One Thing To Look Forward To...

K-Rod's wearing the goggles again.

Yippee!!!!

Today's Game

Today's game got rained out, very disappointing to me because I was supposed to be there.

I was looking forward to cursing out Oliver Perez. Oh well.

One thing I may never know is if David Wright was on the bus. Probably not.

Tomorrow, they take on the Tigers in Port St. Lucie.

W.O.W

Oliver Perez is pitching at MY spring training game tomorrow.

I'm ready for major suckage.

Mets Vs. Nationals

The Mets travel north to Viera to take on the Nationals, a team I still feel we should be able to beat every time. Game time is 1:05.

Lineup courtesy of MetsBlog:

1. Angel Pagan, CF

2. Fernando Martinez, LF

3. Jolbert Cabrera, 2B

4. Mike Jacobs, DH

5. Mike Hessman, 3B

6. Ike Davis, 1B

7. Henry Blanco, C

8. Kirk Nieuwenhuis, RF (wow, I spelled it right!)

9. Ruben Tejada, SS

Mike Pelfrey gets the start. Eric Niesen, Sean Green, Elmer Dessens, Travis Blackley, and Eddie Kunz are also scheduled to pitch.

Update: B-Mets win 14-6 =)

The Ghosts of Spring Trainings Past

I love this game. I eat, sleep, breathe, and basically function by the Mets. Some of my favorite moments have not been from regular season action, but from the spring training games. My younger brother and I still talk about the broken down ambulance, me dropping my camera in the middle of Route 80, and getting trampled in pursuit of The Autograph. ♥

This picture is from my first spring training game back in 2006. We were lucky enough to meet Omar Minaya in the Tradition Field parking lot and again after the game. We got this picture taken after the game because there was a more pressing issue for me at the time: "How's Pedro's toe?"



In March 2007, the Mets visited the Red Sox in Ft. Myers for the first time in over 20 years. Of course, my brothers and I skipped out on school and went to the game. David caught me taking this picture of him and Jose Reyes working out.



This was as close as I got to David Wright that game. Here, he is signing autographs in the back field after being taken out in the sixth inning.





My younger brother and I waited outside the team bus after the game ended, and my day ended in heartbreak. David had come over to sign, except I had gotten trampled by the throng of fans, dropped my Sharpie and didn't get The Autograph ♥. This is something that still upsets me to this day.



Of course, the trip is always half the fun. We saw this broken down ambulance in 2006 with a "FOR SALE" sign on it. We had forgotten where it was in 2007 but when my brother and I found it again in 2008, I stopped on the middle of Route 80 and took a picture for proof of its existence. As far as we know, it is still there.



Also part of the fun is driving through Okeechobee, Florida--or Eli's Town as we have dubbed it. Eli has a few stores on the main road of this town. It's always fun to play the song "Eli's Coming" by Three Dog Night when driving through Eli's Town.



I love this time of the year, and not just because of the obvious. Spring training brings back so many good memories and makes me look forward to the many more memories I hope to make.
I just couldn't resist putting up this picture of David and Jose warming up. So cute ♥

Mets Sign Kiko Calero

The Mets have announced that they reached an agreement with right-hander Kiko Calero on a minor league contract, with an invitation to spring training.

Calero, 35, spent last season with the Florida Marlins, going 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA in 67 relief appearances. He allowed 36 hits with 30 walks and 69 strikeouts in 60 innings. He led the Marlins' bullpen in ERA.

According to the New York Post, Calero is guaranteed $850,000 with an additional $650,000 in incentives if he makes the team.

The Bats Are Alive!

The Mets defeated the St. Louis Cardinals today by a score of 17-11.

David Wright, Gary Matthews Jr., and Ike Davis all homered for the home team today, with Davis hitting a grand slam in the 8th inning.

R.A. Dickey went 2 and 2/3 innings allowing five runs on seven hits, while walking two and striking out one.

Tobi Stoner earned the win today. I can't wait until this guy makes the team, if only to see how many people invest in Stoner jerseys.

The Mets host the Marlins tomorrow at Tradition Field. The B-Mets will travel to Jupiter to take on the Cardinals again.

Spring Training Day 3: Finally, the Mets!

The Mets take on the St. Louis Cardinals today at Tradition Field. And finally, we're gonna see some regulars:

1. Gary Matthews, Jr. CF

2. Luis Castillo, 2B

3. David Wright, 3B ♥ ♥ ♥

4. Jason Bay, LF

5. Daniel Murphy, 1B

6. Jeff Francoeur, RF

7. Fernando Tatis, DH

8. Henry Blanco, C

9. Ruben Tejada, SS

RHP R.A. Dickey will start. Tobi Stoner, Clint Everts, Sean Green, and Jack Egbert are also scheduled to pitch.

Jose Reyes was a late scratch to the lineup because he had a follow up to his physical. To quote Jose Reyes, "It's nothing serious."

Lineup courtesy of MetsBlog, except for the little hearts next to David Wright's name. That's courtesy of me.

Update: The Mets are losing 6-4 in the top of the fifth. BUT.....David made the ball go bye-bye ♥

Update 2: The Mets are now up 7-6 in the bottom of the sixth inning.

Game 2 Final: Braves 9, Mets 5

Looks like the Mets will be riding the "It's A Small World" attraction after all. The Mets fell to the Braves 9-5 after a series of errors in the bottom of the 7th inning.

Josh Stinson earned the loss, allowing 5 runs (only 1 earned) in that plagued 7th inning. Extra ride time for him!

Pat Misch pitched well, allowing only one hit over three innings.

The Mets bats came alive in the fifth and sixth innings with Angel Pagan, Daniel Murphy, and Josh Thole all producing runs.

The Mets return to Tradition Field tomorrow to take on the Cardinals, with the game being broadcast on SNY and MLB Network.

Spring Training Day 2: The House of Mouse

Perhaps one of the good things about the Mets visiting the Braves at Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex is that they're in the happiest place on earth.....and that if they lose, Jerry Manuel can subject them to "It's A Small World."

Today's line-up looks like we'll be seeing mostly another B-Mets squad, with a 2-hour roadtrip from Port St. Lucie (courtesy of The 'Ropolitans):

1. Angel Pagan – CF
2. Alex Cora – 2B
3. Daniel Murphy – 1B
4. Fernando Tatis – 3B
5. Fernando Martinez – LF
6. Rod Barajas – C
7. Frank Catalanotto – DH
8. Russ Adams – SS
9. Kirk Nieuwnehuis – RF

Getting the start today is LHP Pat Misch.

Spring Training Begins: Mets vs. Braves

I'm a little late here, but my pedicure and Five Guys hotdog comes first, lol. We've been getting weird weather in Florida; it's windy here in Ft. Myers, good enough for a baseball to carry.

Here is the lineup that the Mets have fielded today:

1. LF Jesus Feliciano
2. SS Ruben Tejada
3. CF Gary Matthews
4. DH Mike Jacobs
5. 3B Mike Hessman
6. 1B Ike Davis
7. C Chris Coste
8. RF Jason Pirdie
9. 2B Luis Hernandez
10. P Nelson Figueroa

Currently, it is the bottom of the third inning and the Mets are trailing 1-0. Typical.

Update: B-Mets 3, Braves 1

Update 2: The B-Mets defeated the Braves 4-2. Non-roster invitee Bobby Livingston earned the win. Ike Davis and Ruben Tejada both produced during a 3-run rally in the 5th inning. Middle infeilder Russ Adams homered to make the score 4-2.

Next up, the Mets travel to Disney World to take on the Braves. I wanna pair of mouse ears!