The Mets (8-5) take on the Baltimore Orioles (6-5) in today’s Grapefruit League game from Tradition Field. Lineups courtesy of John Delcos’ blog for The Journal News.

Mets

• Jose Reyes (SS)
• Fernando Martinez (CF)
• David Wright (3B)
• Carlos Beltran (DH)
• Carlos Delgado (1B)
• Ryan Church (RF)
• Brady Clark (LF)
• Robinson Cancel (C)
• Anderson Hernandez (2B)

LHP Oliver Perez will start for the Mets with Billy Wagner and Aaron Heilman also slated to see action.

You can catch the game starting at 1:10pm on SNY. As always, head over to the Hot Foot Bleachers to chat about the game with the Mets faithful.

There were crazy rumors that Luis Castillo was going to start today, but as you can see, that didn’t happen.   Maybe tomorrow.

Over at his blog for the Daily News, Adam Rubin recaps Orlando Hernandez’s simulated game and discusses some odds and ends from Port St. Lucie.

Among those, Rubin reports that Jose Reyes will not be back with his ever popular Professor Reyes segment for Shea Stadium’s final season.

I know this is part of Jose’s new attitude, along with his toned down dances and handshakes, but I don’t think anyone saw this as an example of showboating. If anything, Reyes was providing a public service to the fans. How else am I supposed to know how to say double play in Spanish.

The Mets lost to the Boston Red Sox this afternoon by a score of 4-3.

Nelson Figueroa gets the loss giving up 5 hits and 4 runs in 3 innings of work. Figueroa had his scoreless streak of 7 and 1/3 innings snapped with a second inning home run by Mike Lowell. Steve Register followed Figueroa with 2 scoreless innings. Rudy Lugo, Joselo Diaz, and Nate Field each pitched scoreless innings in relief.

At the plate today, Angel Pagan continues to make a push toward a roster spot, going 1-for-3 with a 2 RBI triple. Pagan also added a great diving catch to bail Figueroa out of a bases loaded jam to end the second. Ryan Church, the only Met regular in the lineup went 0-for-2 with a walk. Damion Easley, and Anderson Hernandez each went 1-for-3 while Endy Chavez was hitless in 4 at bats.

The Mets come home to face the Orioles tomorrow at 1pm. Oliver Perez is scheduled to start.

All in all, pretty close considering the lineup and pitchers the Mets put out there. Pagan continues to impress, making it tough to deny him a spot on opening day if he keeps this up.

At his blog for the NY Post, Bart Hubbuch recaps Pedro Martinez’s simulated game. Pedro threw 59 pitches, 43 for strikes, over 4 innings. He allowed 4 hits while striking out 2, walking none and allowing one run.

Martinez was reportedly pleased with his velocity and command, topping his fastball out at 87mph. He is expected to make his Grapefruit League debut on Sunday when the Mets battle the Tigers from Tradition Field.

Carlos Beltran, one the 4 hitters facing Martinez, went 1-for-5 with a single and an rbi.

The Mets (8-4-1) travel to Fort Meyers, Fla to take on the Boston Red Sox (3-8-1) from City of Palms Park. Lineups courtesy of David Lennon’s blog for Newsday:

Mets:

• Argenis Reyes (2B)
• Endy Chavez (CF)
• Angel Pagan (LF)
• Ryan Church (RF)
• Damion Easley (3B)
• Jose Valentin (DH)
• Raul Casanova (C)
• Olmedo Saenz (1B)
• Anderson Hernandez (SS)

Red Sox:

• Joe Thurston (2B)
• Kevin Youkilis (1B)
• JD Drew (RF)
• Manny Ramirez (LF)
• Mike Lowell (3B)
• Sean Casey (DH)
• Jed Lowrie (SS)
• Doug Mirabelli (C)
• Brandon Moss (CF)

RHP Nelson Figueroa gets the start for the Mets with knuckleballer Tim Wakefield going for the Sox. The game will not be broadcast on television, but you can catch it on MLB.tv. As always, feel free to head on over to the Hot Foot Bleachers to talk about the game with your fellow fans.

The guys over at Fire Joe Morgan are back with some kind words for the always supportive Wallace Matthews.

A week old but still a fun read. Like most Mets fans, I am not a big fan of Matthews and his work. I find him to be blatantly anti-mets with everything he writes. Someone needs to get a back story on this. Is he just a bitter Yankees fan or did some Mets player from the 80s fool around with his wife.

I’m looking at you Keith.

In an article for mlb.com, Jonathon Mayo assesses the state of the Mets minor league system in the post-Santana era.

Mayo also notes his 10 prospects to watch in 2008, a few who are under the radar, as well as an ‘07 draft recap and predictions for the upcoming season.

Mayo does a great job of profiling the mets system, as well as pimping the talents of Fernando Martinez. Not like mets fans needed another reason to be excited for the imminent arrival of Martinez in the OF.