MLB Spring Training: February 26 winners and losers
By Bill Felber
MLB Spring Training: February 25 winners and losers
Winner: Noah Syndergaard, New York Mets pitcher
Angst-ridden Mets fans have spent most of the winter and spring laying presumptive guilt trips on Syndergaard, who as far as their concerned better live up to what they view as his potential in 2020 or stand convicted of sabotaging New York’s pennant hopes all by himself.
In his spring debut, Syndergaard displayed mid-season form. Pitching two innings against the Astros, he did give up one hit but struck out two and mostly kept the ball harmlessly in the infield. Houston did rally to win 4-2 against the Mets’ bullpen, but Syndergaard at least lived up to expectations.
Winner: Oakland A’s World Series hopes
How’s this for team offense? Nineteen Athletics got at least one trip to the plate against Arizona Wednesday and 16 of them produced at least one base hit, 13 of them scoring. Ten different Athletics drove in at least one run.
The heroes included most of the heart of Oakland’s order. Matt Chapman homered, Ramon Laureano, Marcus Semien, and Matt Olson all singled, and Mark Canha doubled. For the game, Oakland’s team batting average was .452.
Loser: Dominic Leone, Cleveland Indians pitcher
Leone is a five-year veteran journeyman hoping to make the Indians bullpen. He did not help his case in San Diego’s 8-0 victory over the Indians.
With San Diego leading 2-0 in the seventh, Leone entered to face a lineup of Padres hopefuls. With one out, Edward Olivares homered to left. Leone got a second out, then allowed a single to Jake Croneworth, a double to Ivan Castillo, a single to Seth Mejias-Brean, and a double to Hudson Potts. Unless you run San Diego’s minor league system, you’ve probably never heard of any of those guys.
For Leone, the final damage was four runs, all earned, on five hits. And very possibly one crushed major league hope.