Not a good quote from Maine

John Maine was on the hill against Team Italy today. Let's just say Maine was not pleased with his performance.

Via David Lennon:

"I just don’t feel good out there," Maine said. "I’m trying to do something different mechanically every pitch. It’s not working. I just feel terrible out there."

He walked the first three batters he faced, but only allowed two hits in two innings.

You never ever want to see a pitcher say anything along those lines. With Johan Santana's elbow already a question mark for the Mets, this has to be absolutely disheartening to hear from another pitcher.

Highlights from the 2009 promo schedule

The Mets have posted their promotional schedule for the 2009 season. Here are a few highlights...

• Saturday, April 18 -- Johan Santana Drawstring Bag
• Wednesday, May 6 -- Visor
• Friday - Sunday, June 26-28 -- Cap Trade (all against Yankees)
  
• Saturday, July 11 -- Lunchbox (also, my birthday!)
• Saturday, August 1 -- Build-A-Bear Workshop
• Saturday, August 22 -- Tom Seaver Bobblehead
• Sunday, August 23 -- Citi Field Ballpark Replica
• Sunday, September 6 -- "Frankie Rodriguez Bobblehead"

Seaver bobblehead? I am there. Not sure why it's "Frankie" Rodriguez. Will he be Frankenstein?

The schedule stresses "All giveaways and event dates are subject to change."

'The Anti-Shea'

Great article in the New York Times today by Ken Belson and Richard Sandomir. They were given an in-depth tour of the new stadium by Jeff Wilpon on Wednesday, and they give probably the most thorough explanation of Citi Field I've read so far.

The seats throughout the stadium are angled toward the center of the infield, reducing the need for fans, particularly on the field level, to crane their necks toward home plate.

Sitting in their seats, few fans will see the chop shops in Willets Point, the cars roaring past on the Van Wyck Expressway, the subway yards to the south or the U-Haul sign. They will still get a crystal-clear view of the planes on their final approach to La Guardia Airport. Some things never change.

No U-Haul sign?? I'm bummed.

Honestly, I'm very excited for the new ballpark. I'm not sure if it's the novelty of a new place to explore or trying to shake off the last two years of dissapointment, but I can't wait to see Citi Field with my own eyes.

Heck, why else would I buy tickets to a college baseball game? I doubt that 90 percent of the people attending that game will have any idea what the score is. They'll just be wandering and exploring the new park.

The Manny Saga: See ya next year

Manny Ramirez finally signed a two-year, $45 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The deal is structured so that after one year, Ramirez can opt-out and hit the free agent market again.

That means even though he's signed for two-years, there is no doubt in my mind we'll be going through the same shenanigans again in 2010.

That means we'll have to hear all about if...

• Daniel Murphy performed well enough in left field to justify another year there.
• The Wilpons are willing to spend the money to sign him.
• They even have enough money to sign him.
• The Mets even need him.
• Anyone will still want him.

So even though we've all made it through the Ramirez show of 2009, we just have to buck up and prepare for it all over again in one year.

Game Recap: Nationals 6 -- Mets 4

It's only spring.

On The Mound

Mike Pelfrey started the game for the Mets, and struggled in the first inning. He allowed three runs on four hits in the first, but limited the damage from there. He ended up throwing three innings, striking out two.

Livan Hernandez was next on the mound. He let up two runs in 2 2-3 innings. He was pulled in the sixth inning because five straight Nationals reached base, and he had just walked the sixth to load the bases.

Darren O'Day relieved Hernandez, and ended the threat. O'Day also pitched the seventh inning, allowing only one hit.

Duaner Sanchez finished out the game with a hitless inning.

At The Plate

Only five hits for the Mets today, two of them were home runs though, accounting for all the runs scored.

Fernando Tatis hit a solo home run in the fifth inning off of Collin Balester. Two batters later, both reached base, Ramon Castro hit a three-run home run, also off of Balester.

In The Field

Jose Valentin, making the start at shortstop, and Nick Evans combined for the Mets sole double play.

Next Up

The Mets will take on Team Italy on Thursday at 2:05 p.m. That game will not be televised.

Pelfrey struggles early

Mike Pelfrey was on the mound for the start of today's Mets / Nationals match.

In the first inning, Pelfrey allowed three earned runs to score on four hits. Ryan Zimmerman doubled home Christian Guzman for the first run of the game. Nick Johnson then hit a two-run home run to drive in Zimmerman.

Through two innings, likely all Pelfrey will pitch today, he allowed three runs on four hits while striking out one.

Update - 1:54 p.m.: Pelfrey is still in for the third inning. He allowed one hit and a walk, but struck out two in his third inning of work.

For three innings, Pelfrey struck out three and allowed three runs on five hits.

Starting squad against Nats

Here is today's starting line up as the Mets take on the Washing Nationals.

Angel Pagan -- CF
Daniel Murphy -- LF
Nick Evans -- 1B
Ryan Church -- RF
Fernando Tatis -- 3B
Mike Pelfrey -- RHP
Jose Valentin -- SS
Ramon Castro -- C
Andy Green -- 2B

If you thought the pitcher batting second in the order was weird...Jerry Manuel likes to keep people on their toes.

The game is not available on TV.

46 pitches

Johan Santana and his fateful left elbow threw 46 pitches in a bullpen session early today. Santana maintains that he could still be on track for Opening Day.

Who cares, Johan? If you don't start until mid-April, but you still make 30+ healthy starts all year, that's all I want. Opening Day means nothing, especially against an non-division team like the Reds.

Just sit on the bench for a few games and make your first start at Citi Field's opening day. It'll mean more to you and the team.

Santana not going to make Opening Day start

David Lennon breaks the news that Johan Santana will not be the Opening Day starter for the New York Mets.

Pitching coach Dan Warthen just explained that Santana is not likely to get into a Grapefruit League game until March 18 and that pretty much wipes out any chance of him being ready for Opening Day.

Is this a shrewd move by the Mets to have him start the first game at Citi Field? I doubt it, but it's something to think about.

As long as he's healthy to make 30+ starts in 2009, I don't care when he pitches. Still, not a good sign.

Game Recap: Cardinals 15 -- Mets 4

It seems no one wants that fifth spot of the rotation.

On The Mound

Freddy Garcia made the start for the Mets trying to rebound from a poor outing the first time around. It did not go well. Two innings, three hits and two home runs later, the Cardinals had the lead 4-0. Garcia did strike out three batters and walked one, but the two homers really looked bad. Chris Duncan's three-run shot was crushed.

Following Garcia, Jon Switzer took the mound for one inning. He allowed two earned runs on two hits, paired with a walk and a strikeout.

Dillon Gee fared the worst of the pitchers, but was hurt by a pair of errors. Gee allowed seven runs (two earned) in one inning on five hits.

Rocky Cherry and Victor De Los Santos each pitched one inning of no-hit baseball, with Cherry tallying one strike out.

Carlos Muniz and Kyle Snyder each allowed one run in their inning of work, sandwiched around a hitless inning from Tom Martin.

At The Plate

Robinson Cancel and Marlon Anderson were the only Mets with multiple hits. Cancel had a single, double and one RBI. Anderson doubled twice and picked up a RBI.

Angel Pagan continued his hot spring, going 1-1 with a walk and driving in two runs with his single in the seventh inning.

In The Field

Jose Coronado and Gee each committed one error. Luis Castillo, Coronado and Marlon Anderson also completed one double play.

Next Up

The Mets will take on their NL East rivals Washington Nationals tomorrow, but won't grace your television screens again until Saturday.