Pitching workouts add accountability to peers
PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. - The Mets' emphasis on more accountability for their pitching staff was put into effect for yesterday's first workout. The bullpen sessions were closely monitored - by members of the Mets' pitching staff.
Much like a backup quarterback charting plays, pitchers stood behind the mound and noted balls and strikes thrown by teammates. Oliver Perez did it for Johan Santana and vice versa. No one was exempt from the practice, which will continue throughout spring training.
Manager Jerry Manuel has demanded that his pitchers throw more strikes this season, and the workout was the first step in that process. It was a program that he resurrected from his White Sox days, and pitching coach Dan Warthen has "taken it to a different level."
"Even a guy that's performing knows now that he's being held accountable," Manuel said. "He's not getting up there and just flinging it anywhere. He's being held accountable for throwing strikes."
The Mets issued 616 walks last season, the second-highest total in baseball behind the Nationals' 629.
No way, Jose?
After Manuel stirred up Jose Reyes on Friday by saying that he might be dropped from first to third in the lineup, the manager suggested it might be only precautionary, to save Reyes' legs during spring training and once the season starts.
"Some of it," Manuel said. "Not the entire thing. Early because of the inclement weather and because Reyes' legs being so important to us. What we have to do with Jose is . . . be careful in him getting back in the leadoff spot and trying to do the things he was doing before. We need Jose Reyes for hopefully 155 games or so, so this gives us an opportunity for him to ease into his role as well as us to see if that is something that he can handle and we can benefit from."
Not the Mets' fault
After Carlos Delgado was forced to have hip surgery again last Wednesday - almost nine months to the day after he had a similar labrum operation as a Met - his agent, David Sloane, did not claim any negligence by Delgado's former team. "Absolutely not," he said Saturday by phone.
Delgado had arthroscopic surgery May 19 for an impingement of the hip, a bone spur and a torn labrum. The Mets were very interested in re-signing him to play first base this season, but he struggled playing winter ball, and Sloane said his frustration led him to visit Dr. Marc Philippon at the Steadman-Hawkins Clinic in Vail, Colo. He had the labrum reconstruction, and Sloane hopes Delgado will return to the majors in four months.
