Notes: Glavine's schedule altered
03/09/2006
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Tom Glavine merely shrugged. The assignment that may become his -- starting the Mets' first game on April 3 at Shea Stadium -- is not one he takes lightly.
He saw what an Opening Day loss can do last year and in 2003. And for his own personal reasons, he'd prefer to begin the season successfully. But it is hardly a daunting task for a two-time Cy Young Award winner who has won at least 20 games in a season five times in his career.
So when the Mets altered Glavine's work schedule so that he might be in line to start Opening Day -- in case Pedro Martinez can't -- he accepted it and moved on.
"They realized I needed to know," he said. "It's better this way, just in case."
So rather than start Saturday against the Marlins, Glavine makes his next Spring Training appearance Tuesday against the Orioles. His subsequent start comes after five days free of pitching, rather than the customary four. He will throw two sides sessions between starts.
Ace absent from camp: Martinez was not scheduled to throw Friday, and chances are he won't be in camp anyway. Another day off, his third of the spring, was approved for the Mets pitcher. The club explained that it was aware of Martinez's need for time away, that the need is ongoing and that all members of the club's hierarchy are aware of it. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said the reason for this absence and the second are related. He didn't identify the reason.
The X-factor: Xavier Nady, who strained his left hamstring on Wednesday, played seven innings and produced one hit during three at-bats in the Mets' 3-2 loss to the Astros in Kissimmee on Thursday. He clearly favored the leg as he ran out a double-play ground ball in the sixth inning, but said he merely was being careful.
Nady has seven hits and seven RBIs in 15 at-bats.
Making an impression: After praising the work of right-handed rookie Brian Bannister, who allowed one hit while striking out three batters over three scoreless on Thursday, pitching coach Rick Peterson was asked whether there was anything about Bannister he didn't like.
Said Peterson: "I haven't seen his photography."
Manager Willie Randolph acknowledged he wouldn't rule out Bannister as a potential member of the bullpen, but everyone from Fred Wilpon to Bannister regards him as a starter. He is most likely the pitcher to leave the Minor Leagues this season if and when a starter is needed in the big leagues.
Tickets: The Mets announced single-game tickets for Opening Day, the May series against the Yankees and the six-game Family Pack are sold out. Two other Six Packs -- the Pedro Pack, featuring tickets to Opening Day (April 3), Merengue Night (July 21) and Hispanic Heritage Night (Aug. 25) and the '86 Pack, which includes tickets to the Aug. 19 on-field reunion of members of the 1986 World Series champion Mets -- are nearly sellouts, too.
Season tickets, ticket plans, six packs and single-game tickets for the 2006 season have exceeded 1.75 million sold and are 25 percent ahead of the pace of last year. Those purchasing season tickets and ticket plans will have postseason ticket purchase options. Incumbent season-ticket holders will have priority in purchasing season tickets in the Mets' new stadium, scheduled to open in 2009.
Source: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- Tom Glavine merely shrugged. The assignment that may become his -- starting the Mets' first game on April 3 at Shea Stadium -- is not one he takes lightly.
He saw what an Opening Day loss can do last year and in 2003. And for his own personal reasons, he'd prefer to begin the season successfully. But it is hardly a daunting task for a two-time Cy Young Award winner who has won at least 20 games in a season five times in his career.
So when the Mets altered Glavine's work schedule so that he might be in line to start Opening Day -- in case Pedro Martinez can't -- he accepted it and moved on.
"They realized I needed to know," he said. "It's better this way, just in case."
So rather than start Saturday against the Marlins, Glavine makes his next Spring Training appearance Tuesday against the Orioles. His subsequent start comes after five days free of pitching, rather than the customary four. He will throw two sides sessions between starts.
Ace absent from camp: Martinez was not scheduled to throw Friday, and chances are he won't be in camp anyway. Another day off, his third of the spring, was approved for the Mets pitcher. The club explained that it was aware of Martinez's need for time away, that the need is ongoing and that all members of the club's hierarchy are aware of it. Mets spokesman Jay Horwitz said the reason for this absence and the second are related. He didn't identify the reason.
The X-factor: Xavier Nady, who strained his left hamstring on Wednesday, played seven innings and produced one hit during three at-bats in the Mets' 3-2 loss to the Astros in Kissimmee on Thursday. He clearly favored the leg as he ran out a double-play ground ball in the sixth inning, but said he merely was being careful.
Nady has seven hits and seven RBIs in 15 at-bats.
Making an impression: After praising the work of right-handed rookie Brian Bannister, who allowed one hit while striking out three batters over three scoreless on Thursday, pitching coach Rick Peterson was asked whether there was anything about Bannister he didn't like.
Said Peterson: "I haven't seen his photography."
Manager Willie Randolph acknowledged he wouldn't rule out Bannister as a potential member of the bullpen, but everyone from Fred Wilpon to Bannister regards him as a starter. He is most likely the pitcher to leave the Minor Leagues this season if and when a starter is needed in the big leagues.
Tickets: The Mets announced single-game tickets for Opening Day, the May series against the Yankees and the six-game Family Pack are sold out. Two other Six Packs -- the Pedro Pack, featuring tickets to Opening Day (April 3), Merengue Night (July 21) and Hispanic Heritage Night (Aug. 25) and the '86 Pack, which includes tickets to the Aug. 19 on-field reunion of members of the 1986 World Series champion Mets -- are nearly sellouts, too.
Season tickets, ticket plans, six packs and single-game tickets for the 2006 season have exceeded 1.75 million sold and are 25 percent ahead of the pace of last year. Those purchasing season tickets and ticket plans will have postseason ticket purchase options. Incumbent season-ticket holders will have priority in purchasing season tickets in the Mets' new stadium, scheduled to open in 2009.
Source: http://newyork.mets.mlb.com/
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