TC is undecided
There was a sense the last couple of days that they were leaning toward Wheeler, after he pitched so well on Tuesday. He has more potential to dominate than Lugo, but there is also the dilemma of how best to handle him in a season when the Mets are saying they’ll limit his innings somewhere around 125-130.
If they had him start the season in extended spring, they could save his innings and ensure that he would be around to pitch big games in September and possibly October.
On the other hand, after all the pitching injuries the Mets dealt with last year, there is at least some feeling that they should take advantage of Wheeler’s good health right now and not look down the road too far.
“Ride him while he’s hot,’’ was the way one Mets person put it on Wednesday.
“You mean before he gets hurt again?’’ I asked.
“You said that. didn’t.’’
But the implication is clear. And, really, you can’t blame I
“We’ll most likely try and play him tomorrow, see how he feels,” the Mets manager said.
While Collins wants to see Lagares hit before putting him on the Opening Day roster, he said it isn’t necessary. Lagares played a lot of spring games before being pulled from a game with the side injury Saturday and is ready, Collins said.
SEE YA LATER, TIM
Tim Tebow’s much ballyhooed big league spring training came to an end Wednesday. He went 0-for-3 in the Mets’ tie with the Mets people for thinking that way by now.
For though it feels like they’ve been around for years now, there still has never been a time when all of their top five starters — Noah Syndergaard, Jacob deGrom, Matt Harvey, Wheeler and Matz have pitched in the rotation at the same time. Nevertheless, Matz is the only one you’d say is truly injuryprone. In addition to elbow and shoulder issues, he had that lat problem in 2015 and even a back injury that shelved him as well.
Through it all he continued to pitch well — 13-8 with a 3.16 ERA over 28 starts the last two years, and what’s most frustrating is that Matz has proven he can be brilliant when healthy. Unfortunately for him and the Mets, when that will be is once again in question. Braves. He finished hitting .148 in nine Grapefruit League games.
“He’s a tremendous kid. And I wish him all the best,” Collins said. “To do what he’s attempting to do is not easy for anyone. He’s a winner. I hope he enjoys the journey.”
At the same time, with all the attention the Heisman Trophy winner and former NFL quarterback got this spring, Collins admitted he was glad to be done answering questions about him.
Tebow has been assigned to full-season Class-A Columbia of the South Atlantic League.