Spring Training Schedule Released

The Mets released their Spring Training schedule, which kicks off on February 23 against the Nationals.

With the spring schedule ending on March 28 and Opening Day April 1, there was talk that the team may schedule a game or two out in Las Vegas. According to Marc Carig, however, that will not happen. 

Here is the schedule:

Sat	February 23	Washington Nationals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	February 24	University of Michigan	Port St. Lucie	12:10 p.m.
		Houston Astros	Kissimmee	TBA
Mon.	February 25	Washington Nationals	Port St. Lucie	6:10 p.m.
Tue.	February 26	Miami Marlins	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Wed.	February 27	St. Louis Cardinals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Thurs.	February 28	Washington Nationals	Viera	6:05 p.m.
Fri.	March 1	Detroit Tigers	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sat.	March 2	Miami Marlins	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	March 3	Miami Marlins	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Mon.	March 4	Atlanta Braves	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Tue.	March 5	OFF
Wed.	March 6	Venezuela WBC	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Thurs.	March 7	Miami Marlins	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Fri.	March 8	Detroit Tigers	Lakeland	1:05 p.m.
Sat.	March 9	Houston Astros	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	March 10	St. Louis Cardinals	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Mon.	March 11	Detroit Tigers	Lakeland	1:05 p.m.
Tue.	March 12	OFF
Wed.	March 13	Washington Nationals	Viera	1:05 p.m.
Thurs.	March 14	Detroit Tigers	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Fri.	March 15	Atlanta Braves	Disney	1:05 p.m.
Sat.	March 16	Miami Marlins	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	March 17	Atlanta Braves	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Mon.	March 18	St. Louis Cardinals	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Tue.	March 19	OFF
Wed.	March 20	Houston Astros	Kissimmee	TBA
Thurs.	March 21	St. Louis Cardinals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Fri.	March 22	Miami Marlins	Jupiter	7:05 p.m.
Sat.	March 23	Washington Nationals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Sun.	March 24	Detroit Tigers	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
		St. Louis Cardinals	Jupiter	1:05 p.m.
Mon.	March 25	Atlanta Braves	Disney	1:05 p.m.
Tue.	March 26	St. Louis Cardinals	Port St. Lucie	1:10 p.m.
Wed.	March 27	Houston Astros	Port St. Lucie	6:10 p.m.
Thurs.	March 28	Washington Nationals	Viera	1:05 p.m.

Mets Morning News 2-26-12

The Mets released this image of the patch yesterday. 

The Mets announced Saturday that the team will wear a patch on their uniforms to honor the late Gary Carter. The patch features a home plate with "The Kid" and the No. 8 in the middle.

Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger did a Q & A with Jason Bay to find out more about his friendship with Eddie Vedder.

"I was a huge Pearl Jam fan … Eddie’s a huge baseball fan. Huge Cubs fan. There’s a lot of guys who have met him. Sean Casey, who’s a diehard Pearl Jam fan, he’s hung out with Eddie numerous times. When I got traded to Boston, we played a game and that night Eddie was playing somewhere in Boston on his solo tour. And he signed this poster, 'Hey, Jason, welcome to the Red Sox.' And then Casey gave me his number. So we text back and forth."

"I’ve never met him. I’ve never actually technically met him. And that’s the funny part. Casey was like, 'Hey, here’s his number, he said text him.' So he was like 'Hey, sounds good, man. If I’m ever up in Seattle recording …' He’s never up there. He’s got a lot going on. I’m probably the last person (on his mind). 'Oh, I’ve got to call Jason Bay!'"

Pitching prospect Matt Harvey threw his first live batting practice Saturday. According to David Lennon, Harvey is expected to begin the season with Double-A Binghamton, but he writes, "plans are subject to change."

"Obviously, that's a pretty impressive-looking pitcher," manager Terry Collins said. "When you stand behind there, he's got a feel for it all. He's got tremendous rotation on his breaking ball, got a good slider, knows how to sink it. We all know he can throw hard. Now it's a matter of dealing with the process, and that's getting better command and more consistency. I truly believe in the process."

Andrew Keh of the New York Times profiles prospect Kirk Nieuwenhuis who discussed past injuries and his future.

"There’s no doubt this is an important spring for him because of the situation we’re looking at, with us in desperate need of guys who can play outfield," ManagerTerry Collins said of Nieuwenhuis. "We’re going to give him a lot of playing time. He’s going to get plenty of chances to prove himself."

Mike Pelfrey did not do well last season. We know it, and he knows it. David Wright is standing up for Pelfrey though, telling Mike Kerwick of The Record:

"He was coming off a good year," Wright said, "and then all of a sudden just because he's named the opening day starter … a lot of times he got matched up with [Roy] Halladay and Josh Johnson."

He deserved better, Wright said.

"There was numerous times where he pitched well and should have gotten a win," Wright said. "There were a couple times where we blew leads for him late. There were a couple times where he just had some bad luck because he's going up against other team's No. 1."

Mets Morning News: How Long Will Collins Last? Is Santana Ready? TejadaHas Visa Issues, And Wilson To Return in 2012

Brian Costa of the Wall Street Journal asked whether Terry Collins will be another Joe Maddon or Jim Riggleman.

The answer will determine whether Collins becomes more like Joe Maddon or Jim Riggleman. Maddon, the Tampa Bay Rays manager, presided over two last-place finishes before leading the Rays to the World Series in 2008. He is now regarded as one of the best managers in baseball.

Riggleman, a friend of Collins, managed the Washington Nationals for parts of three losing seasons before quitting in the middle of 2011, upset over the team's unwillingness to pick up his option for 2012. It was Riggleman's choice, but it was also clear that Washington wasn't yet convinced he was the best fit for a new era of relevance.

Speaking of Collins, the Mets manager believes Johan Santana will be ready to take the mound Opening Day at Citi Field. Santana is not quite as optimistic.

"To have an opportunity to be out there on opening day is always good, but again, I’m approaching everything one day at a time," said Santana, who compared the ups and downs of his recovery to a roller coaster. "So far, I’m feeling good, and hopefully toward the end of spring training, we’ll have a better idea of where we’re at and see if we can be ready for opening day."

Ruben Tejada may be late to Spring Training. Tejada is having visa issues in  his native Panama. According to David Lennon, he plans to  hopefully sort out the issue at embassy today.

The Mets announced on Tuesday that Mookie Wilson will return to the team this season. Along with working with Major League and Minor League players in Spring Training, Wilson will also be responsible for visiting minor league affiliates, and representing the Mets at sponsorship and charitable events throughout the season.

I look forward to both roles, Wilson, 56, said. I am glad to be back. I will get a chance to work with the players in the spring and during the year. Plus, I will be able to look at some of our younger players, which I love doing. This year we will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Mets baseball and Im looking forward to getting out there and talking to fans both at the ballpark and in the community

Mets Morning News: Wheeler Tweets His Life Away, Dickey Is MLB's LoneKnuckleballer

Terry Collins will hold his first official press conference of Spring Training at 10 a.m. It will be aired live on SNY.

Top prospect Zack Wheeler is quite the tweeter. As Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger writes, the 21-year-old right-hander is not afraid to tweet about his life, not matter how boring it may be.

His public persona creates a contrast with fellow hard-throwing prospect Matt Harvey. "People have asked me that before," Harvey said. "'Why aren’t you on Twitter?'" He shrugged. "I don’t really like people knowing what I’m doing all the time."

Wheeler harbors none of those inhibitions. Each day he provides updates on his life. On Mondays, he likes to visit Moe’s Southwest Grill for their $5 burritos. He shoots pictures of his offseason bullpen sessions and provides running commentary during the Grammys. He watches "Eastbound and Down" and "Swamp People."

R.A. Dickey expressed how lonely he is now that fellow knuckleballer Tim Wakefield has retired.

"I’m sad because I want [Wakefield] around — it’s fun to watch somebody who does what you do," Dickey said. "In the past he has lent me some things I needed to see, but now, I’ve got to go to the film and watch him pitch instead of seeing him get to throw a bullpen.

"I don’t know if there’s anyone outside of [Haeger] even tinkering with it. It’s fairly lonely. I feel a little bit of loneliness. My hope is someone is going to see the real value in it and want to keep doing it. There’s a lot of adversity that comes with it."

Mets Morning News: Pitchers And Catchers Report, Gee's Struggles WithFatigue, Wright Has Something To Prove

Pitchers and catchers officially report today, and their first official workout is Wednesday.

Dillon Gee tells Mike Puma of the NY Post that he ran out of gas halfway through last season.

"I would be lying if I said I wasn’t really tired," Gee said. "But it was important for me to experience that.

"I know now what I need to do better. I don’t think that first half was luck at all. I just think I was pitching well. I knew what I was doing. But as soon as I had a couple of bad outings I started pressing a little bit."

Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger writes about how just like every other Met in 2012, David Wright has something to prove.

His time as a Met could be drawing to a close. Members of the front office are still privately mulling their options. They could trade him this summer. They could pick up his $16 million option for 2013 and deal him next winter. Or they could work to retain him long term. Much depends on how he performs this season.

Wright turned 29 in December. He is approaching baseball’s version of middle age, that cruel moment when reflexes slow down and bat speed declines. So perhaps 2011 was an outlier. Or perhaps it was a harbinger. That knowledge limits his current trade value, one talent evaluator explained this winter.

A memorial service will be held this Friday for Gary Carter in Palm Beach Gardens, Fl. The Mets expect to send a "sizable" group to honor the late, great Mets catcher.

In lieu of flowers, a donation be made to the Gary Carter Foundation, 580 Village Blvd., Suite 315, West Palm Beach, Fla., 33409. Donations will go to support the Autism Project of Palm Beach County, Hospice of Palm Beach County and Palm Beach Atlantic University baseball.

Caption This, Mets Fans

Many Mets players have already made the trek down to Florida to begin their workouts. Here is a photo the Mets posted on their Twitter account of Daniel Murphy receiving some infield instruction from Terry Collins and Tim Teufel:



A few thoughts went through my head when I saw this picture. How would you caption this?

Mets: Two Months Until All The Fun Starts

Pitchers and catchers will report to Spring Training on February 20. Position players are scheduled to report February 25.

I know many fans are not excited about the 2012 season, but having an official date makes me happy.

With winter starting tomorrow, I don't really care what the team looks like at this point. I just want to see some baseball.

Baseball = summer and warm weather.

Mets Spring Training Schedule Announced

The Mets announced their 2012 Spring Training schedule today. Play begins on Monday, March 5 against Washington at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie.

For the first time since 1996, the Mets and Yankees will play each other. The Mets will host the Yankees at Digital Domain Park on April 3. The two teams then head up to Tampa to play again on April 4.

Season tickets for Spring Training are on sale now. If you want to buy individual game tickets, you'll have to wait. Those go on sale on January 4.

For more information, visit Mets.com, Digitaldomainpark.com, or by calling 772-871-2115.