  The alloy Ca$_{2-x}$Sr$_x$RuO$_4$ exhibits a complex phase diagram with
peculiar magnetic metallic phases. In this paper some aspects of this alloy are
discussed based on a mean field theory for an effective Kugel-Khomskii model of
localized orbital and spin degrees of freedom. This model results from an
orbital selective Mott transition which in the three-band system localized two
orbitals while leaving the third one itinerant. Special attention is given to
the region around a structure quantum phase transition at $ x \approx 0.5 $
where the crystal lattice changes from tetragonal to orthorhombic symmetry
while leaving the system metallic. This transition yields, a change from
ferromagnetic to antiferromagnetic spin correlations. The complete mean field
phase diagram for this transition is given including orbital and spin order.
The anisotropy of spin susceptibility, a consequence of spin-orbit coupling and
orbital correlation, is a tell-tale sign of one of these phases. In the
predominantly antiferromagnetic phase we describe a metamagnetic transition in
a magnetic field and show that coupling of the itinerant band to the localized
degrees of freedom yields an anomalous longitudinal magnetoresistance
transition. Both phenomena are connected with the evolution of the
ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic domains in the external magnetic field and
agree qualitatively with the experimental findings.
