PORT ST. LUCIE — As a pitcher who makes his residing on ground-ball outs, Clay Holmes is at all times conscious of baserunners. With MLB’s new guidelines encouraging extra runners to steal over the past two seasons, Holmes has needed to be much more cautious on the mound.
So when Christian Walker hit a foul ball that was dominated honest to proper subject Thursday afternoon in a Grapefruit League recreation, Holmes was glad to have the ability to lastly work with a baserunner in a recreation. Had the ball been dominated foul, the Mets’ right-handed reliever-turned-starter would have had six good innings to begin the spring slate.
“I think it was good to be able to throw with some runners on today, just to kind of feel the game and work on a few pick offs and holding a runner a second, those types of things,” Holmes mentioned after the Mets shut out the Houston Astros 5-0 at Clover Park. “It’s always good to have in spring training just to be able to work on [controlling the running game] and just feel the speed of the game.”
For all of the issues the Mets did nicely final season, the working recreation was their Achilles’ heel. As a gaggle, the Mets allowed 140 stolen bases, tied for the fifth-most in baseball. Runners have been profitable on about 80% of their makes an attempt. Supervisor Carlos Mendoza has admitted that the group was uncovered on this space, and the Mets have vowed to get higher in 2025.
They are able to restrict the harm with Holmes on the mound.
“I’ve always been a ground ball guy, so it’s important to keep the guys at first base [to] keep the double play in order. So that was something that really became a priority of mine a few years back, is to be able to do that,” Holmes mentioned. “That was one reason why I widened out my stretch stance. It’s a little hard to get jumps off of me, I’m fast to the plate because of it, and it really simplifies things.”
The Yankees beforehand used Holmes’ high-leverage innings. Sometimes, it is a function for an influence arm. Guys with excessive strikeout charges are sometimes most popular for these roles as a result of they chances say they’re much less more likely to advance runners on floor balls. Nonetheless, it was a profit to Holmes, who put an additional emphasis on holding runners on base that he thinks will profit him as a beginning pitcher.
“In leverage spots down the bullpen, those runs mean a lot, and you have to be able to do that,” Holmes mentioned. “I think that’s going to really pay off, especially being a starter, where you have to keep double plays in order and keep people out of scoring position. It’s a huge thing for me, especially for a guy that relies on the ground balls, I have to do it. I’ve learned some things in the years past, but it’s always something you have to stay on top of and really make sure that they’re not picking up any trends, or you’re not showing anything, and that you’re just really on top of part of your game.”
Holmes has but to permit an earned run in six innings of labor this spring. Victor Caratini hit a smooth comebacker to Holmes, who simply made the putout at first base for the third out. The lengthy inning was useful for him to work by means of issues in an surroundings that was much less managed than a group apply. The subsequent two innings have been environment friendly sufficient for him to go right down to the bullpen and throw about 18 extra pitches to simulate a fourth up.
“I feel like I was in a great spot to keep pitching even after I finished there,” he mentioned. “I felt a lot better than last time I did when I finished the bullpen. So I can see him continue to kind of adjust to the workload and really feel like things are trending in a good direction.”
BRETT’S BAT
Brett Baty hit his second dwelling run of spring coaching Thursday, a two-run homer off right-hander Miguel Ullola. It was a line drive over the appropriate subject fence that went practically 110 MPH off the bat, which was encouraging to the Mets.
The issue for Baty has been with the ability to translate his spring outcomes on the plate into the common season. The Mets are seeing enhancements, particularly relating to getting the ball within the air, and with a utility spot up for grabs, the enhancements might be coming on the proper time.
“Those line drives are turning into homers because he’s got that power,” mentioned supervisor Carlos Mendoza “He’s in a good spot right now.”
CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS
Former ace Dwight “Doc” Gooden got here by means of camp Thursday, taking in batting apply and defensive drills from the Clover Park dugout. Additionally available have been former Mets greats Carlos Beltran and John Franco, who’ve been in camp as visitor instructors this week, and Victor Zambrano.
Famous Mets fan Jerry Seinfeld was additionally in attendance Thursday, taking within the Grapefruit League recreation.
Nonetheless, the most well-liked determine with the group was Buddy, the canine the Mets are sponsoring in service college. Buddy took a aircraft experience for the primary time, a giant step in his service canine coaching, and interacted with gamers throughout batting apply underneath the watchful eyes of his trainers. Named for late Mets infielder and coach Bud Harrelson, Buddy will go to a navy veteran after he completes service canine college.
DOMINICAN DANDIES
Juan Soto was introduced with the 2024 Juan Marichal Award by the Dominican Dandy himself earlier than the Mets hosted the Astros. The award is introduced yearly to the highest Dominican participant within the recreation. The award, which is voted on by members of the Dominican media, was introduced Feb. 27, the nation’s Independence Day. The nation declared its independence from Haiti on February 27, 1844.
