PORT ST. LUCIE — Hitters beware.
From manager Mickey Callaway’s viewpoint, MLB’s new experimental 20-second pitch clock — which the Mets saw for the first time Saturday in their exhibition opener — might have a bigger effect on batters than on pitchers.
Under the rule, batters have to be in the box by the time five seconds remain on the pitch clock.
“I was paying attention to it,” Callaway said after the Mets beat the Braves, 4-3, at First Data Field. “I don’t think it would have been much of an issue. There were a couple of times where maybe we got in the box late. I would think just from watching, it’s going to be harder for the hitters than the pitchers.
“Most pitchers get rid of it in 12-16 seconds. After you foul a ball off and the pitcher gets the ball and gets back on that dirt, the hitter, if he’s adjusting his batting gloves or doing something like that, he’s going to have to pay attention to something like that.”
Mets starting pitcher Walker Lockett said the pitch clock was a non-factor for him.
“I kind of work at a quick pace, try to get in a good rhythm, so I didn’t really notice it too much,” Lockett said.
After previously withholding a diagnosis on Jed Lowrie, the Mets changed course and said the veteran infielder has a strained capsule in his left knee.
Lowrie said he’s confident the injury isn’t serious, but isn’t sure when he will resume baseball activity. The 34-year-old said he wasn’t sure if Opening Day would be an option.
“Obviously I want to be out there with the guys on Opening Day, but we need to make sure this is right and it doesn’t linger,” Lowrie said.
“[The knee] still feels the same. We haven’t really done a lot at this point, so we’ll continue to progress it and hopefully feel good sooner rather than later.”
Brandon Nimmo won’t play in the first few exhibition games as he rests a fatigued right shoulder, but the outfielder is participating in baseball activities, including a throwing program, and expects to play this week. He had been tossing the ball underhanded in drills earlier in the week to rest his shoulder.
Pitching coach Dave Eiland plans to wait until Saturday to schedule Edwin Diaz to pitch for the first time. It’s part of a plan to ensure2 the team’s new closer isn’t overworked in spring training.
Kyle Dowdy, a Rule 5 pick who is competing for a spot in the bullpen — or as a potential rotation fill-in — fired a scoreless fourth inning in the Mets’ 4-3 exhibition victory over the Braves.
Amed Rosario dropped a ball while transferring it from glove to hand at second base in the second inning, ruining a potential double play. Pete Alonso had a drop at first base on a throw later in the inning. The Braves scored twice in the inning.
Mets outfielders weren’t unleashing throws to the plate. According to Callaway, outfielders have been told to hit the cutoff man for the first half of spring training.
Sunday’s schedule: Jacob deGrom will pitch for the first time this spring as the Mets face the Astros in Port St. Lucie.
