Mets closer Billy Wagner tried out his splitter today in the Mets’ 5-4 loss to the Tigers, writes MLB.com’s Marty Noble.
Wagner said of his new offering:
“I was giddy with it, Lo Duca wondered whether I’d
really throw it. When I did, it did exactly what I wanted it to do.
It’s a pitch they’ll probably take until [...]

At his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin provides a recap of Mets 5-4 loss to the Tigers in their Grapefruit League opener.
In addition to the recap, Rubin provides a link to the box score and play-by-play.
Rubin has also posted an interview with new Met David Newhan, who talks about his likely role as [...]

On a team that already features David Wright and Jose Reyes, along with Aaron Heilman, Duaner Sanchez and John Maine, the Mets also have Mike Pelfrey, Phil Humber and Lastings Milledge as big time prospects whom the team is expecting big things from fairly soon, while Carlos Gomez and Fernando Martinez are seemingly just a year or two [...]

John Delcos of the Journal News has posted the lineup for this afternoon’s Spring Training opener vs. the Detroit Tigers, starting at 1:10 pm EDT:

1) Jose Reyes – SS2) Carlos Beltran – CF3) Moises Alou – LF4) Carlos Delgado – 1B5) Paul Lo Duca – C6) David Wright- 3B7) Shawn Green – RF8) Julio Franco – DH9) Damion Easley [...]

In a column for the New York Times, Murray Chass argues against “new-age baseball statistics,” such as VORP, which he describes as “new-age nonsense.”
In the span of 150 words, Chass refers to these people who enjoy statistics as “stats mongers,” noting that their obsession “threatens to undermine most fans’ enjoyment of baseball and the human factor therein.”
Chass also [...]

In the New York Post, Kevin Kernan writes about his trip up I-95 with Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran, who recently took time away from camp to film a commercial for FOX to promote this season’s All-Star Game.
According to Kernan, “You could argue that Jose, David and Carlos are the modern day version of [...]

Today, the Mets announced their 40-date promotion schedule for 2007.
Highlights for the 2007 promotion schedule include:
May 11: Collectors Cup
May 18-20: Mets Cap Trade
June 24: Paul Lo Duca Bobblehead
July 14: Ralph Kiner night
July 27: Meregue Night
August 11: David Wright Jersey Bag
Check out Mets.com for the full promotion schedule.

At his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin provides a variety of notes out of Mets camp, including an update on Orlando Hernandez, who threw off a mound this morning.

Mets GM Omar Minaya, Hall of Famer Dave Winfield, and former Mets pitcher Al Jackson, among others, took part in the four-day tour of Africa to introduce the game of baseball to Ghana, and SNY was there. 
Baseball in Africa: A Diamond in the Rough will air on SNY following today’s Mets-Tigers game and will take you from [...]

The Grapefruit League exhibition season begins today, as the Mets take on the Tigers at Tradition Field.
The game will air live at 1 pm on SNY, and will re-run at 6:30 pm.
The team has announced that Oliver Perez, Alay Soler, Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Jon Adkins are scheduled to pitch in today’s game.
Tom [...]

At FOX Sports, Dayn Perry continues to keep tabs on a number of position battles around the major leagues, including the Mets search for a fifth starter.
Last week, Perry noted that Jorge Sosa was the leading candidate.
…of course, he was the only person on earth who was writing this…
This week, he lists Chan Ho Park [...]

The Mets signed RHP Lino Urdaneta during the July, 2005 from Cancun of the Mexican League. 
His only experience in the major leagues came during 2004 with the Tigers, when he allowed six runs on five hits and walked one and was removed before retiring a batter.
In the New York Times, Ben Shpigel profiles Urdaneta, and talks with [...]

Mets RHP John Maine is the subject of some ink today, as he is profiled in the Journal News, the New York Post, the Star-Ledger, and Newsday, where David Lennon writes…
“Maine is a favorite of pitching coach Rick Peterson, and after last year’s breakout season, when he went 6-5 with a 3.60 ERA – and streak [...]

During yesterday’s intrasquad game, the 23–year-old, side-arming Joe Smith struck out Lastings Milledge on three pitches – the last of which was a slider that caught the attention of Willie Randolph.
Randolph, on Smith’s slider, as quoted by Steve Popper in the Bergen Record…
“That’s nasty stuff, man.  The ball looks like a fastball, but when it gets on [...]

According to multiple reports, Carlos Beltran and Paul Lo Duca were scratched from the lineup for yesterday’s intrasquad game, though both will play in today’s first exhibition game against the Tigers.
Beltran was held aside due to stiffness in his neck and right quadricep.  He downplayed the tightness in his neck while talking with reporters.
Meanwhile, Willie Randolph [...]