Opening Day Projections

Even though the entire spring roster is not required to arrive before Saturday, it is not too early to speculate on the Opening day line-up.  It is probably too difficult to specify the batting order, but the following players seem to have their fielding spots locked up:

1B:  Who
2B:  What
SS:  I Don't Care
3B:  I Don't Know
LF:  Why
CF:  Because
RF:  Duda
C:   Today
P:   Tomorrow

Clearly, with this line-up, Terry Collins is going to have to rely on speed to create runs.  Sandy Alderson is still trying to sign Yesterday to a free agent deal, but talks are stalled.

First Place Mets

I want to congratulate the Metropolitan's on winning their opener. The day began with a classy tribute to the late Gary "Kid" Carter, a cornerstone of their exciting teams in the mid to late '80's.

Johan Santana, who began spring training having not pitched in over a year, and who was uncertain to be ready to go opening day, gave us five scoreless innings. He also did what aces do, getting the out when it matters most- that final out of his day with the bases loaded.

David Wright did what he was supposed to do in driving in the game's only run. This, despite missing most of the spring with an oblique muscle injury that prevented him from swinging a bat. If Andres Torres spends less than a month on the DL, the training staff will have come far in rehabbing their reputation. Especially since nobody thought Tim Byrdak would be ready to contribute (striking out the 2 batters he faced) by opening day.

People say you can't rebuild in New York. This is false. I know I've predicted doom and gloom, but I'm a cyinic. I'm also a fan- give me a reason to believe, any reason, and I will.

Preview 2012

Hey fans! We're almost at Pitchers and Catchers. Let's look at the Mets upcoming season- It's gonna suck! In fact, the Mets slogan for 2012 is: The Mets 2012- Check back in 3 years!

Sure, it's not going to sell tickets, but honesty is the best policy. Their most exciting player from last season is now a Marlin. The only person that is afraid of their everyday lineup is their manager. The pitching staff- Johan hasn't pitched in over a year and the rest of the staff can be found in the dictionary under the word "mediocre."

Actually, bringing in the fences will hurt their pitching because their collective ERA was much better at the TARP than it was on the road. They've upgraded the closer and set up man, but are they ever going to get to play them? If you're a fan of disaster movies, the Mets 2012 are right up your alley.

Mets Braves 8/5 Sweep or bust

On the pregame show, they just asked whether or not the Mets need to sweep to stay alive in the playoff hunt. Um, yes. If they only take 2 of 3, they are 7 games back and quickly running out of real estate. What's more, they will only have 6 games left against the Braves.

Currently, the tragic number is 44. If they sweep it stays there. Otherwise it drops to 42. Even if Atlanta plays .500 ball the rest of the way, the Mets would need to win 2 of every 3.

For the record, if you told me in February that the fork wouldn't be stuck in the Mets until August, I would have called you crazy.

Mets Marlins 8/2

the last 2 games have been so depressing-

Tonight 9th inning up a run- bases loaded 1 out and a ground ball to 2nd- this is what is commonly known as a double play ball- the 2nd baseman throws it to the shortstop covering 2nd who throws it to 1st for the double play. Would someone please explain this concept to Justin Turner!!!!!

Screw it just break out the golf clubs they are not interested in making the playoffs- they could have been 4 1/2 back instead of 7 1/2- they are running out of real estate.

Mets Nats 7/30

There's an old adage in baseball that everybody wins 54 games, everybody loses 54- its what you do with the other 54 that matter. Well, the Mets have won 54, they still have 3 more to lose but we really are in that "other 54" already.

Mets Reds 7/27

So the Carlos Beltran era ends, at least for the season- they have expressed interest in signing him as a free agent. Tonight's match-up is "Throw Strikes Mike" Pelfrey against Bronson Arroyo. I wonder if Chris Berman calls him Arroyo con pollo.

Mets up 2-0 after 1.

Lucas Duda's solo shot makes it 5-1 in the top of the 6th. He had admitted doubts about whether he could hit at the major league level. He's learning that the answer is yes.

At 8-1 in the bottom of the 7th we are at "save some runs for tomorrow territory.

Our Reality check moment says that we are still 7 1/2 games out of the wild card spot with 9 games against the Braves and 59 games overall- is it realistic? Not so much. But it still lives in the real of doable.