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Lindor, Conforto both homer amid extension talks
March 21st, 2021
If Sunday was indeed a preview of Opening Day, the Mets would prefer not to change a thing.
Sharp as usual in stretching out to 67 pitches in a 6-2 win over the Nationals, Jacob deGrom easily outpitched Max Scherzer in West Palm Beach, Fla. That may mean little, seeing as Grapefruit League games have no bearing on the regular season. But the matchup mirrored what the two teams will see on April 1, with deGrom set to face Scherzer at Nationals Park.
“I enjoy going out there and competing against Max,” deGrom said. “Those are normally fun games, and we both love competing, so we go out there and try to leave it all out on the field. Whoever had the better day is probably going to win that game.”
The two met only once last season, when Scherzer won a Sept. 26 game over deGrom and the Mets, but neither starter pitched into the seventh. deGrom had more success on Opening Day 2019, when he fired six shutout innings to beat Scherzer and the Nationals. Both pitchers took no-decisions in their two other meetings that season.
Although starters often like to point out that their job is to face opposing lineups, not opposing pitchers, many — deGrom included — admit to feeling a little more juice when they take on other aces. And it’s not as if they have no contact at all. To that end, Sunday marked the first time in over a year that a Mets pitcher batted, with deGrom going 0-for-2 against Scherzer.
“I enjoyed it,” deGrom said. “I feel like it’s part of baseball. I’ve been in the National League my whole career and kind of missed it a little bit last year. So it was fun to get back out there.”
Michael Conforto and Francisco Lindor keep doing their best to increase their value as they look to sign long-term extensions with the Mets. Both Mets stars homered in Sunday’s win, with Lindor going deep for the third time in four games. Since opening his first spring with the team in an 0-for-7 funk, Lindor is 10-for-27.
Conforto has had a quieter spring both on the field and in the headlines, partially because Mets officials want clarity on Lindor’s situation before proceeding with a Conforto deal. Answers for both should come soon; Lindor has said firmly that he won’t negotiate once the season begins, while Conforto has also indicated that’s his preference as well.
“Those two guys are great players, so you definitely want them around and want to be on the same team as them,” deGrom said. “It’s definitely something that I’m rooting for.”
Conforto confirmed Sunday that, like Lindor, he is currently in extension talks with the Mets. But he declined to comment further on those discussions.
“At this point, I’m pretty much just focused on baseball,” Conforto said. “I’m not really interested in speaking about the contract stuff. It’s between me, my family, my agent and the team.”
From the trainer’s room
Two Mets relievers are dealing with ailments that could take them out of realistic contention for the Opening Day roster. Veteran Arodys Vizcaíno has been absent from Grapefruit League games since March 14 due to right elbow soreness. Vizcaíno has been throwing in workouts and expects to return to game action next weekend. But at that point, with only days until Opening Day, it may be too late for Vizcaíno to make a real run at a 26-man roster spot.
Another right-hander, Drew Smith, is nursing soreness in his pitching shoulder. Smith is also throwing on the side, but the Mets have no timetable for his return.
“This is a bump in the way for him, but we still know that he’s got the stuff to get outs and to be a valuable piece for us,” manager Luis Rojas said. “We expect for him to navigate through this and get back into action.”
Proper perspective
Carlos Carrasco doesn’t know exactly how long his torn right hamstring will keep him sidelined — team officials privately estimate 6 to 8 weeks, though they’ve been reticent to put a public timeline on it — but he’s not letting that affect his mindset. Carrasco, who has recovered from leukemia and heart issues already in his career, and who was battling right elbow soreness before tearing his hamstring, said he’s able to stay mentally strong through injuries.
“If something happens, it’s going to happen,” Carrasco said. “I’ve been through a lot. My elbow, my hamstring is nothing for me. I’ve been through worse with my leukemia, all that kind of stuff. This is nothing for me.”