Grapefruit League Game 20- Astros at Mets

The New York Mets take on the Houston Astros at 1:10PM today from Tradition Field in Port St. Lucie. Here is todays lineup and scheduled pitchers. Mets Lineup: Pagan(CF) Castillo(2B) Wright(3B) Bay(LF) Murphy(1B) Francoeur(RF) Cora(SS) Barajas(C) Santana(P) Jon Niese, Francisco Rodriguez, Pat Misch, Sean Green and Elmer Dessens are scheduled to pitch behind Santana. Jose Reyes was back this morning, he was working out with the team, taking grounders etc. Doc Gooden was arrested yesterday for DUI, this is a sad thing. He just can never seem to get his life together. He was such a promising prospect so long ago with the Mets and never kept up his status because of his substance abuse problems. He later was with the Yankees and had some good moments and then after baseball continues to get himself in trouble. I will have more on Jose Reyes later on today. According to Joel Sherman of the NY Post he believes that the Mets are shopping Gary Matthews Jr., the Reds may be a possibility.

Mets win Opener of Exhibition Season

Carlos Beltran was the latest player to be involved in the FBI investigation into Dr. Galea. He was questioned last week he revealed today. He said that he did get treatment from him for his knee but never had anything injected into him. It appears that he has been cleared as was Jose Reyes. The Mets had their grapefruit league opener today and got off to a great start with a 4-2 win over the Braves. I know it is exhibition but they want to get that winning feeling going early. Nelson Figueroa started and allowed 2 hits and 2 walks over 2 innings. He struck out the side in the second inning and did not allow a run. Elmer Dessens came on in relief and allowed a run on 2 hits and then was hit on the leg by a line drive and had to leave the game. Bobby Livingston who is a non roster invitee replaced Dessens and pitched 2 2/3 effective innings. He struck out four and got the win, which I am sure made him feel good as he is a long shot that is trying to open some eyes. Top prospect Ike Davis had a couple of hits including a double. Ryota Igarashi came on in the ninth and got the save in his first North American action of his career. Jerry Manuel appeared on WFAN today and said that Jon Niese is the front runner to be the fifth starter. He also said Daniel Murphy is the front runner to be the first baseman with Mike Jacobs being a good power bat for the bench. He also sees Angel Pagan leading the race for center fielder until Carlos Beltran gets back.

Baseball News

The New York Mets made a trade today to get another outfielder with the absence of Carlos Beltran for at least the beginning of the season. They traded right handed pitcher Brian Stokes to the Anahiem Angels for Gary Matthews Jr. He isn't the same player he was at one time, but should provide pretty good defense. The reason this deal is ok for the Mets is because the Angels were so happy to get rid of him that they are paying 21 million of the 23 million owed to him over the next 2 years. This story is fascinating to me if not a little strange. A 23 yr old prospect from the Oakland A's is leaving baseball for the priesthood, this is something you don't see everyday. The really strange thing about it is that he had a great year last year and appeared to be closing in on getting to the big leagues. The Philadelphia Phillies have signed pitcher Jose Contreras. He was ok at one time, never really made it with the Yankees. I guess this is a good move for depth reasons but I just can't see him succeeding in that park. The thing to me is how are the Mets not making any moves for a pitcher when that is what they really need. Here is a nice article with Curtis Granderson, the new Yankees centerfielder. One of the quotes that came out of this article was this " When you wear it, man it is something, it pops." That was Granderson on wearing the Yankees cap. Jim Edmonds who was an elite centerfielder at one time but hasn't played since 2008 is trying to get a job, several teams have called him and apparently the Yankees are one of them. I just don't see the Yankees going for this guy, they can stick with what they have or hope to get Damon back or maybe just sign Reed Johnson or someone like that for leftfield or to caddy with Gardner out there.

MLB notes

Jason Marquis is about to sign with the Washington Nationals. It is interesting that they have added a veteran starter and a veteran catcher. They also will almost certainly have Stephen Strasburg on the roster at some point this season. I think the Mets better be careful, everyone in the division seems to be getting better other then them. The deal is for 2 yrs and 15 million. Jesus Montero the Yankees #1 prospect will be starting the season in AAA-Scranton according to minor league coordinator Mark Newman. I would love to go see him play in Scranton this year, I have not seen him in person yet. It is being tweeted by all the major writers, Buster Olney, Ken Davidoff, Jon Heyman that the Yankees are close to a trade for a starting pitcher tonight. Mark Feinsand of the Daily News is trying to find out who it is but it supposedly is not a salary dump. If anyone is up late tonight we may know or tomorrow morning maybe we will find out.

Yankees Hot Stove action

The New York Yankees have made it clear they are going to take their time this offseason. The Yankees are the World Champions and don't have to rush into anything. Brian Cashman and Joe Girardi both indicated yesterday at the premiere for the World Series DVD that starting pitching is the priority but unless they give up a lot to get a Roy Halladay which I don't think will happen they will sign a middle of the road type starter. They can also sign Chien-Ming Wang for cheap to a incentive laden deal and see what happens. If they don't sign anyone they can go with Joba and Hughes at the backend and is that really the worst thing with Aceves, Mitre, Gaudin, Kennedy all backing them up. I think it would be fine to get another starter but I don't think they are in such bad shape here. If you can have a guy like Gaudin as your 4th or 5th starter with Hughes or Joba and the other in the pen I think you are in really good shape. The Yankees showed this year that you only need 3 strong starters in the postseason and a good bullpen. There were rumors about the Yankees being interested in Jermaine Dye but the Yankees have shot them down. The Yankees did sign someone today, it was a dominican prospect named Eladio Moronta. He was suspended by baseball for a year earlier this year for lying about his age but that ban has been lifted. He is said to have excellent speed and a strong arm. You can read this article about him on baseball america. I like what the Yankees have done to build up their farm system and this is part of it being strong in the international market. It will be interesting to see this season how Austin Jackson, Francisco Cervelli, Ramiro Pena and some others will be used. I think they could have a big impact on the team and show that the Yankees system does have some talent and they don't just go out and buy players.

Washington Nationals at New York Mets

The Mets are hurting but luckily the schedule favors them now. They play 2 more with the Nationals at home then 3 with the Marlins and then the Pirates. Carlos Beltran won't play the next couple of games and hopefully he will be back on Friday, he has a bruised tibia. Jose Reyes just hasn't been getting better and today as well as Ryan Church were placed on the 15 day DL. Fernando Martinez the Mets promising outfield prospect was brought up. The Mets also sent cash to the Indians for SS Wilson Valdez who will also immediately be put on the 25 man roster. Livan Hernandez gets the start tonight and the lineup is as follows: Pagan(CF) Castillo(2B) Wright(3B) Sheffield(LF) Tatis(1B) Martinez(RF) Santos(C) Martinez(SS) Hernandez(P)

Ian Kennedy Dominant

The Scranton Yankees-AAA affiliate of the New York Yankees beat the Lehigh Valley Ironpigs yesterday by a score of 2-1 in 11 innings. Ian Kennedy made his first start of the year and went a strong 6 innings giving up 1 run on 4 hits with 0 walks and 11 strikeouts. Dave Robertson had a strong 2 innings of relief giving up 1 hit, 0 runs and 3 strikeouts. Brett Tomko pitched 2 innings giving up 2 hits, 0 runs, 0 walks and had 3 strikeouts and JB Cox closed it out with a walk and hit but no runs allowed. The offense had Kevin Russo go 3-5, Shelly Duncan 1-5 with a rbi and Juan Miranda also go 1-5. Austin Jackson went 2-5 but also had 3 strikeouts. Angel Berroa went 1-4 with a rbi. Chad Jennings of the Times-Tribune and the Scranton Yankees blog had some postgame notes and reaction. Chris Stewart the catcher said that Kennedy was as good as he ever was last season and Manager Dave Miley said it was as good as he as ever seen him pitch in AAA. Chad Jennings thought he looked aggressive and confident like he did when he breezed through AAA on his way to the majors in 2007. He said you can be as aggressive as you want but it still comes down to execution. I think Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy are going to have big years and be waiting for another chance at the big leagues. The Trenton Thunder AA affiliate of the Yankees lost to the Binghamton Mets 4-3 yesterday. Zach McAllister pitched 5 innings for Trenton allowing 4 hits and 3 runs only 1 earned though with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Kevin Whelan pitched a scoreless inning giving up a walk and having a strikeout. The offense saw Eduardo Nunez go 2-5, Edward Gonzalez was 3-4. Tampa the A affiliate of the Yankees won 2-1 in a strong debut by Dellin Betances. He has been called the Baby Unit and keep your eye on him, he is young and has had some injury problems but if he stays healthy he could be in AA at some point this year and definitely next year and expect to see him in the Big Leagues in a couple of years. He pitched 6 innings giving up 3 hits, 1 run, 2 walks and 7 strikeouts. The offense saw Jesus Montero go 1-4 and Austin Romine go 0-3. Damon Sublett went 0-4 and Brandon Laird was 1-4. Tampa has a bunch of pretty good prospects so I expect to talk a lot about them this year. Charleston A affiliate of the Yankees won 4-2. DJ Mitchell pitched 6 innings giving up 1 hit, 1 run with 6 strikeouts. The run was unearned. Pat Venditte who is the ambidextrous reliever pitched a scoreless inning giving up a hit and had a strikeout. He picked up the save, he is a guy I will be watching this year as it is a fascinating story. DJ Mitchell is another good prospect for the Yankees but is in A so we can't get too excited over him with so many guys in front of him.