…Tatis was a great story in 2008, and the Mets suffered badly when he injured his shoulder down the stretch that season…he did come back down to earth this past season and hit into way too many double plays…of course, he was depended upon to be a starter when he is probably no better than a role player or utility player at this point in his career, so i don’t fault Tatis, nor do i fault many of the Mets who were asked to be something they weren’t in 2009…

…i think the Mets should bring back Tatis…he has done everything he was asked to do over the past two seasons, and for the most part, he did a great job for them…he would be a great role or backup player at many positions and despite his age, there aren’t many players that are as versatile as Tatis…

Tatis hit .282 with eight home runs and 48 RBI in 340 at bats in 2009, and hit .297 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI in 2008 in 306 at bats.

According to Elias Sports Bureau, courtesy of ESPN.com, prior to the grand slam, Tatis had grounded into 13 double plays in 52 double-play situations and had been held hitless in his last 14 at-bats with runners in scoring position.

“You’re not looking to hit a grand slam,” Tatis said after the game.  “I think if you’re looking to do it, it’s not going to happen.  It just happened tonight. It’s great… It’s very good for everyone.  It’s good for me and very good for us.”

…it is great… but, here’s the greatest part, down 3–0, the Mets rallied to score seven, seven i said, seven unanswered runs to win the game… imagine that…

…i’ll say this, yesterday was a crazy day at that ballpark… yet, the Mets, i.e., the 30 guys in the dugout, did a great job of staying focused, continuing to play smart baseball, for a win…

…perhaps, in some crazy way, the off-field craziness, which deals with reporters and front office guys, maybe it will allow the guys on field to just play baseball, under the radar so to speak…

For a full recap, and boxscore, click here.

The Least You Should Know:

• In the eighth inning, and the game tied at three, Fernando Tatis hit a pinch-hit grand slam, to left-center field, to break the game open.
• Oliver Perez pitched out of a jam or two, and allowed three runs and five hits in five innings, after which Brian Stokes, Pedro Feliciano and Francisco Rodriguez tossed three innings in relief.

Misc., Etc., and Other Observations:

• Everybody clap yo hands… and point them to the sky, who was called out of the dugout for a smile-inducing curtain call.  This was great to see.  The crowd was excited, the team was pumped, smiling, and, for the first time in a while, looking like they were having fun… and winning.
• The Mets have scored 29 runs in four games.  Incredible.
• Luis Castillo had two more hits, and two runs scored, and is now batting .305.  He has nine hits in his last four games, during which the Mets have scored 29 runs, 11 of which he had a hand in.  I’m happy for Luis.  He shook off criticism, worked hard, and produced.  He dropped a devastating pop up, got mocked, but shook it off and, again, is producing.
• I hate the off-field drama.  I really do.  So tonight’s game was a breath of fresh of air.  It was important.  End of story.  I was on the edge of my sofa as though it was September, because, when a team must go roughly 45–20, a game in July is like a playoff game.  I was pumped when Tatis hit the grand slam, I got giddy.  I will not lie, I started thinking of what could be… I’m a dreamer, what can I say.

The Mets play the Rockies again tomorrow at 7 pm in Citi Field, with Mike Pelfrey (7–6, 4.99 ERA) taking on Jason Marquis (12–6, 3.49 ERA).

Left-handed reliever Mark Hendrickson entered the game for the Orioles, and walked Alex Cora to bring in the tying run.

Jerry Manuel pinch hit Fernando Tatis for Fernando Martinez, who had hit the ball to the outfield in two previous at bats, including a ground-rule double.

…i probably would have let the kid hit, despite their being a left-handed pitcher on the mound, only because he had been looking good at the plate…

…however, i understand pulling him, considering how tatis has been clutch in the past – though not so much this season – and martinez had been struggling in general, plus the lefty…

However, Tatis, with a 2–0 count, against a pitcher who just walked in the tying run, swung, and hit in to an inning-ending double play.

In 39 at bats this season, Tatis is batting .128 with runners in scoring position.

He hit .392 with runners in scoring position last season.

“They played me very well,” Tatis told reporters following the game.  “That ball that I hit should be a base hit… Brian Roberts played right next to the base.  I hit that ball pretty good.”

…well, i mean, i guess every ball should be a base hit… except for those pesky fielders with those fancy gloves…

Jerry Manuel agreed, telling reporters essentially the same thing, adding, “That was a big play for them.”

That said, following today’s game, Jose Reyes told reporters that his leg is still not feeling good, and said there is ‘no chance’ he will start tomorrow.

What’s more, Ramon Martinez was removed from today’s game in the eighth inning with back pain, Jerry Manuel explained.

According to Manuel, he considered starting Fernando Tatis at shortstop today, suggesting he could turn to Tatis tomorrow in place of Martinez and Reyes.

Meanwhile, prior to the game, Manuel said it is possible Ryan Church could be put on the disabled list, as he will have his sore right hamstring examined tomorrow.

Church also said he is experiencing pain his right hip.

…seriously, at what point does Omar Minaya step in and help manuel out, who is playing so short-handed right now, it would not shock me to get a call that i’m on deck to hit… i mean, omar, give the guy the tools he needs…

…from what i can gather, the Mets are reluctant to promote a player like Ruben Tejada or Jonathan Malo, because they are not on the 40–man roster… that said, manuel basically has two guys available on his bench at this point, and one is his back-up catcher… unreal…

By the way, Nationals 1B Nick Johnson was a late scratch today due to ‘stomach discomfort,’ according to the Steve Yanda of the Washington Post, who writes:

When you first heard that Johnson had been scratched from the starting lineup at the last minute, how many of you figured he had been traded… That was the consensus up in the press box. Turns out, Johnson is still a member of the Nationals… Manny Acta said Johnson should be ready to play tomorrow at New York.”

…honestly, at this point, if the Mets make a sudden trade, i bet it’s for an all-purpose infield type, like a Mark DeRosa, before it’s a one-position solution… or, minaya should trade for Ben Casey…

Carlos Delgado is a late scratch from tonight’s lineup with pain in his hip.

Tatis will start at first, with Luis Castillo starting at second.

Jerry Manuel told reporters Delgado may have injured the hip during yesterday’s triple.

Manuel suggested he is unlikely to use Delgado as a pinch hitter.

Original Post:

Fernando Tatis will bat second and start at second base tonight, while Gary Sheffield will bat sixth and start in left field for Daniel Murphy.

Omir Santos will once again start at catcher and bat eighth.

…from what i can gather, as long as Ramon Castro isn’t hitting, Jerry Manuel is getting santos as much playing time as possible, to see what they’ve got… Brian Schneider is due back around May 3…

…it will be interesting to see what happens then, considering, according to previous reports, the Mets had been shopping castro all winter…

…in the end, i believe manuel would rather have the best defensive catcher he can find, in place of offense from that position…

…i suppose manuel could have either a) have tatis bunt, b) pinch hit Luis Castillo to bunt, or c) let tatis swing away…

…in the moment, i hoped for the sac bunt, but i really have no problem with either play… because, even if a bunt went down, and successfully advanced the runners, i am not confident Omir Santos or Jose Reyes would have driven in the runner from the third… naturally, tatis struck out and santos hit in to an inning-ending double play to end the potential rally…

According to Dave Singer of NY Sports Dog, ‘You have to bunt there.’

Meanwhile, in the Daily News, John Harper explains why fans should not blame Manuel for his decision not to bunt with Tatis.

Manuel, speaking about the situation, said:

“I thought Tatis was going to be my best shot in that particular position… I had already spent a pinch hitter and that would have left me without what I thought would’ve been one of my better hitters in Tatis.  So, we took a chance there and it didn’t work out.”

…i never thought this would happen… but, i guess the arrival of Gary Sheffield, who has significantly reduced fernando’s playing time, means luis takes a back seat to get tatis more at bats… shocking, to me, in that castillo is on a roll, now hitting .400… but, for all we know he needs a rest, and today makes a good time to kill a few birds with one stone…

Omir Santos will start at catcher today, in place of Ramon Castro.

Also, again, Gary Sheffield will start in right field in place of Ryan Church.

…i expected sheff to start in right, with church in center, but i guess Jerry Manuel disagrees… i wonder how church feels about this…

Adam Rubin of the Daily News speaks with Reyes, who was very impressed by the performance of Pedro Martinez, and is glad to be back in camp.

Also, check out David Lennon’s blog at Newsday, where he relays why Fernando Tatis did not like what he saw at the WBC.

If all goes well, Pelfrey will return to the rotation on Saturday against the Nationals.

Meanwhile, Jon Niese will pitch a simulated game against minor leaguers today, following Pelfrey’s bullpen session.

Lastly, Jose Reyes and Fernando Tatis will return to St. Lucie on Thursday night, when Johan Santana will make his spring debut against the Marlins at 7 pm, live on SNY.