seth lugo

Good Morning everyone. The New York Mets will play their first Grapefruit League game of the season today as Seth Lugo gets the start against the Boston Red Sox.

Lugo will take the first shot at the fifth spot in the starting rotation as he takes the ball. He though is taking it all in stride as he just looks to continue to work on his craft. “I look at this as a chance to work on things,” Lugo said. “For me, this spring, I want to work on the command of my curve ball and my changeup. I am just focused on what I can control.”

The Mets are expected to play Michael Conforto, Wilmer Flores, Travis d’Arnaud, Juan Lagares and top prospect Amed Rosario. Manager, Terry Collins could not be more ready to start getting some games underway. “It’s time,” Collins said. “I think we’ve got to get guys out there and start playing.”

LATEST METS NEWS

Travis d’Arnaud will attempt to hit himself into the Mets lineup on a daily basis in 2017, even when Noah Syndergaard is starting. The team is open to having d’Arnaud catch Syndergaard as long as he is performing up to par. Travis feels up to the task of catching Syndergaard as it is something he has done many times before. “I caught Noah the year before and I caught him in the playoffs (in 2015), I caught him in the minors,” d’Arnaud said. “And even last year when I wasn’t catching him, I would be in the video room watching him and studying what he was throwing.” Read more from Kristie Ackert in the NY Daily News.

Frank Viola, who currently is the pitching coach for the Las Vegas 51’s is letting it known that he has the itch to coach at the major league level. “After being in Vegas for four years, I’d be lying if I said I wouldn’t love to have an opportunity to make a difference in the big leagues,” Viola said. “If it happens, it happens. If not …” Either way, the former Mets pitcher is happy to help groom these young pitchers to become major league stars. “When I first started, I didn’t know what I wanted to do,” Viola said. “I just wanted to make a difference. I wanted to work with kids. Eventually, though, you think of other things. Hopefully I’ve made a difference.” Read more from Dan Martin in the NY Post.

The New York Mets have started spring by easing their pitchers into game shape by limiting how much they have thrown thus far. The new program has been a hit with the players who appreciate the extra time to ready themselves for the 2017 season.  Manager, Terry Collins spoke on the response he has received from the pitchers regarding the current throwing plan. “The response has been great. Now, we’ll see what the results are going to be once we start playing,” Collins said. “The young guys, this is all new to them, but the older guys you talk to, they’ve all said ‘This is really good, my arm feels better than it has at any time.’ We all know there is going to be that dead-arm stage they are going to go through in spring training that every guy does, but hopefully we can control it a little better and it doesn’t affect them as much as they have in the past.” Read more from columnist Matt Ehalt on NorthJersey.com.

NL EAST RUMBLINGS

Washington Nationals star pitcher, Stephen Strasburg took a big step on his road to recovery as he readies himself for the 2017 season. Strasburg tossed 23 pitches in an intrasquad game, facing four batters on the day. Pitching coach, Mike Maddux was pleased with what he saw from the Nationals ace. “I was happy with what I saw, and that was seeing Stras on the bump,” Maddux said. “A little rusty, but the stuff was there. Threw some nice curveballs. Change-up was first-game-of-spring-training type. It wasn’t the one he’s accustomed to throwing. But it was good to see him out there. That was the big bonus for me, that Stras went out there and competed well and held his pitch count down.” Read more from columnist Chelsea Janes in the Washington Post.

The Atlanta Braves signed former Kansas City Chiefs and University of Georgia defensive back, Sanders Commings to a minor league deal. Commings has been out of the NFL since 2014, a career that was cut short by injury. It is unclear as to where Commings may start his professional baseball career within the Braves organization at this time. General Manager, John Coppolella is excited and intrigued by the team’s newest signing. “We feel this is a tremendous athlete and an even better person,” Coppolella said. “Our mantra has always been to leave no stone unturned. What’s the downside here?” Read more from columnist David O’Brien in the AJC.com.

Miami Marlins outfielder, Ichiro Suzuki is suffering from a sore quad following a collision that occurred during an outfield drill on Tuesday. Ichiro will be taking it easy over the next few days as the 43-year-old outfielder does not want to push it too much this early in spring.  Manager, Don Mattingly is not too concerned about the injury at this point. “I think he will be OK,” Mattingly said. “Sore quad. A little bit sore in the back. He probably feels the quad more today, just because the knee is there. But probably the back is something we’ll be sure we get away from as time goes. I feel pretty good about it.” Read more from columnist Joe Frisaro at MLB.com.

RECENTLY ON MMO

John Jackson writes on how the MLB’s pending ban on Jeurys Familia is putting the Mets in a tough spot.

Chris Gaine gives his thoughts on the upcoming Tim Tebow press conference that will take place on Monday when minor league camp opens.

Over at MetsMinors.net, Ed Delany gives us some great shots of the action taking place in Mets camp.

TODAY IN METS HISTORY

On this day in 1976, the New York Mets traded pitcher, George Stone to Texas in exchange for pitcher, Bill Hands.

Mets players born on this day include, Eddie Murray (60) and Gustavo Molina (34).

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