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Recap disclaimer – this may be more a random observations list than a specific blow-by-blow of the game. Spring training results are unimportant, right? It’s the process, after all.
Game Recap
Juan Soto and the Mets take the Cardinals by an 14-3 score. Cardinals use 11 pitchers to cover 9 innings, giving up 3 HR along the way, coupled with 9 walks. Offensively, youngsters Wetherholt (HR), Church, Davis and Saggese (all doubles) contributed extra base hits.
Pre-Game Notes
From my wanderings around the back fields, looking at schedules, etc.
- Kind of a down day this morning at camp. Things will pick up later. I think this is day#3 for MiLB players, and there are lots of indoor meetings … As I write this, they are having an all-hands meeting that includes how to handle oneself on social media.
- MiLB pitchers on the rehab list are Moran, Santos, King, Dutkanych, Clarke
- Planning to get to sim game thrown by P. Graham along with live BP by Crossland and E. Young. Also of note, Dustin May is scheduled up for a sim game with Ivan catching. B. Holiday throws a rehab BP, so he is progressing.
- Urias makes his first game appearance today at second base. JJW at DH. Saggese indeed starts in CF. Q. Mathews to start, followed by Pushard and others. Rodriguez part of the group of MLB game backups.
- I try not to sweat the little details at the edge of the roster so early in camp, but I am rubbing my chin wondering who the backup 1B is really going to be, especially if Burly got hurt.
The Manager’s Corner (pre- and post-)
- May is on a personalized plan to ramp up to Opening Day. With some guidance from Cardinals on suggestions for prepping to go pole-to-pole.
- Talked a bit about Sags in OF a bit. What they look for, even if no balls are hit in his direction.
Game Observations
- Rough start in the first inning for Mathews. HBP, walks and general command issues lead to an early run. The stuff appears sharp but the command a bit flighty. It is still February, so no worries. The second inning was better, although the pitch count got a little high and Bedell needed to contribute a pitch to end the inning. Sharp third inning to finish his outing.
- Pushard relieves, greeted by a solo HR. Mets up 2-0. Church brings back a potential second HR in RF with those tricky wind currents out of the SE helping knock it down.
- Peralta looks sharp for the Mets (shocking, I know!). Followed by Devin Williams in the 4th. Wetherholt greets him with a first pitch HR to RF. The ends the shutout AND the no-hitter. A no doubter at 422 Ft. into the breeze.
- Pushard, Bruihl and Davila picked up the middle innings, with likewise middling results. Fernandez was very workmanlike.
- I though Soriano was sharp, but some serious infield hijinks created an unearned run. I believe each of the five players on the infield contributed to the misadventures. Tough inning. Learning points all around.
- Got to see a seventh inning rotation of batters that included Baez, Rodriguez and Chase. Got to wondering if we might see that again soon. They made some noise. There is some thump there.
- Hence got in 27 pitches. Some hard-hit balls resulted in a not great line of 3 R, 1 BB, 1 K, 1 HR. It’s good to see him pitching (healthy). Velo up around 96, but the common spring phenomenon of flighty command complicated his inning.
- Love finishes the ninth after Hales hits his limit.
Post-Game Notes – Oli
- He liked JJWs approach. 422’ to CF off Williams cutter. Has good power, but not at the expense everything.
- Likes the flexibility Urias brings. Does little things well.
- On Dustin May, a plus. Good life to the pitches. In a good spot. Needs to figure out what the progression for him is.