Bart Hubbuch on his blog for the New York Post is giving in-game updates of El Duque and Mike Pelfrey’s performances.

So far El Duque has managed to get out of trouble being bailed out by his defense, including a backhanded double play started by Luis Castillo.

El Duque had a nice 1-2-3 inning in the fourth and has thus far only allowed one run. Adam Rubin on his Daily News blog reports that El Duque has returned to using his high leg kick.

John Delcos reports on his blog for the Journal News that El Duque left the game after the fifth, still with only one run surrendered. Mike Pelfrey is off to a bad start in the sixth, walking the first two batters he faced.

David Lennon reports on his blog for Newsday that Duque threw 46 pitches — including 26 in the third alone — and 28 for strikes. He allowed four hits (1 BB, 0 Ks.) The only run was scored off Brian Roberts‘ two-out double in the third inning.

On Sunday, the duo of Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey combined for a total of allow 17 hits and 13 runs in 7⅓ innings. With that said, Mets manager Willie Randolph still hasn’t name his fifth starter. The competition is squarely down to Hernandez, Pelfrey and 33-year old pitcher Nelson Figueroa.

Originally drafted by the Mets in the 30th round of the 1995 MLB Amateur Draft, he was traded to the Diamondbacks in 1998. He was then sent to Philadelphia in the deal that brought Curt Schilling to the desert. Following that, Figueroa bounced around the league with various clubs including the Brewers, Pirates and Nationals.

His last major-league appearance was with the Pirates in 2004, going 0-3 with a 5.72 ERA in 10 games, three of which were starts. He pitched with a torn rotator cuff and took a year off to rehab.

Finally, in September of 2007, he found his way to Taiwan to play in the Chinese Professional Baseball League, eventually being named the CPBL championship series most valuable player.

In six games, two starts, Figueroa has a 2.87 ERA and has allowed five runs in 14 2/3 innings.

Overall, in 74 appearances, 33 of which were starts, Figueroa is 7-17 with a 4.65 ERA throughout his five-year major league career.

For more on Figueroa, check out Vic Ziegel’s column for the New York Daily News.

On a day thats usually filled with fun, was not fun for pitchers Mike Pelfrey and Orlando Hernandez. El Duque allowed 5 runs in 3 innings in his first start of the spring recovering from bunions on his foot.

Yuck

Pelfrey followed suit, allowing 13 hits and 8 runs in 4.1 innings of work

Awful.

On a lighter note, Jose Reyes went 2-4 with an rbi and is batting 345 for the spring.

For a full recap, head on over to MLB.com

Anthony put it best, 4 man rotation anyone?

Perhaps resident Foot Boss can predict the future, as he seems to in his previous post.

John Delcos on his blog for the Journal News reports that Willie Randolph has announced a four man rotation: Johan, Pedro, Ollie, Maine.

According to Delcos, Randolph feels no one has yet earned that final spot, though Adam Rubin, who writes on his blog for the New York Daily News, that the team plans to activate one of them by the fifth game, giving them extra time to figure it all out.

Update: Adam Rubin cites a Mets official who suggested activating the fifth starter Game 5 doesn’t seem realistic, suggesting that five starting pitchers and a five-man bench will be announced at some point before Opening Day.

I for one, continue to throw my hat into the ring. For $50,000 and a blue batting practice jersey, autographed, of my choice, I will pitch for the Mets. I can’t be too much worse than Duq, and much less money. Throw in some carvel in a plastic Mets hat, and I’ll knock more off my fee. Who am I kidding, I’ll pitch for just the jersey and maybe some seats for once I’m fired for being about as effective as if Jose Lima and Anthony Young had a baby.

The only real surprise, to me at least, is that Maine is below Ollie in the rotation. Ollie on his game, definately better. But I think I’d take Maine on a bad day over one of Ollie’s infamous bad games anyday.

Given every opportunity to seize the fifth slot in the Mets rotation, Mike Pelfrey has done everything in his power to prove he’s not up to the task.

After Orlando Hernandez was knocked out after three innings of work, essentially ending his chances of starting the season as the Mets fifth starter, Mike Pelfrey took his turn into the fire. After pitching the prior four innings giving up two runs on seven hits and a walk he gave up six more runs in the ninth off six hits for a total of 13 hits and eight runs.

Four man rotation anyone?

Orlando Hernandez threw a simulated game today, while the rest of the Mets kicked backed and relaxed old school style. He threw 80 pitches, with a top speed of 81mph, or as experts call it: slow.

According to John Delcos, Pelf threw 90 pitches as well.

So far Duq has not broken anything, though appeared winded after a long fencing duel with an unknown man in black.

This close to spring training, having a fastball moving that slow, its safe to say Duque will not be joining us on the 25 man roster come Opening Day. My buddies and I play in a slow pitch beer league though that he might be eligible for. You in Duq?

For ESPN.com, Christopher Harris takes a look at 30 burning questions, one for each team.

For the Mets he asks, “What can we expect from the Mets’ rotation behind Johan Santana?”

Harris takes a look at Pedro Martinez, John Maine, Oliver Perez, Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey, writing a paragraph each about their situation and their potential outlook.

Amusingly, he writes about El Duque:

What can you say about El Duque that wasn’t written in the Magna Carta? The dude is old. If he’s 38, George Burns is 65 and playing the Catskills.

Yes, he’s old. Yes, Alou is old.  But I guess we deserve the old jokes after giving two starting jobs to people who in their wallet have pictures of Marilyn Monroe, some used floss and an AARP card that is set to expire in June. 

I just don’t know why everybody is bashing Pelfrey so much. Yes he struggled last year, to the tune of starting the year 0-7 but still.  But, he has a great sinking fastball, and with time his secondary pitches will improve.  Let’s not forget he showed promise at the end of last year.  He was 3-1 in September, with wins against the Nationals, Braves and Astros.  Plus he can bring some youth to the club.  Sure, Alou and Duque might complain about that new school hip-hop jibber jabber that’s playing in the background, but they’ll be gone soon. 

Beyond this rant, it’s a decent read if you’re a fantasy baseball junkie.

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 Mets will play host to the Florida Marlins in Port St Lucie in game 10 of Spring Training play. The other half of the team will travel to Ft. Lauderdale to take on the Orioles. Mike Pelfrey, who has yet to allow a run this spring, will take the mound in Port St Lucie. Jonathan Niese will pitch the other game. The game in St. Lucie will be televised on the CW and will also be shown on MLB.tv.

Lineups:

Marlins

• SS Robert Andino
• 2B Dan Uggla
• DH Luis Gonzalez
• LF Josh Willingham
• 1B Mike Jacobs
• 3B Jorge Cantu
• RF Brett Carroll
• CF Alejandro De Aza
• C Matt Treanor

Mets:

• SS Jose Reyes
• LF Brady Clark
• 3B David Wright
• LF Ryan Church
• 1B Olmedo Saenz
• CF Endy Chavez
• DH Damion Easley
• C Brian Schneider
• 2B Argenis Reyes

Easley, Chavez, Church, and Schneider all make their return today..