The Mets came roaring back in our lives yesterday like they never left with a 4-3 win over the Braves in the first game of the Spring. After the top half of the second with questionable defense, J.D. Davis recorded the first hit of the season for the Mets (infield single) which was immediately forgotten about as Pete Alonso took the first pitch he saw way, way out of the ballpark. Position battles aren’t won or loss on the first day of spring, but it was a nice opening salvo.
Mets Lineup:
1. Keon Broxton (CF)
2. Dominic Smith (1B)
3. Wilson Ramos (C)
4. Pete Alonso (DH)
5. Tim Tebow (LF)
6. Adeiny Hechavarria (SS)
7. Luis Guillorme (2B)
8. Gregor Blanco (RF)
9. Gavin Cecchini (3B)
SP – Jacob deGrom
This afternoon the Mets will face the traveling side of a split squad roster from Houston as we all celebrate a deGrom day live from St. Lucie. When we last saw Jacob he was wrapping up a career year crowned with a chipped Cy Young award. He posted a league leading 1.70 ERA, league leading 1.99 FIP, league leading 216 ERA+ and a league leading 0.4 HR/9. It’s his first start in spring, so I’m not going to read anything out of whatever he does today. I’m just glad to see him back on the mound.
Things to watch for in no particular order:
- Wilson Ramos will make his Mets debut today. The catcher signed as a free agent and could be one of more important moves of the off-season. He has a career DRC+ of 104 but has posted a 121 in 2016 with the Nationals and then 123/121 with the Phillies and Rays last year
- Tim Tebow gets the start today! Did you know he was an Eastern League All-Star last year?
- We finally get to Hechavarria on the field! A recent signing for depth on an NRI, what Adeiny lacks with the bat he makes up with flashy plays on the infield. The Mets have a crowded infield on the 40-man and quite a few players trying to break through on an NRI.
- There are three outfielders the Mets have on NRI’s that have an outside shot of making the team, but they have to have a tremendous spring. Rymer Liriano showed us yesterday that he has pop with a homer and today we’ll see what Gregor Blanco can do. (Rajai Davis rounds out this group)
- Ryder Ryan is on the pitching schedule for today. He was brought over the first time the Mets traded Jay Bruce. We did a quick write up on him recently here.
The end results don’t matter but playing time does! Let’s Go Mets!
