Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
Travis d’Arnaud has style. I hope he’s good. I’m so predictable, because if a catcher is good on the Mets, it’s a guarantee he becomes my favorite player on the team. D’Arnaud will be that guy if he meets expectations. I also love that he has No. 15, it makes him appear to be a forgone conclusion, which he sort of is. Of course, anything can happen between now and the middle of May, when I expect he’ll make his debut at Citi Field. But, given the attention he gets, the people scouting and watching his every move, the number on his back, his talent and the buzz that follows him through camp, if you were new here, you’d instantly know he matters… and he doesn’t even have a big-league at bat yet.
Vinny Cartiglia, MetsBlog.com:
He is winning over fans at Tradition Field, as well, spending 12 to 20 minutes signing autographs after practice. That plus the moon shots he was hitting during batting practice has quickly made him a hot topic off field.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
They should call it Survivor: Port St. Lucie, like the CBS reality show, and each week of camp they vote someone off until three remain.
It’s crazy to look at because there are just so many people competing for the outfield, all of whom could realistically end up with a starting job. Sandy Alderson just stood there and stared, he didn’t flinch. I would love to know what was going on his mind.
The guy I’m looking to is Marlon Byrd. It’s going to take a player like him, to come in, win a job and exceed expectations for this team to contend. He has a big personality, he smiled a lot and looks comfortable. He has a track record. I see the other outfielders responding to him. So, if he can step up his game and get back to a season like he had in 2011, he could go a long way towards improving this team’s offense.
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
This grill is so basic. It sits in the middle of all the fields, and beneath the tower available to front office and management to get a bird’s eye view of practice. But, man, when it fires up at around 11 am, it smells like a backyard barbecue… and it’s rather distracting, when starving, and running around. It might be my favorite part of the day…
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
Uh, oh… I guess this is what remains of Jason Bay. It might be the most expensive piece of equipment in camp, coming it at around $16 million. Of course, it’s simply being used by a coach to catch balls being thrown in from infield practice. But, still…
Vinny Cartiglia, MetsBlog.com:
I met Matt Garasso behind the fence today. He’s a young fan, who was wearing a Robert Carson t-shirt, which I had never seen before. He met Carson after getting an autograph last season. Carson then followed Matt and his friends on Instagram and Twitter. So, basically, their online buddies at this point, which is pretty cool.
To follow Carson on Twitter, click here.
Vinny Cartiglia, MetsBlog.com:
During pre-workout stretches, Ike Davis recalled a play from last year and he, David Wright, and Justin Turner all caught a laugh at Daniel Murphy’s expense.
The weather is expected to be wet again this morning in Port St. Lucie.
To read more of this story, click here
9:46 am: The Mets are going to brave the rain, and send the throwing group to the ten-pack for their bullpen sessions soon (Baron, MetsBlog).
9:40 am: Per the revised schedule, pitchers and catchers did early workouts under cover (Dunn, SNY):
8:22 am: Bobby Parnell, Josh Edgin, Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey and Jeurys Familia, among others, are scheduled to throw side sessions today.
9:17 am: The Mets have issued a revised schedule for indoor workouts due to the rain (Baron, MetsBlog).
12:10 pm: Terry Collins said he was happy to see 55 players already in camp, including 20 position players a week early (Martino, Daily News).
12:05 pm: Travis d’Arnaud is wearing No. 15 (Baron, MetsBlog):
Matthew Cerrone, MetsBlog.com:
Umm, that is awesome. Also, like his brother’s jersey in Pittsburgh, it looks the Mets went with the upside down P for the lower case D. I really, really hope this kid is good. Things seem better when my favorite player is a catcher. #OppoTaco
11:52 am: The lockers go Johan Santana, Zack Wheeler, Matt Harvey and Shaun Marcum, all together, in that order (Baron, MetsBlog).
11:50 am: Marcum talked to reporters today (Horwitz, Mets). Highlights will be posted to MetsBlog later today.
11:23 am: The old Tradition Field sign is back up on the ballpark (Mets):
11:17 am: Ike Davis took batting practice (Baron, MetsBlog):
Here is a quick recap of news, notes and photos from Mets spring training at Tradition Field:
10:52 am: Wally Backman hit fungos to Mets infielders (Rubin, ESPN NY):
10:45 am: Wilmer Flores took ground balls at second base with Daniel Murphy (Baron, MetsBlog):
10:23 am: Zack Wheeler tossed a 10-pitch side session alongside Matt Harvey (Baron, MetsBlog):
10:16 am: Sandy Koufax won’t be making his annual visits to Mets camp because he’s been hired as a special assistant to the Dodgers (Rubin, ESPN NY).
9:30 am: Mets are not sure if newly-signed reliever Brandon Lyon will be reporting to camp today (Baron, MetsBlog).
9:19 am: Johan Santana is not likely to report to camp today, instead he will probably report tomorrow for team physicals (Puma, NYP)
8:17 am: Here is a list of jersey numbers for the 58 players in big-league camp for the Mets, courtesy of Adam Rubin (Rubin, ESPN NY).
