The difference a year makes

2009	2010 (likely)
Jose Reyes	Alex Cora
Daniel Murphy	Luis Castillo
David Wright	David Wright
Carlos Delgado	Mike Jacobs
Carlos Beltran	Jason Bay
Ryan Church	Gary Matthews Jr.
Brian Schneider	Jeff Francoeur
Luis Castillo	Rod Barajas
Johan Santana	Johan Santana

Above is 2009’s Opening Day lineup.  Next to it is what could be 2010’s.  Note the differences:

• David Wright and Johan Santana are the only players to bat in the same spot in the lineup.
• Luis Castillo, Wright and Santana are the only players who even appeared in the 2009 OD lineup.
• That means that six of nine positions have either new players or backups in the role. 
• 66.667 percent of the lineup has changed in one year.

What a difference a year makes.

In case you were wondering [Image]

I wonder when that press release was sent out?

Rubin: Matthews may start OD, Tejada may get bulk of playing time

Two notes from Adam Rubin’s latest blog.

He believes that the team that trotted out tonight in Tropicana Park will be the Opening Day lineup, sans the designated hitter.  Meaning Gary Matthews Jr. will get the start over Angel Pagan.

He does note that they will likely split time until Carlos Beltran returns.

That means the lineup will look like this on Monday:

1. Alex Cora
2. Luis Castillo
3. David Wright
4. Mike Jacobs
5. Jason Bay
6. Gary Matthews Jr.
7. Jeff Francoeur
8. Rod Barajas
9. Johan Santana

Only two position players and Santana are players that were in last year’s Opening Day lineup.  Yikes.

Rubin also notes that though Cora will start on Opening Day, Ruben Tejada will likely get more playing time until Jose Reyes returns.

If he’s coming north, he might as well play.

Mets (likely) 25-man Opening Day roster

Catchers

• Rod Barajas
• Henry Blanco

Infielders

• Mike Jacobs
• Luis Castillo
• Alex Cora
• David Wright
• Ruben Tejada
• Frank Catalanotto
• Fernando Tatis

Outfielders

• Jason Bay
• Angel Pagan
• Jeff Francoeur
• Gary Matthews Jr.

Starting Pitchers

• Johan Santana
• Mike Pelfrey
• Jon Niese
• Oliver Perez
• John Maine

Bullpen

• Francisco Rodriguez
• Pedro Feliciano
• Hisanori Takahashi
• Ryota Igarashi
• Sean Green
• Fernando Nieve
• Jenrry Mejia

(Raul Valdes is still in contention for a roster spot, so there might be one change left to come in the bullpen.)

Cuts are coming [Updated with roster]

This will be updated as information comes out on which players didn’t make the team.

Not necessarily staying with the Mets

• Nelson Figueroa

Staying with the Mets (under contract / with options)

• Chris Carter
• Kiko Calero
• Bobby Parnell
• Elmer Dessens
• Russ Adams

…have all been cut and will not make the Mets 25-man Opening Day roster.

By powers of deduction, I believe this means Fernando Nieve sticks in the bullpen and Frank Catalanotto finishes out the bench.  Right?

Also probably making the team, at least as of now: Ruben Tejada, Jenrry Mejia, Sean Green.

So the Mets bullpen likely looks like: Francisco Rodriguez, Pedro Feliciano, Hisanori Takahashi, Ryota Igarashi, Mejia, Green and Nieve.  Though we can’t rule out Raul Valdes.

And the Mets bench: Ruben Tejada, Gary Matthews Jr., Frank Catalanotto, Fernando Tatis, Henry Blanco.

Guess the Met! [Solved]

This should be a fun little game for slow days. 

I’ll post a Mets player photo, but will only reveal a tiny part of the image.  From there, your goal is to try and guess which player the photo is of.

No prizes, but pride and honor is on the line.

So here is your first Guess the Met…

Post your guesses in the comments.  I’ll reveal the answer a bit later.

Good luck!

The answer is: ROD BARAJAS.  Four people guessed it right!  Nice job.

Twitter Poll: Do you go to Opening Day?

I’ve never been to Opening Day.  I don’t think I’ll ever go to Opening Day.  It’s just not something that excites me.  Well, I am excited for the game, just not to battle every other person and their mother to get in early and sit with a capacity crowd in the cold for the first of 81 home games.

I don’t know why, it’s just the way I feel.  Others, though, make the trek every year, like clockwork.

So I took to Twitter and asked if my Twitter followers attend Opening Day or not and why?

Here are some responses…

michaelgbaron: I always go - Its a family tradition, and I am ALWAYS excited for Opening Day, and the start of the season.

jnetty99: Yes going to Opening Day. As a fan I still will support the Mets, also probably the only game that will be sold out.

TheHappyRecap: Very rarely do I miss an Opening Day. It is a spring ritual.

dtmfr: yes, a priority of mine to go to every Opening Day. Hard to explain, but going to Opening Day makes me feel giddy.

GoofysGal15: When I lived in NY, I never missed an opening day. On opening day, Shea was full of so much hope!

NYMetsGrrl94: I have always wanted to go but I'm always at school.

borzoi06: Not going to opening day. Too many other games to watch. (actually, just didn't get tickets)

Guess I’m (nearly) alone in my thoughts.

Enjoy OD, everyone, if you’re at Citi Field or not.

Manuel’s Musing

“I think we have more depth this year and better replacements.”

-Jerry Manuel on his roster

Wallace Matthews leaving Newsday for ESPN New York

April Fools Free Post

Everyone’s least favorite curmudgeon of a columnist will be leaving his post at Newsday to join ESPN New York and cover the New York Yankees.

That’s right, Wallace Matthews will be Adam Rubin’s crosstown reporter buddy, covering the team in the Bronx.

All of his columns are off of Newsday’s site.

Matthews can be found on his new ESPN Twitter: @WallaceMatthews

Via ESPN…

Wally Matthews (Yankees) – Matthews has covered New York sports since 1983 as a reporter, columnist, radio host and TV commentator.  He joins ESPNNewYork.com to cover the Yankees, which he's done since the days of Stump Merrill, having worked for Newsday, the New York Post, the New York Sun and ESPN Radio 1050 AM.

Check out the press release here, if you don’t believe me.

Thank you, ESPN New York.  Thank you.

K-Rod heads home for emergency

April Fools Free Post

Update: Andy Martino reports that K-Rod flew home after a family member was involved in a serious car accident.

Marty Noble is reporting that Francisco Rodriguez has left the team and returned to Venezuela for an “emergency-related” reason.

Omar Minaya believes K-Rod will be back for Monday’s game.

I’ll believe it when I see it.