New York Mets Spring Training wheeler

Good Morning everyone. New York Mets pitcher, Zack Wheeler took another big step forward on Wednesday as he threw a second bullpen session without any issues. Wheeler tossed roughly 30 pitches on the day without any discomfort and is currently being eyed to pitch in his first spring training game on March 8th.

Manager, Terry Collins was very pleased with just how sharp Wheeler looked in the short session. “Best I’ve seen him throw down here,” Collins said. “The ball came out really well today. It was really impressive. He threw some breaking balls today for the first time. That was a real big step forward for him.”

LATEST METS NEWS

Lucas Duda gained some confidence on Tuesday, smashing a long home run during batting practice. He was happy to see the power quickly return as he makes his way back from a stress fracture in his lower back that sidelined him for much of the 2016 season. “The power I’ve felt so far this spring is more than I’m used to,” Duda said. “I think it’s because of all the core rehab I did. I went through a four-month process of solely doing rehab. My lower back was strengthened. I went into the offseason healthy and built on that.” Read more from columnist Dan Martin in the NY Post and Abbey Mastracco at NJ.com.

Noah Syndergaard did not have to think twice when he was asked to be a part of the World Baseball Classic for team USA as he declined the offer. “It was a piece-of-cake decision,” Syndergaard said. “My heart and desire is with the New York Mets and competing with them and striving for a world championship ring. I wasn’t interested. I am not going to risk injury competing in that. Especially since I threw over 200 innings in 2015 and 2016, so I needed to give my arm a good substantial break.” Read more from columnist Mike Puma in the NY Post

Matt Ehalt of NorthJersey.com writes of the many lives of Rafael Montero who continues to remain on the team’s 40-man roster. Manager, Terry Collins still likes what he sees out of the once prized prospect. “We see the stuff. I’ve been watching him throw this spring. The arm’s still there, the stuff’s still there, got to command it,” Collins said. “When he got to the big leagues it was because he was a strike thrower and we haven’t seen that yet. If he does, he gets outs. The games that he’s pitched the best is when he throws strikes. His stuff plays.”

NL EAST RUMBLINGS

Manager of the Miami Marlins, Don Mattingly believes a good way to speed up the game of baseball is to put a new focus on reducing the amount of strikeouts. “Analytically, a few years back nobody cared about the strikeout, so it’s OK to strike out 150, 160, 170 times, and that guy’s still valued in a big way,” Mattingly said. “Well, as soon as we start causing that to be a bad value—the strikeouts—guys will put the ball in play more.” Read more from Alec Nathan on Bleacher Report.

Clay Buchholz eyes a bounceback season as he enters his first year as a member of the Philadelphia Phillies. “There are expectations that are brought back to you, that sense of complacency, being in one spot for an extended period of time, that’s gone,” Buchholz said. “And yeah, you want to perform for the new faces and show that you’re still good at your craft and good at what you do.” Read more from Meghan Montemurro at DelawareOnline.com.

Atlanta Braves first baseman, Freddie Freeman is not a fan of all of the changes that are attempting to be done to the game of baseball. “My thoughts are, I’m a young guy, but I like old-school baseball,” Freeman said. “I don’t think we should have instant replay, I don’t think we should be changing the game at all. It’s a beautiful game the way it is. They’re always talking about pace of play, but I think instant replay made the game longer. They keep trying to make rules to make the game faster, but they’ve already made one rule that makes the game longer. So I don’t think we’re ever going to be able to make up that time.” Read more from columnist David O’Brien at AJC.com.

RECENTLY ON MMO

Joe D writes on Tom Gorzelanny‘s desire for a championship ring as he starts his new venture with the Mets.

Jacob Resnick advises of the Mets being favorites to sign two Dominican amateur players.

Over at MetsMinors.net, Corne Hogeveen speaks with Ben Griset in an MMN exclusive interview.

TODAY IN METS HISTORY

Mets players born on this day include Bobby Bonilla (54), Chris Aguila (38), Ken Boswell (71), Don Shaw (73) and Ron Hunt (76).

TWEET OF THE DAY

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