Daily Archives: March 15, 2008
The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the New York Mets in Port St. Lucie by the score of 10 to 3.
- Johan Santana gave up four runs on five hits and a walk, while striking out five through five innings.
- Carlos Delgado hit an opposite-field home run for the Mets. He has three hits in 21 at-bats this spring.
- Luis Castillo went 0-for-1 with two walks in three plate appearances in his first game of the spring.
- Marlon Anderson pinch hit for Santana in the fifth inning and struck out.
- Carlos Beltran was hitless in three at bats.
- Ricardo Rincon allowed four runs and four hits in less than one inning pitched
Following the game, Castillo told reporters he had no pain in his knee, adding, “I hope I feel like that the whole spring.”
…i hope you feel that way all season, luis…welcome back…
In a special to SI.com, Walter Villa takes a look at Mets super-prospect Fernando Martine
z.
Villa writes:
“He’s the great Mets hope — the prospect New York refused to trade, not even for arguably the best pitcher in the major leagues.
Martinez signed with the Mets in 2005. He missed part of 2006 with a thumb injury, and in 2007, when he was the Double A Eastern League’s youngest player at age 18, he missed half the season with a broken bone in his right hand. Both injuries were caused by his swing, which [Tony] Bernazard called “freak things.” Despite his youth and his ailments, he still fashioned a .271 average, 4 homers and 21 RBI in 60 games last season. In 551 career at-bats in the minors, he has hit .276 with 14 homers and 60 RBI.”
…i love reading about this kid and can’t wait to see him on the big league level…everything from his ability to his attitude seems to point to success…it should only help that, though the mets are a little thin in the outfield, the team is still really good…they won’t be relying or putting too much pressure on ‘the teenage hitting machine’ to be an impact player this year and he can stay out of the spotlight and continue to develop at a fair pace…
Johan Santana and the Mets will face the Cardinals today in Port St. Lucie at 1 pm.
SS Jose Reyes will leadoff, followed by 2B Luis Castillo, 3B David Wright, OF Carlos Beltran, 1B Delgado, OF Angel Pagan, C Raul Casanova, OF Endy Chavez, and P Santana
The game will air live on SNY.
To follow the the boxscore, go to MLB.com.
…with castillo’s return from injury it’s looking more and more like an opening day lineup…we’re almost there…
In the Daily News, Adam Rubin details Willie Randolph’s plan 
to start playing his regulars regularly with opening day just two weeks away.
Speaking of Randolph, he is impressed with Steven Register, according to John Delcos in the Journal News.
In 7.2 innings this spring, Register has a 3.52 ERA.
Jose Valentin is realistic about his future with the Mets, explains Anthony Rieber in a report for Newsday.
Brian Schneider told reporters yesterday that he does not expect to miss any time during the regular reason, despite having played in only three games due to a sore hamstring.
For more on Schneider, including a few quotes from the catcher, check out the Star-Ledger.
Also in the Star-Ledger, Jeremy Cothran writes about the clubhouse presence of Ramon Castro, who is the ‘class clown,’ according to John Maine.
In the New York Times, Charlie Nobles writes about Scott Schoeneweis, who is trying to put a painful 2007 behind him.
