Mets 9, Marlins 4 and Nats 6, Mets 5: Duda, Valdespin, and Gronauer Each Hit a 3-Run Bomb

by Chris McShane on Mar 10, 2011 6:02 PM EST

Mets 9, Marlins 4
Dillon Gee got the start visiting the Marlins and fared quite well, pitching 3 innings with 2 strikeouts, 0 walks, and 0 runs allowed. Boof Bonser pitched the next two innings and got beat up in the 5th as he allowed the Marlins to tie the game with 3 runs. Pedro Beato pitched an eventful inning which included a hit, a walk, and an error by Russ Adams, but he picked up a strikeout and didn't allow any runs to score. John Lujan and Armando Rodriguez also pitched a scoreless inning a piece, and Ryota Igarashi allowed 1 run in his inning of work.

This Mets squad had no problems scoring runs as both Jordany Valdespin and Kai Gronaeur launched 3-run home runs. Josh Thole and Willie harris had 2 hits a piece, and Fernando Martinez picked up a hit and a walk. Brad Emaus failed to reach base as he went 0-for-3 on the day.

Nationals 6, Mets 5
Mike Pelfrey started the game and had an awful first inning in which he allowed 3 runs. He went on to pitch 4+ innings but allowed a 4th run as he walked the leadoff hitter in the 5th inning before Taylor Tankersley entered the game. The Tank allowed a hit and recorded a strikeout, and then Taylor Buccholz came on for 1.2 scoreless innings. Manny Alvarez allowed 2 runs on 3 hits in the 7th inning, putting the Mets down 6-1 at the time. Manny Acosta was the better Manny today, pitching another 1-2-3 inning.

The Mets' bats were quiet for most of this game before busting out 4 runs in the 9th inning and coming up just a run shy. Luis Castillo was 0-for-3 in his DH role today while Daniel Murphy went 1-for-5 as he manned second base. David Wright won't go hitless this spring as he picked up his first today. Lucas Duda was highlight at the plate as he went 2-for-4 with a 3-run home run.

Second Base Competition
Since there's considerable interest in the competition for second base, here's a quick look at how each of the candidates have performed through today.

Player	AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	INN	E
Castillo	17	0.176	0.263	0.176	23	1
Emaus	15	0.133	0.278	0.133	33	1
Murphy	29	0.276	0.300	0.414	29	0
Turner	18	0.167	0.211	0.222	15	0

Obviously, these are super-small samples, but seeing as how the position is up for grabs, these numbers figure to play a part in the Mets' decision-making process.

The Mets host the Marlins tomorrow at 1:10 pm, and the game can be viewed on SNY.

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Comments

I'm going to buy a lottery ticket tomorrow

If I win, I’m putting my two ~~weeks~~ minutes notice at work, and flying down to St. Lucie. Many of my favorite prospects (Ceciliani, Duda, Gronauer, Puello, Vaughn, and more) are playing, and I can’t watch.

Anyway, I’m really happy for all of the kids who are playing well.

"The Mets are gonna be amazin'!" - Casey Stengel
"Bounding and astounding!" - Clyde Frazier
"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 10, 2011 6:09 PM EST reply actions

If you win

you are taking us with you, right ?

Right ?

by fxcarden on Mar 10, 2011 7:08 PM EST up reply actions

Let's see how much money I win

$2 won’t cut it.

"The Mets are gonna be amazin'!" - Casey Stengel
"Bounding and astounding!" - Clyde Frazier
"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 10, 2011 8:04 PM EST up reply actions

Even if he doesn't win, he'll take us with him, RIGHT????

Now he has to do it, AT ALL COSTS!

In lobby for: Jaime Cevallos, Zack Lutz, orange unis
The Unwritten Rules of AA

by Michkin on Mar 11, 2011 7:03 AM EST up reply actions

If I don't win, I'm going nowhere

I’m happy to take everyone nowhere.

"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 11, 2011 7:11 AM EST up reply actions

Manuel Alvarez, I think, will be the first of the cuts

He was touted as a player who could potentially help in the bullpen, but at 25 and having not performed well in spring training, in light of stiff competition, I think he is the first odd man out. Why do I post this as if though it were important news? Because of the modestly high expectations of him by some who have covered the Mets’ farm system, as well as the fact that he has been given little attention to begin with.

In other news, I think Pedro Beato’s chances are looking pretty solid, leading up to Opening Day.

Hu's at first(?)

by sj10689 on Mar 10, 2011 6:44 PM EST reply actions

between his rule 5 status, and his good spring

I’d say Beato is a safe bet to make the team at the moment.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 10, 2011 7:27 PM EST up reply actions

I hope that Beato becomes K-Rod's eventual replacement

It would be great to have an elite player on the team who is from here, and who grew up as a Mets fan.

"The Mets are gonna be amazin'!" - Casey Stengel
"Bounding and astounding!" - Clyde Frazier
"He who gets the best players usually wins" - Bobby Bowden

by Russ on Mar 10, 2011 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

I think the ABs and Innings fielded pretty much tell us who is going to be on the team.

Murphy has a spot, its just whether he can man second. Him and Emaus have the most time at second overall so it’s just a rat race who looks better with the glove.

I’m still baffled why so many people were so pessimistic on Duda during the offseason. He’s at worst still an above average hitter. The real question is what is his ceiling and how much he’s going to give it back with his bad fielding.

by FrancoTAU on Mar 10, 2011 6:46 PM EST reply actions

There's a pretty significant chance that Duda is Chris Carter II

It’s not a given that he’ll be an above-average hitter. He needs to prove that he can do it for real in the majors. His glove certainly won’t win him any special favors.

by psiogen on Mar 10, 2011 10:54 PM EST up reply actions

The two are nothing alike other than being terrible fielders.

Duda has better contact skills, takes a lot more walks and has a lot more power.

by FrancoTAU on Mar 11, 2011 12:35 AM EST up reply actions

Damn,

we can’t beat the Natinals

by fxcarden on Mar 10, 2011 7:09 PM EST reply actions

has murphy

really played 29 innings at 2nd? I remember he was at 3rd and 1st a little in the box scores, those innings aren’t included right? I haven’t been able to watch the games, does he look solid there or is everything an adventure?

by robotoverlord on Mar 10, 2011 7:50 PM EST reply actions

Correct.

He’s played 8 innings at first and 9 innings at third.

by Chris McShane on Mar 10, 2011 8:06 PM EST up reply actions

Ah cool thanks for the recap and info

Nice to see the 0 errors. Go hammer!

by robotoverlord on Mar 11, 2011 3:24 AM EST up reply actions

He still hasn't been able to get the opportunity to turn 2 during a game (unless he did today)

but I haven’t noticed any troubles.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 11, 2011 12:57 AM EST up reply actions

Murphy will get killed at 2B on the DP

…which is how he ended up with a torn up knee – and on the DL – last season.

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

"Who has more fun than people?"

- Ralph Kiner

by The Glider on Mar 11, 2011 1:59 AM EST up reply actions

He ended up on the DL last year after a ridiculously dirty slide.

And you have no idea how much better he’s gotten at it in a years time because we haven’t seen it yet.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 11, 2011 2:10 AM EST up reply actions

exactly

i’ll admit Murph was awkward at turning 2 when that guy took him out a year ago, but his awkwardness had nothing to do with a guy ninja rolling into his knee. Kinda hard to see that coming. And he’s spent most of his time since last year working on getting more experience at the double play. I really hope he gets to turn a few, because until he does, we’ll have no idea if he’s ready for 2b or not.

Hey, wait! I'm having one of those things. You know? A headache with pictures?

by KeithsMoustache on Mar 11, 2011 10:00 AM EST up reply actions

What's Harris' cumulative average so far this Spring?

We know he’s.good with the glove, but it looks like he’s hitting his way onto this team.

"Blinding ignorance does mislead us. O! Wretched mortals, open your eyes!"
Gil Hodges IS a Hall of Famer.

AA Gamethread Embiggening Record Holder- 453 posts (10/03/10)

by Brooklyn Dodgers Mets Fan on Mar 10, 2011 8:03 PM EST via mobile reply actions

.273/.385/.545

In 22 AB.

by Chris McShane on Mar 10, 2011 8:08 PM EST up reply actions

but so is Who

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 11, 2011 12:57 AM EST up reply actions

I hope Harris makes this team as an Endy Chavez type player. Shaky offensive player, but stellar in the field, and with either Beltran’s balky knees or Duca likely starting out in RF this year, Harris would be a great late game defensive replacement.

Raghav Ahuja

by raghavahuja on Mar 11, 2011 1:35 AM EST up reply actions

Plus, he gives good interview.

by SuperT on Mar 11, 2011 1:07 PM EST up reply actions

2B

Second base is looking pretty bad so far (small sample size, I know, but the job is supposedly wide open- someone needs to step up). Any possibility that Satin could get into the mix? How about a player such as Alberto Gonzalez from the Nationals (by that I mean inexpensive but experienced)?

by MDMETSFAN on Mar 11, 2011 7:09 AM EST reply actions

If you don't like the defense you're seeing now

why would you want Satin thrown into the competition?

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 11, 2011 11:42 AM EST up reply actions

Cause we don't like the offense we are seeing either haha

In lobby for: Jaime Cevallos, Zack Lutz, orange unis
The Unwritten Rules of AA

by Michkin on Mar 11, 2011 12:47 PM EST up reply actions

I would like to see this stat box, maybe with a few more stats, on AA everyday

I think this is the biggest thing we have talked about all off season. we really are into the battle and many of us have a different guy we want. I am a Murphy guy, I know a lot like Turner and others Emaus…and maybe 1 or 2 guys Castillo.

Any task BIG or small, Do it well or not at all

by Rickfansince76 on Mar 11, 2011 8:39 AM EST reply actions