Spring Training: In 2012, Mets will fight for relevance

Spring training has officially arrived. Pitchers and catchers for the New York Mets have reported to Port St. Lucie, along with many position players who wish to get a head start.

So what is everyone talking about? Johan Santana’s ability to pitch. Whether or not it will be Daniel Murphy or Justin Turner to play first base come opening day.

Of course the entire pitching staff, from the rotation to the bullpen, has always remained a question for years.

Here is what I am talking about: the ability to fight for relevance in a division that already seems to have you dead and buried.

The Mets are going into this season with two feet already in their grave. At least, that is how everyone has them. In the  minds of players and their manager, they are going into the season with something to prove. The pieces are there. It is a matter of execution.

With spring training comes a clean slate. There is no more 2011 or 2010 or 2009. There is only now. Today. Nobody cares about yesterday. This is not about “what have you done for me lately?”. It is about “what are you going to do for me today?”.

That is what the Mets will be going through from spring training all the way through the last day of the 2012 season. It is about maintaining relevance. It is about giving yourself a fighting chance to shut up all of the naysayers. All of the doubting Thomas’s out there.

Sure there are question marks. They are always there. Every team, believe or not, has them. It is a long baseball season. It is a marathon, not a sprint. Each player on the New York Mets needs to stand up and say,

This is OUR fight. They have fought behind us every season. We will not say “die”. This division belongs to us. It is ours to take.

This game is played on the field. Every team has their slumps. The Mets need to take advantage. That is the key to this season. Take advantage of every mistake. Take advantage of every opportunity.

Their needs to be a mental toughness to this team like nothing before. There will be countless distractions, from David Wright staying with the team to Johan Santana’s ability to pitch. These players need to say,

To hell with the media. We can only control today. Not tomorrow.

Today is all they have. So that is what they will work with. This is the message of the 2012 season.

This is a new day. It is a new season. With the changes to the walls in the outfield, it like there is a new ballpark. Now, there is a new mentality. They will grind out every play. They will learn to hit, to field, and to fight. This is what spring training does. It trains you. It modifies what is already known and solidifies it. It prepares you for battle.

They will not say die. They will not, and should not, take anybody’s crap. Ike Davis, Daniel Murphy, David Wright and Jason Bay are coming back all guns blazing. All they ask, is for the fans to stand up and fight alongside them.

Welcome to the 2012 season! It’s time to ride or die!

Links: Carter, Something to Prove, Fred Wilpon Money

There are some great Mets blogs out there. Plenty to choose from. So I’ve decided to grab some good stories that you might have missed.

The Crazy Mets Fan and the 7 Line both have pictures from the Friday night tribute for Carter at Citi Field.

The Mets report to camp with something to prove.

Brian Joura from Mets 360 talks about why he would give Fred Wilpon $500 million.

Ed Marcus from The Real Dirty Mets blog talks about what he is looking forward to in spring training, like some competition among the players.

There you have it. Your links for the day. Enjoy!

Video: Spring Training and Second Base

Hey Mets fans. I decided it was time to do another video. You can tell by my voice I am really excited about spring training. But with spring training also comes anxieties for fans of the New York Mets. Heaven knows I have my own anxieties with this 2012 team and the division as a whole. Enjoy and I always welcome your comments. You can also subscribe to the CitiFieldofDreams.com channel.

Santana: Out Until Next Year?

Are we really shocked by this? It seems the New York Mets can never get a break. There is always something that happens that can potentially put Mets fans on the brink of cardiac arrest. It seems when it a new season rolls around and we’re all gushing about new beginnings, there is that part of us that is waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Well it looks like it is about to drop.

There are about a number of reports indicating that Johan Santana might miss the entire 2011 season due to the lack of progress he is making while rehabbing his left shoulder. It required surgery when they found a torn anterior capsule. Naturally, pitching coach Dan Warthen denies this. Santana was to be doing light throwing, but has been shut down for a couple of days due to soreness.

Santana also denies it. He is either telling the truth or just does not want to think about that possibility. He had this to say to reporters today:

We’re on the right track and where we’re supposed to be. Whoever says I’m not ready is lying.

I still have to go slow, because whatever you want to do, regardless, your arm is going to tell you something else. That’s why this process is real slow.

When it comes to Mets injuries, you can never really be sure if what they are saying is actually happening. Players tend to play the lying game because they do not want to appear weak or fragile. The coaches want to display optimism for the fans. I say just tell us the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth so help you God.

Should Mets fans be worried? Well, how many fans were actually thinking about 2011 team with Santana on the mound anyway? Some had their doubts he would be back anyway. With a potential pitching rotation of Mike Pelfrey, R.A. Dickey, Jon Niese, Chris Young, and Chris Capuano or Jason Isringhausen, fans should not be too worried.

If the Mets do get Santana back, which I expect possibly after the All-Star break and not June, it will only enhance this rotation. If the team is in play-off contention, him coming back would be great. If not, well, the team was doing fine without him anyway. No matter what happens, I feel everyone on the team should proceed as if they were not getting him back this year.

Beltran Making Move To Right Field

After conversations with manager Terry Collins, Carlos Beltran is expected to announce his shift from center field to right field. While it seems this move was inevitable, it just seems a little awkward. No more stellar catches in center field by the three-time Gold Glove winner? Sacrilege to many, I can assure you. Especially to yours truly.

Despite knowing this would happen, many expected him to be the Opening Day center fielder because he is the more experienced veteran. After opening eyes last season as acting center fielder in Beltran’s absence last year, it seems Angel Pagan has inherited that position.

This is a smart move, especially so early into Spring Training. As I had mentioned in a previous blog, Beltran needed to make this decision now because he has not played right field since 2000 and that was only for three games. So he could use some time there now because he has to get acclimated to what will feel like a new position for him. He’ll definitely have his job cut out for him at Citi Field with the way the ball bounces around out there. This move will help to extend his career as well with that arthritic knee nagging him.

This just proves that he indeed has the best interest of the team at heart, unlike some players of whom I will not make mention of. The announcement is set to be made by Beltran and Collins later today.

So we bid adieu to the days of Number 15 taking that long stroll out to center. Instead, it will be a hop, skip and jump away (of which he should not try with that knee) from the dugout. We wish him as much success in right field as he has had in center.

Source: NJ.com

First Line-Up of 2011

Can you believe it? It is finally here. Welcome to the first Spring Training game of 2011. Am I the only one who felt this day would never get here? Today’s game is against the Atlanta Braves, a rivalry that seems to have lost its fire even with Larry “Chipper” Jones still around.

The game starts at 1:10pm on WPIX. Here is your starting line-up:

1. Jose Reyes SS
2. Luis Castillo 2B
3. David Wright 3B
4. Angel Pagan CF
5. Jason Bay LF
6. Ike Davis 1B
7. Josh Thole C
8. Scott Hairston DH
9. Fernando Martinez RF

No Carlos Beltran today. That kind of deflates me. I was looking forward to watching him bat.

As for pitching you will be seeing Jenrry Mejia to get it started. Other pitchers will include Manny Acosta, Pedro Beato, Taylor Buchholz, John Lujan and Armando Rodriguez.

Not the pitching line-up I was hoping for, but at least baseball is back. So all that is left to say is:

LET’S GO METS!

No Contract Talks With Reyes

We all know that Jose Reyes will be a free agent at the end of the year.  Well with another big name player, Albert Pujols, trying to get a new contract done before spring training, Mets GM Sandy Alderson has no intention having these type of talks with Reyes.

Rightfully so. The Mets already have to deal with a media circus thanks to the Wilpon-Madoff situation. They certainly do not need another one.

Yet kudos have to go out to Reyes for not making any demands. He just wants to go out and play. This is his year to prove that he has every reason to stay with this team. Does Alderson see it that way? In a way, yes. Here’s what he had to say on ESPNnewyork.com:

I’m the kind of person that likes to get a feel for people and how they tick and be around them a little bit. So this isn’t just about scouting evaluations. This is getting comfortable with Jose…as someone who hasn’t been around.

I like the fact that Alderson wants to see what he has before making any decisions regarding players. Yet when you have seen what you have in Oliver Perez, you have to scratch your head and wonder why the Mets most selfish player is still around.

Personally, I would love to see Jose Reyes stick around. He is the one player who can ignite the team. Although that award went to Ike Davis last year. Reyes has a lot of upside and little down. He has matured and I think manager Terry Collins sees that which is why he will have the green light on the bases.

I think Alderson is just in full evaluation mode. It will be interesting what happens to this team as the trade deadline approaches. If Reyes does indeed prove himself to be more than a speedster, I see him staying with this team right alongside David Wright. They key for Reyes is staying healthy and keeping his head in the game during the game.

Pitchers, Catchers and Position Players Report With New Blood

Technically the reporting date is supposed to be tomorrow. However, with more than half of the players there now, I figure we will move it to today. Why not, right? With that said, welcome the new blood and captain of the team: Terry Collins.

If I were at the Mets Spring Training facility right now, I would like to think this is the speech that Collins would give to the 2011 New York Mets players. Some of you might remember this post, but I gave it a Collins twist.

The Year of the Gangsta is over. Welcome in the Year of the Drill Sargeant!

–

Welcome to your 2011 Spring Training. I am Terry Collins, your new manager AND captain. I feel great being here with all of you and think that we can make a run for the playoffs this year with the players that we have.

I understand many of you are concerned about the situation going on with the Wilpons. However, to be perfectly honest, it is none of your business. So mind your own business. The only business you should be concerning yourself with is what is happening on the baseball field. That is your business and that is what the fans are coming to see.

With all of that said, let’s begin. The Spring Training rules are as follows:

• There will be no crying.
• No whining.
• No laziness.
• No texting.
• No phone calls to mommy talking about how hard it is here.

YOU WILL SUCK IT UP!

You will come in here as boys and leave as men. You will sweat. You will be in pain. You will WANT to cry, but are ordered to suck it up. If I see one tear, you will be running laps until your legs fall off.

Your mission, which you will accept since you are making millions, is to work your asses off.

You will learn how to play baseball. Ladies, it is all about fundamentals and that is what we are going to work on.

You will learn to field, Mr. Murphy and company.

You will learn to hit, Mr. Wright and hitters two through six.

You will learn to pitch, Mr. Oliver Perez.

You will learn how to run the bases with your brain, Mr. Jose Reyes.

You will shut up and do as you are told. You will only speak when spoken to. If I want your opinion, I will ask for it.

There will be no parties. There will be no drinking. There will be no poker nights. This is not a fraternity. Think of this as the army and I am your drill sargeant.

Ladies, you are here for one thing and one thing only, to make up for the disappointing seasons you have shown Mets fans. You are better than what you have shown. Your baseball cards say you are better than what you have shown.

I do not care about how much money you are making. Only that you are earning it and YOU HAD BETTER EARN IT! It does not matter how big your contracts are. If you do not do your job, you will lose your job.

If you have a problem with anything I have said, go speak to your new GM, Sandy Alderson. I’m sure he can make some lucrative trade and send you packing somewhere else.

You play for the New York Mets in NEW YORK CITY! You knew what you were coming to. You could be in Kansas City or Pittsburgh. You could be in Miami where the fans could care less what you do and the only people you will see there are your families. But you aren’t. You CHOSE to be here. So play like it still is the place you want to be.

Now go out there and give me a reason to take you back to Flushing with me.