Mike's Mets

The Mets managed to make it through a whole game against Florida without hitting a batter. Meanwhile, Marlins pitchers plunked Carlos Delgado and Paul Lo Duca as the Mets offense feasted on fish pitching.

Steve Trachsel, who looked mighty bad for a lot of the spring, looked fine tonight pitching in one that counted. Other than a rough first inning start that he managed to escape, and giving up a home run to Mike Jacobs that still hasn't landed, the crafty veteran right-hander schooled the young fish for most of his 6 innings on the mound. Jacob's solo homer was the only run he allowed. Besides the home run, Florida managed only a pair of singles and a walk while Trachsel struck out 6 Marlins.

Trachsel even managed to make up for the one run he did give up by driving in a run with an extremely well-hit double. Jose Reyes was the batting star of the game again, going 3-5 with a double and an impressive home run. He drove in 3 and scored a pair. His approach at the plate is much stronger and much more patient. When he does swing early in the count it's because he has a pitch to hit. I'm curious as to whether he can maintain his plate discipline when he hits a rough patch. That was his downfall last year -- the more he struggled, the more he chased.

Wright hit a home run that was as impressive as Jacob's shot to give the Mets a 5-1 lead. He also had 3 RBIs for the Mets. Wright is so amazing words fail even someone as long-winded as I am. I feel privileged just getting the chance to watch him develop. Anderson Hernandez had his first hit of 2006, but still looks overmatched most of the time. Beltran drove in the Mets' first one and looked much better at the plate. His last time up he absolutely scalded a ball, unfortunately right at the RF. Here's hoping...

Chad Bradford pitched the seventh and looked good again. Jorge Julio pitched the eighth and just looked like a lost puppy. A great throw from Xavier Nady (who also had a couple more hits) to cut down an over-eager Jeremy Hermida at third base allowed Julio to "escape" with only a pair of runs scored on him. I'm not as anti-Julio as a lot of fans (like the ones that booed him before he even threw a pitch for the Mets), but I have to believe that his reclamation project would be better served pitching a lot in Norfolk. He's just not pitching well enough to warrant more than mop-up work up here.

Darren Oliver pitched a scoreless ninth. I'm not trying to be a jerk here, but I find it hard to get excited over Oliver -- a lefty that doesn't do very well against left-handed hitters. He seems like a waste of a roster spot to me.

Tom Glavine pitches against the D-Train tomorrow afternoon at 1:10.

Box Score

Gotham Baseball: Soler wins debut
Cuban defector Alay Soler made his American debut for St. Lucie a successful one, pitching 5 shutout innings.

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