Tigers tame Mets
A couple of quick hits from today's 5-4 loss to the Tigers:
-- How's this for an inauspicious start? Oliver Perez nailed a photographer on the knee during his pregame warmups. The pitch sailed over Paul Lo Duca, who never touched it, and scattered the pack of 10 or so photogs camped behind the plate. As soon as they noticed one of their own had been struck, they cleared out, and the day didn't get much better for Perez: 2.0 inn., 5 hits, 4 ER, 1 HR, 18.00 ERA. On a more positive note, Perez did walk only one batter.
-- Lastings Milledge was hit on the right hand by Zach Minor in the sixth inning and the Mets got a brief scare when he left the batter's box clutching his arm. But Milledge stayed in the game and later stroked a single in the eighth. "It's going to be sore tomorrow, but it's all right," Milledge said.
-- Billy Wagner, who is working on a split-fingered changeup, threw only one during the fifth inning. Wagner is developing the pitch to keep hitters off his fastball, and hopes to get more comfortable with it as spring training progresses.Wagner allowed two hits, one run and did not strike out a batter.
Orlando Hernandez just completed a 41-pitch session on the mound under the watchful gaze of pitching coach Rick Peterson. El Duque appeared fine and joked occasionally with bullpen catcher Dave Racaniello in dropping down for a few breaking pitches. When Hernandez was finished, he played long toss. But with the clubhouse now closed before today's 1:10 game against the Tigers, we'll have to wait to check on his condition.
The Mets are preparing for today's second and final intrasquad game, which is set for a noon first pitch. John Maine and Philip Humber are the starters. Beginning tomorrow, the Grapefruit League schedule will be in full swing. Check out the broadcast schedule below.
Looks like the Carlos duo is in midseason form. In today's intrasquad game, Carlos Delgado homered off Pedro Feliciano to open the second inning and Carlos Beltran crushed another off Clint Nageotte in the third. Beltran's landed deep on the grassy berm before bouncing back onto the field.
Delgado also singled in the fourth before getting replaced with pinch runner Mike Carp.
Just how slow is it in Mets' camp? Today's post-workout session with manager Willie Randolph involved a few minutes of baseball and way more on the Oscars, the Grammys and corn chowder (don't ask). There was an amusing exchange between Randolph and Jerry Manuel, however, with the manager teasing his bench coach about his age. When the talk turned to Manuel's '63 Impala, Randolph joked about his Gangsta Lean in the driver's seat, and demonstrated it for reporters in the manager's chair -- right elbow leaning on the arm rest, cap tilted to one side and the left hand working the steering wheel.
The Cardinals announced today that Chris Carpenter will start Thursday. Tom Glavine goes for the Mets. First pitch is 1:10 p.m. on SNY.
With the Michigan baseball team using the Mets’ facility the next couple of days, principal owner Fred Wilpon wore the cap of his alma mater as he watched Friday’s workout. Minaya also had a Michigan cap on, and the Wolverines were getting VIP treatment. “I was wondering why we got kicked off the main field,” David Wright said, looking at Wilpon’s hat. “Now it all makes sense.”
After spending the past 10 days working out at the Mets min0r-league facility, Pedro Martinez emerged from isolation this afternoon to officially greet the media for the first time. Martinez walked into the dugout wearing his home-white uniform, which he put on for a photo shoot, and broke into a big smile before settling onto the bench.
Orlando Hernandez was diagnosed today with arthritis at the base of his neck and received a cortisone shot. He is expected to rejoin the team tomorrow in Port St. Lucie and be ready to throw again in three to four days. El Duque returned to New York this morning after complaining of discomfort in his upper back and neck.
As I type this, manager Willie Randolph is delivering his opening address to the team, with the first full workout to follow . Possible themes? Randolph was showing off his 1977 World Series ring last week, so he might bring that back as a prop, maybe to remind this group of the ultimate goal. Also, Randolph wants to stress that last year is over, and this season should be more of a dogfight in the NL East with the re-stocked Phillies already talking smack.
Sifting though what felt like hours and hours of interviews today, here's a few of the highlights from the PSL:
Julio Franco was back at his corner locker, digging through a plate of egg whites and saying that he's ready to be a mentor for Lastings Milledge. That seems to be an early theme on this club. There was hardly a player or coach who didn't hug MIlledge after he arrived on Monday, and Franco, who confronted the media after the whole sign controversy last season, already extended a welcome to the 21-year-old outfielder.
If that turns out to be true, and Milledge impresses over the next six weeks, the Mets could have an interesting decision to make. It's not a stretch to say that Milledge could outplay Shawn Green. But would the Mets give him the starting rightfielder's job over the incumbent Green, who is due around $4 million this season but already had his $10-million option declined for 2008? It's something to keep an eye on.
First it was Mike Piazza and Pedro Martinez who succumbed to the razor in Willie Randolph's debut as Mets manager. Last year, Carlos Delgado sacrificed his trademark goatee on the first day of workouts to comply with the dress code. Now, the latest challenge to Randolph's code is the bushy head of new reliever Ambiorix Burgos, whose thick curly hair pushes the boundary of the rules. 
Principal owner Fred Wilpon addressed the media from a dugout at one of the backfields this afternoon. And with the dark days of the Art Howe Era finally behind his franchise, Wilpon is showing a sense of humor again. Even about one of the skeletons in his closet -- the ill-fated Scott Kazmir trade.
Not that it's any big surprise, but Tom Glavine made it sound like this would be his last spring training. Unless, of course, he somehow doesn't get the 10 wins he needs for 300. Or Glavine does get to 300, but also goes 20-4 and wins the Cy Young. In that case, he may have to reconsider, even at 41. A season like that could definitely add another $10 mil or so to the retirement fund.
Manager Willie Randolph held court with the media this morning in his office and revealed a new fashion accessory for the season. In addition to his Mets logo watch on his left wrist, Randolph is wearing his Yankees 1977 World Series ring on his right hand. Of course, it won't happen when he's in uniform. But Randolph wants to remember the achievement on the 30th anniversary, and there is at least one similarity with this year's Mets club. That Yankees' team lost to the Reds in the '76 World Series then roared back to win it the next October. We all know what happened to the Mets last year, so maybe it's a motivational tool on Randolph's part.
