Mets 10, Marlins 0: Niese Looks Great, Davis and Thole Go Deep, Marlins "Defense" Shows Up

by Chris McShane on Mar 11, 2011 5:30 PM EST

Jon Niese had an easy time of it today as the Mets blanked the Marlins. The young lefty threw 4.2 scoreless innings with 4 strikeouts and 1 walk. Michael O'Connor finished off the 5th inning with ease. Les Walrond - a guy I hadn't heard of until his appearance today - pitched the 6th. Bobby Parnell, Jason Isringhausen, and Francisco Rodriguez each pitched a scoreless inning after that. That's a good sign for Isringhausen as this appearance was his first after pitching in back-to-back games earlier in the week.

The opposing team hasn't come up much in these spring training recaps, but it's certainly worth noting that the Marlins played some laughable defense on the day, totaling 5 errors, 2 of which were made by Hanley Ramirez. These games may not count, but there's nothing wrong with enjoying the follies of a division rival.

Ike Davis had the biggest day at the plate, going 3-for-3, including a rocket of a home run in the bottom of the third. Josh Thole had a couple of hits and continued to show some pop as one of them was a two-run home run. Jason Bay made a nice sliding catch in the 4th inning but struck out in each of his 3 at-bats. His name hasn't home up much since the Beltran-to-right-field thing, but Angel Pagan turned in a nice day at the plate, too.

Brad Emaus went 2-for-4 this afternoon with a pair of singles. It's not much, but that's one of the better days he's had thus far. Luis Castillo went 2-for-2 and drew a walk. Like Emaus, both hits were singles, but Luis reached base in each of his plate appearances. With that, here's the updated second base competition chart:

Player	AB	AVG	OBP	SLG	INN	E
Castillo	19	0.263	0.364	0.263	28	1
Emaus	19	0.211	0.318	0.211	33	1
Murphy	29	0.276	0.300	0.414	29	0
Turner	18	0.167	0.211	0.222	15	0

Both candidates who played today improved their numbers a bit. As you can see, they've both been singles specialists. Since Emaus was the DH today with Castillo manning second base, the innings played there are nearly even among the three players who figure to stand a chance at this point.

The Mets visit the Braves tomorrow at 1:05 pm, and the game will be broadcast on WFAN.

Game Thread Roll Call

Go Gorfax.

Name	# of Posts
Gorfax	58
Kepler	54
spaceboy761	44
Russ	37
Michkin	33
MetsFan4Decades	30
the caveman	26
mistermet	21
itsmetsforme	17

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Spring Training roster update

Check it out here.

76 players showed up to Mets’ Spring Training, 30 players were cut. (K-Rod is a “Temporary Inactive” – he’s technically not on the team’s roster)

Notable cuts: Manny Alvarez, Kai Gronauer, John Lujan, Zach Lutz, Fernando Martinez, Kirk Nieuwenhuis, Armando Rodriguez, Josh Stinson, Tobi Stoner, Ruben Tejada, Jordany Valdespin

Hu's at first(?)

by sj10689 on Mar 11, 2011 5:43 PM EST reply actions

None really surprising, to be honest

I’m sure we’ll see F! in some SS games and long away trips

Squeezed to Song and Bendtner and Song and Nasri oh lovely lovely lovely!
-Peter Drury, the one time his commentating has ever been acceptable.

by Aidan Gibson on Mar 11, 2011 9:16 PM EST up reply actions

Luis has same OBP and AVG

Lulz

by Wei on Mar 11, 2011 6:33 PM EST reply actions

i mean OBP and SLG oops

by Wei on Mar 11, 2011 6:33 PM EST up reply actions

i mean AVG and SLG

today just aint my day ~~sigh~~

by Wei on Mar 11, 2011 6:34 PM EST up reply actions

And Anonymous strikes again.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 11, 2011 6:35 PM EST up reply actions

that's an ISO of zero

What Would Matt Szczur Do?

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 11, 2011 6:53 PM EST up reply actions

states captain obvious

What Would Matt Szczur Do?

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 11, 2011 6:53 PM EST up reply actions

Less is more

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

by Russ on Mar 11, 2011 7:43 PM EST up reply actions

Izzy might make the team

How fuckin awesome is that!

"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 11, 2011 8:11 PM EST via mobile reply actions

not les walrond

he is awesome, he hasn't given up any runs

What Would Matt Szczur Do?

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 11, 2011 8:57 PM EST up reply actions

That would be groovey.

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

"Who has more fun than people?"

- Ralph Kiner

by The Glider on Mar 12, 2011 12:26 AM EST up reply actions

I hope he bumps LOLie off BDMF....what a great story it would make, the return of Generation K

(well, one of them, anyway)

"Fantasy, reality, science Fiction. Which is which? Who can tell?"

by feslenraster on Mar 12, 2011 7:26 AM EST up reply actions

Don't we still employ Wilson as a groundcrew guy or something?

"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 12, 2011 11:51 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Jon Niese

Niese could be good in the near future. Not quite an ace, but a top of the line number two starter. If he improves his changeup, he WILL be a great number two type.
By the way, Daniel Murphy is getting the second base job, in case you were wondering, one year after winning the first base job, and two years after winning the left field job. We’ll see how he does.
http://www.metsnews.net

by Metsnews.net on Mar 11, 2011 9:26 PM EST reply actions

this is a confusing post

Kicking knowledge in the face.

by BlackOps on Mar 11, 2011 9:58 PM EST up reply actions

This is a self advertising post.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 11, 2011 9:59 PM EST up reply actions

if you're going to self advertise

do it in a more subtle way

see below

What Would Matt Szczur Do?

Fact on Villanova Sports

by Hoyadestroya85 on Mar 11, 2011 10:44 PM EST up reply actions

Daniel Murphy at 2nd base

Daniel Murphy has to step up his hitting. I hope that the contest for the position has not effected his hitting. Although he has the best record he will do better with more 2 base hits and a few HRs in ST.. I assume that he will play 2nd base tomorrow as he was the only one not playing today. Turner made an error today but at 3rd base. I hope that the Assistant GM doesnt sway the pick to Emaus. Adam Rubin said the other day that a scout said that if Emaus plays 2nd base this year he will hit .210 and be poor in defense. Murphy has to be the 2nd baseman.

by lionstein on Mar 11, 2011 11:28 PM EST reply actions

That's an oddly specific thing for a scout to say.

And Murphy has been hitting fine so far (not that it matter much with the SSS).

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 11, 2011 11:45 PM EST up reply actions

The decision on 2B

isn’t necessarily decided on stats. it’s about options and perceptions to an extent. Castillo has a shot but he has to substantially outplay all the other candidates. He’s just so hated. The Mets have an option on Turner and can send him down. So, that one is easy. Emaus, we have to keep or we lose him. And Murphy will get killed trying to turn DPs at 2B. Let’s hope he hits well enough in ST so we can trade him to the AL and get back some assets for him.

So, in the end, I say say it’s Emaus …. or, yes, Luis Castillo.

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

"Who has more fun than people?"

- Ralph Kiner

by The Glider on Mar 12, 2011 12:19 AM EST reply actions

.

And Murphy will get killed trying to turn DPs at 2B.

Based on what? A Murphy with a year less experience being the victim of a blatantly dirty takeout slide?

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 12, 2011 12:24 AM EST up reply actions

Based on

(1) The fact that he already got his knee torn up because he didn’t know how to turn a DP last year in AAA; and (2) based on reports I’ve read/heard from bloggers/fans who’ve been watching hi in spring training.

If you have contrary information, I’d love to hear/read it.

"Never throw a slider to The Glider."

- Ed Charles, No. 5

"Who has more fun than people?"

- Ralph Kiner

by The Glider on Mar 12, 2011 12:28 AM EST up reply actions

He got his knee torn up last year because some AAAA no-name decided to go torpedo mode and propel himself off 2B shoulder first.

And Murphy hasn’t even had the opportunity to turn a double play this spring so I don’t know how anyone could have reported on it.

Save Jenrry Mejia!

by Ogre39666 on Mar 12, 2011 12:41 AM EST up reply actions

And in the little bit of drills SNY has shown

He hasn’t looked any worse than his opponents

"I reject your reality and substitute my own"
-Adam Savage

by blueandorange4life on Mar 12, 2011 1:53 AM EST up reply actions

In all fairness,

that slide was legitimately dirty. From the reports, the guy literally rolled on top of Murphy’s leg instead of sliding into the bag. Maybe if he had better 2B skills he could’ve avoided it but the way it sounded, just about any second baseman turning that double play in that situation would’ve been looking at a horrible knee injury.

Chamption of the R.A. Dickey Face contest and "Cromulent Photoshopper Extraordinaire" of Amazin' Avenue!

by Steve Schreiber on Mar 12, 2011 6:33 AM EST up reply actions