"[Reyes] is a guy that year-in and year-out is their most valuable player," said Jones, who started at third base for the Braves in their 9-5 exhibition victory over the Mets.
"As he goes, they go. You keep him off base and you've got a chance to beat the Mets. If he's on base three or four times, you're not going to beat them." - link
"Don't rule me out for opening the season," Escobar told The Post yesterday. "I know once I get going, I can get ready very quickly, and a lot of people could be surprised."
Escobar, who is battling shoulder weakness, yesterday resumed playing catch after a four-day rest and seemed amazed afterward with how he felt.
"I feel a lot better -- looser, stronger, so that's a good thing," Escobar said. "Things are moving forward quickly." Nevertheless, Escobar still isn't sure when he'll begin a long-tossing program, a prerequisite before he can begin throwing from a bullpen mound - link
The advantage he had in his brief encounters was an unmistakable indication that the pitchers are ahead of the hitters, a routine development in any camp in late February. But 95-mph fastballs with natural cutting action is indicative of something far less routine. The images created by his pitches and the reactions of those who'd seen them up close and personal were reminiscent of Gooden in his first camp 26 years ago.There. Unfair it is to compare any pitcher of any age to what Gooden was then, but unfair or not, those moments when the hitters felt as if they were swinging with long balloons instead of bats were right out of spring 1984. The world was just beginning to notice Gooden then -- and to be wowed by what he was throwing: a mean fastball that attached anvils to many March bats, and an Uncle Charlie curve that already was prompting Lord Charles accolades - link
48. Jennry Mejia, RHP, Mets
80. Fernando Martinez, OF, Mets
84. Wilmer Flores, SS, Mets
87. Ike Davis, 1B, Mets - link
It was the third inning of the first game of spring training for the Mets on Tuesday afternoon, and a player was already walking off the field in pain while accompanied to the dugout by a trainer. It would have been understandable if everyone associated with the Mets would have cringed.
During a spring training in which the Mets are dedicated to distance themselves from a dreadful 2009 season, they had a flashback when right-hander Elmer Dessens was hit on the top of the right knee by a line drive in off the bat of Braves catcher Brian McCann. Dessens was fine after the Mets' 4-2 victory in the Grapefruit League lid-lifter at Tradition Field, having nothing more than a small wrap on the knee.
All was well that ended well, but you still couldn't help but think back to last year when 18 Mets players went on the disabled list a total of 21 times, resulting in 1,451 days and $52 million of value lost. There were enough injuries to make the hair grow back on Will Carroll's head. The list of players who paraded to the DL had star power, too, as it included Carlos Beltran, Carlos Delgado, Oliver Perez, J.J. Putz, Jose Reyes, Johan Santana, Gary Sheffield, and Billy Wagner. - link
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