I know today is the big showdown between Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, but it also marks the unveiling of Newsday's 2008 Baseball Preview. The theme is pitching aces, and at the center of it is a Q & A I did with Johan Santanta.
The Mets new ace has kept a fairly low profile in spring training between starts, and for that reason, I was surprised when Santana opened up on a number of topics during a 35-minute interview at his locker. One of his favorite subjects involved playing baseball as a little kid in Venezuela -- he started throwing righthanded -- and it struck me how down-to-earth he is despite being arguably the best pitcher on the planet. Anyway, check it out here.
The Mets wrap up their Grapefruit League season this afternoon in Fort Lauderdale, then fly to Memphis for Saturday's Civil Rights Game against the White Sox. Somewhere in between, Ruben Gotay will find out if his fate after being placed on waivers.
Check back here for updates later in the day.