Batting Practice Photos from 3/4

Here are some pictures from Friday's batting practice.

Chip Hale hitting ground balls to the infield.

Wally Backman throwing batting practice.

Terry Collins patrolling the infield.

Today's Marlins vs. Mets Lineup

Mets Lineup:

1. Castillo DH
2. Pagan CF
3. Bay LF
4. Evans 3B
5. Hairston RF
6. Duda 1B
7. Ryan C
8. Turner 2B
9. Hu SS
10. Young P

Marlins Lineup:

1. Coghlan CF
2. Infante 2B
3. Ramirez SS
4. Sanchez 1B
5. Morrison LF
6. Buck C
7. Baker DH 
8. Dominguez 3B
9. Petersen RF
10. Vazquez P

More Pictures From 3/3

Ike Davis at the plate.

Davis talking things over with Hale.

Reyes sliding into second. He was tagged out.

Pictures From Mets vs. Cardinals 3/3

Willie Harris warming up before the game.

Oliver Perez warming up in the bullpen, and Dan Warthen wondering how much longer he's going to have to watch.

1, 2, 3....1, 2, 3

Jose Reyes chatting with third base coach Chip Hale.

K-Rod warming up.

Game Recap of My First Spring Training Game

The Mets beat the Cardinals this afternoon in Port St. Lucie by a score of 3-0.

Full Box Score

• Oliver Perez kept from getting cut by throwing two scoreless innings, and giving up just two hits.
• Ike Davis went 2-2 with a double and an RBI.
• Francisco Rodriguez made his Spring Training debut, pitching one scoreless inning, allowing one hit, while striking out one.

This was my first Spring Training game, and it was pretty neat. It's a small park and wherever you are sitting (or standing) you are very close to the action.

I sat three rows back from the bullpen and was able to get a good look at whoever was warming up in the bullpen.

The only downside...foul balls. This poor lady a few seats down from me got smacked right in the side of the head with a foul ball.

Let that be a lesson, kids. When at a game, PAY ATTENTION.

I'll be posting pictures periodically from today's game as well as Friday's game.

I'm heading to Jupiter tomorrow to see the Mets take on the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium at 1:05 p.m.

Perez and the Mets Take on the Cardinals...Again

The Mets take on the Cardinals again this afternoon in Port St. Lucie. Game time is 1:05 p.m. and it will air on  SNY.

Oliver Perez will get the start, and will be followed by Chris Capuano, Francisco Rodriguez, Jason Isringhausen, Jenrry Mejia, Boof Bonser, and Taylor Buchholz.

The starting lineup for the Mets is as follows:
1. Reyes SS
2. Harris CF
3. Wright 3B
4. Davis 1B
5. Murphy 2B
6. Duda LF
7. Martinez DH
8. Thole C
9. Niewenhuis RF
10. Perez P

I'll be at today's game, taking pictures, and watching Oliver Perez self-destruct. Expect updates late tonight.

Mets Drop Another

Luckily, it's only Spring Training. The Mets fell to the Cardinals in Jupiter by a score of 3-2.

Full Box Score

• R.A. Dickey went three innings, allowing one run on three hits, while striking out four.

• John Lujan, Tim Byrdak, and Armondo Rodriguez each got through a combined three innings of scoreless relief. Josh Stinson struggled, giving up two runs in two innings of work.

• Luis Castillo and Ruben Tejada each had an RBI single to drive in the only two runs for the Mets.

Why Is Carlos Beltran Not Healthy?

Carlos Beltran is scheduled to make his first appearance on Sunday as the designated hitter. This comes a day after Beltran's agent, Scott Boras, told Andy Martino of the Daily News that we shouldn't expect him to hit DH next season...for any team.

It also comes after Beltran announced he was moving to right field and giving the center field position to his good friend Angel Pagan. How sweet.

The move to right means less wear and tear on his surgically repaired and arthritic knee.

My question is this: Why is Carlos Beltran not healthy, and why is he just now beginning to work on getting his stride and strength back in his legs?

What has he been doing since the season ended in September...five months ago?

Wednesday's Lineup Against the Cardinals

Lineup against the Cardinals:

1. Luis Castillo 2B
2. Angel Pagan CF
3. Jason Bay LF
4. Nick Evans 1B
5. Daniel Murphy 3B
6. Scott Hairston RF
7. Justin Turner DH
8. Mike Nickeas C
9. Ruben Tejada SS

Mets Face-Off Against the Cardinals

R.A. Dickey is scheduled to make his first start of the Spring, as the Mets take on the Cardinals in Jupiter, Wednesday. Also scheduled to pitch are Armondo Rodriguez, Josh Stinson, Taylor Tankersley, Tim Byrdak, and John Lujan.

Jake Westbrook will get the start for St. Louis. The Cardinals will also use Brandon Dickson, Brian Tallet, Adam Reifer, and Kevin Thomas.

This is the first of six games scheduled between the two teams this Spring. Game time is 1:05 p.m.

Mets Take on the Nationals

The Mets will host the Washington Nationals today at 1:10 p.m. at Digital Domain Park in Port St. Lucie.

Mike Pelfrey will take the mound for the Mets. He went 15-9 with a 3.66 ERA in 2010.

Pelfrey will face the following Nationals lineup:

Nyjer Morgan  CF
Ian Desmond  SS
Roger Bernadina  LF
Michael Morse  RF
Matt Stairs  DH
Wilson Ramos  C
Kevin Barker  1B
Danny Espinosa  2B
Jerry Hairston Jr  3B

The game will air on SNY.

Results of First Split Squad Outing

Mets vs. Braves: Final score 5-4
Full Box Score

• Chris Young threw two perfect innings, striking out two.

• Boof Bonser went two scoreless innings giving up one hit, while Pat Misch got the win, going three innings, allowing no runs and just one hit.

• We know what Ollie did...or didn't do.

• Russ Adams hit a three-run home run in the eighth inning to put the Mets ahead for good.

Mets vs. Univ. of Michigan: Final score 7-1
Full Box Score

• Chris Capuano went three innings, giving up one run on three hits.

• Dillon Gee threw 2.1 innings of relief, walking one, while striking out four.

• Bobby Parnell pitched 1.2 innings of relief, allowing one hit, while striking out one and walking one.

• Tim Byrdak and Blaine Boyer each pitched one scoreless inning.

• Jason Bay and minor leaguer Cody Holliday both had two RBIs.

Ollie's Still Ollie

Oliver Perez has been told that he will be given the opportunity to pitch. He had a chance to go out there today and throw two brilliant innings, but he didn't.

Instead, he just added fuel to the fire. Mets fans are praying for bad outings from Perez this Spring, in the hopes that he will be cut.

Andy Martino of the Daily News wrote that Perez has until March 10 to prove he belongs as a starter.

I think that ship has already sailed. If anything, Perez is fighting for a spot in the bullpen.  

This was his chance to show that he was a changed pitcher.

But...when you stink, you stink.

Perez's final line in today's game against the Braves was two innings pitched, allowing four hits, four earned runs, three strikeouts and three walks. The three walks all came in a row, and in Perez fashion, forced in a run.

His fastball wasn't all that fast either. His first pitch was 86 MPH, but then never got above 83-84 MPH. Two of his three strikeouts were on slow curve balls. 

I always say that it's not how fast you are able to throw the ball, it's how you control it. Plenty of pitchers can get by throwing in the low 80's as long as the ball has good movement. Unfortunately for Perez, he possesses neither of those skills.

Unless the Mets want a lefty specialist who only throws 70 MPH curves, they better direct their attention elsewhere.

Mets Splitting Up

The first split-squad game of the spring takes place this afternoon. One group is heading up to Orlando to take on the Braves, while the other will stay behind and play the University of Michigan. The game against Michigan starts at 12:10 p.m. The game in Orlando starts at 1:05 p.m.

The lineup against the University of Michigan looks like this:
Reyes SS
Castillo 2B
Wright 3B
Bay LF
Martinez RF
Evans 1B
Pridie CF
Ryan C
Gronauer DH
Capuano P

The lineup in Orlando against the Braves:
Willie Harris LF
Angel Pagan RF
Daniel Murphy 2B
Ike Davis 1B
Scott Hairston CF
Josh Thole C
Justin Turner 3B
Valentino Pascucci DH
Ruben Tejada SS
Chris Young P

Oliver Perez will also take the mound at some point today against the Braves.