to ask Sandy Alderson whether he plans to jump out of any airplanes. Insert your reaction here.

Lot of Mets fans in the lobby. One lady I remember is a regular. She holds court every morning at breakfast. Had cards promoting the blog made up to pass around. Have to think differently now.

Have a great day folks and I’ll be posting regularly here now while covering the Mets beat.

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.

6 Comments + Add Comment

Hotstreak March 6, 2013 at 9:18 am

“not enthusiastic about them having a good season.”
Yes it is almost certain they won’t be at .500 or make the playoffs.
The Phillies and Yankess probably will do both.
Who has the brightness future 2014 and beyond?
I believe the NY Mets
Hate to break it to you this is a rebuilding (punt) year.
Russell Zanca March 6, 2013 at 9:25 am

WBC is an utter nuisance with the added stupidity of potential injuries to key players. Not at all happy about Wright (and now possibly ID) participating.

Should be scheduled after WS, but then folk are maxed out on BB and there’s football, so there would be no interest really. Can’t win with it.
- TRS86 March 6, 2013 at 9:28 am
  
  One of the things that I was shocked about and something Bud has to be concerned with is that not only is it not a big deal at all here in the US, the ratings and level of excitement in other countries are very low as well. This was always more about the other countries than it was the US but if they don’t care either, what’s the point?
- METS62FAN March 6, 2013 at 10:40 am
  
  RUSS, IMO, THE BEST OPTION FOR A WBC TYPE OF CONTEST WOULD BE HELD AS A ROUND ROBIN FEATURING ONLY THE CHAMPIONSHIP TEAMS FROM EVERY ESTABLISHED LEAGUE. AS I UNDERSTAND IT THE PRIMARY ISSUE IS THE CALANDAR AS MLB’s “OFFSEASON” FALLS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ASIAN HEMISPHERE’S SEASON(SUMMER)
  UNTIL THEY CAN IRON OUT A TOURNEMENT THAT ENDS WITH THE CROWNING OF A “TRUE WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP” INTERNATIONA CONTESTS SHOULD RETURN TO WHERE IT BST FITS WITH THOSE ATHLETES READY TO PLAY REGARDLESS OF SUMMER,FALL,WINTER,SPRING aka LITTLE LEAGUES ALREADY ESTABLISHED FOR DECADES. JUST AS MLB TEAMS WOULDN’T SUPPORT KEY PLAYERS LEAVING FOR AN OLYMPIC TEAM IN THE MIDDLE OF THEIR REGULAR,MEANINGFUL SEASONS, SO TOO WILL ASIAN LEAGUES & LATIN LEAGUES WITHDRAW THEIR PLAYERS FROM ANY CONTESTS ARRAINGED TO ACCOMODATE THE MLB SCHEDULE. THE PROBLEM WITH EXPANDING THE SPORT IS THE DILUTION OF POWER HELD BY MLB AS THE PRIMARY BEST LEAGUE IN PLAY UNTIL MLB CHOOSES TO COMPLETELY INDEMNIFY TEAMS FOR SALARY LOSSES DUE TO INJURIES INCURRED IN MLB SPONSORED EVENTS LIKE THIS WBC[WHY BE CARING?]. MLB & OTHER “INT’L LEAGUES” ARE THE REAL PROFITEERS FROM THESE TOURNEMENTS & AS SUCH NEED TO GUARANTEE THE FUTURE PAYMENTS DUE TO INJURED PLAYERS THROUGH THE RUN OF THEIR CURRENT CONTRACTS. TEAM & PLATERS SHOULD BEAR THE SHARED LOSS OF POTENTIAL LOST OUTCOMES.
Mr North Jersey March 6, 2013 at 11:48 am

Since the Mets game will not be televised it looks like the game of the day to watch is D.R. vs NYY.
Mr North Jersey March 6, 2013 at 12:00 pm

So KRod turns out is playing for Venezuela and with that comes some expected tweets.

@MartinoNYDN
K-rod just said he “definitely” wants to come back to mets to “redeem himself” made strong pitch
https://twitter.com/MartinoNYDN/status/309346370848972800

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	23	18	.561	-
Nationals	23	19	.548	0.5
Phillies	20	23	.465	4.0
Mets	16	24	.400	6.5
Marlins	11	31	.262	12.5

Last updated: 05/18/2013

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