Appearing before tonight’s game, SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt reported that Willie Randolph told him that Brian Schneider is about “60 percent and will not catch tonight”.

On Jose Valentin, Burkhardt said that Valentin has no problem swinging from the right side, but the pinched nerve gives him problems from the left side.

According the AP, Brian Schneider is still bothered by his hamstring, and is getting frustrated over his inability to participate. According to the report:

“I want to be back there so bad catching these guys and seeing pitching, but right now, the smart thing to do is to give it some time to make sure I miss time now and not during the season.”

Back up catcher Ramon Castro has also been suffering from some hamstring issues, though there has been no indication that either will have to be placed on the DL and both claim they’ll be ready when the season opens.

Assuming in both cases its just a case of tightness, its nothing to worry about. However, if its anything more serious, then suddenly our next catcher is Robinson Cancel I believe. Our catching prospect pit has never been deep. After that, I assume Sandy Alomar Jr has to be activated, which requires a new contract, some paperwork, and of course the magic powers of his special treat: the Alomar Malomar.

The Marlins whooped Mike Pelfrey today, who gave up seven earned runs in 3.1 innings, ending the Mets six-game win streak.

Duaner Sanchez was a bright spot, he pitched a perfect seventh inning, striking out one. He declared himself 97 percent of what he was in 2006.

Ryan Church came back in the first game since his concussion, going 2-for-2.

Brian Schneider went yard in his first at bat after missing a week with a hamstring injury. Damion Easley and Argenis Reyes also homered.

Jorge Sosa threw three scoreless in relief innings with the other half of the Mets split squad in Fort Lauderdale against the Orioles.

Various medical updates are bouncing across the internets on our many partially functional Mets. Brian Schneider and Endy Chavez are reportedly ready to play in tommorrow’s games, which would join them amongst other ailing players Damion Easley and Marlon Anderson.

Peter Blotte, subbing for Adam Rubin, also says Ruben Gotay has shed his injury boot, though no word if he’s switched it up for some stylish Ugs.

In other injury updates, a local resident of Port St Lucie has been accused of turning Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez into a newt, though preliminary reports indicate that he got better.

Duaner Sanchez stepped onto the mound yesterday and threw to live hitters in a game for the first time in nearly two years.

John Delcos, on his blog for the Journal News describes the first two hitters, Ramon Castro and Brian Schneider, reaching base on a bloop and a bleeder. Duaner got the next batter to hit into a fielder’s choice, which put runners on the corners with one out.

This simulated a situation that would be familiar to him in a set up situation out of the pen and he did not disappoint. He mixed his fastball and change up to Fernando Martinez and Brahaim Maldonado and fooled them both.

Sanchez got his fastball up to 90 mph and threw plenty of strikes. Pitching coach Rick Peterson did not disappoint either and had one of his classic metaphors ready for Duaner’s return.

“ He started this journey last spring. It was like walking across the desert step-by-step and today he finally got to the oasis.

“It was incredibly exciting for all of us.’’

The desert where Rick’s ‘Peak Performance Pyramid’ resides.

I’m happy for Duaner, and cautiously optimistic. However, how many pitchers have come back from such a severe shoulder injury and two surgeries. I think some folks think its a given he will return to form, but I still need to see it. I hope he can, I just can’t help but think that there isn’t much precedent for someone being able to do so.

• For the New York Post, Mike Vaccaro writes how Brian Schneider could be next in a long line of great Mets catchers, beginning with Gary Carter through Paul Lo Duca. Vaccaro writes that the Mets value him for his ability to manage pitchers and such, and when you build a team around your pitching that probably makes sense.

He quotes Omar Minaya (and then makes fun of it):

“But we wound up in a pretty good position, I think. You’ll see what Brian [Schneider] can do. He’s a player you appreciate more when you see him every day.”

Of course, coming from a general manager, that could be the equivalent of a guy setting his buddy up on a blind date and telling him the girl has “a great personality.”

• For more on Schneider, check out the New York Times and the Daily News.
• In the Daily News, Adam Rubin writes how Willie Randolph plans on resting Jose Reyes more often this year, which would favor giving the last bench spot to Ruben Gotay who played SS in winter ball. In the same article, Rubin writes how Matt Wise looks like the favorite to claim the final spot in the bullpen, and how the Mets will be using former closer Brant Rustich as a starter in order to replenish their weakened starting pitching due to the prospects given in the Johan Santana trade.
• For ESPN.com, Jayson Stark writes about Carlos Beltran’s recent trash talk, “This year, tell Jimmy Rollins we’re the team to beat.”
• For ESPN.com, Bob Klapisch writes how bringing in Santana has given the Mets their swagger back.

Ben Shpigel of the New York Times runs down the some of the highlights of Day 3 at Port St. Lucie.

According to SI.com, the New York Mets have agreed to a one-year, $2 million deal with outfielder Ryan Church.

Church, 29, was traded to the Mets along with catcher Brian Schneider in return for OF Lastings Milledge. He batted .272 with 15 homers, 70 RBIs and 43 doubles in 2007.

He can earn an additional $120,000 in performances bonuses: $50,000 for 450 plate appearances; $40,000 for 535 plate appearances and $30,000 for 550 plate appearances.

The Mets lone player remaining in arbitration is starting pitcher Oliver Perez.

Well, that flew by quickly.

Taking a glance at the calendar, pitchers and catchers report in 45 days and we are a mere 57 days from the first Spring Training game, on February 26th against the University of Michigan.

Looking back at this off season so far, the Mets have made four significant changes.

The first is the loss of Tom Glavine. Glavine’s return to Atlanta will have a large effect on the Mets starting rotation. Currently he is replaced internally by placing Mike Pelfrey to the back of the rotation and moving everyone else, John Maine, Oliver Perez and Orlando Hernandez, up a slot with Pedro Martinez up top but with 2 months left, Omar may still look to add a pitcher via trade or free agency.

Freddy Garcia and Bartolo Colon have been mentioned recently as possible targets. Colon has received positive reviews of his performance in the Dominican Winter League. Omar Minaya famously moved mountains to get Colon while GM of the Expos. Garcia will not likely be ready to pitch until June. Interest in Kyle Lohse, Livan Hernandez, and Joe Blanton has cooled. The Mets remain a dark horse in the Johan Santana sweepstakes, but could surprise many as the Red Sox and Yankees appear involved only to ensure neither of them wins the rights to his services.

The second major change is replacing Paul Lo Duca with Brian Schneider. Lo Duca’s offense has regressed but he’s still a better hitter than Schneider. The upside with Schneider is his defense and ability to manage a pitching staff. It remains to be seen if this element will make up for his hitting deficiencies.

The third major change is the addition of Ryan Church in right field. Church should be an upgrade offensively for the Mets in right. He hits a ton of doubles, has decent power and he’s a proficient defensive outfielder.

Pedro, Maine and Perez make for a solid top end, but the Mets have question marks at the back end of their rotation. Mike Pelfrey has yet to prove he can be a productive major league pitcher, and will have much to prove to those who question his abilities. Orlando Hernandez has been outstanding when he is healthy, but his age and his fragility are a big concern.

The fourth change is in the bullpen. The Mets have sent Guillermo Mota packing, to the delight of pretty much all Mets fans, and will hopefully see Duaner Sanchez finally return. The Mets also added Matt Wise who was quite good until he struck Reds infielder Pedro Lopez in the face with a pitch. Wise apparently was shaken by the incident and his performance suffered, posting a 10.45 ERA in his final 16 outings. He brings an excellent K/BB ratio and a decent 6th inning arm to add to the Mets bullpen depth.

The Mets still have an outside change of landing Johan Santana. If Omar can pull that off, the Mets will have quite a formidable roster entering the 2008 campaign.

Head over to Nats320 for a two part interview with the new Mets starting catcher Brian Schneider.

Great job by the blogger over at Nats 320, I got a better sense of what kind of person Schneider is from his interview. In case you are wondering 320 is a reference to blogger’s season tickets section.

On his blog over at ESPN, Buster Olney questions the Mets decision to give up on Lastings Milledge this early, especially for so little in return.

He writes, “That kid has talent,” said one AL executive. “Eighteen months ago, his bat speed was being compared to that of Gary Sheffield, and that hasn’t changed. He’s only 22 years old. Even if you think he’s a pain in the [rear] now, there’s no reason why you can’t wait and see if his rough edges will get smoothed out.”

He also goes on to talk about the Mets acquisitions of Ryan Church and Brian Schneider in the trade saying, “The return they got — the older catcher, an extra outfielder [Ryan Church], those are not hard to find. But it is very hard to find someone with talent like Milledge.”

I would have to agree with what Olney is saying here. When this trade was first made my first thoughts were that the Mets were just getting chips to trade away for a front of the rotation starter, but this no longer seems to be the case. Omar seems to be satisfied going into the season with Church as the starting right fielder.

Now I understand the trade value of Milledge has fallen dramatically, but this would raise the question of why not running him out there this season to see if he can live up to his hype and get his trade value to where it once was. Hopefully Omar can prove all the critics wrong because In Omar We Trust…right?

Here’s a rundown of Hot Stove news this morning…

Brian Schneider is among baseball’s top defensive catchers. He was among the league leaders at throwing out runners in 2005, gunning down 29 of 77 possible basestealers (37.7 percent). He topped all Major League catchers in the same category in 2003 and 2004.

Schneider was the 7th best in baseball in throwing runners out last year and 4th best in the National League.

ESPN provides defensive stats for catchers.

Capital Punishment, one of the foremost Washington Nationals blogs had this to say about the Ryan Church and Brian Schneider deal for Lastings Milledge.

Church is what he is. He’s better than what the Nats think he is, but he’s not a centerpiece — his strength is his cheapness, something that’s going to start going out the window the next year or three as the arbitration process starts.

Schneider has his lovers, for sure. He’s a solid player, but one whose value is rapped up in mythos more than anything. He got lots of credit for developing young pitchers this season, even though there really weren’t any young pitchers who developed this year. And he never got any of the blame for ’06’s disaster of a pitching staff. The next guy might (or might not) come in, do just as well. (Or it could just be Flores… we’ll see!)

Another Nationals blog Nats320, offers their reflections on losing Schneider and Church

It’s the part of The Great Game, you come to dislike. The Trading of Your Favorite Players. Sometimes, following Our Washington Nationals can hit me hard. And, it has nothing to do with a frustrating loss. Whether or not My Main Man!! Ryan Church or Our Favorite Catcher–Brian Schneider–would EVER be All Star Players is not the point–the African Queen and I came to like both of them.

We admired their professionalism on the field, as well as,the way they handled themselves off the baseball diamond. They are fun–enjoyable people. No, we did not know them that well at all. But, both Ryan Church and Brian Schneider were stand up folks. And, their spouses–Tina & Jordan always had something nice to say to us when we came across their path at RFK Stadium. The announcement this afternoon that both Church and Schneider have been traded to The New York Mets for Lastings Milledge–hurts us–right in gut.

Nationals Farm Authority offers a recap of the Nationals press conference to welcome Milledge.

Milledge was on the call and thanked Bowden and the Nationals for the opportunity to play every day; his preferred position is CF though he said he can play LF/RF above average; with regards to the reported controversy in New York, he said all of it made him a better person and a better ballplayer.