Piazza to the Bronx?

Mark Healy, over at Gotham Baseball Magazine, has heard rumors of Mike Piazza to the Reds or the (oh no) Yankees.

From Healy:

Up until the last few days, Yankees' GM Brian Cashman has often resisted the temptation of putting Mike Piazza in pinstripes. But with his current catching situation (and don't forget prospect Francisco Cervelli is still out with a broken wrist) and the very aggressive Reds trying to sign Piazza to a contract, Cashman and his advisors -- we're told by a team insider -- are meeting to discuss whether a Piazza move is the right way "to address the current situation."

I think I would cry.

Pedro pushed back

I took a nap for two hours (I was up finishing a paper) and every single blog on the Mets picked up this story. Guess I have to chime in too.

From Bart Hubbuch:

The pitching help that the strugglin g Mets could use most - three-time Cy Young winner Pedro Martinez - won't be arriving anytime soon.

GM Omar Minaya told The Post the Mets now expect a strained left hamstring to sideline Martinez until at least the middle of May - and possibly into June.

Well jeez people, are you really surprised by this?

I actually prefer this. Keep him on the shelf until he's really needed. So far, so good with the fill ins, so if they can keep this up and we can stay in the race by the time Pedro is ready to go, he'll be fresh and healthy. Sounds like a plan to me.

Jackie Robinson Day

Today is Jackie Robinson Day around the majors. Every member of the Mets and the Nationals will wear #42 tonight, in honor of Robinson and everything he did for the game of baseball and civil rights.

I'll (hopefully) be in attendance tonight, so I'll try to snap some pics as I'm sure this will be a wonderful evening.

The greatest commercial ever

Your beard is weird! Your 'stache is trash!

When they say off day, they mean it

Boy, there is no news today.

No update on Duaner Sanchez. Not a peep on Moises Alou. Zippo on Pedro Martinez. Nada on Jose Reyes.

The Mets are very tight lipped today, so we'll move across town to the news that's been all over the place the last few days.

The big news right now is the ridiculous press circus around the new Yankee Stadium and that David Ortiz jersey that was "buried." I pointed this out in some comments, but I want to know who the poor guy was that had to scour New York City for an Ortiz jersey to toss into a pile of concrete. That must have been a miserable job.

Also, my thoughts go out to Joba Chamberlain and his family, who are attending his father, Harlan, who has fallen ill.

And that's your Yankees news of the day.

Poll results: Pelfrey wins again

In my last poll, I asked "Who will start more games for the Mets this year?"

Here are the results:
Mike Pelfrey -- 56% (23 votes)
Pedro Martinez -- 26% (11 votes)
Jorge Sosa -- 9% (4 votes)
Nelson Figueroa -- 4% (2 votes)
Orlando Hernandez -- 2% (1 vote)

I'm surprised that many people expect Pedro to come back and stay healthy enough to pitch for the majority of the season over a few other guys. If I reposted this now, I'm convinced Figueroa would garner tons more votes, without a doubt.

New poll: Which team do you dislike more?

Catch-22: Pagan or Alou

As I reported last night, Moises Alou will play in a rehab game in Port St. Lucie, possibly as early as this weekend.

When Alou is ready to come back to the team, the Mets will be faced with a very tough decision. Angel Pagan, who has been playing in place of Alou, has easily been the Mets best hitter so far in this young season. Pagan has been on base in every game so far this season, going 15-39, for a .385 AVG. Pagan has driven in 10 runs, scoring nine times, and knocking five doubles. Pagan also delivered a game winning hit in the 12th inning against the Phillies a few days ago.

So we've established Pagan is good. Maybe he's just on a hot streak, maybe he's matured as a hitter, only time will tell. But if Alou comes back and Pagan is still hot, who do the Mets play?

Alou is a professional hitter, there is no doubt about that. We saw it last year with his 30-game hitting streak. In the field though, he plays his age (41) and is slow as molasses. The Mets have been getting big hits from Pagan, and would most likely get the same from Alou.

I say stick with Pagan, sort of. Work Alou into games early, play him a few innings giving him a few AB's and pinch hitting him early until he gets his swagger back. Keep Alou fresh down the stretch because they're going to need a strong bat down the stretch. Platooning them, with the favor towards Pagan, would be the best bet, I feel. Pagan could also see time in right field if Ryan Church hits a low spell.

Either way, I think it's a great tough decision to have. Two very good outfielders fighting for a spot. This is something the Mets haven't been faced with in recent years, and they should reap the benefits from this logjam of talent in the outfield.

Beardless watch: 3-2

Uh-oh.

The Mets are now 3-2 since I shaved for them. How long do I stick it out? Do I wait if the record here dips under .500? Oh, so many questions!

Alou to play rehab game

According to The Daily News, Moises Alou will play in a rehab game in Port St. Lucie, possibly as soon as next weekend.

Alou had been hitting off a tee at his home in the Dominican Republic last we heard, so to move up to playing in a game in a week is pretty big news. And when he does eventually come back, the Mets will be faced with a wonderful Catch-22. Alou or Angel Pagan? Now that is a tough choice.

Game Recap: Brewers 9 -- Mets 7

The seven runs and 14 hits picked up by the New York Mets was no indication of how they really played today, failing to get the big hit in the many situations they created. They dropped the game, and the series, to the Milwaukee Brewers by a score of 9-7.

Oliver Perez made the start for the Mets, and simply did not have his best stuff, or his good stuff, or even his OK stuff. Perez allowed six earned runs and eight hits in only 4 1-3 of an inning. Perez walked three and struck out six. Perez allowed a two-run home run to Gabe Kapler in the first after hitting Rickie Weeks to lead off the game, his third hit batsmen of the season. Perez was also handed a four run lead heading into the fourth inning and promptly handed it back to the Brew-crew.

Perez hadn't allowed an extra base hit or a run in 11 2-3 of an inning coming into the game, and by the time the third batter was up, both of those streaks were out the door. Just not a good day from him. Very frustrating.

Jorge Sosa relieved Perez in the fifth with two runners on, and got Joe Dillion and Jason Kendall to fly out to end the threat. Sosa started the sixth inning allowing a home run to Rickie Weeks to lead off. After Kapler walked, moved to second on one wild pitch, then third on another wild pitch, Sosa got two outs before allowing a single to Corey Hart, which plated Kapler. Kapler went 3-4, scoring three runs and driving in another three.

Sosa can be so good one day and so off on the next. I can't get a read on him at all. Move over Pat Burrell and Chipper Jones, Kapler is the newest Mets killer.

Scott Schoeneweis started the seventh, got one out, and left the game. Joe Smith came in, and induced a ground ball for the first out. He got Weeks to ground a ball to David Wright who made the throw to first which Carlos Delgado could not handle, which would have ended the inning. Weeks later came around to score on a Kapler double for an unearned run. Pedro Feliciano started the eighth, striking out Prince Fielder, before being removed in favor of Aaron Heilman. Heilman pitched 1 2-3 of an inning, not allowing a hit and striking out one.

Well, at least these four pitched all right. For the second straight day, errors came back to hurt the Mets. Still, encouraging to see a good outing from Heilman even if they were behind and couldn't give up the lead no matter how hard he tried.

The Mets offense had 14 hits today, but grounded into double plays in the fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings.

The Mets got on the board early, with David Wright hitting a solo home run over the right field wall for his 100th of his career. Wright is currently eighth on the Mets all-time home run list.

Well that was quick. Keep on truckin' David.

In the second inning, Delgado walked to lead off. Ryan Church, was up next and doubled to right field. Damion Easley added an RBI ground out, driving in Delgado, and Brian Schneider singled to center field which scored Church. The Mets continued their scoring barrage early, scoring three in the third inning. Luis Castillo led off the inning with a double to shallow left field, just over the head of Bill Hall. After moving to third on a Wright ground out, Castillo scored when Carlos Beltran singled to center. After an intentional walk to Church and an infield single by Easley, the bases were loaded for Schneider. He singled to center, driving in Church and Beltran.

The Mets weren't and haven't been getting the big hits, but the RBI singles were plentiful. Those can only take you so far.

They were held off the board until the seventh, when they had two on for Easley, who singled to center, scoring Delgado. Schneider then grounded into one of their many double plays. They threatened in the eighth inning against ex-Met Guillermo Mota, who entered to a chorus of boos, as they loaded the bases for Delgado, who popped out to right.

Again, they lacked the big hit which would have scored runs. This has been a habit this season and better not stick around much longer.

Numbers -- Pagan: 2-4, 1 BB...Castillo: 2-4, 1 BB, 1 run...Wright: 1-4, 1 run, 1 RBI...Delgado: 2 BB, 2 runs...Church: 2-3, 2 runs...Easley: 2-5, 2 RBI...Schneider: 3-5, 3 RBI...

Game Ball: Schneider.

Beardless watch: 3-2.