3/8/10

Strawberry,Jamaican Baseball, Catcher Clotch, Ike Davis... and Francoeur's Arm

Strawberry:


Darryl Strawberry is headed toward the clubhouse door, an unlit Newport jammed between his fingers.

“Gotta get my exercise,” the big man says. “This is my workout right here, smoking.”

New York Mets alum Darryl Strawberryworking out at Tradition Field last week. Strawberry’s presence acts as a lesson to younger players who feel the long tentacles of temptation wrapping around them. Strawberry delivers this public-service announcement without apologies or PC embarrassment. He’s a cancer survivor, a recovering addict, not to mention one of the fittest, strongest players of his era. Darryl should be an anti-nicotine zealot but that doesn’t stop him from lighting up and filling the air with those lazy blue curls. Strawberry instead uses cigarettes as a billboard of his post-baseball life. He’s moved on from the vanity (and rolled-up sleeves) of his youth, now sporting a gut that’s noticeable even under a loose-fitting Mets’ warm-up. - link

Baseball in Jamaica:

Jamaica is taking after its baseball-crazy Caribbean neighbors with plans for a new field supported by Major League Baseball.

Island officials say the diamond will be part of a new stadium in Trelawny, west of the capital Kingston.

Latin America operations manager Renaldo Peralta said during a visit to Jamaica last week that Major League Baseball is dedicated to presenting young islanders with new opportunities. MLB spokesman Matt Bourne said on Saturday that he could not provide details of the proposal. - link

Catcher Clotch:

Every morning around 8, the school bell rings in the Mets’ clubhouse, the catchers gather in their seats, and class begins. Rod Barajas, left, with Omir Santos, was a late acquisition, but he is the likely starter this season. Morning tutorials are informal, often led by Rod Barajas, the adjunct professor of catching; Henry Blanco, the associate professor; and Chris Coste, the senior lecturer. Laboratory work on the field usually begins at 9:30, followed by lunchtime discussion periods in which students like Josh Thole, Omir Santos and Mike Nickeas ask questions and ruminate on the art of catching as they pursue a master’s in the discipline. - link

Ike Davis:

Ike Davis 1B (Mets) 3.825 - The Mets can’t truely be happy with a Daniel Murphy at first base. They would like to give the position to Ike, but he probably needs another year in AAA. Power hitters generally need 1,000 at bats before they are ready for major league production. Ike has 644. He hit 20 homers last year in his second season, improving as he moved from High A to AA. He is a good defensive player and as the son of Ron Davis is used to major league clubhouses, having grown up in them as a kid.  - link


Francoeur’s Arm:

Jeff Francoeur's arm saved the Mets two runs. Francoeur threw out runners at the plate with two outs in the third and eighth innings. The second runner was former Braves teammate Peter Orr entered the game as a pinch-runner three batters earlier. Orr texted Francoeur a message that began with two words that were not "Thank you." "You threw out a guy who wasn't loose," was the rest of it. - link

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