Notes: Santana day, Schneider almost out, Alou MRI today

After last night's rain out, Johan Santana is slated to pitch today, facing off against Ian Snell.

Tonight should be a good game, and it looks like the weather will cooperate tonight.

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Brian Schneider should be released from the hospital today, and should be back with the Mets within a day or two and will head right back into the lineup.

Thank goodness. The pitchers (sans: Nelson Figueroa) seem to miss Schneider behind the dish. You can see how much of a better game he calls.

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Moises Alou will receive his MRI today, after getting rained out of New York, as noted yesterday.

Fingers crossed, but definitely expecting the worst. It is Alou.

What's wrong with the outfield?

I have another rant today...

I continue to hear more and more about the Mets wanting to trade for Xavier Nady to sure up the Mets outfield.

Um...why?

What is wrong with the outfield? Has Angel Pagan already fallen so far out of favor with Mets fans since he won the game over the Phillies in the 12th inning? Has the Angel Wave already run it's course in New York?

With Ryan Church surprising Mets fans everywhere, though I must toot my own horn here and say I've been supporting him from the start, and Carlos Beltran has been his usual self so far. With Pagan and Endy Chavez splitting time waiting for Moises Alou to come back, which as you all must know might be a while, have done a decent job so far.

They haven't visibly lost the Mets any games, so theres no need to get on them for that, and Pagan has already had a game winning hit, over the Phillies no less, so what's the need to deplete the already thin minor leagues or trade away a bullpen arm for Nady?

First base, that's why.

Before Sunday's game, I wouldn't have been surprised if Carlos Delgado wasn't run out of town within a few days. Curtain call or no curtain call, he seems to have bought himself a few games. I'd much rather see an internal guy come up from the minors or have a hungry player in the AAA take a few reps at first to see if they can work there, if need be.

Right now, I want the Mets to stick with Delgado. Talk to me in 30 games, and if he's still struggling, I'll probably be singing a different tune.

To: Media and Mets fans everywhere Subject: Stop whining

Dear all media outlets and Mets bloggers, commenters, and fans,

Please, for the love of everything holy, please stop making a story out of this Carlos Delgado curtain call snub. This is the most inane story about a complete non-story. Why does it matter if he took a curtain call or not? He didn't feel it was right, and that's that.

He claims he only took two in his career, though Adam Rubin found out he's done more, but why in the world do we care? He hit two home runs, something he's done plenty of times before. The amount of crap I've read on this topic is insane.

Two days later, I can't believe more and more stories are coming out about Delgado's curtain call. OK, there was no game yesterday, so you need something to write about, but this?! I'm at the point where I just skip by anything with the words "Delgado," "Curtain," and "Snub."

Just stop. It's stupid. Delgado can do whatever he wants, and if he didn't feel it was the right time for a curtain call, then that's the end of the story right there.

Sincerely,
Andrew Vazzano

The BobCatch

Here is some video of an amazing catch by Brian Monack, a sophomore at Quinnipiac University (my school) in Hamden, Conn. Seth Rothman on the call.

That's the kind of play every kid dreams of making when they play tee ball at young age. Up and over the wall, bringing back a home run. How cool is that?

Update (4/28): This play was the #1 Top Play on SportsCenter for April, 28. This is QU's second top play this year. Here is the first, DaShot, when Demario Anderson hit a half-court buzzer beater to beat CCSU.

Rain postpones more than the game

Not only was Monday night's game between the Mets and Pirates, but Moises Alou's MRI was also postponed.

Alou couldn't get into NYC on time, so the MRI on his right ankle will be performed tomorrow.

Tonight's game rained out

Tonight's Mets game against the Pittsburgh Pirates has been rained out.

The game has been rescheduled for 1 p.m on Monday, August 11.

Aug. 11 was originally a travel day, as the Mets would be ending a series with the Marlins at home on Sunday and heading to Washington to start a three game series against the Nationals on Tuesday.

Instead, the Bucs will make a Pitt. stop (get it?) for one game on Monday, moving the travel time to after that game. The Mets and Pirates will meet again three days later as the Mets head to PNC Park for a series starting that Friday.

Weather update: It's pouring

If the teams get this game in, somehow, don't be surprised if there is a very lengthy delay. It is absolutely pouring here in Connecticut, and it looks like the worst is yet to come.

I'm calling for a day/night doubleheader tomorrow!

Marty Noble lays down the law

Just read the first question and answer from Marty Noble's latest mailbag:

With Carlos Delgado struggling, Ryan Church and Angel Pagan playing well and giving the outfield some speed, Endy Chavez on the bench and Moises Alou due back, why not give Alou a shot at first base?
-- John D., St. Albans, N.Y.

Your e-mail arrived before the developments of Sunday -- Delgado hit two home runs and we got word from the Mets that Alou might have a broken bone in his left foot. But if all matters had remained as they were -- Delgado not hitting and Alou moving closer to a return -- the notion of Alou playing first base, now or ever, is unsound.

You want to take a veteran who has played every one of his 15,900 big league innings in the outfield, a veteran who is prone to injury, and put him at a position that is completely foreign to him? Wow! Maybe you didn't see Mike Piazza try first base. Maybe you don't recall -- or you never knew -- that Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays and Henry Aaron hardly prospered when they were moved to first. It is a difficult position to play and, for a veteran 41 years old, a position even more difficult to learn. The footwork alone could put Alou at risk.

The Mets haven't given that a thought. And they shouldn't.

This question is then posed with varying players, such as Ryan Church, a few more times throughout the article, and Nobles stands pat on his views. Very funny. A few deal with first, others want Aaron Heilman to sit in the bullpen for eternity, and again Noble tells them what's up. Funny stuff.

Santana could win the Cy Young (duh)

John Donovan, at SI.com, looks at the early contenders for the NL Cy Young. Obviously, Johan Santana ranks in high on the list.

From Donovan:

3.) Santana. He might well end up with this hardware. Santana (3-2, 3.12) has gone at least 6 2/3 innings in every one of his starts, with four quality starts in five outings. Santana is second in the league in walks per nine (1.30), first in strikeout-to-walk ratio (6.40) and third in runners per inning (0.92).

As long as the Mets win a ring, I don't care who wins what.

Weather at Shea tonight

Tonight's weather outlook does not look good. Tonight is supposed to be Jets Night at Shea, but with the rain coming down all day and night, I doubt tonight is going to happen.

Hope you don't have tickets for tonight, and if you do, bring your umbrella!