Mar
18
2013

Wright, Santana, Murphy And Duda Among Mets’ Questions As Opening Day Looms

An article by John Delcos

Here we are, two weeks from Opening Day and the Mets still have a myriad of questions that can’t be answered by Google. Perhaps they should get a Celebrity Apprentice from Trump to fill in the holes.

Jon Niese was superb in yesterday’s loss to the Braves and we know he’ll get the ball that first day against San Diego regardless of the Mets’ refusal to acknowledge anything negative about Johan Santana, who is among their many questions.

Q: What will the Mets get, and when, from Santana?

A: Considering it had been almost two weeks since his ill-fated mound attempt to quell the negativity from the Mets and media that Santana has done any significant throwing, it is anybody’s guess. Maybe next week, maybe the week after, but he will open the season on the disabled list regardless of his rate of denial. The Mets would dearly love to trade his $31 million contract, but the fact is they’ll have to eat over $20 million to do so. Might as well let him rest and hope for the best.

Q: Will David Wright open the season on the disabled list?

A: Technically, today is the third day of the three to five Wright will have to rest. He has received a cortisone injection in his strained ribs since coming back from the World Baseball Classic. Injuries of this type often last a month, as Wright learned last spring. Maybe he would have gotten hurt just the same in a regular spring training, but that doesn’t change the fact the odds are against Opening Day.

Q: How good is Matt Harvey?

A: He’s been good this spring, but has also thrown the occasional dud. He has ten major league starts on his resume, but the expectations of a proven veteran. The other teams have scouting reports, too, so don’t be shocked if he takes some lumps early.

Q: How healthy is Dillon Gee?

A: He says he has fully recovered from surgery to repair an artery in his pitching shoulder, but has been off this spring. He could use another three or four starts to get all the rust off, but there’s not enough time.

Q: What can the Mets expect from Shaun Marcum and fifth starter Jeremy Hefner?

A: Considering Marcum will not make six exhibition starts, don’t be too optimistic. At this rate, the Mets will be fortunate to get five innings from either of them. The back end of the rotation is clearly a weakness.

Q: Will Lucas Duda hit for power?

A: Let’s rephrase that: Will he substantially cut his strikeouts? He’s had a rough spring showing little of his power potential. When he hits them, he hits them far. Just not often enough.

Q: Who starts in center field?

A: Kirk Nieuwenhuis spit the bit early, and then was hurt. He was the projected starter and leadoff hitter, but now is ticketed for Triple-A Las Vegas. What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. Let’s hope that includes his bad habits at the plate. We’re looking at Collin Cowgill as the starter and Jordany Valdespinmaking the team. They can use Matt den Dekker’s defense, but want more from him at the plate.

Q: Will Daniel Murphy be ready?

A: Murphy had one of those “seven to ten days’’ rib injuries that has lasted a month. He played five innings of defense in a minor league game three days ago, but has been stiff since. The early word is Wednesday of this week, but we know how such projections go with the Mets. It is possible Valdespin will start at second while Justin Turner is at third Opening Day. Excited yet?

Q: What is the make-up of the bullpen?

A: Bobby Parnell is the closer and he’s taken some hits this spring. Josh Edgin is the lefty specialist, butPedro Feliciano is making a run. He’s one of several veterans hoping to extend their careers with the Mets.

Q: Will they add anybody before the end of spring training?

A: Don’t count on it.

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.

14 Comments + Add Comment

srt March 18, 2013 at 11:37 am

And some say ST is too long. With the position the Mets are in with some of their players, we could have used another month. Too many questions, not enough answers.

Then again, I’m afraid an extra month would just add to the injury total.
All I can say is ‘Yikes!’
peter March 18, 2013 at 11:58 am

Grade of 50%, you fail.
Clayton Collier March 18, 2013 at 12:41 pm

My mistake guys, I accidentally put this under my name. This is John Delcos’ Q&A which you can also read at http://www.newyorkmetsreport.com/.
van March 18, 2013 at 1:53 pm

pretty sad that most likely, only Duda is even on the OD roster.
van March 18, 2013 at 1:56 pm

Parnell had an era of 0.00 until his last outing. How is that taking some hits?
FL Met Fan Rich March 18, 2013 at 1:58 pm

This might rival the 62 Mets as the worst starting lineup in opening day history. Aren’t you glad you paid those inflated opening day prices to witness this?

Thank Goodness we have the Astros & Marlins to make us look good!
- trs86 March 18, 2013 at 2:06 pm
  
  I would much rather have this lineup than 1995.
  Butler, Vizciano, Brogna, Bonillia, Kent, Segui, Everrett, Hundley, with Bobby Jones and his 10 wins leading the rotation.
FL Met Fan Rich March 18, 2013 at 2:04 pm

I have to think real hard about paying $8 to watch this team!…it’s only $5 to watch the single A team.

It’s hard to tell the difference!
kevin March 18, 2013 at 3:27 pm

it is very depressing looking at the roster of this team.
i have seen the tidewater tides better than this team
TJ March 18, 2013 at 3:59 pm

John,
One minor mathematical correction – at this point, the Mets will need to eat $30.5 million of the $31 million due Santana. The rest of your article is downright depressing.
- van March 18, 2013 at 4:08 pm
  
  well, remember the mantra, 1 more year!
Just-Da-Damaja March 19, 2013 at 12:52 am

Hey….ever since TEAM USA and Captain Obvious got bumped….we have had almost zero coverage on the WBC….

I see Jose Valentin….Carlos Beltran…Carlos Delgado…Jose Reyes…Angel Pagan….it feels like a Los Mets reunion all over again !!!

all these ex-mets and no coverage…

hell we still have current met prospects on both teams…and still no coverage….

now why is that….?

lmao
- XtreemIcon March 19, 2013 at 1:05 am
  
  Then write a fan post. If you took your blinders off, you’d realize there was no WBC coverage. There was coverage of Mets playing in the WBC. And now there are no more Mets in the WBC.
  - Alex68 March 19, 2013 at 7:50 am
    
    Lmao, Captain America sure knows how to take the fun out of the WBC eh???
    
    TEAM DOMINICANA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

NL East Standings

Team	W	L	Pct.	GB
Braves	25	18	.581	-
Nationals	23	21	.523	2.5
Phillies	21	23	.477	4.5
Mets	17	24	.415	7.0
Marlins	12	32	.273	13.5

Last updated: 05/19/2013

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