The Mets officially placed Orlando “El Duque” Hernandez, Duaner Sanchez and Ramon Castro on the DL, Castro’s being retro’ed to the 21st and Sanchez the 27th. As expected, Castro’s roster spot will go to Casanova.

In other roster moves, Stokes was DFA’ed. Stokes has stated previously that he would not accept a minor league assignment, and is presumble packing up his ball, headed home as you read this.

All the leftovers are headed to the minors, just in case we need the talents of Rincon or Nelson Figueroa in the future.

As with the previous announcements, there is nothing earth shattering here. Our resident Psychic, Metsgal, in fact predicted all these moves about four months ago and sealed them in an envelope. The only shame is that Rincon would have allowed us to have both a guy named Casanova, and a guy named after a ABBA song on the roster at once. Regardless, its safe to assume Duq will work on pitching in pain with his old leg kick delivery and once ready, he’ll replace Pelf. Castro will be given time to heal up, I don’t see them rushing him, then will reclaim his spot from Casanova. I think an eye will be kept on Fig, who’ll probably pitch his ass off in AAA in hopes that if Pelf falters and Duq heals slowly that he might be given a chance to fullfill his dream of pitching at Shea.

The Mets fell to the Marlins this afternoon by a score of 7-5.  Ricky Nolasco got the win for the fish. Nelson Figueroa took the loss for the Mets. For a full recap, head on over to MLB.com.

A few notes

• Starter Bobby Parnell was impressive, going five innings without allowing a run
• Carlos Delgado had arguably his best day at the plate this spring, going 2-5 with two rbis.
• It was not a good day for bullpen hopefuls Joe Smith and Figueroa, who both allowed three runs in an inning of work.
• Duaner Sanchez allowed a run in a single inning of work.

The highlight of this game was definetely Parnell. With him and Jon Niese, we may have found two diamonds in the rough…

John Delcos on his blog for the Journal News, has details of Orlando Hernandez’s start today, which did not go well. El Duque gave up five runs on four hits and two walks over three innings, including a 2-run homer by former pitcher Rick Ankiel.

Kevin Burkhardt of SNY relayed comments in the clubhouse by El Duque after his start where he said he felt like he was “rushing” and was not happy with his mechanics.

Earlier today Duaner Sanchez tossed a scoreless, 14-pitch inning against the Cardinals’ Triple-A team. He hit 91 mph with his fastball.

Adam Rubin, on his blog for the New York Daily News, relays an interesting discussion in the clubhouse with Billy Wagner and Scott Schoeneweis after Duaner’s appearance.

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.

The Post’s Serby does his Sunday Q&A with the Mets bullpen mystery man Duaner Sanchez. In one of Serbys better interviews, it covers all sorts of areas from the accident to the Mets strong 06, from Duaner on the mound to Duaner off the field. Duaner on getting sent home by Willie last year:

I wasn’t doing what I was supposed to do. He had all the right to do what he did.

Duaner also seems to have some fun in the interview, talking about not speaking English while playing in Montana, and his choice of dinner guests:

Two ugly guys and Halle Berry

Ah Dirty Sanchez, how we’ve missed you. 

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.

It appears that Joe Smith will have to prove he deserves to be part of the Mets bullpen last year after he struggled through a dead arm period in the later part of last season. On Mets.com, Mary Noble discusses Joe Smith’s chances of starting the season with the big league club.

Noble talks about how new Met Ryan Church had firsthand experience with Smiths late season decline.

Their shared experience began — and ended — in Washington, D.C., on Sept. 17. A 1-1 pitch from Smith in the seventh inning became a pinch-hit two-run home run by Church and another unsightly episode in the Mets’ slippery-slope September slide.

Smith had faced the Nationals three times previously, faced eight batters, struck out four and allowed one to reach base. Those appearances happened in April, and the difference between April and Sept. 17, according to Church was “about six or seven miles an hour.”

Smith will have a tougher time making the team with Duaner Sanchez and Matt Wise in the mix. Sanchez, Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman, Scott Schoeneweis, Pedro Feliciano and Jorge Sosa are are all most likely penciled in already. Smith, Wise, Ruddy Lugo, Juan Padilla, Brian Stokes and Tony Armas Jr. will fight it out for the likely seventh and final spot.

Duaner Sanchez is scheduled to pitch in an intrasquad game today, a welcome sight since his July 2006 taxi accident.

Wille Randolph on MSGnetwork.com expressed his interest.

“I’m just curious in general,” manager Willie Randolph said Sunday. “You haven’t seen the guy pitch in a year and a half. Throwing on the side is one thing, but he’s looking good.”

“The guy was one of the better setup guys in the game just a few years ago and you know obviously if he bounces back and gets anywhere close or even better than that, that’s going to help us out tremendously in our bullpen,” Randolph said.

Its beginning to look like Sanchez, El Duque and Mike Pelfrey will be the early Spring stories. All eyes will be on Johan on Friday, but for now everyones going to be curious to see what Duaner has, and if El Duque can keep himself out of the trainers room long enough to get his groove back.

Ben Shpigel of the New York Times baseball blog, BATS, is doing a Q&A with fans today regarding the Mets.

He answered this question I posed to him about Duaner Sanchez…

Hi Ben,

Many folks are saying Duaner Sanchez is the key to the Mets season this year. If he can be as good as he was before his injury, the bullpen can fall into more specific roles. Do you agree that Duaner is such a big factor in terms of how well the Mets will do this season?

Thanks,
Anthony

BEN SHPIGEL: I wouldn’t go so far as to say that he’s the key to the season. Maybe a little too steep. But the key to the bullpen? Absolutely. If he’s healthy, everything else should fall into place. I don’t think the Mets are going to push him early — no back-to-back days or multiple-inning stints right out of the shoot — but sharing (or taking over) the set-up role with Aaron Heilman strengthens the back end considerably. Picture a starter going 6 innings, Pedro Feliciano facing a tough lefthander and Heilman/Sanchez leading the way to Billy Wagner. That’s what happened for the first four months of 2006 until Sanchez’s car accident. They made do without him, but they’re a much better team with him.