New York Mets News

[GaryMrMets]

http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/2007/03/minorleague_camp_roster.php

March 04, 2007
Minor-League Camp Roster

Minor-league camp is officially open, at least for pitchers and catchers, though there certainly are a fair share of position players already here.

http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/2007/03/nady_its_not_crohns.php

March 04, 2007
Nady: It's Not Crohn's

David Wright received a text message from Xavier Nady yesterday, and it was fortunately good news.

http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/2007/03/boras_lieutenant_shows_up_at_m.php

March 04, 2007
Boras Lieutenant Shows Up at Mets Camp

Mike Fiore, Scott Boras' top lieutenant, has been visiting Mets camp this weekend.

The list of Boras clients in Flushing has certainly increased dramatically in recent years. In fact, by September, there could be five on the major-league roster: Carlos Beltran, Carlos Gomez, Mike Pelfrey, Oliver Perez and Scott Schoeneweis.

http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/2007/03/os_drop_mets.php

March 04, 2007
O's Drop Mets

BOX SCORE [htm] http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/boxscore-03-04.htm
PLAY-BY-PLAY [htm] http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/play-by-play-03-04.htm
METS STATS [htm] http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/nyn-stats-03-04.htm

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/502530p-423803c.html

Pelfrey looks nice to start

BY ADAM RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

PORT ST. LUCIE - Mike Pelfrey, a leading contender with Chan Ho Park for the final slot in the rotation, tossed two scoreless innings yesterday in the Mets' 5-2 loss to the Dodgers. He erased the lone hit he surrendered by getting Matt Kemp on an inning-ending double play in the second. Pelfrey, who must prove he can throw his breaking ball for strikes, relied on fastballs during this start (18 of his 21 pitches), though both sliders he threw resulted in groundouts.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/173-mike_pelfrey.JPG
Mike Pelfrey, competing for rotation spot, allows just one baserunner in two scoreless innings.

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/502494p-423781c.html

Making of an MVP
Reyes ready to run away with award from leadoff spot

By ADAM RUBIN
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

PORT ST. LUCIE - MVP voters dig the longball. But, says Cardinals manager Tony La Russa, don't count out Jose Reyes stealing the award in the not-too-distant future, despite a power infatuation that sometimes shortchanges leadoff men.

"Absolutely," says La Russa, who managed the A's when Rickey Henderson was the AL MVP in 1990. "I came into the league about the time that Rickey did. I say to this day, the most dangerous player in the game was Rickey. The guy who could do the most to tie or beat you was Rickey. I think Reyes has very similar characteristics.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/784-reyes_swings.JPG
Jose Reyes has become one of the most dangerous players in baseball, which could translate into an MVP award sometime in his career.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/509-reyes_leaps.JPG
Reyes' versatility stretches to his defensive ability.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/sports/mets/vargas_makes_starting_pitch_mets_mark_hale.htm

VARGAS MAKES STARTING PITCH
By MARK HALE

March 4, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - Jason Vargas didn't seem to have many complaints after his spring debut with the Mets.

Acquired in a trade with the Marlins this offseason, Vargas tossed two scoreless frames against the Dodgers yesterday in the Mets' 5-2 loss.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/photos/mets095.jpg
MAKING A CASE: Jason Vargas, throwing in an intrasquad game earlier in spring training, tossed two scoreless innings in his spring debut yesterday for the Mets. Vargas is looking for a spot in the back end of the Mets' rotation.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/sports/mets/serbys_sunday_qa_with____mets_steve_serby.htm?page =0

SERBY'S SUNDAY Q&A WITH...
PHILIP HUMBER
By STEVE SERBY

March 4, 2007 -- The Post's Steve Serby chatted with the 24-year-old, 6-4, 210-pound righty who made his Mets debut last September and is challenging for a rotation spot this spring:

Q: Tom Seaver told you a secret about the dirt on his knees two springs ago.
A: He'd drive off his back leg and his knee would touch the ground. A lot of times he'd rub dirt on his knee to make the hitter focus on that instead of the ball he was throwing.

Q: It helps being a legend.
A: Pedro, I'm sure when hitters step into the box, he has an advantage already, because he's Pedro Martinez.

Q: Why was Nolan Ryan a boyhood idol?
A: He was always a guy who carried himself with class on top of being the greatest strikeout pitcher ever. He intimidated every time he went out there.

Q: Do you intimidate?
A: I don't know. You have to ask (the hitters). But I like to make sure everyone knows the inside of the plate is my area.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/photos/mets097.jpg
Philip Humber

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/sports/mets/stroke_of_genius_mets_kevin_kernan.htm?page=0

STROKE OF GENIUS
SWING TIP FROM FRANCO MADE BELTRAN A BIG HIT

March 4, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - You can marvel at the picture-perfect swing, but the truth is, Carlos Beltran is only going to go as far as his legs take him. That could be all the way to the MVP this season.

Beltran believes he never has been better as a hitter. Sure, it helps having the batting cage in his home in Puerto Rico, where he worked each day to perfect his swing. But the days of worrying about hand placement - if his hands were too high or too low - are past.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/photos/mets085.jpg
BALANCING ACT: By setting up on the balls of his feet, Carlos Beltan's hands are in a more relaxed position, allowing him to zero in and watch the pitch longer.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/sports/mets/pel_on_his_way_mets_mark_hale.htm?page=0

PEL ON HIS WAY
METS PHENOM WOWS LO DUCA IN SCORELESS EFFORT
By MARK HALE

March 4, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - Mike Pelfrey's advancement was praised by Paul Lo Duca yesterday.

"He's making big strides," the Mets catcher said. "He threw the ball really, really well today, and he's growing up a lot."

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03042007/photos/mets096.jpg
CATCHING ON: Mets pitcher Mike Pelfrey talks with catcher Paul Lo Duca during yesterday's 5-2 loss to the Dodgers. Pelfrey tossed two scoreless innings.