Baseball Guru
02-10-2003, 03:13 PM
Sunday, February 09, 2003
BY DAVID WALDSTEIN
Star-Ledger Staff
1. Is Jose Reyes ready?
We've heard a lot about the 19-year-old shortstop, who was briefly in camp last spring. How good is he? Is he mature enough? Spring training will be the place to begin answering those questions, and he will get a long look this time. If he has a fabulous spring and the Mets are looking to make a splash, he might even be invited north.
2. How will the new guys affect the clubhouse atmosphere?
The Mets brought a flock of new players to spring training last year, and the team left Florida with high expectations. But the team fell apart and the atmosphere in the clubhouse turned sullen and morose.
How will Tom Glavine, Cliff Floyd and Mike Stanton affect the clubhouse vibes this season? Will they blend with the current leadership of John Franco, Al Leiter and Mike Piazza? Plus, Mo Vaughn is looking to take a more vocal role. It will be interesting to see how the veterans respond to Glavine, one of the game's foremost leaders and a proven winner.
3. How will Art Howe fare in his first Mets training camp?
As much as the players grumbled about former manager Bobby Valentine, they all loved the efficiency of his training camps, and pitchers were delighted that they didn't have to shag flies in springtime batting practice. Still, Howe, the anti-Valentine, probably will be embraced as the perfect antidote.
4. Who will play third?
Going into camp, it's Ty Wigginton since the Mets have declined to bring in any free agents or make a trade at the position. But if Wigginton falters, the heat will be on to find a replacement. If the Red Sox can sign Kevin Millar, perhaps All-Star Shea Hillenbrand will become available. Wigginton is a good hitter, but is weak defensively (although the same could be said for Hillenbrand).
5. Who will be the fifth starter?
Glavine, Leiter, Pedro Astacio and Steve Trachsel have spots in the rotation. Mike Bacsik, Jason Middlebrook, Aaron Heilman and perhaps Tyler Walker figure to battle for the fifth spot.
Heilman, a former No. 1 pick, has the greatest upside, but he is just 24 and has only two years of minor league experience. He might need more time at Triple-A. Bacsik, a lefty, is the front-runner, which would give the Mets three lefties in the rotation. Howe will skip the No. 5 guy at times, something Valentine rarely did.
BY DAVID WALDSTEIN
Star-Ledger Staff
1. Is Jose Reyes ready?
We've heard a lot about the 19-year-old shortstop, who was briefly in camp last spring. How good is he? Is he mature enough? Spring training will be the place to begin answering those questions, and he will get a long look this time. If he has a fabulous spring and the Mets are looking to make a splash, he might even be invited north.
2. How will the new guys affect the clubhouse atmosphere?
The Mets brought a flock of new players to spring training last year, and the team left Florida with high expectations. But the team fell apart and the atmosphere in the clubhouse turned sullen and morose.
How will Tom Glavine, Cliff Floyd and Mike Stanton affect the clubhouse vibes this season? Will they blend with the current leadership of John Franco, Al Leiter and Mike Piazza? Plus, Mo Vaughn is looking to take a more vocal role. It will be interesting to see how the veterans respond to Glavine, one of the game's foremost leaders and a proven winner.
3. How will Art Howe fare in his first Mets training camp?
As much as the players grumbled about former manager Bobby Valentine, they all loved the efficiency of his training camps, and pitchers were delighted that they didn't have to shag flies in springtime batting practice. Still, Howe, the anti-Valentine, probably will be embraced as the perfect antidote.
4. Who will play third?
Going into camp, it's Ty Wigginton since the Mets have declined to bring in any free agents or make a trade at the position. But if Wigginton falters, the heat will be on to find a replacement. If the Red Sox can sign Kevin Millar, perhaps All-Star Shea Hillenbrand will become available. Wigginton is a good hitter, but is weak defensively (although the same could be said for Hillenbrand).
5. Who will be the fifth starter?
Glavine, Leiter, Pedro Astacio and Steve Trachsel have spots in the rotation. Mike Bacsik, Jason Middlebrook, Aaron Heilman and perhaps Tyler Walker figure to battle for the fifth spot.
Heilman, a former No. 1 pick, has the greatest upside, but he is just 24 and has only two years of minor league experience. He might need more time at Triple-A. Bacsik, a lefty, is the front-runner, which would give the Mets three lefties in the rotation. Howe will skip the No. 5 guy at times, something Valentine rarely did.