Reese Kaplan -- Good Mets News For a Bad Spring

It’s about that time for my unsolicited endorsement of mobile phone provider, T-Mobile.  For those folks who subscribe to their service be aware it’s that time of the year again when MLB.TV service is available for free over their mobile network.  While it won’t help you enjoy or endure the Spring Training games from Florida, broadcast service begins on March 24^th.  Go to this link to get the details. 

Many of you may have heard that slugger Tim Tebow will be playing in the World Baseball Classic for his native Philippines.  He was born there while his parents were doing missionary work, so he qualifies to be a participant.  It’s not the first Filipino the Mets have employed.  Everyone remembers Benny Agbayani, right?  Well, this time around the Filipino-by-birth Tebow delivered his first ever spring training home run.  It was a monster shot but really doesn’t do much for his potential to make the majors.

Rumor has it the Mets have checked in on catcher Russell Martin who at age 37 is not likely capable of handling much more than the backup role.  Many fervent fans are rooting for castoff NRI Rene Rivera to get another shot in the majors while others are holding out hope that Tomas Nido will finally figure out what to do with the funny looking wooden stick they hand him 4 or more times per game.  Obviously Martin’s best days are behind him, but he is capable of handling the defensive part of the game while not embarrassing himself completely with the bat. 

While the club has seen some of both Edwin Diaz and Jeurys Familia in the bullpen, the uniforms are still fresh and new for Dellin Betances and Seth Lugo, both recovering from injuries.  Yes, there are other pitchers who have been summoned mid and late game after the starters, including Brad Brach, Robert Gsellman and others.  Still, the difference between 2019’s “Pendemic” and what might happen in 2020 depends as much on recovery from injuries as it does to a return to form for the big name 8^th and 9^th inning guys unless they are planning to flip closing duties to sore-toed Seth Lugo.

Earlier this week the Mets shut down Brandon Nimmo to get some medical tests done which confirmed he is indeed healthy enough to play.  That day, however, gave a starting opportunity to former high draft pick Ryan Cordell who was selected by the Rangers back in 2013.  Now 27 years old and sporting a 254 major league AB career netting a .205 average and not much power, his time is likely over.  However, he banged out two hits (including a long ball) in place of Nimmo and is said to be capable of playing centerfield.  He has health in his favor over others like Yoenis Cespedes who likely needs more warm weather recovery time (away from boars). 

This weekend is supposed to be the initial appearance of elder statesman Robinson Cano on the ballfield.  There’s nowhere for him to go but up after last season’s disappointment.  He’s not the fielder he once was and last year even had trouble hitting the long ball.  Some of it was written off to leg conditions that saw him on the DL a few times and some of it was dismissed as old age catching up to him.  He did finish strongly so there might still be some gasoline in that carburetor (considering his age, he predates fuel injection).