PORT ST. LUCIE — After not playing in a game since last October, preparing for Monday night felt somewhat “weird” to Starling Marte.
“But when you go on the market, once you’re feeling the dirt, when you see the sector, it feels good,” Marte said through an interpreter after starting because the DH within the Mets’ 8-0 exhibition victory over the Cardinals at Clover Park.
Marte, who’s coping with a right-knee bone bruise that limited him earlier in camp, doubled in his first plate appearance of the spring and finished 1-for-2.
Marte said he considered breaking for third on the throw home that nailed Jesse Winker but thought higher of it.
The Mets attempted to trade Marte following Juan Soto’s arrival over the winter, but a deal never materialized.
Marte now figures right into a DH platoon with Winker.
The goal is to get Marte into the outfield for motion near the tip of camp, in line with manager Carlos Mendoza, nevertheless it’s not considered needed.
But Marte considers it significant.
“It’s essential to have a player like myself be 100% within the outfield, to have a player who’s able to doing the things I do, where I can run at full capability, where I can throw at a high level,” Marte said.
Griffin Canning, in his second appearance of the exhibition season, threw 55 pitches over 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings.
He allowed one hit and struck out five.
The fitting-hander is competing for a spot on the back end of the rotation.
Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill are also in the combo.
Officials from the MLB Players’ Association, including union head Tony Clark, convened with Mets players as a part of their annual spring-training tour.
Clark lauded the Mets, with a payroll that can exceed $300 million for a 3rd straight season, for the direction the franchise has taken under owner Steve Cohen.
“We appreciate any time a team is committed to putting the very best team on the sector that they possibly can, all with a watch on attempting to be the last team standing,” Clark said. “That’s what this organization has been committed to since Steve has taken over and so we’re hopeful, we wish that we were in a conversation with all 30 teams. We wish that there was more of a commitment to that across the board.”
Brandon Nimmo returned to pregame baseball activity after resting his right knee following a gel injection.
The Mets want to get Nimmo back into the lineup this week.
He’s received only two plate appearances within the Grapefruit League.
PORT ST. LUCIE — After not playing in a game since last October, preparing for Monday night felt somewhat “weird” to Starling Marte.
“But when you go on the market, once you’re feeling the dirt, when you see the sector, it feels good,” Marte said through an interpreter after starting because the DH within the Mets’ 8-0 exhibition victory over the Cardinals at Clover Park.
Marte, who’s coping with a right-knee bone bruise that limited him earlier in camp, doubled in his first plate appearance of the spring and finished 1-for-2.
Marte said he considered breaking for third on the throw home that nailed Jesse Winker but thought higher of it.
The Mets attempted to trade Marte following Juan Soto’s arrival over the winter, but a deal never materialized.
Marte now figures right into a DH platoon with Winker.
The goal is to get Marte into the outfield for motion near the tip of camp, in line with manager Carlos Mendoza, nevertheless it’s not considered needed.
But Marte considers it significant.
“It’s essential to have a player like myself be 100% within the outfield, to have a player who’s able to doing the things I do, where I can run at full capability, where I can throw at a high level,” Marte said.
Griffin Canning, in his second appearance of the exhibition season, threw 55 pitches over 3 ²/₃ scoreless innings.
He allowed one hit and struck out five.
The fitting-hander is competing for a spot on the back end of the rotation.
Paul Blackburn and Tylor Megill are also in the combo.
Officials from the MLB Players’ Association, including union head Tony Clark, convened with Mets players as a part of their annual spring-training tour.
Clark lauded the Mets, with a payroll that can exceed $300 million for a 3rd straight season, for the direction the franchise has taken under owner Steve Cohen.
“We appreciate any time a team is committed to putting the very best team on the sector that they possibly can, all with a watch on attempting to be the last team standing,” Clark said. “That’s what this organization has been committed to since Steve has taken over and so we’re hopeful, we wish that we were in a conversation with all 30 teams. We wish that there was more of a commitment to that across the board.”
Brandon Nimmo returned to pregame baseball activity after resting his right knee following a gel injection.
The Mets want to get Nimmo back into the lineup this week.
He’s received only two plate appearances within the Grapefruit League.
