New York Mets News

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/503419p-424604c.html

Chan can Park it right here
First start impresses Mets

BY PETER BOTTE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

FORT MYERS - Chan-Ho Park's visa issues were resolved Tuesday, which meant the Red Sox were allowed to charge customers admission to watch him attempt to retire their best hitters in his Mets debut yesterday.

It also meant there were actual fans in attendance, and legitimate major-league hitters across from Park, whose only previous action this spring came in game simulations last week against Mets minor-leaguers.

http://www.nydailynews.com/ips_rich_content/325-MetsCollision.JPG
Mets center fielder Ben Johnson (l.) and Lastings Milledge collide but Milledge holds on for out.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/503420p-424606c.html

'Good' beginning as Pedro throws

FORT MYERS - With Pedro Martinez not due back until August, GM Omar Minaya said earlier this week that he wouldn't be giving daily updates on his rehabbing ace's status because "we're talking about really small stuff."

But every step is considered big news when it concerns Martinez, who lightly tossed a ball yesterday at the team's Port St. Lucie complex. It was the first time Martinez had thrown a ball since undergoing rotator cuff surgery last October.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03082007/sports/mets/met_ace_feels_great_after_playing_catch_mets_mark_ hale.htm

MET ACE FEELS GREAT AFTER PLAYING CATCH
By MARK HALE

March 8, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - After he walked out of the minor-league clubhouse yesterday morning, Pedro Martinez made a remark about what he saw.

"It's so bright out there," he said. "I've been hibernating forever."

But Martinez was outside yesterday for an enormous event, as the Mets' rehabbing ace played catch, throwing a ball for the first time since his Oct. 5 surgery to repair a torn rotator cuff.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03082007/photos/sports095.jpg
INSPIRATION FROM ABOVE: Jose Reyes looks to the sky prior to the Mets' 9-5 loss to the Red Sox yesterday in Fort Myers.

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03082007/sports/mets/call_it_port_saint_pedro_mets_joel_sherman.htm?pag e=0

CALL IT PORT SAINT PEDRO
A DAY TO DREAM FOR MARTINEZ

March 8, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - It is spring training, the perfect time to dream. So in the sun-splashed moments late yesterday morning when Pedro Martinez was throwing a baseball on a field for the first time since his Oct. 5 shoulder surgery, it was fine for Met fans to begin dreaming because Martinez was dreaming the same way.

He was envisioning these as the first throws toward a July when the Mets will be making the best trade-deadline deal of all by re-acquiring an ace named Martinez.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03082007/photos/sports094.jpg
IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK: Mets ace Pedro Martinez was all smiles yesterday in Port St. Lucie.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03082007/sports/mets/park_produces_in_debut_mets_mark_hale.htm

PARK PRODUCES IN DEBUT
By MARK HALE

March 8, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - Chan Ho Park had a strong outing in his first spring start of the season. Park, the Met right-hander who is contending for a spot in the rotation, started against the Red Sox yesterday and tossed three innings, permitting one run on two hits and two walks while striking out one in the Mets' 9-5 loss in Fort Myers.

This was only Park's first start because he had work visa issues. He didn't get it until Tuesday. Last week, the 33-year-old South Korean native pitched the equivalent of 22/3 innings in a simulated game against Mets minor leaguers.

[GaryMrMets]

http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/2007/03/notes_sanchez_gets_slap_on_the.php

March 08, 2007
Notes: Sanchez Gets Slap on the Wrist

The Mets made their first series of reassignments to minor-league camp. They included Fernando Martinez, Kevin Mulvey, Francisco Pena, Mike Nickeas, Drew Butera, Joe Hietpas, Adam Bostick, Eddie Camacho, Michel Abreu, Clint Nageotte, Jorge Vasquez, Willie Collazo, Chip Ambres and Victor Mendez.

[Box score] http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/boxscore-03-08.htm
[Play-by-play] http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/play-by-play-03-08.htm
[Mets stats] http://blogs.nydailynews.com/mets/archives/nyn-stats-03-08.htm

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/503700p-424852c.html

Birds drub Duque

BY PETER BOTTE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER

PORT ST. LUCIE - Orlando Hernandez was in a playful mood before and after his first start since last September, so he and the Mets weren't taking the pinball-like results of his spring debut too seriously.

El Duque, who missed the 2006 playoffs because of a calf injury and then his first turn during the exhibition slate due to neck arthritis, was roughed up for five runs on six hits in the second inning of yesterday's 8-7 loss to the Orioles at Tradition Field.

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Orlando Hernandez heads off field after being roughed up in second inning against Orioles but Mets maintain it's just start of things.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/503698p-424839c.html

Pelfrey pops, Green drops

PORT ST. LUCIE - Quite a study in spring contrasts yesterday at Camp Willie - the exuberance of the rookie phenom Mike Pelfrey who, options or not, looks to be gradually pitching himself onto the starting rotation, offset by the frustration of the fading veteran Shawn Green, who, $6.5 million or not, could find himself out of the starting lineup.

There's still a long way to go this spring before these decisions have to be made and that's precisely what Green, especially, is telling himself in the face of 1-for-17 with five strikeouts from his revised batting stance. In his third at-bat yesterday, he got his first hit of the spring, pulling a single through the right side off Orioles rookie lefthander Kurt Birkens. And while that was a relief, the process, he said, continues to be a tad frustrating.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/story/503699p-424846c.html

Latest offense for Sanchez

PORT ST. LUCIE - Like Joe Torre, Willie Randolph doesn't have many stringent rules, but being on time might be the most important one.

Rehabbing reliever Duaner Sanchez was "sent home" from Mets camp yesterday for showing up late for his scheduled workouts, and it appears it wasn't the first time. Sanchez, who underwent shoulder surgery last August, is due back at the complex today, Randolph said.

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03092007/sports/yankees/green_spring_looking_lean_yankees_joel_sherman.htm ?page=0

GREEN SPRING LOOKING LEAN

March 9, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - The storyline du jour - every jour - with the Mets revolves around starting pitching.

The focus is endlessly on the enigmatic and the arthritic, those attempting to rehab and those attempting to re-establish, the humble and the Humber. The rotation obsesses and overwhelms this organization. It contains every big question about a roster otherwise poised to dominate the NL East again.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03092007/sports/mets/el_duque_roughed_up_in_his_first_start_mets_mark_h ale.htm

EL DUQUE ROUGHED UP IN HIS FIRST START
By MARK HALE

March 9, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - At around 11:50 yesterday morning, Tom Glavine said to Orlando Hernandez, "Buena suerte."

El Duque responded to the good-luck wish by saying, "Thank you, sir."

Later in the afternoon, Hernandez pitched for the first time this spring, getting shelled in the Mets' 8-7 loss to the Orioles.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03092007/photos/metsa.jpg
ORLANDO HERNANDEZ Has bad outing.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03092007/sports/mets/shelf_discipline_mets_mark_hale_and_joel_sherman.h tm

SHELF DISCIPLINE
REHABBING SANCHEZ SENT HOME FOR DAY, FINED FOR TARDINESS, WORK ETHIC
By MARK HALE and JOEL SHERMAN

March 9, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - Duaner Sanchez' poor work ethic and attitude this spring have irritated Mets players and officials, and Willie Randolph reacted yesterday by issuing a strong message that it will no longer be tolerated.

Upset at what he felt was Sanchez's pattern of lateness for rehabilitation, Randolph evicted the reliever from the Tradition Field complex shortly after Sanchez arrived yesterday morning. Sanchez also was assessed a fine. He was told he can return to camp today.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03092007/photos/mets.jpg
DUANER SANCHEZ

[GaryMrMets]

New York Mets Postgame Alert March 8, 2007

Baltimore 8, N.Y. Mets 7 at Tradition Field
Baltimore Record: (5-1)
N.Y. Mets Record: (3-6)

Winning pitcher - Daniel Cabrera (2-0)
Losing pitcher - Orlando Hernandez (0-1)
SV - Jim Hoey (1)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Baltimore 0 5 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 8 13 0
N.Y. Mets 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 0 7 9 3

BAL HR - A. Donachie (1)
NYM HR - B. Johnson (1)

Next N.Y. Mets Game: March 9, 2007 01:10 PM ET vs. Detroit Tigers

Upcoming N.Y. Mets Home Games:
vs. Detroit Tigers, March 9, 2007 01:10 PM ET Purchase Tickets
vs. Florida Marlins, March 11, 2007 01:10 PM ET Purchase Tickets
vs. Boston Red Sox, March 15, 2007 07:10 PM ET Purchase Tickets

New York Mets Postgame Alert March 9, 2007

Detroit 9, N.Y. Mets 5 at Tradition Field
Detroit Record: (6-3)
N.Y. Mets Record: (3-7)

Winning pitcher - Virgil Vasquez (1-0)
Losing pitcher - Aaron Heilman (0-1)

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
Detroit 0 0 0 3 0 0 4 1 1 9 12 1
N.Y. Mets 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 5 11 1

DET HR - M. Hessman (1) R. Santiago (2)
NYM HR - C. Beltran (1)

Next N.Y. Mets Game: March 10, 2007 01:05 PM ET vs. Washington Nationals

Upcoming N.Y. Mets Home Games:
vs. Florida Marlins, March 11, 2007 01:10 PM ET Purchase Tickets
vs. Boston Red Sox, March 15, 2007 07:10 PM ET Purchase Tickets
vs. Washington Nationals, March 17, 2007 01:10 PM ET Purchase Tickets

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102007/sports/mets/tom__dismissing_duaner_a_good_wake_up_call_mets_jo el_sherman.htm?page=0

TOM: DISMISSING DUANER 'A GOOD WAKE-UP CALL'

March 10, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - Tom Glavine, two decades and nearly 300 wins into a Hall of Fame career, calls it "the greatest thing I have ever seen a manager do."

The date was July 21, 1998. Glavine was on the Braves bench. John Rocker was pitching. Lance Johnson blooped a ball to shallow center. Atlanta's Gold Glove outfielder Andruw Jones made a half-hearted effort, and the ball landed for a single.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102007/sports/mets/sanchez_summit_mets_mark_hale.htm

SANCHEZ SUMMIT
TEAM MEETING TODAY WITH TARDY RELIEVER
By MARK HALE

March 10, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE -Duaner Sanchez will meet with Willie Randolph and Omar Minaya this morning to see if the Mets reliever, who has essentially been suspended, has learned what his "priorities" should be.

After being evicted from camp Thursday because the Mets were upset with his repeated tardiness, Sanchez was instructed not to come to camp yesterday as well, according to his agent, Bean Stringfellow.

For the summit today, Sanchez should make sure he answers his wake-up call and sets his alarm.

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102007/photos/mets054.jpg
DUANER SANCHEZ

http://www.nypost.com/seven/03102007/sports/mets/humber_humbled_again_mets_mark_hale.htm

HUMBER HUMBLED AGAIN
By MARK HALE

March 10, 2007 -- PORT ST. LUCIE - Start No. 2 for Philip Humber wasn't terrific either.

Humber, who had a brutal first outing for the Mets on Sunday against the Orioles, was unimpressive again yesterday. The righty prospect pitched two innings against the Tigers in a 9-5 loss, giving up three runs on two hits, including a three-run homer to Mike Hessman. Humber walked two and committed an error.

[GaryMrMets]

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/03/10/2007-03-10_green_is_third_option_at_first-1.html

Green is third option at first
Saturday, March 10th 2007, 4:00 AM

PORT ST. LUCIE - The daily question this week at Mets camp has become a classic case of "Who's on first?"

With Carlos Delgado (neck) and Julio Franco (wrist) unavailable yesterday, Shawn Green started at first base for the first time this spring in a 9-5 loss to Detroit. The right fielder has made 125 career appearances at first, including 111 with the Dodgers in 2004 and two with the Mets late last season, and likely would be the long-term fill-in if Delgado were sidelined for a while.

http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/baseball/mets/2007/03/10/2007-03-10_duaner_to_clock_back_in-1.html

Duaner to clock back in
Mets say reliever's timing is everything

BY PETER BOTTE
DAILY NEWS SPORTS WRITER
Saturday, March 10th 2007, 4:00 AM

PORT ST. LUCIE - Duaner Sanchez is slated to return to Mets camp this morning for an 8 a.m. meeting with GM Omar Minaya and Willie Randolph, who advised the reliever "it wouldn't be a good idea to be late."

The miffed Mets manager sent the rehabbing reliever home Thursday and fined him an undisclosed amount as discipline for what Randolph described as repeated lateness for scheduled workouts throughout camp.

http://www.nydailynews.com/img/2007/03/10/amd_duaner.jpg
The Mets are none too pleased with Duaner Sanchez's behavior.