A quick wrap-up from Jupiter after the Metsâ 7-0 loss to the Cardinals at Roger Dean Stadium:
1. The Mets are off to a 0-2 start in the Grapefruit League after mustering just four hits in the Cardinalsâ blanking. John Maineâs brief and ugly outing was the story of the day, but Willie Randolph couldnât have liked seeing David Wright, Carlos Delgado and Moises Alou go a combined 0-for-9 while stranding six runners. The Mets couldnât do anything against St. Louis starter Anthony Reyes, who pitched three innings of two-hit ball and looked nothing like the pitcher that went a dreadful 2-14 last season.
2. Do the Mets have reason to worry about Duaner Sanchez? He was scheduled to make the trip today but didnât because of what the Mets described as “normal sorenessââ in his surgically repaired right arm. The soreness stemmed from Sanchezâs 26-pitch outing Monday in the Metsâ intrasquad game â his first appearance in a game since separating his right shoulder in a Miami taxi accident in 2006. The Mets say Sanchez is only being pushed back a day and will pitch tomorrow in Port St. Lucie against the Cardinals, but his situation bears watching.
3. Prized outfield prospect Fernando Martinez is getting some early playing time and making use of it. The 19-year-old had a single and a walk today and is 2-for-4 overall in the Metsâ first two games. Martinez started in center and batted second this afternoon after coming off the bench to play in right Wednesday against the Tigers.
4. Johan Santanaâs much-anticipated spring training debut is tomorrow at 1:10 p.m. in Port St. Lucie. The game is being shown live on SNY. The Mets have sold more than 5,000 tickets, although itâs still not a sellout.
5. The Mets released their weekend pitching lineup. Jonathan Niese will face the Dodgersâ Brady Penny on Saturday in Port St. Lucie, while 15-game winner Oliver Perez will make his spring debut Sunday in Vero Beach against the Dodgersâ Derek Lowe.
