It’s not the guys with the big-money contracts but it’s still good to see actual baseball being played. You can get the full recap here.
Winners:
- Jordany Valdespin – 2 for 3 with a HR and a SB
- Wilmer Flores – 1 for 2 with a HR and 4 RBI
- Zach Lutz – 2 for 3 and a SB
- Mike Baxter – 1 for 1 with 2 HBP and 2 Runs
- Juan Centeno – 2 for 2 with 1 RBI and a CS
- Collin McHugh – 1.2 IP, 3 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 BBs, 3 K’s
- Robert Carson – 1.0 IP, 0 Hits, 0 Runs, 0 BBs, 1 K
Losers:
- Matt Den Dekker – 1 for 3 but K problems continue
- Travis d’Arnaud – 0 for 3 but it’s only game one
- Kirk Nieuwenhuis – 0 for 2 but he did walk
- LaTroy Hawkins – .2 IP, 5 Hits, 5 ER, 0 BB, 0 K
- Gonzalez Germen – 2.0 IP, 3 hits, 1 ER, 1 BB, 2 K’s (Though Collins praised him)
Obviously there are plenty of good things happening at 2nd base in game one (as both Valdespin and Flores played 2nd). I wonder how serious the Murphy injury is because it seems pretty clear that Valdespin could help the MLB lineup and in my mind he should be fighting to win the starting RF job. You should also note that this isn’t an official game in any capacity so nothing to get too excited about or upset over. I feel that every time Den Dekker strikes out it’s as bad as a typical player striking out twice (in terms of his 2013 value). Again, this was only an intra-squad game but he needs to stop swinging and missing or the Mets are going to never feel they can use him. Lastly, I would watch Centeno only because he’s a lefty bat at catcher and both John Buck and d’Arnaud are righties.
I can’t see Valdespin not making the team.They need somebody who can run and he can play the Of unlike Quintanilla.
He’s probably become the best leadoff candidate in camp.
Only day one, but it’s nice to see JV,Lutz, McHugh, Carson and Baxter starting off trying to seize their opportunites. Centeno and Flores need a month of todays to make the team. Thanks for the analysis David.