Sean

Told ya a month ago this would happen.

__________________

Kanadesaga

03/06/2008 9:30 PM ET
Notes: Anderson, Easley good to go
Backups had been slotted to play Thursday's canceled game
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

VIERA, Fla. -- Two Mets backups are back up to health, and that's reason to rejoice. For a team trudging onward with the majority of its starting lineup incapable of playing, every healthy body has become critical at this juncture of spring.

So the fact that Marlon Anderson and Damion Easley, two of the team's most versatile and essential bench players, both felt well enough on Thursday to make their Grapefruit League debuts was no small boost. Anderson had been recovering from a bruised sternum -- a result of his outfield crash with Ryan Church last week -- and Easley was still healing from the severely sprained left ankle that caused him to miss the end of last season.

Both are now well enough to contribute, and well enough to play in as many Grapefruit League games as their lingering injuries will allow. Manager Willie Randolph didn't anticipate taking either player on Friday's trip to Winter Haven, Fla., though Thursday's canceled game could change his plans. Healthy bodies can do that.

"It's been a funny camp," Easley said. "I don't think I've ever been part of a camp that had so many injuries. I guess if you play long enough, you'll see some stuff you've never seen before."

Weekend warrior: Reliever Duaner Sanchez expected to pitch in a Grapefruit League game by the weekend after spending the entirety of this week idling on a program of long-toss and bullpen sessions. Sanchez hasn't pitched in a game since last Friday with what he calls "normal soreness."

Sanchez wouldn't acknowledge what, if any, effect the delays will have on his ability to be ready by Opening Day. The Mets first want to see him pitch in back-to-back Spring Training games, though there may not be enough time remaining for him to stretch his arm to that extent.

"What about we take it step by step, how about that?" Sanchez said. "I don't want to say yes, I don't want to say no. But yes, I'm doing everything I can to be there in the first game."

Church's bells no longer ringing: Church began taking motion-sickness medicine after his visit to the neurologist on Wednesday, and has since seen reduced symptoms from his Grade 2 concussion. He said that he still experienced bouts of dizziness early Thursday morning, but nothing more.

Only when Church remains free of symptoms for two consecutive days will doctors clear him to play.

Delgado inching closer: Carlos Delgado took batting practice on Thursday, facing live pitching for the first time since reporting an impingement in his right hip last week.

"Every day is a test," Delgado said. "It is a progression."

Delgado noted that his batting practice sessions on Thursday and Friday would be keys toward determining his availability throughout the next week. He could return as soon as this weekend.

"Like everything else, I'm just waiting until he gives me a head's-up on when he's ready to go," Randolph said. "It's not smart to put pressure on guys to get in unless they say they want to go."

Shoo, shoe: Infielder Ruben Gotay shed his protective boot on Thursday to participate in pool workouts and ride a stationary bike -- the only lower-body exercises he can safely perform while recovering from a sprained right ankle.

He will still wear the boot at times, though he doesn't need it to walk normally.

"I don't feel comfortable with it," Gotay said. "So I don't always wear it."

Mets bits: Catcher Brian Schneider expected his tight right hamstring to be well enough for him to play on Saturday, in the team's next home game. Schneider said that it's easier for him to keep the hamstring loose with the exercise equipment available to him at Tradition Field. ... The Mets made their first round of cuts on Thursday, re-assigning top pitching prospects Jonathan Niese, Brant Rustich and Robert Parnell to Minor League camp. The team planned to reveal an official list of cuts on Friday.

Coming up: Oliver Perez will make his second Grapefruit League start on Friday in a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Indians in Winter Haven. The Mets originally intended to use relievers Matt Wise and Pedro Feliciano in the game, though Thursday's scheduled relievers, Billy Wagner and Aaron Heilman, could also pitch. Lefty Cliff Lee will start for the Indians.

__________________

Kanadesaga

03/08/2008 4:33 PM ET
Schneider, Easley go deep in loss
Pelfrey roughed up, allows seven runs over 3 1/3 innings
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

MARLINS 12, METS 4
at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Saturday, March 8

Marlins at the plate: Florida's early offensive outburst revolved almost completely around third baseman Jorge Cantu, who hit three doubles in his first three at-bats and drove in five runs. Right fielder Brett Carroll also provided some pop, drilling a two-run homer in the third inning and knocking in three runs in all.

Mets at the plate: Brian Schneider's line-drive homer in the second inning gave the Mets an early run, though it did little to offset Florida's offensive clinic. Right fielder Ryan Church, playing his first game since suffering a Grade 2 concussion last week, collected two singles in his only two at-bats. And in his first game of the spring, utility man Damion Easley hit a two-run homer in the sixth.

Marlins on the mound: Though the Mets put runners on base in each of starter Chris Volstad's three innings, only Schneider's homer affected his bottom line -- three innings and one earned run. Renyel Pinto and Taylor Tankersley each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, combining to strike out three of the eight batters they faced.

Mets on the mound: Command struggles -- not to mention stiff winds -- undermined Mike Pelfrey all afternoon. Battling for the fifth starter's role, Pelfrey allowed seven runs in 3 1/3 innings, walking four and hitting a batter. Scott Schoeneweis followed with 1 2/3 innings of shutout relief, though not before allowing all three of his inherited runners to score. More impressive was the work of Duaner Sanchez, who breezed through one inning after a week of rest.

Grapefruit League records: Marlins 9-4-1; Mets 6-4-0

Up next: Ricky Nolasco's push for a rotation spot continues on Sunday, when the Marlins head back to Roger Dean Stadium for a 1:05 p.m. ET game against the Orioles. Nolasco has pitched five scoreless innings over two spring starts, after spending most of last year battling a right elbow injury. He'll face Orioles lefthander Adam Loewen on Sunday.

Slowly, a healthy Mets roster is coming. Second baseman Jose Valentin, out since last July with a partially torn ACL in his right knee, is penciled into the lineup on Sunday, when the Mets host the Astros at Tradition Field. John Maine is set to start for the Mets in the 1:10 p.m. game, with relievers Billy Wagner and Aaron Heilman to follow. The Astros will counter with right-hander Jack Cassel.

__________________

Kanadesaga

03/09/2008 3:37 PM ET
Unhittable Maine carries Mets
Right-hander hurls four scoreless frames against Astros
By Marty Noble / MLB.com

METS 3, ASTROS 0
at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Sunday, March 9

Astros at the plate: Offense was in short supply on Sunday, as Darin Erstad, Tommy Manzella and Nick Gorneault, who each singled, were the only starting players to record a base hit against Mets pitchers.

Mets at the plate: Jose Reyes led off the first inning with his first home run of the spring. A squeeze by Anderson Hernandez and a sacrifice fly by Damion Easley produced runs in the second and sixth innings. Angel Pagan had his 15th hit of the spring, his second double, while David Wright hit a triple in the first.

Astros on the mound: Right-hander Jack Cassel allowed two runs, one earned, and four hits in his three innings. The earned run was the home run by Reyes. A squeeze by the Mets' Hernandez produced the second run in the second. Runelvys Hernandez, the 29-year-old former Royals pitcher who was invited to Astros camp, allowed a run in 2 2/3 innings.

Mets on the mound: John Maine pitched four hitless innings, walking one batter and striking out three before Billy Wagner replaced him. His fastball steady at 94 mph, Wagner allowed a hard-hit single off the glove of third baseman Wright on a changeup to Gorneault. Aaron Heilman allowed a hit in the sixth.

Grapefruit League records: Mets 8-4, Astros 6-5.

Up next: Tradition Field may list to the left a tad on Monday, when the Red Sox make their lone visit of the spring to "Port St. Lefty" or "Portside Lucie." Johan Santana, decidedly left-handed, is to make this third exhibition game start for the Mets opposite Jon Lester, who is equally left-handed, at 1:10 p.m. ET. The scheduled relievers include the Mets' Pedro Feliciano and the Sox's Hideki Okajima and Javier Lopez, all left-handers.

The Astros play at home in Kissimmee, Fla., on Monday afternoon at 1:05 ET, with a matchup of terrific pitchers -- Roy Oswalt against Roy Halladay and the Blue Jays.

__________________

Kanadesaga

03/09/2008 6:21 PM ET
Mets may be whole once again
Beltran, Delgado expected to be in lineup for Monday's game
By Marty Noble / MLB.com


PORT ST. LUCIE, Fla. -- The lineup the Red Sox will oppose on Monday afternoon, when they play the Mets, may have a wholly unfamiliar look. In the parlance of Los Mets -- the marketing identification that the Mets unofficially have adopted -- it may look suspiciously like the whole enchilada. Nothing like it has been seen in these parts in almost a year.

Imagine: players with recognizable names a mere week after Camp Triage produced lineups with names no more familiar than those of the Kenyan luge-team taxi squad. Yes, it's true. At the time the Mets' clubhouse was clearing out on Sunday afternoon, a distinct possibility existed that a semblance of the Mets' starting eight could play on Monday, albeit with a few modifications.

Carlos Beltran may be the designated hitter, and Carlos Delgado could be back at first base when the Sox come to what has been "Port St. Lamely." And that possibility developed after the Mets had engaged the Astros with a starting lineup that included David Wright, Jose Reyes, Brian Schneider, Ryan Church, Endy Chavez, Jose Valentin, Damion Easley, Brady Clark and Olmedo Saenz -- all players with extensive big league resumes.

But it could happen. No less a medical authority than Dr. Willie "Play" Randolph indicated as much. He said conversations with the Carlos Brothers gave him the impression each was ready, willing and able to be among those introduced before 1:10 p.m. ET on Monday. Beltran had told the manager that his surgically repaired knees felt so good that he even could play center field. But Randolph found reason for caution and suggested that DH was a better role for a player who hasn't been in competitive circumstances since September.

And Delgado, who has all of six at-bats this spring, told Randolph his impinged right hip felt considerably better. The manager knows Delgado has no use for DHing, so he suggested his first baseman might very well be the first baseman on Monday, even though such alignment would deny Valentin, who made his spring debut on Sunday, a chance to play first for a second straight day.

Even with Moises Alou days away from riding an exercise bicycle and Luis Castillo still walking with an octogenarian gait, the Mets may not have been so whole since the Welcome Home Dinner last April. But as Randolph suggested, there is a method to this mass migration toward active status.

"These guys know the schedule," the manager said cynically. "They know we play in Fort Myers [,Fla., three hours away on] Tuesday."
And they know that if they play on Monday, playing again Tuesday is not likely so no six hours in a bus. For the good of the team, they could stay behind and help Pedro Martinez in his simulated game. Such selflessness.

Motivation is where you find it.

__________________

Kanadesaga

03/10/2008 4:09 PM ET
Santana overpowers Red Sox
Mets ace scatters two hits and records four strikeouts
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com

METS 1, RED SOX 1
at Port St. Lucie, Fla.
Monday, March 10

Red Sox at the plate: Continuing to fight for the starting job in center field, Jacoby Ellsbury was the only Sox regular who could even touch Mets starter Johan Santana. Ellsbury led off the game with a single and later added another, though neither of his two hits turned into runs. Brandon Moss hit a sacrifice fly in the ninth inning to tie the game at 1.

Mets at the plate: After seven innings of futility against Red Sox pitching, the Mets finally broke through when infielder Argenis Reyes hit a ground ball just softly enough to score Angel Pagan from third base. Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado, each returning from injury, finished a combined 0-for-5.

Red Sox on the mound: Starter Jon Lester was every bit as impressive as his more-heralded Mets counterpart, striking out five batters over four scoreless innings. Only two hits and a walk blemished Lester's otherwise perfect afternoon. Reliever Hideki Okajima followed with two scoreless innings of his own.

Mets on the mound: Santana's third Grapefruit League start was his most impressive to date. Against a Sox lineup filled mostly by reserves, Santana allowed only two hits, and -- for the first time this spring -- no runs. He struck out four and didn't walk a batter. Reliever Matt Wise added two shutout innings of relief, and Pedro Feliciano tacked on another.

Grapefruit League records: Red Sox 3-8-1; Mets 8-4-1

Up next: The trek across the state -- and Pedro Martinez's aversion to Spring Training road trips -- leaves the Mets without their normal starting pitcher for Tuesday's game against the Sox. Martinez, who has yet to start a Grapefruit League game, will instead remain home to throw a second straight simulated game, while reliever Nelson Figueroa will start the 1:05 p.m. ET matinee.

__________________

VKMHVM2

What? Alou getting injured? That's not a surprise!

__________________
It's All Here!

Dr. Albert Pastore: An Independent Investigation of 9-11 and the War on Terrorism

"Missing Links" - the 911 film THEY do NOT want you to see!

Kanadesaga

03/11/2008 3:39 PM ET
Pagan notches two-run triple in loss
Playing mostly reserves, Mets manage just seven hits vs. Sox
By Ian Browne / MLB.com


RED SOX 4, METS 3
at Fort Myers, Fla.
Tuesday, March 11

Red Sox at the plate: Manny Ramirez went 2-for-3 with a double, a run and an RBI. Mike Lowell belted a solo homer. Joe Thurston added a double and scored a run. Second baseman Dustin Pedroia took the day off due to the flu.

Mets at the plate: Argenis Reyes singled and scored a run from the leadoff spot. Angel Pagan belted a two-out triple in the third.
Red Sox on the mound: Veteran knuckleballer Tim Wakefield scattered five hits and two runs over four innings, walking three and striking out none. Jonathan Papelbon appeared to be in midseason form out of the bullpen, firing two perfect innings and striking out two.

Mets on the mound: Nelson Figueroa had some ups and downs in his start, giving up five hits and four runs over three innings. He walked two and struck out one. Steven Register was strong in relief, allowing two hits and no runs over two innings.

Grapefruit League records: Red Sox 4-8-1; Mets 8-5-1

Up next: The Mets return to Port St. Lucie, Fla., for a 1:10 p.m. ET home game against the Orioles on Wednesday. Left-hander Oliver Perez draws the start. Closer Billy Wagner will follow Perez. Right-hander Aaron Heilman will also see action.

__________________

VKMHVM2

David Patterson, the new governor of the great state of New York, is a huge Mets fan.

WFAN - The Fan - 2-2 Tony Paige with NY State Lt. Gov. David Patterson

__________________
It's All Here!

Dr. Albert Pastore: An Independent Investigation of 9-11 and the War on Terrorism

"Missing Links" - the 911 film THEY do NOT want you to see!

Kanadesaga

Smartest thing spitzer did was ask him to be Lt. Governor. Perhaps he shall be a harbinger of things to come.

__________________