Mad Max dominates WBC squad, and the meaningless of spring results
Mad Max dominates WBC squad, and the meaningless of spring results
Max Scherzer dominates Team Nicaragua but the Mets get one-hit in a loss. Plus, how much does Spring Training really mean?
What’s Up with the Mets? 🌴
The Mets were shutout by Team Nicaragua in a 2-0 loss on Wednesday night (box)
RHP Max Scherzer allowed two earned runs in three innings pitched while racking up nine strikeouts
New York’s offense mustered just one hit — from SS Ronny Mauricio — all night in the loss
RHPs Sam Coonrod and Jeff Brigham, both competing for a roster spot, each pitched a scoreless inning of relief
INF Danny Mendick made his Grapefruit League debut for the Mets, playing in his first game since tearing his ACL and fracturing his fibula last June
Mets in the World Baseball Classic 🌎
INF Jonathan Araúz (Panama): 2-for-6, 3 RBI, 1 R, 1 K 🇵🇦
1B Pete Alonso (USA): 0-for-1 🇺🇸
RHP Adam Ottavino (USA): IP, 0 H, 0 ER, K 🇺🇸
2B Jeff McNeil (USA): 0-for-3, K 🇺🇸
SS Francisco Lindor (Puerto Rico): 1-for-2, BB, K 🇵🇷
RHP Dominic Hamel (Puerto Rico): IP, H, ER, BB, K (loss) 🇵🇷
Today’s Game 🦩
Game 1️⃣3️⃣ of 3️⃣0️⃣
Match-up: Mets vs. WBC Team Venezuela
Where: Clover Park - Port St. Lucie, Florida
Starters: RHP José Butto vs. TBD
When: 1:10 PM EDT
Where to Watch: (not televised)
I don’t care what happens in Spring Training ✍🏻
We spend a lot of time every spring deep-diving and hand-wringing over exhibition stats, results and competitions, but honestly… it’s time for us to admit the truth.
Spring Training doesn’t matter.
Yeah, that’s right. Now of course this time of year is important in terms of players getting themselves in proper game shape and preparing their bodies for the long regular season ahead but what it comes to actual performances and results, Spring Training is as close to meaningless as it gets.
How many times have we seen it before, a certain player has the spring of his life — or, conversely, the worst spring of his life — only for it to have absolutely zero impact on how they perform in the regular season once the calendar flips. As an exercise, here are a few examples of Mets players over the last decade or so who had wildly different results in the regular season vs. Spring Training…
Jason Bay (2010 spring): .340/.444/.679, 4 HR, 1.123 OPS
Jason Bay (2010 regular season): .259/.347/.402, 6 HR, .749 OPS
Johan Santana (2010 spring): 6.75 ERA
Johan Santana (2010 regular season): 2.98 ERA
John Mayberry Jr. (2015 spring): .415/.475/.679, 4 HR, 10 RBI, 1.154 OPS
John Mayberry Jr. (2015 regular season): .164/.227/.318, 3 HR, 9 RBI, .545 OPS
Taijuan Walker (2022 spring): 7.71 ERA
Taijuan Walker (2022 regular season): 3.49 ERA
Each year we zero in on a handful of players and overanalyze their successes or struggles but in reality, unless they find themselves in a true competition for a roster spot, their performances and results are far more likely not to matter in the grand scheme of things. All this time of year is truly meant for is to get up-to-speed, condition your body and (hopefully) escape the spring injury free.
Anything else is just window dressing. And that isn’t to say that you shouldn’t be excited over watching a newly acquired player or young prospect play for the first time, it’s merely to remind you that ‘Hey, just remember… these games don’t count. So relax!’
Around the League 🚩
Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom thinks he “could” be ready for Opening Day after dealing with side tightness this spring
Dodgers RHP Tony Gonsolin sprained his ankle in PFP drills on Monday and may not be available to make the Opening Day roster
Veteran 1B Mitch Moreland officially announced his retirement after 12 years in the big leagues