Perhaps calling the Mets’ Port St. Lucie compound Camp Turmoil would be a bit of an overstatement, what the fuck, I’m prone to such things. In addition to El Duque being bombed by the Orioles yesterday (5 runs, 6 hits, 2 IP) and Shawn Green getting a head start on losing his job in right, reliever Duaner Sanchez was sent back to New York as punishment for turning up late for his shoulder rehab sessions. From the New York Times’ Ben Shpigel.

Willie Randolph said he was not concerned, although disclosing Sánchez™s tardiness during the postgame interview session with reporters certainly indicated he wanted to prove a point. The Mets view Sánchez, like Hernández, as a vital component of their pitching staff, and a day when he cannot continue exercising his shoulder further reduces the chances that he will be available for opening day.

œIt™s tough to do great things when you™re not here, the pitching coach Rick Peterson said.

As part of his recovery from off-season shoulder surgery, Sánchez begins his throwing sessions every morning at 8:15 and is watched by Randy Niemann, the organization™s rehabilitation pitching coordinator. After Sánchez arrived late a few times, Randolph admonished him on the importance of being on time. When Sánchez did not comply again Thursday, Randolph sent him back to his apartment.

Never let it be said that Rick Peterson is not a very, very profound man. Newsday’s Anthony Rieber scribbled down Willie’s encouraging words regarding P Mike Pelfrey, who was just praised this morning by none other than earlier riser Ed Coleman for “pounding away…at the strike zone below the knees.” (whew!)

“I thought he was outstanding,” Randolph said. “He threw the ball great today. No one had any good swings against him. He was, at times, knocking the glove off the catcher, the ball was moving so rapidly. It’s exciting to watch him work, man. He’s getting better and you can see that every time he goes out.”

In his second outing of spring training and first relief appearance since he was a freshman at Wichita State, Pelfrey pounded his hard sinker low in the strike zone.

Eight of his nine outs were ground balls, and it could have been all nine if Jose Valentin hadn’t booted a routine grounder in the fifth.

Pelfrey’s fastball was clocked around 93 miles per hour, and he mixed in a slider and that hard sinker.