Morning Mets Notes: 4/16

Before getting into relatively trivial matters, we want to note that our thoughts are with those who have been affected by the terrorist attacks that occurred yesterday in Boston.  As a New Yorker who watched the carnage and lost neighbors during the September 11th terrorist attacks, watching yesterday’s events unfold was a horrific reminder of that day.  Like New York, we know Boston will persevere.

Here are today’s pertinent news items:

The Mets are scheduled to play a split doubleheader today in Colorado.  Dillon Gee is scheduled to start the first game at 3:10 PM.  If weather doesn’t interfere, Aaron Laffey will toe the slab for the second game at 8:40 PM.  The forecast for tomorrow in Denver calls for a high of 30 degrees, meaning another game will likely be wiped out.

Pedro Feliciano, who is attempting to build up arm strength, made his first appearance for St. Lucie last night.  Feliciano tossed a scoreless frame.  More important than the results, were reports that clocked his fastball as sitting between 84 and 86 MPH.  That’s a marked improvement over where Feliciano’s velocity was during spring training (ordinarily between 82 and 83 MPH).

Frank Francisco is set to begin a rehab assignment today with St. Lucie.  Once the rehab assignment begins, the Mets will (by rule) have to activate Francisco from the disabled list within 30 days.

Apr 13, 2013; Minneapolis, MN, USA; New York Mets catcher John Buck (44) looks on during batting practice before a game against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Shaun Marcum, who had been scheduled to toss five innings in a minor league game, is instead scheduled to throw three to four innings on a back field in Port St. Lucie on Thursday.  Adam Rubin speculated that if all goes well for Marcum Thursday, he could be activated from the disabled list during the middle of next week.

Mets prospect Luis Mateo made a spot start last night for AA Binghamton, and left the game with what was first reported as an injury to his hand.  It’s now being reported that the injury is to his elbow/forearm.  Mateo has been scheduled for an MRI.

In today’s New York Post, Mike Puma states that general manager Sandy Alderson “yelled at” manager Terry Collins “five times a day” this spring about the team’s lack of plate discipline.  Writes Puma about the results of Alderson’s yelling:

"The Mets have seen an average of 156.91 pitches through 11 games this season, up from 145.82 last year, when hitting coach Dave Hudgens says players shunned the organizational philosophy of showing patience at the plate, particularly in the second half of the season."

Having been snowed out last night, the Mets will all wear the number 42 on their backs during the first game of today’s doubleheader.  If the second game proceeds, the Mets and Rockies will both wear 1993 uniforms to commemorate the first game in Rockies history.  The game took place April 5th, 1993 at Shea Stadium, and featured a Dwight Gooden complete game shutout.

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