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.

Adam Rubin reports this morning that the Mets are leaning towards placing El Duque on the DL, to give him a little more time to get fully up to speed. If this were done, he could miss as little as two starts if he returned by the 13th. Pelf would most likely get the nod in his place. According to Rubin, the team will most likely wait till the 3pm deadline to make the decision, along with any other roster related moves.

So far all you fans enjoy there, please enjoy the next six hours of no news at all and a million posts across on the blogosphere speculated who nabs those final roster spots. Your Joe Smith and Brady Clark line forms to the left. The Fernando Tatis Club to the right. And the Anderson Hernandez line, well go sit in the corner and think about that one.

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.

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.

Carlos Delgado is expected to play tonight. He was injured in the now infamous Brady Clark Broken Bat Rampage 2008. He received four stitches in his arm, and is contractually permitted to stab Clark with a bat if he so wishes.

Schneider and Castro will both remain out with various hamstring related infirmities, Robinson Cancel will catch. Spies report Paul Lo Duca was last seen sticking needles in two voodoo dolls, one of which looked kind of like Shrek but in a Mets uniform.

And lastly, John Delcos reports El Duque is throwing. A ball. In a fashion that vaguely resembles pitching, but apparently slower. Duqe might still be tired from this weekend, when along with his brother he attempted to rid Boston of evil by acting as avenging angels against members of the Russian mob.

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?