Like the Mets, I’m also flying South this weekend. Only quite a bit West too.
So updates will be infrequent while I take the fam to visit the home of Sid Fernandez, Benny Agbayani, Carlos Diaz, Tyler Yates and the birthplace of Ron Darling. If you happen to see whether my imagined Tim Teufel-Ruben Tejada duel takes place and/or can fill in any other blanks below during the first week of Spring Training, just note so in the comments. Thanks and see you soon!
The Mets on May 25 officially surrendered in their attempt to make Tyler Yates 33 a starter and returned him to Norfolk with orders to rejoin the bullpen. In his place the Mets recalled Pedro Feliciano 55. (Update: Feliciano was sent back down without having made an appearance June 1 so as to make room for the return of Al Leiter from the disabled list).
With Al Leiter’s sore shoulder forcing a disabled-list stay, the Mets on Thursday recalled Norfolk outfielder Esix Snead for a short visit. It’s expected the Mets will send him back Saturday so that Tyler Yates 33 can take Al’s turn in the rotation. You might remember Snead from his brief appearance in 2002 (including his game-winning HR against the Expos in a meaningless September game). He wore No. 23 then; this time he appeared in No. 1 and displayed a Mookielike quickness scoring from first base as a pinch-runner.
Barring additional last-minute gynmastics, it appears that hard-throwing righty Tyler Yates has made the squad as the 4th starter and veteran Scott Erickson is hanging on for the fifth slot. Yates, who made a one-day appearance on the Met roster in April 2002 wearing No. 32 (he didn’t appear and subsequently blew out his elbow), will debut against the Expos later this week wearing No. 33. Erickson, should he last these final 48 hours, will likely get a change from the obscene 89 on his back during spring training. We can’t help but point out his customary 19 is available now that Cedeno is gone. Jae Seo 38 is meanwhile scheduled to start the year at Norfolk, with bullpenners Grant Roberts 36, Orber Moreno 49 and Dan Wheeler 39 also surviving the final cut.
With exactly one week left before the starting gun fires, the Met pitching staff is still under construction. Another subpar outing this afternoon by Jae Seo 38 could give additional hope to one or more of Grant Roberts 36; Aaron Heilman 48; Scott Erickson 89 and Tyler Yates 33. In the bullpen, Orber Moreno 49 and Dan Wheeler 39 are looking to secure jobs.The lineup looks complete unless (or until) the starting infielders cease getting hurt.
Unfamiliar with garage doors in his new country, Satoru Komiyama’s carport accident sent No. 17 to the 15-day disabled list. The Mets called up Tyler Yates from Norfolk, issued himNo. 32, but he never appeared in a game before being sent down Wednesday for the now-rested Pete Walker. Walker will wear No. 43.
