Taking it easy
Morning Dose: Wednesday, February 18
☀️ Good Morning:
It’s spring training for all of us.
While Jonah Tong is trying to perfect his offspeed stuff, I’ve been playing around with some new graphic ideas for this season. So bear with me while I focus on that a bit more than my writing. That said, there’s plenty to talk about today, so let’s get into it!
❶ Luis Robert Jr. and others will ease into spring action.
❷ Tony Clark resigns as union chief amid investigation into misconduct.
❸ Jonah Tong is ready to take the next step.
📰 ABOVE THE FOLD
❶ TAKING IT EASY
The Mets are taking a cautious approach with four key players this spring: Luis Robert Jr., Jorge Polanco, Brett Baty and Francisco Álvarez will have their Grapefruit League debuts delayed in an effort to maximize their health heading into the season.
🔹 A PLAN FOR ROBERT: For Robert Jr., Mets’ trainers are working to strengthen his lower half in hopes they can help him avoid injuries he has had in the past. Robert missed 55 days last season from two separate IL stints for hamstring injuries. He lost 59 days due to a hip flexor the previous season.
⇢ Learning from the past: SNY contributor John Harper asked former Mets GM Jim Duquette about how this approach relates to the organization’s failure to keep Jose Reyes healthy in the early aughts.
