…be sure to check out hubbach’s column, in which he provides a variety of exclusive quotes from gotay, who seems to blame Willie Randolph for his release, and whom he has no intention of speaking with before tonight’s game in Atlanta…

In the Daily News, Adam Rubin talks with Tom Glavine, who played with Gotay last season, and who had plenty of positive things to say about the young player.

Speaking of the Braves, in the New York Post, Mike Vaccaro believes that the coming week will provide an early-season test for the Mets, as they’ll play the Braves and Phillies.

Lastly, at Chop-n-Change, a Braves blog, Kristi Dosh talks with Joe Janish of Mets Today in a preview of the Mets.

According to a team press release, Gotay will be on Atlanta’s 25–man roster.

…no pressure, Fernando Tatis…no pressure…

…this is disappointing, especially since – the whole reason behind tatis making the team instead – is because tatis is a better hitter against left-handed pitching and is more versatile…whatever…i’m not so sure tatis can hit lefties, as much as he can stand in the box against lefties…i’ll believe he can hit them when i see it…also, versatile…really…hey, i can play outfield too…it doesn’t mean i can play it well, but i can stand out there and run after the ball…so, to call tatis versatile may be a slight stretch…

…i’m probably just annoyed that it’s the Braves, actually…ugh…if he turns in to the next Melvin Mora, so help me…

In similar, but different news, Steven Register was returned to the Colorado Rockies, and Anderson Hernandez was optioned back to Triple-A New Orleans.

…according to multiple reports, and logic, the Mets had been trying to work out a trade with the Rockies so they could keep register…i suppose it could still happen, but it doesn’t seem likely…

News of Gotay’s fate should likely trickle in later today.

…i am still holding out hope that the little guy gets ignored, so he ends up back in the Mets minor league system, because i still believe he can be a good player for this club…

In the Bergen Record, Steve Popper writes: “Gotay sat alone in the clubhouse with tears in his eyes as he made phone calls to family and to his agent, trying to find out what is next.”

For more on Gotay’s sad day, read the Journal News.

Meanwhile, as of now, the final spot on the bench will either be Brady Clark or Fernando Tatis.

…the increased buzz from St. Lucie – and physical evidence, such as new-york bound luggage from the team – seems to be that tatis has the edge because he is more versatile…

For more on Tatis, who started at third base yesterday, read Bart Hubbuch’s report in the New York Post.

To hear from Gotay, who says his sprained ankle is fine, check out Rubin’s report.

Gotay, with tears in his eyes, as quoted by Newsday:

“I did a good job and didn’t deserve this.”

…this stinks, because i like gotay…sure, he is not the best defensive player in the league, far from it, but he can hit…

In 190 at-bats for the Mets last season, Gotay hit .290 with 16 extra base hits. 

However, he hit just .194 in 36 at-bats against left-handed pitchers, compared to hitting .318 against righties.

…this, plus the ankle, plus being out of options, plus his defense, is why gotay may end up on another team…which is a real shame…especially since Fernando Tatis will likely make the squad instead…which is not to say tatis is a bad player, it’s just that gotay is young, and a strong hitter, with an upside…whereas, tatis is what he is…

…hopefully, ruben clears waivers - for much of the same reasons he was put on waivers - and ends up back with the Mets…

For what it’s worth, Gotay was designated for assignment in February, 2007, and cleared waivers.

He was acquired from the Royals during 2006 for 2B Jeff Keppinger, who was cut by the Royals, and then hit .332 in 67 games for the Reds.

By the way, yesterday I wrote that WFAN’s Ed Coleman had said Gotay was on waivers. 

In review, it instead sounds like Coleman said: “I still put a question mark on Gotay, though he’s out of waivers.”

…like others, i thought i heard coleman say gotay is on waivers, but instead he said he is out of waivers…whatever that means…i assume he meant to say that gotay is out of options…of course, ii was not alone in my confusion, since the two hosts who coleman had been talking to, Joe Benigno and Evan Roberts, spent the next 10 minutes talking about gotay being on waivers, and what a huge mistake it would be to let him go…

…at any rate, as of now, gotay’s fate has yet to be determined…

…the thing is, it sounds like he’ll hit the wire at some point, and likely clear it, thus coming back to the Mets and making this whole miscommunication irrelevant…

For instance, as noted earlier, today at MLB.com, Marty Noble writes: “The Mets might give Gotay his outright release, though the club is fully aware they could lose him through waivers.”

According to the Denver Post, “The Mets put Register on waivers with the intention of returning the Rule-5 pick to the Rockies.”

…register’s spot on waivers has now been reported by a variety of mainstream outlets, which suggests the emergence of Brian Stokes and the resurgent Joe Smith will fill in for Duaner Sanchez, who will likely start the year on the disabled list – as we have all been predicting for weeks…

…by the way, good for you, joe…way to get back on the map…

Additionally, according to WFAN’s Ed Coleman, speaking on air during yesterday’s mid-day show, the Mets have also put Ruben Gotay on waivers.

However, in today’s New York Post, citing ‘a source who had access to the waiver wire,’ Bart Hubbach states that Register is the only player on the Mets who has been included on the waiver wire as of yesterday afternoon.

Nevertheless, at MLB.com, Marty Noble writes: “The Mets might give Gotay his outright release, though the club is fully aware they could lose him through waivers.”

According to Noble, if Gotay is released, “The chances of Fernando Tatis earning a roster spot is enhanced due to the need for a right-handed bat off the bench.”

…there is a lot of talk coming from the team mentioning tatis, Brady Clark and Angel Pagan…a lot…which is odd because, a) is probably why gotay is in trouble, considering he is out of option, struggles on defense and is a bit injured, and b) he’s losing ground to Fernando Tatis…repeat, Fernando Tatis…

…does tatis also come with a time machine so he can go back to 1999 and hit well again…

…seriously, how did this happen, ruben…ugh…

In eight major-league seasons, the 33–year-old Tatis has played second base, third, left field, right field, short and first base.

In 2006, his last season in the big leagues, he hit .286 in 28 at-bats against left-handed pitchers.

Tatis did not play in 2005 or 2004, but hit .240 against lefties in 2003, and .230 against lefties in 2002.

He has not finished a season hitting over .290 since 1999, since then he is batting .235 in 1,081 at-bats, during which he has struck out more than 25 percent of the time.

Meanwhile, According to the Daily News and the Bergen Record, the Mets have also placed RHP Steven Register on waivers.

…i believe gotay will clear waivers, and be returned to the Mets, who like his bat, but worry about his defense…and now with the ankle injury, plus being out of options, i just can’t see how another team will pick him up…

…i’m worried, though, because i like gotay a lot…yes, i understand he has struggled on defense…but his bat is hard to deny, and too good to just throw away…

In seven appearances this spring for the Mets, Register has allowed four runs, no walks and 12 hits while striking out six in eight innings.

…from what i can gather, here’s how this will work…if register is not claimed in the next two days, he must be offered back to the Rockies…if the Rockies pass, he returns to the Mets and can be put in their minor-league system…however, if the Rockies accept him back, he’s on the Rockies, but can go back to the Mets if the two sides can work out a trade…lastly, if he is claimed off waivers, the team who claims register will get him…

…man, Brian Stokes and Joe Smith are really surging towards the 25–man roster it appears…so, if the Mets prefer stokes, with only one open slot in the pen, the move to put register on waivers was really their only option i guess…good luck…

Brian Schneider

…the news here is not that he was hitless, it’s that he started in a game for the first time since March 10…welcome back, brian…

…from what i can gather, the team is fairly confident that schneider will be more than ready for opening day…which is what i anticipated all along…

In an effort to avoid retirement, Jose Valentin will get a cortisone shot today to help relieve the pain in his neck.

During yesterday’s game, Ruben Gotay was 0 for 1, and made an error in the field.

…the Mets like gotay’s bat, but continue to be concerned about his fielding, as they should be…the problem is that he’s out of options, but also not 100 percent healthy…

…hopefully, the Mets can find a creative way to keep gotay back at camp for opening day without exposing him to waivers…

Lastly, over the weekend, Moises Alou, Jason Vargas and Ambiorix Burgos were placed on the 15–day disabled list retroactive to March 21.

In one at-bat last night, Gotay struck out, but played three innings in the field.

…as the saying goes, Lets GoTay…

Meanwhile, in the New York Post, Bart Hubbach explains how the frequent absence of Ryan Church and Brian Schneider is beginning to wear on them, plus it’s becoming a source of light-hearted humor for the rest of the team, according to David Lennon in Newsday.

Also in Newsday, Lennon talks quite extensively with Church, who is hitting just .171 this spring, and who struck out twice last night against the left-handed Mike O’Conner.

Lastly, in the Journal News, John Delcos writes, that despite the lack of playing time due to a hamstring injury, Schneider is catching on his with teammates.

…i am not worried about schneider…he has remained at camp on travel days, and done a lot of work with the entire staff at one time, as opposed to traveling and working with just that day’s pitcher…which may actually be best in the long run.

Schneider told reporters he is feeling better today than yesterday, while Sanchez told reporters he is eager to increase his workload in an effort to be ready for opening day.

Meanwhile, the team told Jose Valentin to try and stretch and take batting practice before today’s game.

For other news and notes, including an update on Ruben Gotay, who says he is at 85 percent, check out blogs from Newsday, the Star-Ledger and Daily News.

…by the way, Anthony De Rosa is in Port St. Lucie working this week as a reporter for SNY…he will be filing reports for SNY.tv, while feeding us the occasional bit of info as well…