Spring Training Random Thoughts

[NAHSTE]

You are really jumping through hoops to defend the putrid OF the Mets will be trotting out on Opening Day.

"Hey, your owners are crooks and are broke and made bad decisions over the years so that's why" would not make me feel any better about that as a fan.

I'm not defending it, it's obviously a really bad team. I'm just saying they would be just as shitty with other guys in there based on what was available this offseason. The time to raise your arms up about this club was 2-3 years ago.

Alderson's hands are somewhat tied due to a series of events that spanned the decade that preceded him. I don't subscribe to the theory that making moves just to say you're making them is all that effective. Seems shortsighted and the same philosophy that helped get them into this mess.

If you are going to rebuild, do it all the way. It'd be delusional for the Mets to think they aren't rebuilding right now. The majority of free agent signings don't provide value past year 1, and they have nothing to offer other teams in trades that wouldn't hurt their future. They are a very thin, cash-strapped organization at the moment, and they aren't going to fix that in one winter with some bandage moves.

Sucks as a fan, and sure there are a lot of reasons to be outraged and there have been for a while, but this is a necessary tactic to truly fix the structural flaws with the organization.

[NAHSTE]

And on a separate note, for what it's worth I think the Mets will be somewhat below average this year, not far off from what they were last season. They won't be completely awful. Ruben Tejada is at the least a competent everyday SS, Duda will provide at least some offensive value, and Ike Davis is about to have a monster season. Wright will be somewhere between what he was last year and his previous two years.

Santana will probably be flipped at the deadline, along with possibly Marcum if he restores his value, and then sure, the bottom will probably fall out. But this club won't be hopeless to open the season in the sense that say, the Marlins are hopeless.

[Warner2BruceTD]

And on a separate note, for what it's worth I think the Mets will be decent this year, around the same as last year. Duda can't be as bad as he was last year, he'll provide at least some offensive value. Ike Davis is about to have a monster season, and Wright will be somewhere between what he was last year and his previous two years.

Santana will probably be flipped at the deadline, along with possibly Marcum if he restores his value, and then the bottom will fall out for sure. But this club won't be hopeless in the sense that say, the Marlins are hopeless.

I agree that they aren't going to be that bad. This is why I think they should have beefed up that OF a bit, because if things break right I see them hanging around the WC race deep into the season.

The rotation isnt bad. The IF is good. The OF is a dumpster fire and the bullpen is worrisome.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Danks to DL, Chone Figgins cut by Marlins. Yankees in the mix for Wang.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Alfredo Simon mopping up for Dominican Republic has probably cost him his job:

GLENDALE, Ariz. -- Reds long reliever Alfredo Simon got to be part of the Dominican Republic's undefeated championship run in this year's World Baseball Classic. But it very well may cost him a roster spot in Cincinnati's bullpen.

Simon made only one three-inning appearance for the Dominicans during the tournament and allowed one run on three hits. Before departing Reds camp, he made two appearances with the last one coming on Feb. 28 when he gave up three runs and six hits vs. the D-backs. Simon needs to make up for some lost time and innings.

"He's only pitched once in the last 10-12 days," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We can't bump all of these guys for Alfredo to pitch. We want to get him innings. You can't force those innings because you'll end up hurting the guy. We're going to try and get him in some Minor League games."

"You can say he's basically starting over," Reds general manager Walt Jocketty added.

Simon, who has a guaranteed contract worth $890,000 for 2013, is out of Minor League options. But bullpen spots got even scarcer with Friday's news that Aroldis Chapman is returning to the bullpen as the closer. Plus, young reliever J.J. Hoover has come on strong all spring with 14 strikeouts to only one walk in his seven outings, making it tough to send him down. Jose Arredondo has also pitched well and is out of options.

"Most cases, the WBC doesn't hurt guys. In that part, I think it hurt his progress some by not pitching," Baker said of Simon.

[Warner2BruceTD]

Not my style to overtly troll, but only because NAHSTE would 100% post this if it were a Phillies player or Tony Cingrani:

keithlaw @keithlaw 2m
Nothing. Spring training stats are irrelevant. RT @Youth_Movement: What, if anything can we take from the Spring that Teheran has had?

[NAHSTE]

Not my style to overtly troll, but only because NAHSTE would 100% post this if it were a Phillies player or Tony Cingrani:

keithlaw @keithlaw 2m
Nothing. Spring training stats are irrelevant. RT @Youth_Movement: What, if anything can we take from the Spring that Teheran has had?

Of course the numbers are irrelevant, doesn't mean you can't take anything from what you see. Teheran is flashing a much better curveball and his overall command has improved.

He could still totally suck once this season starts, but for now it looks as if he's made improvements.

[EmpireWF]

Fuuuck..Matt den Dekker looks to have hurt his wrist trying to make a catch. Coming out of the game, not moving his right arm.

He was probably going to make the big leagues platooning with Valdespin in center....hope it's not serious.

[Goober]

Fuuuck..Matt den Dekker looks to have hurt his wrist trying to make a catch. Coming out of the game, not moving his right arm.

He was probably going to make the big leagues platooning with Valdespin in center....hope it's not serious.

Damn, that blows for the Mets. I know how you feel Empire, Taylor Green has been hurt this spring, and won't be able to make the Brewer's opening day roster, due to injury.

It's always tough to lose a below replacement level player to injuries.

[EmpireWF]

Broken wrist.

Valdespin with Cowgill and eventually Nieuwenheis mixed in down the road it is.

[moneyman255]

Really hoping Khris Davis makes the team. Has 6 HR's this spring (7 if you count exhibition game vs Canada) and had great power in the minors overall. The only problem is that he's not a very good defender, and can only play the OF. Brewers badly need a power bat off the bench though.

[Villain]

I'm bored so I started looking into other teams today. Tim Lincecum doesn't seem to be giving any indication that last year was a fluke:

http://www.cbssports.com/mlb/blog/scott-miller/21940223/the-tim-lincecum-problem-threatening-to-force-giants-hand

Over 80 pitches against the Athletics on Saturday, he surrendered five runs on six hits in three-plus innings. He fanned five, walked three and hung a slider that Yoenis Cespedes blasted for a two-run homer.

A scout sitting behind home plate had Lincecum's fastball sitting between 89 and 93 mph.

"His stuff had action,” the scout said. "He just had no command today.”

Lincecum's problems in 2012 were especially severe in the first inning, when he yielded a major league-high 28 first-inning runs. He also walked a career high 4.4 batters per nine innings last year.

This spring, he's walked seven hitters in 10 2/3 innings. And the Giants say he is stronger and in better shape than he was last spring, when he had lost weight.

But his workload, because of his blisters earlier in camp, remains the lightest of the Giants' rotation. Matt Cain, for example, has worked 20 innings this spring. Madison Bumgarner is at 14 2/3, and Ryan Vogelson at 14.

Best thing about Lincecum's most recent outing is that he went 80 pitches.

Worst thing is that he was still in the fourth inning when he was removed.

I still don't know what it is that is causing him to not be as effective anymore. Can it be as simple as not repeating his mechanics (the excuse they're using)? That doesn't sound like the kind of problem a pitcher should be having entering his prime (in terms of age). Timmy's a veteran now.

[Goober]

Really hoping Khris Davis makes the team. Has 6 HR's this spring (7 if you count exhibition game vs Canada) and had great power in the minors overall. The only problem is that he's not a very good defender, and can only play the OF. Brewers badly need a power bat off the bench though.

Can only play LF, too shitty to even play 1B apparently.

[EmpireWF]

ffs Jeremy Hefner, supposed to take Johan's rotation spot takes a come backer to the elbow. With Marcum also expected to start on the DL....their hand may be forced to bring up Wheeler.

[NAHSTE]

Johnny Venters was pulled from his first appearance since March 13, sounds like an elbow issue. DL trip is likely the way it sounds.