Live Game Blog: Mets @ Cubs -- 4/22

Welcome to another round of liveblogging from yours truly. Feel free to hit the comments to discuss the game. Enjoy.

Pre-game:

• Weather may be an issue today, but the game will get in no matter what.
• HERE is the lineup. Few changes today.
• Ted Lilly is sporting an ERA over nine. That should be good news for the Metties.
• Both NY teams are in Chicago. Second time in history, says Gary Cohen.
  

First inning:

• Lilly doesn't like the mound very much and is kicking the dirt around everywhere. 82 mph fastball in for strike one against Jose Reyes. Nasty curveball on pitch two. Slow grounder to second base, but not slow enough for Reyes to beat it to the bag. Throw beats him by two steps.
• Angel Pagan is playing in right today and batting second. Low strike zone today, it seems. Pagan crushes one, unfortunately, very foul. Lilly's curve is insane. I don't know how anyone can ever hit that. Pagan swings at a breaking ball way high, strike three.
• Lilly is getting very ahead on hitters today. Gotten two strikes on everyone so far. He's working the zone high too. Wright works the count even, 2-2. Guess I'm wrong about the low strike zone. Lilly just misses below the knees for ball three before popping up to right field for the final out.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Creepy Asian bear on TV. Don't know what to make of that. The Fukudome craze is in full swing.
• Nelson Figueroa delivers a first pitch strike to Reed Johnson, and follows that up with a nasty curveball for strike two. Johnson pokes one to center, but Carlos Beltran tracks it down for the first out.
• Felix Pie now batting. Ripped a three run blast last night off of Jorge Sosa. Pie pops up into foul territory to Wright.
• Full count to Derrek Lee. Grounded back to Figueroa, who makes the underhand flip to Carlos Delgado.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 0-0 Tie.

Second inning:

• I think Lilly is angry at the strike zone so far. He stared right in at the ump after throwing ball one. Don't think he liked that call. Beltran has the count 2-2. High fly ball to Johnson in left field, who settles and puts it away.
• Delgado goes down on four pitches. Swinging at a breaking ball low and away. Rough.
• Here's Damion Easley, spelling Luis Castillo. Popped up behind the first base bag, and Lee snags it to put away Easley. Lilly is coasting.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Figueroa bounces the first pitch to Aramis Ramirez. Watch out for this guy, he's got power. Working Ramirez low and in today. Nasty curveball to even the count at 2-2. Ramirez works out a walk. First time all year Figueroa allows a leadoff hitter of an inning to reach base. Wow. Well done, Figueroa.
• Kosuke Fukudome up. Great name. Grounded past Delgado at first and into right field. Ramirez goes first to third. Tough play for Delgado, but he just could not get to that ball.
• Figueroa is behind Mark DeRosa 2-1. 88 mph fastball right by DeRosa's bat. Evened up. Raul Casanova calls time, and heads out to the mound to talk things over. Ball low and away, full count. Ball four, outside. Bases loaded, nobody out. Uh-oh.
• Ronny Cedeno up with the bases loaded. Looks familiar, doesn't it? Figueroa ahead 0-2 after a foul tip off the mask of Casanova. 90 mph fastball on the outside corner, strike three looking.
• Henry Blanco comes to the plate and promptly ground into a 6-4-3 double play. Well done, Figueroa. Way to get out of that jam.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

Third inning:

• Brady Clark flies one to right field for the first out. Take advantage of all of these opportunities, Clark. Unfortunately, your days are numbered.
• Lilly is behind Casanova 3-1. Look to rip one. Well, as I type that, he does, but it's right to the centerfielder. Can't blame that one on the wind.
• Figueroa batting. Strikes out on a nasty curveball. Ouch. Lilly is perfect through three.
  
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Lilly quickly pops out to Easley in shallow center. Is it me, or do infielders go into the outfield a lot more lately?
• Figueroa's curveball is absolutely dirty today. It's like a curve/slider. Johnson down on three pitches as he strikes out swinging.
• Pie rips one down the line to first, takes a really bad hop, skipping over Delgado's glove. Ruled a hit. Another very tough play for Delgado.
• When Figueroa misses, he doesn't miss by much. He's missing just outside, just low, just everywhere but the plate. He looks good though. I do think someone it going to wait on his curve ball and rip it. Lee tries to, and pulls the breaking ball to right, but Clark barely has to move to put it away.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, o BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

Fourth inning:

• I despise that hitch in Lilly's delivery. As a hitter, that would both me immensely. According to Gary, the Mets haven't had a base runner since the sixth inning in yesterday's game. Reyes goes down swinging for the first out. Not good.
• Pagan fakes a bunt and Lilly throws a 40 footer. That was ugly. Pagan inside-outs one down the first base line, but it falls just foul. Pagan stings one into center field, driving the ball all the way to the brown ivy in center. Pagan speeds into second with a double. He thought about going for three, but slid to stop himself and scurried back to second. The Mets first hit and baserunner.
• Lilly is way behind Wright 3-0 and he'll be taking all the way as he lays a fastball right down the middle. Gotta get a hit here, Beltran and Delgado are cold. He got nothing to hit, as Wright walks.
• Beltran is quickly in the hole 0-2. Awesome. Dirty 12-6 curveball misses high. Beltran seems to be lunging for a lot of pitches. I think he needs to take a few steps toward the plate. Beltran works the count full, 3-2. Good stuff. The payoff pitch with the runners going, and it's low for ball four. Bases loaded, one away for...
• Carlos Delgado. He needs to come through big here, or the fans will come down even harder. First pitch, fouled away. Second one, blooped to shallow left and Cedeno goes out from his shortstop position to make the play. Obviously, way too short to bring home Pagan from third. Delgado needs to hit the pine.
  
• It's up to Easley. First pitch popped to shallow center, as DeRosa goes out and ends the threat. What is with the Mets and the pitchers duel?
  
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 2 BB, 1 K. 0-0 Tie.

• Ramirez waits on the curveball, but pops it up deep to left. Clark, sporting shades, settles under it and makes the catch.
• Fukudome singles through the hole on the right side, his second of the game. He's pretty good. I get why Cub fans love him.
• DeRosa rips one deep to center field, but Beltran makes the catch on the warning track. Good rip from DeRosa. Figueroa was lucky he hit it to straightaway center.
• Cedeno knocks a ball the other way, down the first base line. Pagan can't make the play and boots the ball off the hop. He kicks it around against the wall in right, allowing Fukudome to come all the way around to score. Total misplay by Pagan. 1-0 Cubs.
• Mets issue the intentional walk to Blanco.
• Lilly grounds one softly to second base. Delgado thinks about making a play on it, thinks better, and starts to go to first. He spies Figueroa coming over from first, who slowed down when Delgado started back to first. Delgado turns away, thinking Figueroa will make the play. Easley eventually flips to Figueroa, but not in time to get Lilly. The bases are loaded. Bonehead play by Delgado.
• Johnson singles off the end of the bat to left field, scoring Cedeno and Blanco. 3-0 Mets. This is just a miserable inning.
• Pie grounds one over the bag at first, but Delgado is there and actually makes the play, ending the inning.
• 3 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-0 Cubs.

Fifth inning:

• 7-8-9 of the order up this inning. Clark leading off, singles to right field. Only the second hit of the game for the Mets.
• Where is Casanova's power? I'm yet to see it this season. He grounds one slowly to third base. Only play is to first. Clark moves to second on the play.
• Figueroa laces one to short, too fast to move Clark over. Cedeno to Lee, two away.
• The SNY crew is having a field day with the seating arrangements on the adjacent roofs. They can't stop talking about the hand operated scoreboard either.
• Reyes works out a walk, which will bring the tying run to the plate.
• Pagan up with a chance to atone for his mistakes in the field. Nasty curveball lands in for a strike, and Lilly is ahead 0-2. The crowd is on their feet. Whenever there is a ball in the dirt or one that might get away from the catcher, Pagan is sure to signal the runners if they should move or not. Good stuff. Pagan pops up the 2-2 fastball to DeRosa at second, threat averted for the Cubs.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-0 Cubs.

• Figueroa's thrown 68 pithes so far. Very conservative. Now Figueroa can't seem to find the plate, missing inside and out. Almost pegs Lee, but issues a walk instead.
• Still having a hard time finding the plate. Ramirez pops out to Pagan in left, one away.
• The pesky Fukudome is up. Joe Smith and Pedro Feliciano are up in the pen. Only stretching though. Fukudome walks. Figueroa's having a rough go this inning. Someone go talk to him.
• Figueroa is up over 80 pitches now. Here comes Rick Peterson. It's about time. DeRose knocks one into right, and Pagan takes a long and loopy journey to the ball, helped by the wind. Pagan makes a basket catch along the line, as Lee tags up and goes to third on the second out.
• Cedeno lines one to right, but Pagan is there, again, to make the out. All three outs made by Pagan that inning.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 2 BB, 0 K. 3-0 Mets.

Sixth inning:

• Wright grounds out to short to begin the sixth. Is Lilly pitching that well or is the Mets offense that bad?
• Beltran works out a four pitch walk. Hey, look! Beltran is on base!
• What is this? Delgado has the count 3-1, on the brink of walking. Even better!! He smokes a single to right field. Beltran has to hold up, but makes to to second in time. Mets are threatening here with two on and one out.
• Lilly's looking tired out there, as the Cubs bullpen kicks it into gear. (Scott Schoeneweis is up and throwing in the Mets pen.) 1-2 count on Easley. Inconsistent strike zone today, at least in my opinion. Easley bloops one to right field, which falls in front of Fukudome. The Mets have the bases loaded for Clark.
• Lilly is up to 100 pitches, probably spelling the end of his day soon. Big swing by Clark, but he misses it for strike two. Lilly attempts the curveball, and due to a quick reaction from Clark, he fouls it away. Clark dinks one to second, shorthopping it to DeRosa. Easley out at second on the flip, but Beltran comes home. 3-1 Cubs.
• Casanova up with runners on the corners. A very loud "Let's go Mets!" chant throughout Wrigley. Cruveball, grounded softly to short. Cedeno makes the short toss to DeRosa at second to end the inning.
• 1 run, 2 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-1 Cubs.

• Blanco leading off for the Cubs. Figueroa still in the game. Blanco singles past the stumbling Reyes for his first hit of the game.
• Mark Fontenot will bat for Lilly and that will also be the end of the day for Figueroa. Schoeneweis will enter the game for the Mets.
• Figueroa's final line: 5+ IP, 7 hits, 3 ER, 5 BB, 2 K. Generous scoring for the home team. I think two of those runs should have been unearned. Not terrible, but not great. One OK start.
• Fontenot sacrifices himself, bunting up the first base line. Nice play by Schoeneweis to field the ball and make the throw and equally nice play by Easley who needed some fancy footwork to cover first. Blanco moves to second.
  
• Schoeneweis is behind Johnson 3-1. Now he walks him with a ball off the plate. First and second, one away. Smith is waiting in the wings if Lee makes it to the plate.
• Pie taps one a few feet in front of the plate, up the first base line. Casanova fields the ball and makes a great throw to first. That's the second time in two days he's made a play like that. Well done.
• Double switch here. Endy Chavez will go into left and Smith will come in to pitch to Lee. Smith will bat seventh, Chavez will leadoff in the seventh.
• Lee crushes the ball to straightaway center. Beltran goes back, jumping into the ivy and makes the grab. He's so valuable in the field.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 3-1 Cubs.

Seventh inning:

• Bob Howry now pitching for the Cubs.
• He's dealing to Chavez, making his first plate appearance after coming in on the double switch last inning. Chavez hits one right to Cendeno at short. One away.
• Reyes fakes a bunt, but takes the pitch for a strike. 1-1 count. Another pitch taken for a strike. Fourth pitch is in the dirt at Reyes' feet, and he dances out of the way. Reyes grounds one to DeRosa at second, flipped to Lee for the second out.
• Another ball grounded to DeRosa, and he puts it away for the third out.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 0 K. 3-1 Cubs.

• Smith still in for the Mets. Full count to Ramirez. He pulls one through the hole on the left side for a single.
• Again, the pesky Fukudome is up. Fukudome crushes one to deep center, this time well out of the reach of Beltran. Beltran plays it nicely off the ivy, making a barehanded grab off the bounce. Fukudome in with a stand up double and Ramirez moves to third.
• DeRosa singles over the head of Easley at second, and Ramirez trots home. Fukudome is held up at third as Pagan gets the throw in on the fly to Casanova. 4-1 Cubs.
• 2-2 count to Cedeno. Smith is struggling here. Smith misses outside, and the count is full. Cedeno chases a slider wayyyyy outside, striking out.
• Feliciano will enter the game for the Mets and Geovany Soto will pinch hit for the Cubs.
• First pitch from Feliciano way inside, Casanova can't contain it and DeRosa moves to second on the wild pitch. Another pitch way inside, almost hits Soto. Now the Mets will issue the intentional walk to Soto to set up the double play.
• Feliciano will be removed from the game in favor of Jorge Sosa. This is the third time in a week that Feliciano has entered the game and not retired a batter.
• Sosa will pitch to Matt Murton. Sosa behind Murton 2-1. Strike on the inside corner. Murton reaches for one and lines it foul down the right field line, almost nailing Duaner Sanchez in the bullpen. Murton grounds one to Delgado, playing on the grass, comes home and gets the out at the plate. Two away, bases still loaded.
• Johnson up with the bases loaded again. Count is even at 2-2. I've never seen a team foul off as many balls as the Cubs do. It's unbelievable. Johnson pops one up to second base, Easley settles under it, and ends the inning.
• 1 run, 3 hits, 0 BB, 1 K. 4-1 Cubs.

Eighth inning:

• Carlos Marmol is in for the Cubs. He's nasty.
• Wright works the count full. Baserunners are needed. Badly. Wright knocks one to right center, but Pie tracks it down on the warning track. One away.
• Beltran has the count 2-2. Marmol is dealing. Beltran swings over the slider, something we see way too much from him, striking out. Two away.
• Delgado swings at a pitch way high, striking out. Ugh. Looks like this team is going down without a fight.
• 0 runs, 0 hits, 0 BB, 2 K. 4-1 Cubs.

• Pie singles off of Sosa to right field to lead off the bottom of the eighth inning.
• Lee picks up his first hit of the day, singling through the right side. Pie moves to second base. Are the Mets giving up? Looks like it.
• Ramirez crushes one to left, but Chavez has room on the warning track for the first out. A quick throw keeps the runners at bay.
  
• Sosa throws inside for a strike, then outside for another strike to get ahead of Fukudome 0-2. It's now evened up at 2-2. Sosa delivers what looks like strike three, but he doesn't get the call. After being ahead 0-2, he walks Fukudome to load the bases.
• The Mets bullpen is empty, so this is on Sosa. Looks like the Mets are handing this one away. DeRosa, on the first pitch, grounds to short. The Mets are playing in, and I don't know why, so Reyes comes home for the second out. Bases are still loaded. I don't get that, at all.
• Sosa gives up another home run, this one to the tune of four runs, as Cedeno crushes his first grand slam just fair down the left field line. 8-1 Cubs.
• Soto singles over Reyes at short.
• You know the game is out of hand when: Jason Marquis will pinch hit. Marquis is a pitcher, for those not up to snuff on the Cubbies. He's a decent hitter, but still. Full count to Marquis. Popped up to Reyes to end the inning.
• 4 runs, 4 hits, 1 BB, 0 K. 8-1 Cubs.

Ninth inning:

• The Mets look absolutely terrible today. This is easily the worst all around game they've played all year.
• Kevin Hart is pitching for the Cubs.
• Easley grounds one to the left side, past the outstretched arm of Ramirez. Cedeno comes up with it and makes the cross-body throw to get Easley at first.
• Marlon Anderson is pinch hitting for Sosa in the pitchers spot. Anderson just looks bad this year. Something must be up. Full count for Anderson now. Ball four taken high and outside. Let the rally begin (kidding).
• Casanova singles up the middle, just past Hart. Anderson moves to second.
• Chavez lines one down the line, which apparently lands just foul. Would have been a nice double, but no. Chavez grounds one to first, and is aboard on the fielders choice, Casanova out at second.
• Reyes is the last chance for the Mets here in the top of the ninth. Reyes grounds one to Lee, who flips to Hart covering first. Game over.
• 0 runs, 1 hit, 1 BB, 0 K. 8-1 Cubs.

Cubs 8 -- Mets 1
WP: Ted Lilly
LP: Nelson Figueroa

Thanks for reading.

Live Game Commentary: Tigers at Mets

The Comeback Kid is on the mound while the Mets take on the Tigers at Tradition Field.

First inning:
Well, Pudge Rodriguez leads off with a single off the first pitch from Pedro Martinez. Dandy. And one the next pitch, Martinez gets a perfect double-play ground ball. 2 pitches. 2 outs. Pedro's up to 88 mph in the first inning here. Is it me, or does he look a lot thinner from the waist down? Miguel Cabrera works the count 3-2 before popping up to Brady Clark. Pedro looked great in the top of the first. He was flustered a little bit on some close calls on the outside of the plate, but busted Cabrera in and eventually jammed him enough to get him to pop up to right.

Jose Reyes needs to stop trying to run up and "butcher boy" the ball. He has enough pop in his bat, and speed to match, that he just needs to put the ball on the ground. Reyes cracks one to deep right, it bounces off the base of the wall and Reyes is into third with a stand up triple to lead off the game. Luis Castillo knows exactly what he needs to do to get the runs in, as he chops one to second to bring in Reyes easily. That's what I love about Castillo, he's willing to sacrifice for the team. David Wright rips one to his third base counterpart, who makes a diving stab and throw. Carlos Beltran, the DH today, walks on 5 pitches. Carlos Delgado hits one right up the middle, and into the shift, for a fielders choice. All Delgado needs to do this year is go the other way more. He does that, the shift goes away, and then he can spray balls all over the field.

Second inning:
Magglio Ordonez is an absolute beast. He crushes a double off the wall in center field. That hair is just too funny. Old friend Timo Perez is up at the plate, and chases a ball low and away from Pedro. Martinez looks very comfortable up on the mound today. And apparently, Pedro is a little too comfortable. On a ground ball to Delgado, Pedro stutters on the mound and can't beat a speedy Perez to the bag. 1st and 3rd, no out. Nice running play by Clark, who makes a running grab in right field, keeping the runners at their bags. A very quick pickoff throw to first from Pedro. He looks very fit and lean on the mound this year. I must be a jinx. Pedro walks the next batter on 4 pitches. Bases loaded, 1 out. Ramon Santiago is up, and Pedro is working the fastball away. Martinez got up to 89 on one pitch. Fastball, low and in gets Santiago looking for his first strikeout of the game. Ground ball to first, and Pedro sprints to first to cover the bag in time. Inning over, no damage done. Great job by Martinez to work his way out of that jam.

Glad to see Marlon Anderson back in the lineup. Crazy that Ryan Church is able to come back from the concussion quicker than Anderson. Ground out to second, Anderson is retired. Again, glad to see Ramon Castro back in the game. Broken bat to left, misplayed by Perez, and he pulled up at first. As soon as he hit the ball, he felt a twinge in his hamstring and will now leave the game. Super! Clark is promptly plunked on the hip, two on, one out. Endy Chavez works out a walk, and the bases are loaded for Reyes. They're piping in the "Jose Jose Jose" chant. Oh, real baseball is almost here. Fly ball to center, Gustavo Molina scores from third, and all the other runners move up on a missed cutoff man. Smart baserunning from Clark and Chavez. Castillo hits the same exact chopper to second base. Inning over, 2-0 Mets.

Third inning:
Pudge rips one to third, and skips past Wright for a single. Three innings, three leadoff hits. One of those dorky guys on the cell phone is standing behind home plate waving to the camera. They crack me up all the time. I must be in The Twilight Zone, because Pudge just tried to steal second base. Molina throws an absolutely perfect ball to second to nail him. A looping 68 mph curveball to get ahead on Cabrera 0-2. That was dirty. Molina and Martinez are having a bit of trouble with the pitches, which is why the Mets need to find a steady, healthy catcher who will be with the team in April. A 74 mph changeup, low and in gets Cabrera swinging. Easily Pedro's best inning.

Wright works a leadoff walk to start the third inning. Update on Brian Schneider: Feeling good and ran the bases today, will be ready for Wednesday's game against the Indians. Beltran grounds one up the middle, tips off the pitchers glove and to the shortstop. Beltran looked like he was running well, but not nearly at full speed as the throw beat him to the bag. Delgado goes the other way again, ripping a double into left. Wright scores easily. 3-0. I think everyone can get off Delgado's back now. Anderson, who actually kept both hands on the bat for his swing, rips a single into right. 1st and 3rd, and that's the day for Yorman Bazardo, who doesn't look happy at all. Molina smokes one right to Cabrera's glove, 2 away for Clark. Broken bat looper to short, while Delgado gets hit by a piece of Clark's bat. It was no Tommy Lasorda tumble, but Delgado hit the deck but still got nailed by the bat in the right arm.

Fourth inning:
Delgado was removed from the game. Pretty deep cut into his right arm. Anderson has moved to first. Pedro works Ordonez beauitifully, fanning him on a curveball. Perez quickly pops up to Wright. A 2-2 curveball from Pedro goes behind the ducking head of the batter and nearly hits the bat. A tough AB between Pedro and Brett Cleven, with Martinez winning as he gets Cleven to pop out to center. 1-2-3 inning for Martinez.
Final line for Pedro: 4 innings, 4 hits, 0 runs, 1 walk, 4 strikeouts. I'll take it.

Missed that first out, bloggers have to potty too! Pedro will do a "naked belly dance" (I think) to try and prevent more injuries to the Mets. Sounds good to me. Reyes pops out to left, 2 away. Quick inning for the Mets, down 1-2-3.

Fifth inning:
Matt Wise coming into the game for the Mets. Wise has looked spectacular in relief for the Mets so far. I really like his stuff. Two changeups for strikes and Wise gets Hollimon swinging for his first out. The bunt is popped into the air and Wise makes a amazing diving grab for the out. Oh man, one of the best plays so far this spring. Great stuff from Wise. Guzman strikes out swinging. Amazing inning from Wise. Two K's and a defensive gem with the diving grab.

This will be my last inning as I have to pack up everything to head back to Connecticut. Game recap will be up later tonight.
Wright pulls one to Santiago at short, 1 away. Beltran pops one up to center field, 2 out. Jamar Hill up for the Mets. I have no idea who that is. Hill quickly pops one up to left.

Enjoy the rest of the game!

Live Game Commentary: Cards at Mets

Here we go again...Don't be afraid to comment and discuss!

Pre-game:
The Johan Santana teasers are awesome. Just throwing that out there. Glad to get Luis Castillo back into the fold before the season starts.

First inning:
Santana comes out and throws 90 on his first pitch. Hit 91 on his last pitch to Skip Schumacher. Honestly, Brian Barton looks like the last guy to major in aerospace engineering, no offense. Jose Reyes gets a ground ball, throws to first base a little low and Carlos Delgado flat out drops it. Here come the Delgado haters. Albert Pujols absolutely rockets a ball down the third base line. Good throw by Angel Pagan, almost beat got Barton at the plate. Raul Casanova looked like he got Pujols at third. I love how Santana pops off the mound when he thinks he gets the strikeout. There he goes, as he sits down the batter up and in. Back to back K's. Sinker, low and away. Beautiful.

Surpise! Reyes didn't get out on the first pitch. Castillo on the other hand swings on his first pitch of spring...and almost beats it out. Showed pretty decent speed getting down to first. Good morning, good afternoon, and goodnight for David Wright. There was that darn curveball again from Adam Wainwright.

Second inning:
Can of corn for Beltran out in center. Brendan Ryan is sporting the high socks. I really wish more players did that. Popped up behind home for Casanova. Tony LaRussa's strategy here, with the batter hitting 8th is to get three hitters ahead of Pujols the 2nd time around the batting order. I think it could work. Wright goes into foul territory and throws a bullet to Delgado to get Wainwright at first. He's been working on that arm, I guess.

I absolutely love Beltran's swing. It's just so sweet and compact. And then he pops up in foul territory. Delgado goes down swinging...again. Angel Pagan lays down a perfect bunt and easily beats it out to first. This guy is good. They are checking on Pagan a lot, which makes me believe other teams think he is a big threat. And they're right. Pagan takes second against one of the best arms in the game in Yadier Molina. Casanova knocks the ball the other way, and Barton could have had it, misses it, boobles it and drops it. Pagan comes around to score, while Casanova only gets to first. Endy Chavez grounds out to first to end the inning.

Third inning:
Kevin Burkhardt is interviewing Fernando Martinez, and Oliver Perez is just standing there with his arm around FMart. You have to love Ollie's personality. Easy ground ball for Reyes for the first out. Santana issues a walk to Schumacher. Santana just made Barton look silly on a changeup. Barton almost spun himself into the ground. Another changeup and Barton knocks in deep into the gap. Easy triple, run scores. Someone said recently that Santana is using his changeup too much and people are going to start to pick up on it. Santana just shook off a changeup, didn't take any other pitches, went back to the changeup and chose that one. The mind games!! Pujols pops up in foul territory to Wright. Fastball, inside and Troy Glaus is down looking. Santana has done a great job of limiting the damage.

Here's Santana's first AB. Nice swing on an 0-1, but grounded out to second. Reyes slaps one to short, 2 away quickly. Castillo, in his second at bat of spring, works the count 3-2 before walking. Good eye for only his second turn at bat. Fielders choice, inning over.

Fourth inning:
Reyes is in midseason form in the field. Amazing diving play taking him onto the OF grass. Spins up and makes the throw. Beltran gets tested in center, having to make a long run and diving for the ball. It got past him, but he doesn't look too shaken or anything. Molina jogs in to second with a double. Santana is not having a good day, Ryan just knocked one off the top of the wall. I don't know why Pagan didn't go up for that, he might have lost it in the sun. 3-1 STL. Wainwright singles, it's now 1st and 3rd. A sac-fly to right brings in the run. This is not Johan's best day. Fielders choice ends the inning. Does Santana get trotted out there for a 5th inning, his pitch count is up in the 60's.

Beltran grounds out the second. Wainwright in ON today. Nice to see Delgado go the other way. That is definitely something he needs to do more this season. Pagan drills one to straight away center. 1-2-3 inning for Wainwright. Pagan has the only hit for the Mets so far.

Fifth inning:
Santana is out there again, working to an 0-2 count on Barton quickly. Now it's 2-2, almost got him to chase a sinker. Got him on the changeup again, and Santana tallies his fourth strikeout of the day. Santana is getting way up in the pitch count, but I guess everyone is OK with it. Pujols chops out to Reyes, two away. Santana ends his day with his 5th strikeout. Probably his best inning right here in the fifth.
Final line: 5 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs (3 earned), 1 walk, 5 K's. 84 pitches.

Casanova making his case to get on the team if one of the catchers can't go take Wainwright deep to right field. He waited on that curveball and made the best of it. 4-2 STL. Marlon Anderson is taking his first cuts in a while, still recovering from the collision with Ryan Church. Anderson goes down looking. Inning over on a Reyes pop-up to left field.

Sixth inning:
Ricardo Rincon takes over on the mound. Gary and Ron are lobbying to get Rincon in the mix for the bullpen spot. He's been great this spring, but I just don't see room for him. A long, fly ball into the gap. I don't think Beltran had a shot at that, healthy or not. Perfect placement. Seems the guys in the booth jinxed Rincon, as he gives up another double. 5-2 STL. Well take Rincon's name out of the hat, or his hat out of the mix, whichever you prefer. A single up the middle and a mishandled ball, 2nd and 3rd, no one out. Oh boy, this is getting out of hand. Grounder to third, tips the back of the bag and skips away and into the bullpen. 7-2 STL. Usually sure-handed Anderson Hernandez got caught in between on a ball, E6. Second and third, one away, looking.

Internet issues. I'll end here for the day. It's currently 8-2 STL, with 2 on and 1 out.

Be back later with a game recap.

Live Commentary: Braves at Mets

First inning:
Michel Abreu has a chance to shine, and get a lot of looks at first base with Carlos Delgado and Marlon Anderson out. Unfortunately, he doesn't seem to have a glove at all, letting a pick off toss from Mike Pelfrey get away and allow the runner to advance. Abreu can hit a ton, but he needs to back it up with at least a decent glove.

Is it me or are the bats really loud? On that Anderson Hernandez ground out, the bat sound was much louder than I remember. What leads to this: smaller stadium or better mics?

Second inning:
Anyone else catch that? David Wright fielded a grounder and did not double clutch before throwing it to first base.
Nice 1-2-3 inning from Pelf. Three ground outs, that all he needs to do.

Angel Pagan is raking. 8-18 so far in Grapefruit league play.
Ramon Castro bombed that ball. It's not many days you see a Castro triple. Pagan had great base running awareness on the ball off the top of the wall, and scored easily. 1-0 Mets, end of two.

Third inning:
Pelfrey's pitches claim another bat, but it goes for a infield single. He's dealing today, looks great on the mound. Great 3 innings from Pelf, who is probably done for the day. Two hits, one an infield single, and no walks. He's looking really good so far.

I don't know how Robinson Cancel saw where he was going on that double. His visor was pretty much over his eyes.
Jose Reyes delivers on a grounder up the middle, scoring Cancel. 2-0 Mets.
And Reyes' bouncing around on the bases pays off again, while he heads to third on a wild throw on a pickoff attempt.
And Moises Alou grounds into an inning ending double play.

Fourth inning:
Billy Wagner is in, allowing a bloop single to his first batter. Simply dirty pitches from Wags, cutting quickly away from left handed hitters. As I type this, he K's Scott Thorman on a fastball, up and in.
Looks like Wagner is trying out pitches rather than trying to retire batters. Braves score, 2-1.

Fernando Martinez has nailed both balls down the first base line, the first one getting caught on the fly, and the next being turned into a 1-3 double play. He's hitting it pretty well, but both right to Thorman at first.

Fifth inning:
Crowd favorite Nelson Figueroa is in, and if he keeps putting up decent numbers, he's another one to add to the bullpen competition mix. One hit allowed, and Figueroa ends the inning with a beautiful breaking ball.

Mets go quietly and quickly, 1-2-3. Scott Thorman is showing a heckuva glove at first, diving for the throw to beat Reyes while keeping a foot on the bag.

I'll end here for today. I have to head to class soon, with another class right behind that, so a recap won't be up until a bit later than normal.

Enjoy the rest of the game.