PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. — Less than 24 hours stay in spring coaching however that doesn’t imply the Mets are able to launch their Opening Day roster. More roster cuts had been made Sunday so we all know who gained’t be on the 26-man roster come Thursday in Miami, however there are a couple of selections the membership nonetheless has to make.
The Mets trimmed their roster by 4 Sunday afternoon, optioning infielder Danny Mendick and right-hander Jeff Brigham to Triple-A Syracuse, and assigning left-hander T.J. McFarland and right-hander Jimmy Yacabonis to minor league camp. The three pitchers had been within the combine for the eighth bullpen spot however by technique of elimination, right-hander Dennis Santana is in line for that spot. Santana, who posted a 3.38 ERA with 9 strikeouts over 9 innings this spring, was a late addition to the spring roster as a waiver declare on March 17.
The Mets see right-handers Tylor Megill and Elieser Hernandez as starters and supervisor Buck Showalter reiterated that Sunday earlier than the Mets performed their last Grapefruit League recreation of the season towards the Miami Marlins.
“We’re proceeding down the path of him as a starter and we’ll continue to do that,” Showalter mentioned Sunday within the Clover Park dugout. “We don’t see Tylor fitting in the bullpen right now.”
Of Hernandez, Showalter mentioned, “I think he’s probably a little more from the starting standpoint, but with the ability to go into the bullpen.”
If you learn between the traces, that signifies that Hernandez might be headed to Syracuse. But the important thing phrase there may be most likely as a result of nothing is official simply but.
The Mets are deciding whether or not to begin the season with Megill or left-hander David Peterson within the beginning rotation. Showalter mentioned they’re getting near saying a call however there are nonetheless some points to think about, and never all of them shall be made public.
“I try not to say, ‘He’s better than him,’ but they’re both good and we’re lucky to have them and we’re going to need both of them all year,” Showalter mentioned. “We’ve kicked around a lot of different things. I really wouldn’t want to have them read or hear about the pure factors, but there are some things that present themselves differently for those two guys.”
Outwardly, the veteran supervisor has proven appreciable compassion for struggling gamers or the gamers he has to demote. “That is somebody’s son” is a phrase he repeats typically and Showalter hardly ever excoriates gamers on the document. Showalter has been particularly cautious along with his phrases over the previous few days of spring coaching with the media and in conferences with gamers.
“I know we’d all like to kind of tell the players but you’ve got to be careful about telling something that you don’t know for sure is going to happen,” he mentioned. “You could go up there and then all of the sudden something happens today that could change it. You have to be really careful.”
But a call on Megill and Peterson looms giant, in addition to a call on the DH. Darin Ruf, Daniel Vogelbach and Tommy Pham didn’t notably impress throughout spring, although Showalter has famous that they carried out a lot better in video games on the backfields.
Spring coaching outcomes matter little and backfield outcomes aren’t publicly out there, so the questions concerning the DH position will seemingly persist by the early a part of the season. Pham went 7-for-45 (.156) with one double, six walks and 14 strikeouts; Vogelbach went 8-for-39 (.205) with two doubles, two walks and 12 strikeouts; Ruf went 5-for-30 (.167) with two doubles, 4 walks and 9 strikeouts.
Ruf got here into camp with wrist tendinitis however a cortisone injection cleared up the ache and he was capable of get into 11 Grapefruit League video games. His spot because the right-handed DH will not be safe and normal supervisor Billy Eppler didn’t supply a lot assurance when requested about it Saturday evening.
“We haven’t announced the Opening Day roster yet,” he mentioned. “So we’ll announce that, I don’t know, 11:59 on Thursday. OK?”
Speedy outfielder Tim Locastro has outperformed that trio this spring, and whereas he doesn’t possess the ability that these three do, he has the power to influence a recreation along with his legs and has proven that he can get on base and create runs.
The Mets will finish spring coaching with an intra-squad scrimmage to simulate the timing of Opening Day on Monday. Megill and Peterson have already accomplished their auditions, however for some, it’s the final probability to point out the membership brass that they deserve a spot on the Major League roster. It’s additionally the final probability for the Mets to totally assess their depth.
“We’re trying to get the best 40 or the best 45 or whatever it may be,” Showalter mentioned. “It’s more than just the 26.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com