Cano Says Sorry, Dom Takes Max Deep (Twice!)
News and notes from Port St. Lucie...
Mets infielder Robinson Cano publicly addressed his year-long performance-enhancing drug suspension for the first time since returning to the team this spring.
Side note: could you imagine the circus Cano’s return would be if the Mets hadn’t orchestrated the luxurious offseason they did? Wild. Back to the story.
“I’m here to apologize,” he began, addressing the team’s media corps in Port St. Lucie. “First of all to the Mets organization, to my teammates, the fans, and you. There’s no excuses for how or why. All I know is that I prepared myself this past season to help this team compete for a championship.”
For the most part, those were the bulk of the details Cano was willing to share about the situation. Looking ahead was most certainly the vibe of the day. You can check out the whole press conference here, via SNY.
Mets manager Buck Showalter touched on the expectations he’s been tasked with balancing with respect to Cano’s durability, usage, and contributions heading into a big year for both team and player.
And no, Showalter wouldn’t commit to a certain number of at-bats for Cano this season (hey, they said Buck was savvy…), though did note that it would take some time to get a good feel for where the player is at in his process.
“One, if he’s physically able and two, if he’s doing well when he’s out there. [There are] two parts to it. He’s gonna get a chance to not do it,” Showalter said before thankfully expanding. ”In other words — I don’t want to say fail — but he’s gonna get the chance.”
“He feels good,” Showalter added. “He understands where he is, physically. Where he is in his career. But, boy, it would be nice to get him out there. Games at second base, games at DH, maybe first base. That’s kinda where you’re gonna see him. Where it shuffles out, we’ll see.”
Cano’s contract represents $40.5 million against the Mets’ books through 2023, so, naturally, the team is going to let that process run its’ course. How long the organization’s leash may be is beyond our scope of speculation.
But for a player who — despite a stellar, albeit marred career — has now served multiple PED suspensions, is months from 40, and plays for a team who, as of late, sees money as no object, it can’t be that long, right?
Depth is good. And if Cano is healthy and producing, he can be the depth this team —any team — needs to get through 162 and deep into October.
Though, if both of those boxes aren’t checked once things start to matter, the safe bet would be on some additional internal discussions taking place regarding the matter.
Max Scherzer got the start in Wednesday’s simulated game in Port St. Lucie, allowing three runs on three hits (more on those shortly) over four innings of work (61 pitches, per Tim Britton of The Athletic).
Scherzer spoke with reporters after the outing, noting that he’d been getting his work in during the downtime. And, apparently, those reps took place with one of those turtle sandboxes standing in behind the plate.
“It felt good,” he said. “You know, I’ve been throwing sim games [and] live BPs with the turtle. But when you actually get rid of the turtle and you get an umpire back there, it feels a little more real. Intensity goes up a little bit.”
Oh yeah, we get you all the hard-hitting news at The Apple.
“Now I want fans,” Scherzer added. “I want people yelling at me and telling me how much I suck. Can’t wait.”
Dominic Smith took Scherzer deep twice on Wednesday, getting off on a good foot after his manager spoke highly of him on Tuesday. Something to keep an eye on.
Despite shining as a bench cog last season (.913 OPS as a sub, 31 PA; .819 OPS as a pinch-hitter), Smith is coming off a down 2021 (.244/.304/.363, 11 HR, 20 doubles, 493 PA).
A solid line through the 2019 and 2020 seasons (.299/.366/.571, 21 HR, 31 doubles, 396 PA) gave the Mets (and their fans) a glimpse of the level of player Smith can be. Pretty sure all parties agree there’s still a ton of potential there.
We talked a bit yesterday about the benefits of having Smith, Jeff McNeil (tabbed as the leading man at second base by Showalter), and J.D. Davis on the club after all three were reportedly being made available via trade through the winter.
That depth could go a long way. And speaking of depth (boom), the Mets’ six-thru-eight guys got some work in on Wednesday, as well.
David Peterson, who missed the second half of the 2021 season after requiring surgery to repair a fractured bone in his right foot, threw two hitless innings (two strikeouts, one walk).
Jordan Yamamoto, who was sidelined by a shoulder affliction for nearly four months last year, allowed a hit and struck out four over two innings of work.
And Tylor Megill, coming off a wholly encouraging rookie campaign (4.52 ERA over 18 starts; 1.04 ERA in five July starts was lowest in MLB over that span, minimum 20 IP), struck out one with a hit on his card over three frames.
“They’re impressive,” Showalter said of Megill, Peterson, and Yamamoto. “Do I think that we’re gonna end up with [Taijuan Walker] and [Carlos Carrasco] both in the rotation to start the season? I hope so. But shame on us if we’re not prepared.”
When asked specifically about Megill possibly being used out of the bullpen in light of his unprecedented workload in 2021 (99.2 total innings pitched, 2018 and 2019; zero innings in 2020 (COVID); 140 total innings pitched in 2021), Showalter shared some extremely measured thoughts on the subject.
“I don’t think we’re there yet. My gut is that he’s just such a good starting pitcher [and] prospect that you hate to use that against him, having five other guys,” he said. “I wouldn’t rule anything out at this point, it’s too early in camp to rule something out. But from a development standpoint, it would be a little bit of a stretch.”
And finally:
Starling Marte (oblique soreness) was back in camp on Wednesday. Mets skipper Buck Showalter noted the 33-year-old outfielder is still day-to-day but was “making progress”.
Also, as first reported by Anthony DiComo of MLB.com, the Mets signed left-hander and former Mets reliever Chasen Shreve to a minor league deal on Wednesday.
Shreve, 31, is effective against batters on both sides of the plate. Right-handed hitters had a .719 OPS against him last season, but the Las Vegas product held lefties to just a .633 mark. That’ll play.
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Great Stuff as Always Tim!! It's like you're down in PSL!! Also, sooooooo happy about the Chasen reboot! Loved him in 2020!