The Mets fell to the Tigers in their first spring training game of 2008, with Ryan Church being the only regular starter, assuming Church is actually a starter, making the trip. Pelfrey looked good in his two scoreless innings, in addition to Pedro Feliciano and Jorge Sosa hurling a scoreless inning each. All 4 Tiger runs were charged to Willie Collazo. Tigers manager Leyland on exhibition games: "The team with the best Double-A and Triple-A players usually wins." Aren't teams required to bring at least 3 regular starters (not counting pitchers) on the road with them? Was that a not-so-subtle dig at the Mets farm system?! Isn't it enough you tore our hearts out in '06 Tony? Zip it!

Update(1:25pm): Apparently, there is a rule that teams must bring at least 4 (not 3) regulars to away spring training games: "...minimum of four players who were regulars the previous year or had a "reasonable chance" of being regulars this season." MLB sent the memo out Tuesday, the second time they sent on to all MLB clubs. The Mets could be facing a fine. Maybe the Mets can claim they "misremembered" receiving it. The Mets had 3 Andersons in the line-up yesterday, SS Anderson Hernandez, 3b Anderson Machado and DH Marlon Anderson.

"The Mets started three Andersons against the Tigers on Wednesday: Anderson Hernandez at shortstop, Anderson Machado at third base and Marlon Anderson at designated hitter. It wasn't that confusing. But when all three were part of an infield during the intrasquad game Monday, it did cause a problem. "We had a popup," Marlon Anderson said. "And the pitcher's yelling 'Anderson, Anderson.' And we're yelling 'Which one?'"

If Marlon was the designated hitter, what was he doing playing defense? I'm assuming (and hoping) the confusion was between Hernandez and Machado on what seemed to be an infield fly; Was Marlon confused while he was sitting on the bench? Did the writer miss something or just forget to mention Marlon was playing an infield position at some point? Ah, spring...