Jose Reyes returns to Camp and Mets win game

I apologize I have been saying Tradition Field, the Mets changed the name the other day. The Mets spring training home is now known as Digital Domain Park. The Mets defeated the Houston Astros there this afternoon by the score of 5-2. Johan Santana made the start and pitched pretty well, he seemed to run out of steam at the end out his outing. He pitched 5 2/3 innings allowing 2 runs on 8 hits with 1 walk and 2 strikeouts. Jon Niese and Elmer Dessens combined for 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Francisco Rodriguez struck out the side for the save in the ninth inning. Daniel Murphy who has struggled this spring had a good day. He was 2-4 with a 2 run homerun. Angel Pagan was 1-4 and Fernando Tatis was 1-1 with a rbi. David Wright was 1-3, Rod Barajas was 1-2 and Frank Catalanotto was 1-1. The Mets will travel to Jupiter tomorrow to take on the St. Louis Cardinals. Here is the news from today, it is basically about J0se Reyes. According to SNY producer Matt Dunn Jose Reyes said he was told by doctors he had a virus which caused the elevated thyroid levels. He is on diet restrictions now such as no seafood. He said he is taking things one day at a time but will work as hard as he can to be ready as soon as possible. He said he needs to see how his legs respond though. He was asked how it felt to be back and he said that he feels better then he thought he would after spending 20 days laying on the couch watching TV. He said he was disappointed when he heard the news about his thyroid and wanted to be with his teammates but this was about his life. He said he can't wait to get into a game, that he is excited and is going to be like a little kid. He said he expects to be a little sore tomorrow but felt good going through the workouts today. He fielded grounders, ran, hit and threw to first base. Reyes said while home he spent time with his family, watched a lot of TV including the Mets games that were on TV. I think the Mets need to take it slow with him but this is great news. It seems like he will be ready for opening day and if not it won't be too long after that. The Mets just having him back around feel better about themselves and that is a good thing.

Recap and Notes from the Mets Game this afternoon

The New York Mets defeated the Washington Nationals as Space Coast Stadium today by the score of 14-6. Mike Pelfrey got the start and was not sharp. He pitched 3 innings giving up 7 hits and 4 runs with 3 earned. Eddie Kunz pitched a perfect inning. Eric Niesen pitched 1 2/3 innings giving up a hit and 2 runs with 2 walks and 2 strikeouts. Sean Green pitched 1 1/3 innings giving up a hit, walk and 3 strikeouts. Elmer Dessens pitched a perfect inning with a strikeout. Fernando Martinez was the star of the show on offense with 2 homeruns. He ended up 4 for 4 with 2 rbi's. This is the guy the Mets have been looking for and he has been really good this spring. They thought they had a star in the making and maybe now he will live up to his potential. Mike Jacobs had a solo homerun and 2 walks. I think he has a good chance at winding up on the bench but it may come down to him or Frank Catalanatto. Ike Davis continues to impress going 3 for 5 with 2 rbi's. It may be hard for the Mets not to bring him north with them if he continues this. It still is smart though for the Mets to let him get some more seasoning in the minor leagues and if he continues to bring him up in June. Henry Blanco had a hit and rbi and Josh Thole had a hit. The mets prospects are really showing off to the Mets brass so far. The Mets will return to Tradition Field to play the Nationals tomorrow at 1:10PM. There is nothing new with Jose Reyes yet, he will get tested on Wednesday and hopefully will be back by Thursday. I think this may be a problem they can solve with medication but until they say for sure it is scary for the Mets and their fans to think about. It almost seems like last year all over with him and Beltran and Kelvim Escobar, even though they expected it with him. The Francisco Rodriguez issue is still not solved also with the pinkeye. To me that is the craziest one, how can they not know it was pinkeye? How does it take so long to get better?? If you have an answer for me I would love to hear it but I don't think there is an answer.

Grapefruit League Game 3-Cardinals at Mets

The New York Mets will take on the St. Louis Cardinals from Tradition Field at 1:10PM today. Jose Reyes was scratched from the lineup because they saw something they didn't like in a follow up to his physical. He said it is nothing serious and I hear that it has nothing to do with his hamstring. This is the Mets though and anything like this has to be a concern but hopefully it is not big deal and he will be back to action soon. R.A. Dickey will get the start for the Mets and Tobi Stoner, Clint Everts,Sean Green and Jack Egbert will also pitch. Here is the starting lineup for the Mets and a couple of notes. New York Mets: Gary Matthews Jr.(CF) Luis Castillo(2B) David Wright(3B) Jason Bay(LF) Daniel Murphy(1B) Jeff Francoeur(RF) Fernando Tatis(DH) Henry Blanco(C) Ruben Tejada(SS) This will be Jason Bays debut with the Mets, the game will also be televised on SNY. Takahashi has returned to the team after getting his visa issues solved. Francisco Rodriguez is still dealing with pink eye and not with the team. It is amazing to me that even something like pink eye turns into a big thing with the Mets. I meant to mention this the other day but WFAN Mets beat reporter Ed Coleman said on one of the shows that he first saw it and said you have pinkeye and K-rod said they told me I don't have that so don't worry about it. The Mets medical staff can't even diagnos pink eye right. I hope they get this mess solved because if this turns bad like last year, there will have to be major changes made all the way around.

New York Yankees trainer falls ill

The New York Yankees head athletic trainer Gene Monahan is taking a leave of absence. He will miss his first spring training in 47 years. He has a undisclosed illness and will miss all of spring training and the beginning of the season. The New York Post was the first to report this yesterday. He will remain in New York and receive extensive treatment over the next few weeks. Gene Monahan had this to say, " I miss being around my professional family already, but im battling." " The New York Yankees have gone above and beyond in this most difficult time. I couldn't do this alone, but with the support of my immediate family, my family within the organization, the dedication and expertise of many fine doctors I look forward to resuming my role with the team this season." Gene Monahan is the longest tenured head athletic trainer in the major leagues. He has worked in that capacity for the last 38 years. He was honored with an induction into the New York State Athletic Trainers Hall Of Fame in 2007. He received the distinguished athletic trainer award from the National Athletic Trainers association in 2009. Steve Donahue who has worked with Gene Monahan for the past 25 yrs as a trainer will replace him in his time of absence. The Yankees will have someone assist him but are not sure who yet.

Alex Rodriguez a World Champion

Alex Rodriguez started off last season n0t so great. He was revealed to be a steroid cheat and then had to go through that interview on ESPN with Peter Gammons that he admitted to doing it. He then went through the press conference in Tampa where all of his teammates came out to support him and I think that is where it all started with the new and improved A-rod. He got through that and then got the hip injury that I believe was a blessing in disguise. He went away all alone to Colorado to recover and contemplate where his life was headed. He admitted in a interview on the YES network last Thursday that he thought his career could be over, all he could think of was Bo Jackson and it was a scary thought. He got to work on his rehab and credits his recovery to his doctor who did a great job. We all know that Alex Rodriguez came back on May 8th and in his first swing launched a homerun. He went through the season with some ups and downs but amazingly finished with 30 homeruns and 100 rbi's. He finished the season with 2 homeruns and 7 rbi's in the last game knowing he needed that to finish with those round numbers. He of course then went on to have an amazing postseason where he would be the postseason MVP, that award was just presented to him last weekend. He now is not only further away from that surgery and didn't need any further surgery but he is a confident man. Alex Rodriguez is now a World Series Champion and a postseason hero. These are things that can never be taken away from him. He said last week in that interview on YES with Kim Jones that he was tired of that label of being a choker and just frustrated with losing in the playoffs so much. He went out and did something about it this past season along with the rest of that great Yankees team. Alex will now go into this season with something he really hasn't had and that is a ton of confidence. It is hard to predict what someone will do but being healthy and confident the skys the limit for A-rod and that is a scary thought for the opposing pitchers. The Yankees I am sure can't get wait to get started defending their title and knowing that they have one of the greatest players of all time on their side and feeling good about himself.