Mets Morning News: Turner Turns His Ankle, Other Players Get Turns At Third Base

Meet the Mets

Shaun Marcum pitched well yesterday but the Mets fell to the Marlins 4-2. In the game, Justin Turner left after turning his ankle and faceplanting on a play at third base. Reports this morning say that x-rays were negative and Turner may be back on the field soon enough. The Mets are back in Port St. Lucie this afternoon to take on the Braves on St. Patrick's Day. You can catch the action on WPIX 11 at 1:10 PM as Jon Niese faces Julio Teheran.

In other injury news, Frank Francisco threw a bullpen at 80 percent but a DL stint to start the year still seems likely. Daniel Murphy sat out yesterday due to general stiffness but doesn't see it as a setback. And Kirk Nieuwenhuis is close to appearing in a minor league game.

It's been rumored for a while but a "person aware of the process" says that Wright is likely to be named the team's fourth captain before Opening Day.

Outfielder Cesar Puello is unable to be suspended for his connection with Biogenesis because he is on the 40-man roster, and thus represented by the MLB Players Union.

Top prospects unlikely to make the big league roster were sent down on Friday, so why is Travis d'Arnaud still up with the big club?

Around the Majors

Michael Young intends to be "better" at third base. So I guess that just means plain bad instead of horrifically, terrifyingly awful.

Stephen Strasburg wants to be a workhorse this year. So is the cutoff 190 innings, Nats?

A pair of top prospects were demoted to the minors yesterday: the Orioles sent righty Dylan Bundy down to AA, while the Rays unsurprisingly sent outfielder Wil Myers back to the minors.

Grant Brisbee searches for a defense of umpire Angel Hernandez and, well, there are very few.

So Aroldis Chapman says that he would like to close instead of start games. Interesting turn of events.

Yesterday At AA

Brock Mahan looks back at March 16th in Mets' history.