Schneider may miss tonights game

Remember every time I said Brian Schneider will be back for Wednesday's night game against the Cleveland Indians?

Well, I might be a liar.

According to David Lennon, the injury might keep Schneider out of the game tonight.

From Lennon:

With Brian Schneider still nursing a strained right hamstring, it sounds like he may be questionable for tonight's game against the Indians, preferring to give it one more day of rest after having to catch Orlando Hernandez in Tuesday's simulated game.

I should just stop talking all together.

Hopefully Schneider can come back and catch a few exhibition games before heading into the regular season with the team, if in fact he is healthy enough to do so.

People to avoid at the ballpark

Peter Abraham, over at The LoHud Yankees Blog (yes, I read Yankees blogs, one of those "keep your friends close, and enemies closer" type of things), put out his "Ten people to avoid at the ballpark," and they're all pretty hilarious.

My personal favorites:

7. People who swear at the players. How badly has your life gone that you feel compelled to come to the park and yell obscene words at somebody playing baseball? Trust me, when the player goes back to his huge house and his insanely hot wife that night, you calling him names doesn’t make him feel bad.

8. People trying to start The Wave. The Wave is a plague on sports. It’s 50,000 people saying, “Look at us, we’re all mindless and we don’t care about the game.” Thankfully Yankee Stadium is largely Waveless.

#7, is unfortunately me, so I apologize to anyone I've sat next to, or near, when viewing a New York Mets game. I cannot agree with #8 more. I despise The Wave in every way, and refuse to participate in it, ever.

I also don't like those two goofs in electric blue suits and sunglasses with the bald heads that wander the stadium. No one likes you, so just stop. Don't get me wrong, I absolutely love Cow Bell Man, but that is because he's cool, those bald guys are just creepy.

Results of the sim-game

Stick a fork in him, he's done.

El Duque and Mike Pelfrey faced off in a simulated game today, and Duque did not look good.

I know there's all the talk about "not caring about velocity," but this is alarming. Duque apparently topped out at only 81 mph, and was consistent in the 70's. His changeup was all the way down in the upper 50's.

Is this slow-pitch softball? He's definitely in the age range. That's really just kind of sad for a major league pitcher to barely break 80. I honestly can't see him coming back, and if he does, I can't see him being that effective unless he continuously fools batters with his incredibly slow pitches where they will swing three times before the ball gets to the plate, as if out of some cartoon.

Pelfrey tossed 90 pitches, while El Duque threw 80. Hernandez was apparently "very happy" with his performance today, even though he got tagged for a few deep balls in his final inning. Brian Schneider caught Duque today, and should return to action tomorrow.

Ramon Castro caught Pelfrey today, and was "impressed by Pelfrey's ability to throw his slider and changeup behind in the count."

I still think this is Pelfrey's spot to lose. Duque just doesn't seem healthy enough, or have enough ability left in the tank to put together a good season.

Beating a dead horse: Aaron Heilman as a starter

I've had it just about up to here with this talk, and I thought most fans were past this point, past this question. I figured people had given up, closed shop and gone home.

Nope.

Fans continue to beat this dead horse into oblivion.

In Marty Noble's latest mailbag, the question is resurrected like a stubborn zombie on All Hallows Eve:
If for some reason Pedro Martinez or Orlando Hernandez could not start the season, would Aaron Heilman be given the chance to join the starting rotation? Or have his chances of ever being a starting pitcher become naught?
-- John E., Topeka, Kan.

Stop.
Why is everyone still absolutely fascinated with the idea that Heilman can magically come out of the pen and start? Years ago, when Heilman was still accustomed to starting, pitching more innings, it would have made relief. But after staying exclusively in the bullpen for the last few years, pitching one or two innings usually, how in the world would he be able to come out and throw 5 or more?

Don't we have enough guys (El Duque, Mike Pelfrey, Jorge Sosa...heck, even Tony Armas Jr.) that could fill this hole better than Heilman could?

Does that one-hitter back in 2005 still tickle your fancy for Heilman to start?

I don't get this. At all. I'm as big of a Heilman fan as the next guy, besides when he gives up home runs all the time, but gee whiz, it's time you stop living in the past. He's been a relief pitcher for 3 years now, his arm and stamina are not tailored to pitch probably more than 3 innings.

So here is my plea: Stop beating the dead horse that is "Heilman should start!" It's over. Done. No mas.

Injury update: Castro

Ramon Castro's MRI came back, and he was diagnosed with a strained right hamstring.

Castro is listed as day-to-day, and is back behind the plate catching Mike Pelfrey in the simulated game today.

If he's back so soon, he has to be feeling all right.

Brian Schneider is slated to be back to face the Cleveland Indians tomorrow, so there is a chance the Mets might have their starter and backup catcher back by opening day.

Pelfrey versus El Duque

Mike Pelfrey and Orlando Hernandez will face off against each other in a simulated game at Tradition Field. This is the only action going on in camp today.

The game is intended to get El Duque more reps before he makes his first start, but because he and Pelfrey are on the same schedule, it looks like the battle for the 5th starter spot.

The game will be complete with fielders, so we might get a bit of a gauge on who is leading this "race."

Game Recap: Mets 7 -- Nationals 3

Oliver Perez looked as good as ever, pitching 5 innings of one run ball, leading the New York Mets to a 7-3 victory over the Washington Nationals.

Perez had a no hitter through 3 2-3 innings, when it was broken up by Ryan Zimmerman with a single into leftfield. Perez gave up one unearned run on two hits. Perez walked none while striking out five. Perez only faced two over the minimum in his five innings of work.

The most impressive stat up there is the walks. If he can keep his pitches under control, he becomes a totally different pitcher. 1-4, I think the Mets have the best starting rotation around.

Joe Smith and Duaner Sanchez each allowed a run on two hits in relief. Sanchez tallied one strikeout. The Mets got hitless and scoreless innings from Ricardo Rincon and Joselo Diaz. Diaz managed to walk three in his inning and not allow the Nationals to score.

Smith can't seem to go a day without giving up a run. Sanchez merely appearing in the game is a plus, he soon needs to start limiting the damage and be able to recover quicker before I pencil him into the bullpen. Rincon bounced back nicely after getting torched in his last appearance.

The Mets were all over the bases today, stealing 5 bases in 4 2-3 of an inning. All the bases were stolen off the battery of Micheal O'Connor and Jesus Flores.

Very fitting O'Connor got the start today.

Jose Reyes went 2-3, with a run scored. He also swiped two bases. Endy Chavez went 1-2 with a walk and a run scored. Chavez swiped one base.

Speed behind speed at the top of the lineup is the best thing, I think. Hopefully when Luis Castillo fills that hole, on his new knees, he'll be able to create scoring opportunities.

David Wright went 2-3 on the day, scoring once and driving in two runs in the 5th inning. Wright also picked up a bag, stealing second. Fernando Martinez and Brady Clark each also picked up two hits. Martinez scored twice, while Clark only scored once. Martinez struck out twice, as well. Clark swiped his third bag of the spring too.

Good stuff from these guys today. Can't ask for much more. Clark's stock is rising rapidly.

Fernando Tatis went 0-5. Ryan Church, playing in his first game since the birth of his son Mason, went 0-4, with two strikeouts, a walk, and a run scored.

I would much rather see another guy getting reps at first, not Tatis. Or Olmedo Saenz, for that matter. Have to give Church a break here, he's probably running on no sleep.

Lineup vs. the Nationals

The Mets travel to Viera to take on the Washington Nationals for a 1:10 p.m. start.

Lineup:

SS Jose Reyes
OF Endy Chavez
3B David Wright
2B Damion Easley
1B Fernando Tatis
DH Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
OF Fernando Martinez
OF Brady Clark

SP Oliver Perez

Easley is hitting cleanup? Tatis at first? What's going on here? Perez should go 5 innings today, which will be interesting to watch.

Injury updates: Delgado, Castro

Carlos Delgado was speared in the arm with a shard off of Brady Clark's bat in the third inning yesterday, received 4 stitches in his arm.

Delgado was scheduled for a off-day today, and is hoping to return on Wednesday against the Indians.

Only the Mets. Now the injuries are less frequent, the becoming more strange and freakish. Get it out of your system now, Metties.

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Ramon Castro will get an MRI on his ailing right hamstring after leaving yesterdays game in the second inning. Castro hit a ball, which would have been an easy double, to left field, but limped out of the box to first base.

Does anyone miss Johnny Estrada yet?

Delgado forced to leave game

Carlos Delgado was speared in the right arm by a shard from Brady Clark's broken bat and was forced to leave the game in the third inning.

By the time Delgado got off the field, his arm was covered in blood from the gash. He needed 4 stitches to close the cut.