Getting Ready For Opening Day

So with the start of the MLB season just two days away and the Mets opening day just a week away, the rosters are shaping up for all teams. Starters are getting their final work in and hitters are trying to get into rhythm (which seems to be happening for some of our lineup). The Mets rotation may have taken its final shape today in their game against the Cardinals. The Mets got handed a huge loss by the score of 14-4. The game featured a battle for the 5th spot in the rotation for the Mets but the one guy competing for the spot might have won it without throwing a pitch. El Duque made his second spring start going just 3 innings and giving up 5 runs and fell behind almost every batter. The young Mike Pelfrey came in as relief and didn't fair any better. He went 4.1 innings and gave up 8 runs on 13 hits. Nelson Figueroa's could have become the front runner after this game for the Mets.

In other news for the Mets, a once talked about option for left field became available. Toronto's Reed Johnson was released today by the team with Shannon Stewart becoming their everyday left fielder. The big question is that the right handed bat of the bench the team was looking for to fill in for Alou. Only time will tell i guess...........

Complete game results the Cardinals game

Bullpen Getting Interesting

So, I was not to bright and bought tickets to go see the Mets play the Astors on Sunday for their split squad game in Kissimmee. Don't get me wrong I love my Mets, but they really didn't bring much of any star power. I wasn't expecting anyone spectacular but I was hoping to see a Endy, Marlon Anderson or even a Castro. The Mets sent Angel Pagan, F-Mart, Jorge Sosa, and Nelson Figueroa. I was upset to know that Pedro was making his spring debut a little over a hour down south, but this spring I have come to enjoy watching Nelson Figueroa pitch. The guy is a great person for baseball. He is great to the fans and always has a smile on his face, well execpt when he gave a blast to Lance Berkman.

His finishing line for the game was 4innings pitched, giving up 1 hit on the solo home run and striking out 2, while walking 3. His control was a little off but he was keeping hitters off balanced all game with different timing on his delivery. He got some of the Astors All-Stars to look a little silly on some of their swings. I would love to see him being the Mets long reliever this season and he has had the type of spring to challenge for it. His main competition for the role if El Duque isn't thrown into the pen will be Jorge Sosa.

Sosa did pitch after Figueroa in the Astors game and he did look better than Nelson. He was dominate against every hitter, getting ahead on almost every batter and striking out 4 batter in 3 innings, he also struck out the side in the 6th inning. With the way Nelson is performing I wouldn't mind seeing the Mets trading Sosa while he is pitching well to get a good backup OF/1B. We will see what the Mets decide to do but I am definitely becoming a nice little battle out in the pen

Complete Box Score from the Astros Game.

World Series Match Up In Spring???

World Series Champions Boston Red Sox traveled to Port St.Lucie today to take on the New York Mets. The Mets got back their big bats from injury to go against the defending champs. Carlos Beltran and Carlos Delgado both made their return to the Mets lineup today. New York also sent out their prize off season acquisition Johan Santana for his third start this spring.

• Santana went 4 scoreless innings, he struck out 4 of the 15 hitters he faced and walked none. This was his first outing this spring without giving up an earned run.
• Both Carlos's went hit less in 5 combined at-bats, Delgado had 2 strike outs and Beltran played DH in his first spring outing.
• Angel Pagan had another hit to add to his spring totals, he also scored the lone Met run in the 8th inning.
• The game ended in a tie, 1-1 in 10 innings

Pedro was scheduled to pitch tomorrow, but with the Mets taking a long road trip to take on the Red Sox's again he will stay back in camp and pitch another simulated game. Mets will send out Nelson Figueroa to start against the Sox.