Your Thursday morning dose of New York Mets and MLB news, notes, and links.
Meet the Mets
The Mets lost twice on Wednesday, falling to the Nationals11-5 in Viera and 5-2, a 10 inning loss, to the Marlins in Port St. Lucie. The only things of note from either game were Jenrry Mejia and Cory Mazzoni. Mejia, who is attempting to win the fifth starter job, made his spring debut against the Nationals, allowing one hit, two walks, and an unearned run while collecting three strikeouts and showcasing plus-plus hair. In the same game, Mazzoni was torched for seven earned runs in just an inning of work, including homers by Sandy Leon and Matt Skole. The outing could have big ramifications on whether or not the Mets bring him on board as a reliever.
Mejia is feeling no pain at this point.
Daniel Murphy is attempting to buy into the organizational philosophy of taking pitches, but it has not been an easy transition for him.
Wanting more offense from their back-up infielder, the Mets may put Wilmer Flores or Anthony Seratelli on the roster overOmar Quintanilla.
Seratelli's path to the major leagues has been very difficult.
Lucas Duda was aggressively patient in 2013, and his approach may have had something to do with his wrist injury
In an effort to create more opportunities for Curtis Granderson and David Wright, Terry Collins may bat his pitcher eighth. That article also gives an obligatory Stephen Drew update: a friend of the shortstop says the Mets' chances of signing Drew are "very slim."
Wright and Murphy will make their spring debuts on Friday.
Matt Harvey will make $547,000 this season.
In the most important news of the day, Mets bench coach Bob Geren apparently has a dog named Hank Geren.
Around the Majors
Rick Ankiel has retired from baseball. Ankiel played 11 seasons, originally debuting as a pitcher and then making a comeback as an outfielder. He ended his career with the Mets last season, posting a .182/.239/.364 line in 71 plate appearances.
Luke Hochevar will miss at least two months with a sprained UCL.
Justin Masterson would accept a short-term deal with the Indians.
The Braves and Phillieshonored the late Jim Fregosi with a pregame ceremony.
Eno Sarris examines why projecting the performance of pitchers is so much more difficult than that of hitters.
Yesterday At AA
Jeffrey Bellone looked at the Mets who were best at hitting "bad" pitches.
Jeff Kopman previewedBartolo Colon's season.
Jeffrey Paternostro and Rob Castellano talked with Liz Roscher of The Good Phight on this week's AA podcast.
Matthew Yaspan conducted an interview with former Mets statistical analyst Ben Baumer. You can read part one here.
If you read an article or find a link that you think would be a great addition to a future edition of Mets Morning News, please forward it to our tips email address tips@grission.com and we'll try to add it in.
