The Mets return to regularly scheduled spring training baseball twice today! First up is an early afternoon game against the Astros at home in St. Lucie.
The Mets in general have had an abnormal spring training week. Usually spring is a time for routine, workouts in the morning, games around 1 PM, games in the backfields, etc. Instead the Mets have had an off-day on Monday with their star players traveling to their respective national teams, a night exhibition game on Wednesday, another exhibition game yesterday and a 1 PM / 6 PM split squad set up today. What a week!
The best way to return to normal spring action is with one of the most exciting additions the Mets made this off-season: Justin Verlander!
Three Things To Watch For:
- Back to the new rules: On Wednesday the Mets and Nicaragua played for 2:45. Not too bad by last year’s standards except the Mets only recorded one hit. Yesterday the Mets and Venezuela played for three and a half hours. This was definite shift from the games earlier this spring with the pitch clock which are generally under two and half hours with a bunch of hits. Today the Mets return the pitch clock, the new throwing over to first rules and the new regulation size bases.
- Justin Verlander: Verlander makes his second start in a Mets uniform today. Last week he pitched three innings allowing two hits and a run while striking out three. He tossed 35 pitches, 28 of them strikes. The Mets are now 20 days from Opening Day. I am curious to see how deep he goes today. Four innings? If he’s economical with his pitches does he push it to five?
- 18 Innings: The Mets are playing a lot of baseball today with a depleted roster thanks to the World Baseball Classic. Starters in the afternoon and evening game should get a much longer look today. Who takes the advantage of the long look today?
Let’s Go Mets!
