
Santana is gearing up for 4 innings against the Boston Red Sox today, the game will be shown on SNY at 1:10 p.m.
New York Mets' Ryan Church waits his tern behind the batting cage before his team's spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Port St. Lucie, Fla. Sunday, March 9, 2008. Church was injured in a collision with teammate Marion Anderson Saturday, March 1, 2008 while chasing a fly ball off the bat of Andrew Jones at Port St. Lucie. Church is scheduled to start against the Astros.I spot 3 errors. Do you see them?
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.If the Mets can get these guys back into gear and ready for the season ASAP, Mets fans everywhere will be much, much happier.
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.
Duaner Sanchez and Orlando Hernandez will have separate long-toss sessions on Monday to see how well they recovered from mound activity Saturday. If El Duque -- who has yet to pitch in an actual game this spring because of foot problems -- holds up well from the long toss, he will throw a simulated game Wednesday.Mike Pelfrey didn't look too hot in his last start, so if El Duque can come on strong with his new delivery, he can solidify his spot as the 5th man in the rotation.
Jose Reyes SS
Endy Chavez CF
David Wright 3B
Ryan Church RF
Olmedo Saenz DH
Angel Pagan LF
Jose Valentin 1B
Ramon Castro C
Anderson Hernandez 2B
John Maine RHP
Valentin is playing in his first game of the spring, well before the "last week of spring" as expected. Is it just me, or is Saenz getting a lot of playing time? Can they actually be looking at this guy to come aboar for the Mets?And thought process is why somebody in the Mets' organization should raise the one option nobody probably wants to consider but they should discuss as they figure out ways to cope with the devastating wave of injuries -- to Moises Alou and Carlos Delgado -- that has crippled their fragile lineup. That alternative is Barry Bonds.It's typical baseball, and more specifically Mets, ideology to try and find a veteran to plug the whole. They almost never turn to a younger player to take over, unless they are at the end of their rope and without any other options.
But asked last night if there is any remote merit to stories suggesting a pursuit of controversial slugger Barry Bonds is possible, a high-ranking Mets official insisted there is no interest in taking on the monumental baggage - which includes charges of perjury and obstruction of justice - stemming from the out-of-work home run king's involvement in baseball's ongoing steroids mess.Mets fans, now is the time for to let out a big sigh of relief.
When asked how close he felt, Sanchez said: “I want to say 100 percent, but I’m not crazy. … I was 97 percent of what you saw in ’06.’’I will take 97% of 2006, any day. If he can wake up tomorrow morning and have his shoulder not be sore, it will be a bigger accomplishment than anything he did in today's game.