Breathe Easy

By John "Metstradamus" Coppinger
Posted Friday, March 30, 2007

Spring training is like the part of the roller coaster ride that just starts out, and you’re going up and up and up. The last week of spring is when you’re sitting in the roller coaster thinking “damn just get on with it already”. But just the anticipation alone is enough to make your hands clammy and the blood rush to your head.

"I want to be healthy when I start the season, and right now I am, so I want to stay there." –Paul Lo Duca
All anybody wants from the last week of spring training is for nobody to get hurt (kind of like not wanting anybody to fall off the roller coaster). Nothing that develops in the final week of spring training is a good thing. Early on, it’s who’s looking good, who’s making an impact, who’s impressing Willie Randolph. At this point, it’s all about who’s upset about their role (Chan Ho Park), who’s giving up bombs in the eighth inning (again, Chan Ho Park), and who’s developing potentially season ending injuries.

You might have heard about Duaner Sanchez’s hairline fracture of his coracoid (isn’t that some kind of snake or something?), which will keep him out at least until August. You’re probably hyperventilating at this point, but just imagine how Duaner feels.

The important thing to do in this case is to remember to breathe.

And look at the bright side: Pedro Martinez has a rehab partner. Besides, the Mets got through the final two months of the season fine without him, and between his rehab and his lateness issues, Sanchez would have been a tough peg to fit in come April at the start. Now, he’ll get a chance to ease in come August after everyone finds their groove.

Need more bright side? Here it is: Aaron Heilman is more than capable of being the eighth inning guy. And making sure that his innings are important means that Heilman will be somewhat content in his role. (He’ll never be a starter with the Mets, but the more important the innings, the happier he’ll be.)

Here’s even more bright side ....... the Mets still have enough in the bullpen besides Heilman and Billy Wagner to make sure that we aren’t going to see long stretches of Jon Adkins (who was Wednesday’s sacrificial lamb against Atlanta), Jorge Sosa (who’s middle name is Bolivar…which I believe when translated means “sacrificial lamb”), and Ambiorix Burgos at Shea to start the season. Pedro Feliciano, Joe Smith, and Scott Schoeneweis are solid.

I don't suspect that Park and Aaron Sele excite you very much, because if they did I would worry about you as well (seriously, dude!), but the one advantage they do provide is insurance in case Orlando Hernandez finally disintegrates into a pile of dust bunnies on the mound during a start (because you know that’s coming, right?) The Adkins / Sosa / Burgos trio cannot say that. And don’t forget that after 50 games, Guillermo “The Cheat” Mota returns. I’m glad he was contrite when it came to his performance enhancing ways. I wish he was equally apologetic with regard to shaking off Lo Duca during Game 2.

But do you know what is the brightest side of all? It’s that the next lesson you will receive from me will be in the course of the regular season. There will be real live meaningful games to discuss. And I for one can’t wait. So take a Lamaze class if you have to, but just try to breathe easy for a little while longer. The roller coaster ride is about to begin.

Do you need help in deciding which taxicab is safe from drunk drivers named Cecil Wiggins? Then join my alter ego at http://metstradamus.blogspot.com for season previews, the odd prediction here and there, and perhaps a tip or two about the correct way to strap on a seat belt in taxis and roller coasters. Other stuff, too.