On the Mets beat

Here is today's scoring summary from the Cardinals-Mets. Click here to view.

Here is the boxscore.

Johan Santana's mid-game news conference.

How did you feel out there?

It was fine. I feel good. I was trying to throw my fastball, locate all my pitches. But those guys out there, they were aggressive, swinging right away, and then they put the ball in play. I felt good. I threw a couple of changeups. I felt they were good. A couple fastballs stayed up in the strike zone but they were coming along pretty good.

Did you have a lot of adrenaline?

I felt good, like I said. It was that kind of game where you want to get out there and also get it out of the way, so you can get everything going. That was about it. I prepared for the two innings that I threw like I prepare for a regular season game. But at the same time, I know there ‘s still along way to go and I have to take everything easy and not go crazy out there.

You threw a lot of strikes out there. Was that good for the first time?

Yeah, we threw a lot of first pitches for strikes. But those guys were swinging. They were aggressive. In the first inning we threw a lot of fastballs. We tried to command the fastball, locate the fastball. I threw some good pitches inside, so that’s what you’re looking for, you want to see where your pitches are and your release point. At the same time we figured out those guys were swinging right away so in the next inning we tried to throw changeups and sliders and fastballs, so we mixed everything. To be the first game in spring training and mix all my pitches, I feel good.

What’s the pitch that takes the longest to get a feel for?

It’s all about getting the feeling for all of your pitches. Not just one pitch. You have to get the feeling for everything. But the release point, the difficult thing with the changeup is you want to make it look like a fastball, and then you really work on your release point. That’s what I try to do. We still have another month to go. This is the first time and then we’re going to build everything up and then stay aggressive out there. That’s the way that I am. I don’t focus on just one pitch. I focus on all my pitches and my mechanics, because that’s the way I do my job.

Does Juan Gonzalez always give trouble?

He’s always been a great hitter, through my whole career, when I see him. But today, he was very aggressive. They were swinging right away. We tried to locate my fastball, try to throw fastballs in and out of the plate, but they were swinging right away and then he put a good swing and hit it out. That’s the way it is.

Hard to get your work in with that type of atmosphere?

Yeah, I’ve got to get adjusted to it. It’s part of the game. They’re going to be like that. They get you going and keep you in the game, so you always want to go out there and do good. But I know at the same time, I cannot just let everything go by my emotions. I’m just going to try and take everything easy. I know from the beginning that this is my first game in spring training, so I have to take everything easy today and do my job, and that was it. The fans were great and we’re looking forward to having more experience out there with them, and get together as a team because they’re part of what we do.

Looks like we will see Duaner Sanchez after all. Sanchez just took off his jacket and is starting to play catch in the bullpen.

Aaron Heilman and Billy Wagner followed Johan Santana with one scoreless inning each. But with Nelson Figueroa now warming in the bullpen, I'm starting to wonder if we will see Duaner Sanchez. It's possible the Mets may want to give him another day.

His second inning was much less eventful than the first. Santana allowed a two-out triple to No. 9 hitter Brendan Ryan but got Brian Barton on a weak fly to right to end the inning.

Santana needed only 12 pitches in the second inning (8 strikes) and finished with 32 pitches overall (23 strikes).

I'll say this much. At least Johan Santana is throwing strikes. The only problem was making sure all of the pitches stayed in the ballpark.

Juan Gonazalez hit a first-pitch fastball over the leftfield wall for a three-run homer as the Cards took a 3-0 lead in the first inning.

Santana threw 20 pitches and 15 were strikes. His velocity topped out at 91 mph.

Pedro Martinez cruised through his live BP session this morning, but joked that he didn't have his best stuff, because of the "dry" conditions and the wind at his back. "That's dangerous," Martinez said. He remains on schedule for March 6 against the Nationals at Viera.

As for Orlando Hernandez, he doesn't seem to making any progress. El Duque threw 25 pitches in his bullpen session but still is not comfortable on the mound.

"I don't feel 100 percent yet," Hernandez said. For that reason, the Mets really have no idea when Hernandez will be ready to actually pitch in a game. At the moment, El Duque says he is not concerned about the regular season -- yet.

"I think I'll be ready for the season," Hernandez said.

Union chief Don Fehr, on his annual tour of every camp, spoke with the Mets this morning. Fehr chatted with reporters afterward and had this to say about the state of the game.

"It’s pretty clear that all of the available evidence we have indicates that the incidents of anabolic steroid use has been drastically reduced," Fehr said. "You never eliminate it completely. Nobody ever has. It’s drastically reduced and Senator Mitchell confirmed that in the report. He said the program in fact detects what you can detect. When you come to things that are outside of that you have to rely on other kinds of evidence. I think it’s pretty clean.

"I’m satisfied that the program we have both works and the penalties are severe enough and you can penalize for a violation even if that violation is not demonstrated by a positive test in a fashion we think should make the program effective even in those circumstances. Nobody is running around saying for certain I know 'X' is going on and you’re not doing anything about it. We just don’t have that."

Duaner Sanchez is back on the pitching list for today, so that's a good sign. Here are the others scheduled to go after Johan Santana:

Billy Wagner
Aaron Heilman
Ricardo Rincon
Nelson Figueroa
Eddie Kunz

Upcoming starters for the Mets:

Jonathan Niese vs. Dodgers' Brad Penny on Saturday
Oliver Perez vs. Dodgers' Derek Lowe on Sunday
Mike Pelfrey vs. Braves' TBA on Monday
John Maine vs. Marlins' TBA on Tuesday

Cardinals

Brian Barton (CF)
Chris Duncan (LF)
Albert Pujols (1B)
Troy Glaus (3B)
Juan Gonzalez (DH)
Ryan Ludwick (RF)
Yadier Molina (C)
Aaron Miles (2B)
Brendan Ryan (SS)

Adam Wainwright (RHP)

METS
Jose Reyes (SS)
Brady Clark (RF)
David Wright (3B)
Carlos Delgado (1B)
Moises Alou (LF)
Ryan Church (DH)
Ramon Castro (C)
Angel Pagan (CF)
Anderson Hernandez (2B)

Johan Santana (LHP)

Just talking to my brother up in Boston this morning, and out of curiosity, I asked him how the Red Sox did in their two games against college teams, Boston College and Northeastern.

The Sox crushed BC, 24-0 and hammered Northeastern, 15-0. Both were seven-inning games. The Eagles had only one hit.

Hard to believe the Mets had to scrap for a 4-4 tie against Michigan. And Michel Abreu had to bail them out with a two-run homer with two outs in the ninth inning. A controversial one at that.

That's right. Huge afternoon at Tradition Field. The Mets' $137.5-million man, Johan Santana, takes the mound for a 1 p.m. start against the Cardinals. Too bad it's only for two innings. For all of you SNY viewers, don't be late or remember to set your TiVos.

Something else that's pretty big -- the health status of Duaner Sanchez. The rehabbing reliever was scratched from yesterday's gamebecause of "general soreness" and the Mets expect him to pitch at some point today against the Cardinals. If he doesn't, and still needs a break, it might officially be time to worry.

The Mets were irritated yesterday by Lastings Milledge's latest comments, mostly because they really did try to help him. Sure Milledge had a bumpy ride here, but as far as the clubhouse, David Wright and Billy Wagner said it was no different than what every rookie endures.

Box score. Click on the picture below for the PDF.

Play-by-play. Click on the picture below for the PDF.

John Maine's spring-training debut didn't even last two innings. The Cardinals ripped Maine for four hits and three runs in 1 2/3 innings and he's now been replaced by Scott Schoeneweis. Maine threw 45 pitches, 25 for strikes, and whiffed two.

Schoeneweis just stranded Jason LaRue at third base by getting Adam Kennedy on a bouncer to first to end the second inning.

In response to this ESPN.com story claiming that the Mets could be fined for sending too few "regulars" to Lakeland yesterday, general manager Omar Minaya claimed minutes ago that his starters are too banged up to send more.

Minaya cited the offseason knee surgeries to Carlos Beltran and Luis Castillo, as well as Carlos Delgado's return from a fractured bone in his hand. Minaya also said he spoke to MLB officials this morning and they were OK with the Mets travel roster. The team had only one (presumed) starter on yesterday's travel squad -- Ryan Church -- but Ramon Castro, Ruben Gotay and Marlon Anderson could also be considered regulars. They all played for the Mets last season in some capacity, so that only begs the question: Just what is a regular?

Nobody is able to provide an exact definition, which is why this problem surfaces at least once every spring training. The minimum to send on a trip is normally four.

"We spoke to them and they were perfectly understanding of the situation," Minaya said.

Sorry I left out John Maine. An oversight on my part.

Anyway, here's the Cardinals' lineup for today:

Adam Kennedy (2B)
Rick Ankiel (CF)
Albert Pujols (1B)
Troy Glaus (3B)
Chris Duncan (LF)
Juan Gonzalez (DH)
Skip Schumaker (RF)
Cesar Izturis (SS)
Jason LaRue (C)

Anthony Reyes (RHP)

This one's a little better than the one the Mets sent to Lakeland yesterday.

Jose Reyes (SS)
Fernando Martinez (CF)
David Wright (3B)
Carlos Delgado (1B)
Moises Alou (LF)
Ryan Church (RF)
Ruben Gotay (2B)
Brian Schneider (C)
Marlon Anderson (DH)

Willie Randolph just told us yesterday that Fernando Martinez would get most of his playing time this spring at the corner outfield spots and -- presto! -- there he is in centerfield today. Go figure.

Sounds like Lastings Milledge is fired up to face his former team because, according to SI.com, the veterans "didn't like the way he played the game." Here's the bottom line with Milledge. The Mets, and especially manager WiIlie Randolph, bent over backwards to help MIlledge succeed. If he didn't like being treated like a rookie, if he didn't like showing up on time, if he didn't like having to edit his offensive rap lyrics, that's his problem. Don't blame for the Mets for it.

I thought Milledge made some real progress in his first two seasons, and last year, I was very impressed with how he handled himself. Clearly, he grew up a little bit, and realized it was better to draw attention with his performance on the field rather than off it. Milledge is only 22, just a kid, and he's going to make mistakes. But somebody on the Nationals should get in his face and tell him to stop talking about his former team. It can only end badly for him.

The Mets head down to Roger Dean Stadium today for a 1p.m. matchup with the Cardinals. Sounds like Scott Spiezio won't be in the lineup. If you're looking for reasons to go with Mike Pelfrey as the No. 5 starter this year, click here and here.

Box score. Click on the picture below for the PDF.

Play-by-play. Click on the picture below for the PDF.

As it stands right now, the Mets' rotation is full, but Mike Pelfrey knows plenty can change between the end of February and Opening Day. And if it doesn't happen by then, Pelfrey realizes he'll probably be up sooner rather than later.

"I want to be on this team and I want to help them," Pelfrey said a few minutes ago in the empty visitors clubhouse. "Worse comes to worse, I think I’ll just try to make their decision difficult. I think the chances of the whole staff going the whole year without something happening is slim. If I don’t get out of spring training, then some time during the year I’ll get my opportunity. I look at it as there’s no way I can be mad. They’ve given me opportunities, I just haven’t taken advantage of them and that’s the bottom line."

Asked about the long bus ride that morning, Pelfrey was happy to discover that his cell phone has solitaire because it's tough for a 6-7 pitcher to get any sleep in those tight confines.

The Mets are clinging to a 2-0 lead and Fernando Martinez is now in the game.

Close the book on Mike Pelfrey, who endured a 2 1/2-hour bus ride for roughly 20 minutes of work. Pelfrey pitched two scoreless innings, allowing an infield single to Magglio Ordonez and striking out one.

We'll see what Pelfrey has to say for himself when we head to the clubhouse in a few minutes. He won the No. 5 job last year in spring training, but he's blocked by Orlando Hernandez for the time being.

Break up the B-team. Michel Abreu smacked a one-out single and Anderson Machado followed with a triple to rightfield that had Abreu looking for an oxygen tank after crossing the plate.

Speaking of Abreu, we were just discussing him as a possible backup plan at first base because the Mets really don't have one if something happens to Carlos Delgado. Could be an issue.

An easy first inning for Mike Pelfrey. Throws Granderson a two-seam fastball on the fists to get a grounder to short, strikes out Polanco with a slider in the dirt and Perez flies out weakly to rightfield.

SNY's own Gary Cohen, watching from the TV booth here, brings up a good point. If Atlanta's Turner Field is the Ted and Jacobs Field is the Jake, then should Joker Marchant Stadium be called the Joke? Just asking.

Ramon Castro came up big with a bases-loaded sacrifice fly, but Marlon Anderson prevented the Mets from doing more damage when he got caught in a rundown between second and third to end the inning.

Strange sight seeing Sandy Alomar and Tom Nieto in batting helmets, but that's the new rule for base coaches this year. Safety first.

METS

Angel Pagan (CF)
Brady Clark (LF)
Marlon Anderson (DH)
Ryan Church (RF)
Ramon Castro (C)
Ruben Gotay (2B)
Michel Abreu (1B)
Anderson Machado (3B)
Anderson Hernandez (SS)

Mike Pelfrey (RHP)

TIGERS
Curtis Granderson (CF)
Placido Polanco (2B)
Timo Perez (DH)
Magglio Ordonez (RF)
Miguel Cabrera (3B)
Carlos Guillen (1B)
Edgar Renteria (SS)
Ivan Rodriguez (C)
Jacque Jones (LF)

Jeremy Bonderman (RHP)

I know this probably won't elicit much sympathy from up north, but it is quite cold here in Lakeland, about 55 degrees and dropping. Feels more like October -- in Detroit.

I'll keep you updated with what's happening closer to gametime.

*****UPDATE*****

The Mets just told the grounds crew they're not going to hit outside because it's too cold. No joke. I've never seen that happen in spring training before. It's not snowing, but with a 35-degree difference in temperature from yesterday, the Mets are probably worried about someone pulling a muscle during BP.

The travel list is already up for tomorrow's game against the Cardinals and it would be easier to tell you who isn't on it. Put it this way: With Roger Dean Stadium a mere 35 minutes down I-95, it's a haven for the vets. And because its the Cards opener, the game is a sellout. John Maine gets the start.

On the move early this morning. One of the strange things about spring training, at least in Florida, is the ridiculous amount of driving. Because the Mets have a 1p.m. game at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, many players will be in the clubhouse here at 7 a.m. and the team bus will leave Tradition Field at 7:45. Complicating matters is the troubling forecast for this afternoon. Not only will it be unseasonably cold -- temperatures are plunging into the 50s later today -- there is rain expected, so I'm not sure how that will affect the Mets' trip.

If there is a game, Mike Pelfrey will start, with Matt Wise, Pedro Feliciano, Jorge Sosa, Brian Stokes and Willie Collazo in the bullpen. Jeremy Bonderman goes for the Tigers.

After pouring some coffee, read up on a rejuvenated Pedro Martinez -- extension on the way? -- and some of the more amusing highlights from yesterday's tie with the University of Michigan.

Below is the box score. Click the picture to pull up the PDF.

Below is the play-by-play. Click the picture to pull up the PDF.

One out away from what would have been an embarrassing loss to Michigan, Michel Abreu blasted a two-run homer off the hitters eye in CF. There was some confusion on the part of the umpires and Abreu stopped at second. But after third-base coach Sandy Alomar stormed onto the field and began arguing, manager Willie Randolph came out as well, only he was laughing, partly because Alomar was going so crazy. A few moments later, Abreu's shot was ruled a home run.

With the Mets out of pitchers, the game ended in a 4-4 tie.

Sorry had to cut short the game coverage again. Once a chunk of the starting lineup was pulled, I had to bolt for the clubhouse. Carlos Delgado was replaced by pinch runner Michel Abreu in the bottom of the third and the rest of the changes came at the start of the fourth. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Moises Alou were all taken out of the game, but Billy Wagner took over on the mound.

Wagner was pleased with his changeup and curve ball, but very, very annoyed at one Michigan hitter who tried to bunt on him. Wagner shook his head repeatedly as he waited for the ball back and the Wolverines wisely chose not to do it again.

"Play to win against Villanova," Wagner snapped. "I'm out here trying to protect my guys."

Regardless of the final score, the big loser today was Notre Dame alum Aaron Heilman, who has to sing "Hail to the Victors" because he gave up a run.

The Wolverines are hanging tough. David Wright crushed a two-run homer in the first inning to drive in Jose Reyes, who doubled off Michigan lefthander Eric Katzman. Not so good from a Mets perspective is seeing Carlos Delgado and Ryan Church whiff on 3-2 fastballs. Just keep in mind that it's still early in spring training.

Katzman drilled Brian Schneider in the back as the Mets loaded the bases in the second inning, but Reyes popped out in front of the Michigan dugout and Brady Clark flied to right.

In a nice show of hospitality, or maybe it was on orders from Michigan alum Fred Wilpon, the loudspeakers here at Tradition Field blared "Hail to the Victors" before the Wolverines batted to start the game.

The Mets have been tight-lipped on Pedro Martinez's throwing schedule this spring (maybe he just hasn't told them?). But Martinez, who took a personal day on Monday, returned to the clubhouse this morning and announced he would make his first start March 6 against the Nationals. That seems like an odd choice for two reasons. One, it's in Viera, which is about an hour away. And two, it's one of only four night games for the Mets, with a 7 p.m. start. This sounds like it may be subject to change.

Martinez did return to camp in style. For the first time this spring, his black Aston Martin was parked in his spot. It's not hard to figure out who it belongs to. It has the No. 45 in the center of each of the rims.

It may be the Grapefruit League opener, but tomorrow's travel roster for the 2 1/2-hour bus trip to Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland is predictably weak. By my count, there's only five players on the list that will actually be on the Opening Day roster: Ryan Church, Ramon Castro, Pedro Feliciano and Jorge Sosa. Mike Pelfrey will start against the Tigers, but at the moment, he's likely to begin the season at Triple-A New Orleans if Orlando Hernandez is somehow healthy. Of course, that's a big if.

As a few of you have pointed out, it seems that Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia already is referred to as "The Bank," so it might be time for a Plan B. Unless, of course, you don't give a damn what Phillies' fans think or say, then who cares?

Maybe a suitable Plan B is The Citi, but that could get confusing. Many people refer to Manhattan as the city, and with the ballpark in the borough of Queens, it just doesn't seem like a fit to me. But I'm not taking sides. I'm only trying to moderate. We'll just have to see what sticks.

The Mets posted their lineup early for today's 12 pm game against Michigan. Here it is:

Jose Reyes ----- SS
Brady Clark ----- CF
David Wright ---- 3B
Carlos Delgado --- 1B
Moises Alou ----- LF
Ryan Church ----- RF
Ruben Gotay ----- 2B
Brian Schneider ---- C
Marlon Anderson --- DH

Pitchers:
Vargas, Heilman, Wagner, Field, Rincon, Figueroa, Cullen, Kunz.

A quick unofficial tally of nicknames for the upcoming Citi Field revealed that "The Bank" seems to be gaining momentum. I guess that has potential. Given that the Mets' payroll is close to $140 million this season, and they will be minting money at the new stadium, I can see how that fits on a number of different levels.

One respondent -- gravediggerhebner -- even went as far as to say that Howie Rose could change his signature call from "Put it in the books" to "Take it to the bank." Not bad, but I doubt Rose would go for it.

This morning, time to get excited about the progress of Duaner Sanchez (at least until we see how he's feeling today). Also, check out the details from yesterday's intrasquad at the Port St. Lucie version of Citi Field.