Game Recap: Mets 9 -- Braves 4

The Mets made their only trip to Orlando to face the Atlanta Braves, and Oliver Perez came out and pitched very well in his final tuneup, leading the Mets to a 9-4 win.

Perez lasted 6 1-3 of an inning, allowing 7 hits and 3 earned runs. He only walked one while striking out 4 batters. Perez induced 10 fly ball outs and 5 ground ball outs. The third run was given up by Joe Smith.

Perez scared fans a bit when he made a diving toss to first to end an inning, and stayed down on the ground. Trainers were quick to react but luckily he got up and came out for the next inning. The best part about his outing here is the one walk. That's what we need to see more of from Perez.

Smith pitched 1 2-3 innings, walking one and striking out one. As noted above, he allowed one of Perez's runners to score. Ricardo Rincon pitched the final inning, allowing one run on two hits. Rincon also walked one and struck out one batter to end the game.

Smith is still battling for a bullpen spot, and even though he let in one run, he still put up a good performance on the day. Rincon has pitched very well through out spring, but his name hasn't really come into contention for a spot. Too bad.

Endy Chavez, who was batting in the leadoff position, went 2-4, driving in 2 RBI. Marlon Anderson went 2-3, with a double. He scored one run and drove in 3 RBI while playing first base today.

Meet: The Super Subs. These two are absolutely invaluable off the bench, and a lot of people forget about how strong our bench is going to be this year.

Ryan Church, the DH today, went 3-5 with a run and an RBI. Church knocked out 2 doubles today. Raul Casanova, who is going to be the backup for the Mets while Ramon Castro is down and out, had a great day, going 2-4 with 2 runs and 2 RBI. 'Nova picked up a double and knocked a solo home run in the 7th inning.

Great to see from Church, who seems to be finding his swing late in spring. Casanova has been on a tear, and will be a great guy to have come off the bench or come up from AAA when the team needs him.

In the battle for that final bench spot, which seems to be between Fernando Tatis and Brady Clark, Tatis seems to have the advantage. Today, Tatis went 1-5, striking out once and leaving 6 players on base. Clark went 1-4 with a walk and a run scored.

I still favor Clark, just because I think Tatis is going to fizzle out in early April.

Game Ball: Ollie P.

Register clears waivers

Steven Register has cleared waivers, and the Mets are trying to keep him with the organization.

The Mets are currently trying to work out a trade with the Colorado Rockies which would allow them to keep Register on the team.

Register would head to AAA for the Mets, as he has been surpassed by other players for the spots in the bullpen, such as Nelson Figueroa, Joe Smith, and even Brian Stokes.

Hey, Colorado, have any use for Ruben Gotay??

Lineup vs. the Braves

In one of the final games of the spring, the New York Mets head to Orlando to take on the Atlanta Braves for a 1:05 p.m. game. It is available nationwide on ESPN.

Lineup:
CF Endy Chavez
2B Damion Easley
LF Angel Pagan
1B Marlon Anderson
3B Fernando Tatis
DH Ryan Church
C Raul Casanova
RF Brady Clark
SS Anderson Machado
LH Oliver Perez

The Mets are already leading in the top of the first by a score of 3-0. Good stuff. I'm still pulling for Clark over Tatis.

Gotay now ON waivers

Yes, it is official.

Ruben Gotay is now on waivers.

According to David Lennon, Gotay was ready to go to the game against Atlanta in Orlando today, but was told he was on waivers which does not allow a player to participate in any team practices or games.

Gotay was most likely placed on waivers yesterday after appearing in the minor league game against Pedro Martinez. That means that he must wait until tomorrow to see if he is claimed by another team.

From Lennon:

Gotay was supposed to be on today's trip to Orlando, but with his duffel bag in front of him, he sat on his stool with tears in his eyes as he talked on his cell phone.

"I thought I did a good job last year," Gotay said. "I didn't think I deserved this."

That's rough. I really like Gotay, and I can't believe the Mets would rather have a guy like Fernando Tatis instead of taking Gotay and his much higher ceiling.

Tatis has played alright, but he cannot play the outfield like the Mets hope. I commented on Mets Lounge that "Tatis is like a fat, lazy, uncoordinated Lastings Milledge. He takes the worst beads to ball in the OF. It's scary. "

Gotay has a better bat, and though his defense might not be up to par, the rest of the team which would play around him is stellar, and the team could take a slight hit at one position to spell a guy like Luis Castillo, David Wright or Jose Reyes for a day or even a few days.

I know one of the sites most prolific commenter (Doug) will not be pleased. Hopefully Gotay can make it back to the team and start to polish up his glove so he can show the Mets what he can really do.

TBS picks up Darling

Last season, Ron Darling appeared on TBS during the playoffs as a commentator and analyst. This year, TBS will feature Darling on it's new Sunday broadcasts.

USA Today is reporting that Darling, along with Buck Martinez, will appear on TBS' new Sunday format, which will contain a 26-week package of afternoon games. In the new package they are allowed to show one single team as much as 13 times over the course of the season.

If the Mets are ever featured on TBS, those of us in the tri-state area won't be able to watch it, as it will be blacked out, but this is probably good news for any fans outside of the Mets general vicinity.

Darling is an amazing broadcaster, so it comes as no surprise for him to get picked up nationally like this. He's very insightful and knowledgeable, and knows how to keep it upbeat and interesting through the entire game.

Photo of the Day: Castillo

Luis Castillo made a diving grab and threw out Luis Gonzalez from the seat of his pants in today's game against the Marlins.
His knees are looking better, just like Carlos Beltran, and with both of them healthy, I think the Mets can expect big things from them this season.

(AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)

Game Recap: Marlins 7 -- Mets 5

The Mets got another strong start from a substitute young pitcher, but late inning relief gave up quite a few runs, as the Mets dropped today's final spring home game by a score of 7-5.

Bobby Parnell pitched 5 innings of scoreless baseball while taking the place of Pedro Martinez. Parnell gave up 3 hits, walked 1, and struck out 5 while on the mound.

Good stuff from him. The last two starts, with Jon Niese and Parnell, is a nice glimpse to the future for the Mets staff.

Joe Smith and Nelson Figueroa, both competing for spots on the 25-man roster, suffered major setbacks, each allowing 3 runs in their respective innings. Figueroa gave up a 3-run home run to Jorge Cantu and Smith gave up a 2-run blast to Mike Jacobs.

Ouch. Just when we all thought they could be locks for the team with their good performances, they come out and give up 6 runs between them.

Duaner Sanchez pitched for the first time in days, allowing one run on 2 hits. Aaron Heilman finished out the game, pitching a hitless inning and giving up 1 walk.

I'm not expecting Sanchez to break with the team from camp, not with performances like this. He just needs to take his time and get healthy.

Jose Reyes went 1-3 on the day, walking once. Reyes knocked a double, driving in one run. Luis Castillo walked 3 times in the game. David Wright drove in 2 runs, with an RBI double in the third inning.

Does Wright belong in the 3-hole or is he better suited batting 4th or 5th?

Carlos Delgado picked up 2 RBI, going 2-5 on the day. Delgado also struck out twice.

He's been working the opposite field a lot, and it's going to pay dividends during the season.

Game Ball: Parnell. See you in Citi Field in a few years.

Gotay still not on waivers

If a player is placed on waivers, like Steven Register, that player is not allowed to participate in any team practices or games.

Ruben Gotay hit against Pedro Martinez in today's minor league game, which would mean as of then, he had still not been placed on waivers.

Since the game, Gotay could have been placed on waivers, as reported on SNY, but no one is sure.

Gotay is in limbo.

Omar in the booth

From what I can hear of Omar Minaya in the SNY booth, I believe he just said that Mike Pelfrey will start the season in the minors.

I don't think they will take El Duque if he is under 100 percent, so Nelson Figueroa, who Minaya said has had a great spring so far, and they're looking at him, is the top guy for the 5th spot as of now.

I think.

Lineup vs. the Marlins

The Mets will welcome the Florida Marlins to Tradition Field for the final home game of spring training, a 1:10 p.m. start.

Lineup:
SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
DH Marlon Anderson
LF Angel Pagan
C Gustavo Molina
RF Endy Chavez
RH Robert Parnell

The Mets are playing it smart, as Ramon Castro is probably heading to the DL, so they're keeping his backup, Raul Casanova out of the game and hopefully healthy.

Pedro Martinez pitched in a minor league game, instead of making his start for the Mets, with Brian Schneider catching him earlier today.