v1.13: first cuts
Friday, March 7th, 20081. David Wright 3B-R
2. Johan Santana SP-L
3. Carlos Beltran CF-S
Beltran (knees) and Luis Castillo (knees) each hit from both sides of the plate on Thursday. Beltran isn’t ready for game action, citing lingering weakness in his left knee.
4. Jose Reyes SS-S
5. Oliver Perez SP-L
6. John Maine SP-R
7. Pedro Martinez SP-R
Martinez’s scheduled start was rained out on Thursday. He pitched a simulated game today, throwing 53 pitches. Pedro wasn’t impressed with the performance.
8. Billy Wagner CL-L
9. Carlos Delgado 1B-L
Delgado (hip flexor) took live batting practice this morning. He hopes to play soon, though it won’t be tomorrow.
10. Aaron Heilman RP-R
11. Luis Castillo 2B-S
12. Pedro Feliciano RP-L
13. Ryan Church RF-L
14. Ramon Castro C-R
15. Brian Schneider C-L
After catching Martinez’s simulated game this morning, Schneider (hamstring) will return to game action on Saturday.
16. Damion Easley UT-R
Easley (ankle) plans on appearing in his first spring game on Saturday.
17. Endy Chavez OF-L
Chavez (hamstring, ankle) will play Saturday, too. Do I sense the start of a trend?
18. Marlon Anderson UT-L
Willie Randolph isn’t comfortable playing Anderson, already exiled from second base duties, anywhere.
19. Matt Wise RP-R
20. Mike Pelfrey SP/RP-R
21. Jorge Sosa SP/RP-R
22. Angel Pagan OF-S
Pagan’s the Mets’ hottest hitter. Save it for the season, Angel. You’ve made the team.
23. Scott Schoeneweis RP-L
24. Steven Register^ RP-R
25. Brady Clark* OF-R
Boatloads of injuries, plus Clark’s willingness to try out at first base, means he’s got a decent shot at making the team.
<<cutoff>>
26. Ricardo Rincon* RP-L
27. Brian Stokes RP-R
28. Nelson Figueroa* SP/RP-R
29. Joe Smith RP-R
30. Olmedo Saenz* 1B/3B-R
31. Anderson Hernandez IF-S
32. Carlos Muniz RP-R
33. Nate Field* RP-R
34. Ruddy Lugo RP-R
35. Joselo Diaz* RP-R
36. Willie Collazo RP-L
37. Raul Casanova* C-S
40. Gustavo Molina* C-R
42. Robinson Cancel* C-R
45. Fernando Martinez* OF-L
46 (shoulder). Duaner Sanchez RP-R
Sanchez won’t be ready for opening day, in all likelihood, even though he’s going to pitch in a spring game on Saturday.
47 (hip flexor). Jason Vargas SP-L
Vargas has a sore hip, but no hernia.
48 (hip flexor). Michel Abreu* 1B-R
49 (visa). Tony Armas Jr.* SP/RP-R
Armas is still chillin’ in Venezuela.
50 (visa). Fernando Tatis* 1B/3B-R
PECOTA like Tatis for 2008. Too bad he can’t get off the island.
51 (sports hernia). Moises Alou LF-R
As a cascade of Mets blogs told you late Wednesday, Alou’s out 4-to-6 weeks after having surgery on his sports hernia.
52 (ankle). Ruben Gotay IF-S
53 (foot). Orlando Hernandez SP/RP-R
54 (knee). Jose Valentin* UT-S
Valentin, recovering from ACL surgery, hopes to appear in his first spring game tomorrow.
55 (elbow). Ambiorix Burgos RP-R
Dropped:
Adam Bostick SP/RP-L
Andy Cavazos* RP-R
Ryan Cullen* RP-L
Ben Johnson* OF-R
Eddie Kunz* RP-R
Anderson Machado* IF-L
Ivan Maldonado* RP-R
Salomon Manriquez* C-R
Mike Nickeas* C-R
Jon Niese* SP-L
Juan Padilla* RP-R
Bobby Parnell* SP/RP-R
Brant Rustich* RP-R
All 13 players were sent to minor-league camp, with Bostick, who’s on the 40-man roster, optioned to AAA. No surprises here. Padilla (elbow) and Johnson (ankle) are in the midsts of their respective rehabs, while Rustich came down with a sore elbow early in camp. None were expected to compete for an opening-day spot.