Nimmo loses this game of chicken
Mets say they’ll give him a culinary class after he undercooks bird, misses game after being sick all night
PORT ST. LUCIE — This is one way to wipe the constant smile off Brandon Nimmo’s face.
The Mets fan favorite became violently ill Tuesday night after chowing down some bad chicken.
“I guess he cooked some chicken, and didn’t know how to cook or something,” manager Mickey Callaway said. “He was throwing up all night. We’re going to have to teach him how to cook so he doesn’t miss any more games.”
Nimmo, who made his Grapefruit League debut hours before botching the meal, missed Wednesday’s 14-6 win over the Marlins, and may be kept out of commission further due to dehydration concerns.
MATZ IS BACK
Steven Matz got back to work earlier than usual this year.
The Mets lefty took a page out of Jacob deGrom’s book and and continued to throw during the entire offseason. The ‘no time-off’ mentality showed early results in his Grapefruit League debut Wednesday.
Matz, who pitched two innings, held the Marlins to one run on three hits with three strikeouts in theMets’ 14-6 win over Miami at First Data Field.
“I was more ready than I’ve ever been,” Matz said. “I only took two weeks off probably and just threw lightly the whole offseason. Then I ramped it up as we got closer to spring.”
Matz said he borrowed the light offseason throwing schedule from the reigning National League Cy Young award winner. DeGrom said he prepped for spring by catching with his dad every offseason for the past three years.
“(DeGrom) did it and he really liked it,” Matz said. “So going into the offseason healthy, I was like, ‘OK I’m going to give that a try.’ And I really liked it as well.”
The southpaw opened the game striking out JT Riddle on three pitches. He was most troubled by Marlins designated hitter Lewis Brinson. After getting through the first inning unscathed, Matz gave up a massive leadoff home run to Brinson in the second, who finished the game going 2-for-3 with two RBIs.
In the past, Matz would begin his preparation for spring training around the December holidays, which he said made him feel behind. Ramping up earlier in the year allowed the Long Island native to throw with no sense of urgency.
“I feel good about (my start),” Matz said. “Attacking the strike zone, that’s my main focus right now. Just attack the strike zone with all my pitches. And I felt like I was able to do that today. I’m pretty pleased when the adrenaline gets going and the fans come in and you’re playing a different team.”
J.D. DAVIS SETS TONE
The 25-year-old went 3-for-5 with a homer and four RBIs. When the Mets acquired Davis from the Astros on Jan. 6 and signed Jed Lowrie a few days later, there was no clear role on the team for the infielder.
Fast forward to the first week of Grapefruit League games and third basemen Jed Lowrie and Todd Frazier are already dinged up. It’s still early in camp to predict Opening Day lineups, but Davis seems like a potential hot-corner fit thus far.
“The best thing I’ve learned is just be yourself,” Davis said. “Go out there and have fun. Show your colors with the guys, mess around, joke around with the guys in the clubhouse and just do your part. Help the team to win.”
ROSARIO TESTING AT THE PLATE
Amed Rosario is driving the ball with a renewed sense of force so far in spring training. Rosario went 2for-4 with two RBIS and two runs scored against the Marlins and he credited it to a change in mechanics.
Rosario said, through interpreter Alan Suriel, that he added a leg kick to his swings.
“Each and every day I try to make different adjustments in the game,” Rosario said. “And I realized when my foot is down, it’s not the same as when I actually lift my leg up. I get a better swing and more power on it.”
The leg kick is something Rosario picked up at Mets camp this year and he’s testing it out to see if he’ll receive improved results at the plate.
T.J. TROUBLE
The road to recovery for Mets infielder T.J. Rivera only seems to be getting longer. He underwent Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in September of 2017 and continues to suffer setbacks. Rivera has been working out at Mets camp this spring training, but Callaway said a Grapefruit League game is not yet on the horizon.
“T.J. is having trouble getting over the hump to throw in a game,” Callaway said. “He’s just kind of like last year, he can’t get over that game-speed hump to get out there and perform in a game.”