At his blog for ESPN.com, Andrew Marchand is reporting that the Mets are “likely” to host the 2013 All Star game at Citi Field and there will be an announcement by commisioner Bud Selig soon.

The Mets lost to the Cardinals by a score of 6-5 this afternoon in Jupiter. Mike Pelfrey pitched for the Mets, scattering 6 hits over 4.2 innings, allowing 2 runs(1 earned). For a recap of the game, head on over to MLB.com.

A few notes..

• Jose Reyes went 2-3, raising his spring average to .273
• Carlos Delgado went 0-3, and is now hitting .071 this spring.
• Pedro Feliciano allowed 1 unearned run and was credited with a blown save. His spring era is still 0.00 Jorge Sosa gave up 1 run on 2 hits in 2 innings of work. He threw a wild pitch in the 9th to allow the tying run to score, with the Mets one strike away from victory.
• Finally, Luis Castillo expects to play Saturday in his return from offseason knee surgery.

Wallace (don’t call me Wally) Matthews of Newsday is at it once again with his latest hatchet job on the New York Mets. In today’s edition, Matthews picks apart the Mets for last year’s marketing slogan and calls this year’s team a “$145-million boondoggle.”

There’s no sense in going with something as boastful and contemptuous of the realities of baseball as last year’s slogan, because right now, it is tough to read how good this Mets team is going to be. Aside from (Johan) Santana, Jose Reyes, David Wright, the roster is aging and lacks depth. Have we seen the best of Carlos Delgado, Carlos Beltran, Moises Alou, Pedro Martinez, and Billy Wagner? Probably so, and it hasn’t been good enough.

Matthews also gives his ideas on what this year’s marketing slogan should be.

What gets me about this story is that it is blatant hate. Take a look in his archives and read some of Wally’s “articles.” And since when do all the Mets have are Santana, Wright and Reyes. Really?? What about John Maine and Oliver Perez? What about the future stars, like Fernando Martinez? And since when did Carlos Beltran become a grey beard?

I know that Wally is paid to write stuff like this. However, you can be critical without coming off as a jerk. I have no problem with poking fun at the fact the Mets said, “Your Season Has Come.” The Mets didn’t get it done last year; we all remember that. Good writers find a way to be critical, without sounding cynical.

The Mets lost to the Cards yesterday 5-4 in Johan Santanas first start as a Met. Santana pitched two innings, allowing three runs, all on a three run homer by Juan Gonzalez in the first inning.

Only Spring Training.

Duaner Sanchez allowed a solo home run to Albert Pujols in his one inning of work.

Jose Reyes went 2-3, David Wright 1-3

Carlos Beltran and Luis Castillo did not play, still rehabbing from offseason surgeries.

Mets.com is reporting that the Mets and LHP Ricardo Rincon came to terms on a Minor League deal today. The deal will pay 750,000 if he plays in the majors, and 125,000 if he plays in the minors.

The 37 year old Rincon has a career 3.58 ERA in 557 career games.

Metsblog.com is reporting that the Mets have signed former Brewers reliever Matt Wise to a one year deal. Wise had been on track for a spectacular season, but had the wheels fall off in the last 2 months of the season.

I recall Wise throwing 20 straight balls against us in Milwaukee in August, and almost falling off the couch in laughter. I know that Wise had been known for a great changeup, that contributed to his early season success. I like it, low risk, high reward deal.

Update - 6:22 p.m. - The contract is worth $1.2 million. If Wise is released before opening day, he will earn $750,000.

Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that the New York Mets made a strong run at Orioles LHP Erik Bedard at the general managers’ meetings earlier this month. However, at the time, Orioles representative Andy MacPhail was not ready to make a move. The Los Angeles Dodgers also inquired about Bedard, but got the a similar response.

Bedard, 28, went 13-5 on the season for the Orioles, ranked 3rd best in the league in strikeouts with 221 and 4th in the league with a 3.16 ERA in 28 games.

Rosenthal believes a package of prospects headed by OF Carlos Gomez could be “enticing”. The Dodgers would likely have to send a package of prospects headed by OF Matt Kemp.

Lastly, Ken also notes that the Twins would be better off dumping closer Joe Nathan for prospects if the team does decide to use 2008 as a rebuilding period.

The 33-year old Nathan is due $6 million this upcoming year, which is a great bargain for a closer of his caliber. In 68 games, Nathan went 4-2 while converting 37 of 41 saves and a 1.88 ERA for the Twins in 2007.