3-6-13 – LaTroy Hawkins, Sean Kazmar, Hugo Chavez, Pitching Mess

P LaTroy Hawkins pitched two innings in the ‘B’ game played at the Marlins complex on Tuesday morning: 1-R, 1-H, 1-K, 1-BB.

The important thing is he’s back on the mound which is a first for Hawkins this spring. Again, it seems like the veterans have their say during this extended spring training.

Hawkins, though 40-years old, still has the skills (2012 LAA: 48-G, 3.64) and is expected to make the 25-man come April 1^st.

SS Sean Kazmar was signed to a minor league contract by the Atlanta Braves. Kazmar played the 2012 season for both Binghamton (57-G, 195-AB, .236) and Buffalo (11-G, 29-AB, .138). He was released by the Mets at the end of the season.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez died.

       There will be some baseball ramifications here. No one loved baseball more than Chavez and, though his government was very anti-American (no diplomatic relations/no ambassador) he still welcomed the VSL association with the MLB and welcomed Americans to their winter ball program. There has been kidnapping problems in the past, but the incidents have been minimal. We’ll keep an eye on this, especially regarding recently signed Venezuelan prospects, like LHP Adrian Almeida, RHP Ronald Guedez, and SS Miguel Patino.  The Mets could consider sending them to the DSL program until things calm down.

Starting pitching was supposed to be a strength — perhaps the only strength — for the Mets this season. But now the starting pitching, in addition to the bullpen, is just a mess. Think about it; the rotation was supposed to be Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey, Jonathon Niese, Dillon Gee and Matt Harvey. Pretty solid. But of course, Dickey was traded. He was replaced by Shaun Marcum, who got beaten up in his first Spring Training start, then asked to be held out of game action. He finally returned to the mound on Tuesday, pitching two scoreless innings in a “B” game. But by all accounts he is not close to being ready.

       This comes from one of the ultra-negative Mets sites which seem to be growing. Things aren’t getting any better in camp and we should read a lot more of stuff like this well into the season.