BY MATTHEW FALKENBURY
EDITOR

Do you all remember the good ol days, you know back in May and June when the clubhouse was nothing but hugs and pats on the back between all the Mets players.

The reports were that Alex Cora, despite the fact he hit under .250 all season was a team leader ands the same goes for Jeff Francoeur who was also a leader with a smile, despite his numbers slipping into the abyss.

Cora somehow got to start at least twice a week during the period know as BBC, Before Beltran and Castillo and Francouer was penciled in everyday in Right Field.

Then things began to change, the fans, none of them in the clubhouse to see the top notch leadership of French and Cora, didn’t like what they were seeing on the field.

But no worries though fans, French and Cora were still so awesome for the clubhouse, it seemed simple that benching Frenchy and cutting Cora, which everyone wanted, would never change their attitude, right? No way that they wouldn’t want to support was would happen, right?

The problem is that they didn’t and they showed their true colors and their poor play on the field has matched their poir attitude and now the Clubhouse heroes are being shown for who they really are.

The downfall was simple for both in what happened to get to this point.

In Frenchy’s case Pagan was better and even a hurt Beltran had to be better (its been slight). For Cora’s sake it was as simple as 81 games played = 2 more million next season, that was not gonna fly with the fans.

French got pissy, wanted out, got close, and then was bailed out by the Bay injury and given another shot. Outside of a couple of miracle homers, has done little with it. The Mets brought up Fernando Martinez for a Platoon, and now French wants to be traded again.

One article mentioned how French is looking for his 100th home run and that the Mets aren’t allowing him to reach that milestone. I think its his crappy plate discipline and poor attitude that is truly keeping him from that milestone because its keeping him from playing.

Oh and by the way, F-Mart reached base three times against Ubaldo Jimenez in place of French and Carter got the hit to start the rally. When French Pinch Ran, Im surprised he knew where first base was, he usually doesn’t get their ever.

Cora continued to stink up the joint as his average dropped and with the Mets having a guy at 20 who cant hit, but with more upside and cheaper, they cut Alex and now he is making the media rounds, making sure to rip the Mets to anyone who will listen.

The funny part is that, what Cora is saying is probably more damning about the Mets then it is about Cora spouting off about it. But with everything we were told about this guy, this was usually not his style.

Cora has admitted that he didn’t perform, so he isn’t the Frenchy kind of  insane, but for a guy who wants to be a Manager, I would love to be his beat writer cause it seems like he is gonna be a fantastic quote.

In the end, Cora was a clubhouse guy but is going out talking out of bothends of his mouth. I don’t mind what I’m hearing but I don’t like the way he is going about it.

Frenchy is just a fool and the faster he can be out of New York the better. He has truly shown that some athletes think they are owned something when they haven’t earned anything.

They may have been Clubhouse Guys earlier this season, but now they are anything but that today, and the Mets will be better off when French joins Cora on the street.

BY KEVIN KEARNS
STACHE WRITER

It has almost been a full day since the Mets released Alex Cora, and amazingly, I am still shocked they actually did it.

I had always thought Cora was great in the clubhouse, but absolutely useless on the actual ball field. However, I never really spent too much time worrying about him, because I knew management absolutely LOVED him.

After the deal the Mets inked him to last season, it was incredibly clear that they wanted Cora to, one day, join the coaching staff. His deal was structured so he’d be getting 1.5 million for being one hell of a guy, and the other $500 K for actually being able to play ball.

In the end though, what really disturbs me, is the fact that it was actually beneficial to have Cora on the roster. Rather than biting the bullet and cutting the useless Luis Castillo or Oliver Perez to make room for the young guys, the Mets decided to cut someone who is a pro at preparing young guys for how to deal with life in the major leagues.

This was a text book example of the Mets allowing their wallet to get in front of how to build a winning ball club.

What the Mets should have done, is to first off, leave F-Mart down. Sorry, he is just not ready for the big leagues yet.

Secondly, they should have cut Perez and Castillo (Not that this is to brilliant of an observation).

And finally, they should have replaced Perez with Pat Misch, and Castillo with Tejada. Misch has been lights out and deserves a call up, and Tejada is simply that much better than Castillo.

Now we are left in a situation where Perez and Castillo are still on the roster. F-mart only gets to play every other day, and the primary veteran leader of the team is home sitting on a couch.

Thank you Omar Minaya and Co., for once again proving you have no idea how to run a major league ball club.

BY MATTHEW FALKENBURY
EDITOR

It was a long time coming but this is a step in the right direction for your NY Mets. The fact is that some players who dont belong are still here, but no need to jump ahead of ourselves and get mad, a step in the right direction was still taken.

Bringing up Fernando Martinez and Ruben Tejada is a sign that this team is about ready to rebuild and take the talented young players that people last year said didnt exist and give them a chance to shine.

Cora was a nice guy but his contract was insane and Im Happy Omar and Jeff wouldnt allow him to reach that plateau. Feliciano is a thirty one yr old journey man and lets face it is not the future of this team and this team has just a glut of Outfielders.

I know Castillo is still here and so is Frenchy, but I think that if Jerry wants to make one last stand, go out with a blaze of glory. I have always hated Jerry Manuel but if can man up, sit them on the bench, let the young kids play and keep playing, I will respect the way he went out.

The fact is that with a young team like this, although Im not a fan, but If Jerry goes and Beltran is traded in the off-season which alot of people feel could happen. Your gonna have a batting order in which David Wright is the 2nd oldest starter at 28 years old. I like that alot when you think about it.

Im happy the Mets are starting to make a youth movement here and finally understand that this is the way to go. To me save money on your hitters by playing the young guys and spend it on PITCHING. Go Nuts with the money and invest in pitching and save money with a young lineup sounds very good to me.

The 2010 season is on life support and the plug is half way out and so a youth movement to show the fans what 2011 could be like is something that needs to be done.

A lineup of Reyes-SS, Pagan-CF, Wright-3B, Davis-1B, Bay-LF, F-Mart-RF, Thole-C and Tejada-2B would be just fine to me in 2011 and beyond.

Sink the money into pitching in the next two years, both in the bullpen and starters and lets finally do things the right way when since we wont trade our prospects, then lets play em.

The Mets took a step, it wasnt the big step let, but it was a step and it was in the right direction.

BY ANDREW MERLIS
STACHE WRITER

Well another trade deadline has passed and again there’s not much to be excited about. I say not much because there are so many of us thrilled to have Robert Carson on the farm rather than Octavio Dotel in the bullpen.

What’s the message sent by the team brass? That the team as currently constructed is what they want? If so, they want was is essentially a .500 team.

That’s what that team is. It could be worse, for sure. But as far as I’m concerned, .500 is what the Royals and the Pirates should aspire to be.

The Mets – you know, that National League team in the country’s largest market – ought to aspire to so much more. But maybe that’s just my opinion.

Word is that Omar liked the prospects he has too much to part with them in any of the potential deals discussed. Now, it would be hypocritical of me to jump all over him for liking prospects, because I like prospects too.

I like prospects because a) they can be cheap, under control replacements for aging, departing, or injured players, and b) they can be used in trade. I guess there is no “b” this season. So let’s “a” Castillo and Francoeur and Perez.

But here’s what I’m really wondering. If the prospects are so valuable, why not go get more? If the Yankees had stood pat, I would have understood – they have a great team and will make the post season.

If the Braves had stood pat, I’d have understood – they lead the division, they aren’t a big market, and they seem to have the talent already on the club needed to compete and succeed.

But for the Mets to stand pat? It makes no sense. Okay, there was nobody out there worth the price that would be the difference maker. I’ll accept that for the remainder of this post.

But if there was nobody to make this team better, what’s the point in remaining a .500 club and retaining the same players that make up that .500 club? Why not (wait for it, wait for it…) be sellers? (GASP!).

That’s right, I said it. Why not sell? Oh, I don’t mean trade Reyes or Wright – that would be stupid. And I know nobody would likely take Beltran and certainly not Frenchy or Castillo or Perez.

Those guys are Mets until their contracts expire or the Wilpons grow a pair (or two) and dump them. But what about Feliciano? I can’t believe he couldn’t have gotten us something. Or Blanco.

Does nobody need that kind of veteran leadership behind the plate? And speaking of veteran leadership, what about Cora. (The Mets would almost surely have to have paid some of that contract).

I know none of those guys would bring back blue chip prospects, but trading any or all of them would have loosened the payroll a little, shaken things up some, and added some more pieces to the farm.

We’re not going to the playoffs with them, why not not go to the playoffs without them?

This team never plays the role of sellers, even when they really should. And while we’re speaking of sellers, wouldn’t it be nice if the Wilpons became sellers too? Of the whole team.

Is Alex Cora worth the money? (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY SCOTT ILOWITE
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

I wish I could ask them that question. Game after game, I hear from the announcers and Jerry, that Alex is such a great baseball mind, he’d be a phenomenal manager, yada yada yada. But what has it ever translated to on the field for the Mets? Honestly?

He was signed as a free agent 2 years ago for $2 million to be our utility infielder. Play some 2b here and some SS there. I’m sorry Omar, I just didn’t get it then and I certainly don’t get it now. I’ll give Alex credit for playing hurt last year because the team needed him, but every time I watch him out there, I just don’t understand why he was ever signed. I know I can’t tell what happens in the clubhouse, before and after games and during spring training, but to me, the $2mil could have been spent somewhere else.

If there was a statistic kept for at bats per 3-hopper to the second baseman, Alex would lead the league. I hate to bash the guy but he might have less range AND has a lower career slugging % than Louis Castillo. But wait…it gets better. Omar was so smart, that he re-signed him to another $2mil 1 year deal, with a vesting second year (at $2mil) based on reaching only 80 games played this year. This contract was given to a guy who needed surgery on both thumbs for ligament tears last year.

People want to kill Omar and the brass for not getting this guy and not wanting to spend money on that guy, but when making up a roster, there are 5 guys who will be on your bench as well as the 8 position players. This is the area that might actually wind up killing us this year and beyond. We have $4mil locked up in Cora, Tatis and Matthews Jr., who are absolute dead weight.

Henry Blanco and Chris Carter are the only 2 bench players that have even a remote chance of making a play when they are inserted into the lineup. So for all the talk about cutting Ollie, maybe we should start from the bottom up.

Paging Mr. Hessman, Mr. Tejada and Mr. Feliciano….something tells me that calling those 3 up would be the best move made this year next to signing Henry Blanco and Rod Barajas for a combined $1.5mil.

Castillo receives a lot of criticism from the media. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY PATRICK CREIGHTON
CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Let it ride.

This was the real motto of the New York Mets coming into this season. Forget about recovery and prevention, we believe, or any of that other nonsense you may have heard. Three simple words describe the Mets outlook coming into the season: let it ride.

The Mets chose to gamble in so many areas coming into the season, I heard my fellow media cohorts proclaim that Citi Field would be host to anything from Division winners to a Federal Disaster Area and everything in between (although to be honest, most said Disaster area).

After 52 games, the Mets stand at 26-26. Not a division leader, but certainly not the disaster so many of my colleagues were so gleefully predicting in March either. Too nervous or scared to go all out for the big prize, the Mets have played it mostly close to the vest, and are dead even. They collected on some bets, and paid up big on others.

However, after you have had time to reflect and evaluate your plays, you must make adjustments to increase your odds of winning. Time to take a look at some of those bets, and the decision. After all, as Kenny Rogers once sang, you gotta know when to hold ‘em, and know when to fold ‘em:

Luis Castillo: Yes, he is still one of the boo birds favorite targets, and not exactly a favorite of mine either. The dropped pop up vs. the Yankees still drives me insane, and the fact it somehow became a Yankee Classic on YES as ridiculous as that should be for a team with the history of the Yankees (Look! We beat a team that finished with 70 wins! No way the Yanks win the World Series without that win!) further adding insult to injury is something I cannot stop envisioning every time I see his face. His range is lousy, and he can barely hit the ball out of the infield from the left side. Plenty to be upset about, especially given his contract and health issues.

However, its time to be logical and remove the emotion from play. Only twice since becoming a full time player in 1999 has Castillo batted under .291 in a season (2001 in Fla when he hit .263, and of course his ill-fated 2008 season) and he did rebound to hit .302 last season, and steal 20 bases. Also, while the defensive range has regressed, he is generally sure-handed (pop up be damned). Castillo is generally liked in the clubhouse. While I have no love for Luis and would have no problem seeing him go, we do have to ask the following question: Who takes over?

Luis’ contract ends after next season. It’s not a tradable deal unless the Mets eat some money, or more likely, a lot of money. Yes, they have the financial resources to eat his contract, but that doesn’t mean it makes good business sense, and there’s no sense in further complicating a bad decision (his 4 yr 25M deal) with another bad decision on top of it. Alex Cora is not an everyday player. When he plays everyday, his bat is exposed (his career best BA of .291 was in 2002 in LA). Ruben Tejada is 20 yrs old and came into the season with 162 career ABs at AAA level. As the Mets are already finding out with Ike Davis and Jenrry Mejia, young players go through peaks and valleys. Adding another young player with little AAA experience to the major league roster isn’t likely to improve the teams consistency. The team can live with Castillo at 2B, especially considering its other needs. HOLD.

Oliver Perez: With his fine 2007 season a distant memory and his valiant performance in Game 7 of the 2006 NLCS all but forgotten, the 28 yr old enigma continues to frustrate the team with his poor performance and selfish attitude. Last season, after participating in the WBC (which by all accounts is like a vacation compared to Spring Training) Ollie came to the team out of shape, couldn’t perform, made poor mechanical adjustments to compensate, and injured himself. He wasn’t forthcoming about his pain, but he was willing to go to the minors and try to get straightened out.

In the offseason, Ollie rededicated himself, turned to a new workout regimen, and by all accounts came to camp in excellent shape. However the velocity was still down, the control still MIA, and the attitude still lousy. This season, Perez’ selfish refusal to go to Buffalo and work out his problems without further hurting the team with his poor play is indicative of what Perez has become – a fat cat sipping cream now that he got his big contract.

In the six seasons that Perez has made at least 20 starts, he has had 2 good seasons, 1 mediocre season, and three plain awful ones. His mental approach to the game is awful. His concentration lapses are legendary. His sudden wildness that can hit at any time is the subject of folklore. The Mets can try to fix everything physically with Ollie, but only Ollie can fix the real problem, and that’s the one between his ears.

Ollie has worn out his welcome here. The performance is awful, the attitude is poor, he’s alienated himself from teammates who are now speaking out against him, and the fans have completely turned on him and made him Public Enemy No.1 ahead of Castillo. He’s been a Mets for almost 4 full seasons, and he worse now than he’s ever been.

The team is better off paying him to stay home than allowing him to further wreck games on the mound. While the CBA doesn’t permit the Mets to send him home and remove him from the 40 man roster, he is dead weight on the team, and its time to go. This is the time the Mets should eat the money. Whatever they get out of his replacement can’t be less than what they get from Perez. The Mets got Gary Matthews Jr from the Angels by only paying 2 of the 24M hes owed through next season and giving up a serviceable bullpen arm in Brian Stokes. Perez is owed approximately 20M through the end of next season. Find a trade partner who will pay him 10% of his salary and ship him off for a serviceable arm for the pen. Call it a wash with GMJ. FOLD.

• - Mets asked Ollie Perez to accept assignment to Port St Lucie to work out issues, since he refused assignment to Buffalo. Ollie refused again.

John Maine: The Mets took the chance that Maine’s shoulder problems could be rectified, and that he could rebound to his 2007 form when he was a 15 game winner. However, his injured shoulder has robbed him of his 94 mph fastball, and the last time we saw him on the mound, he was topping out at 83 mph, indicating something can’t possibly be right.

The fact that the injury has now gotten progressively worse three straight seasons is of great concern. Maine’s reluctance to be honest about his injury is as well. He’s a fastball pitcher without a fastball.

I don’t wish ill on Maine. He seems like a guy who wants to pitch and wants to succeed. The bottom line, of course, is performance, and right now he can’t perform. He needs to prove he’s healthy, and prove he can get the velocity back on his heater. He doesn’t need a guaranteed contract or a spot on the 40 man to do so. It’s the ugly side of the business, but its still a business. FOLD.

Angel Pagan: He’s arbitration eligible, so decisions need to be made at season’s end, but this guy has earned his stripes. He showed his raw ability last season when he took over as leadoff man after he returned from injury, batting .306 in 343 ABs with 39 XBH and 14SBs. This season, after a slow start (no thanks to Jerry Manuel insisting on playing GMJ for some ungodly reason) Pagan has been better than ever. His defense is improved, his baserunning is improved, his focus is much stronger, and he’s stealing bases at a much higher percentage. Despite the slow start, he’s hitting .302 with what would be a career-best .364 OBP. He appears to be realizing all the potential that he had been touted with as a younger player. When Carlos Beltran returns, Pagan has earned playing time. Whether it’s in CF with Beltran moving to RF to protect his knee (something I don’t think is likely right now) or whether Pagan moves to RF, he’s established himself as a solid player who contributes in a multitude of ways. He has earned a contract and a job (sorry Jeff Francouer). HOLD.

Jose Reyes: Reyes’ presence here is just to illustrate how patently ridiculous the idea of shipping him off is. Everyone repeat after me: “I will not be influenced by the stupid ideas of others.”

Prior to last season’s injury, Reyes had played a minimum 153 games each of the past 4 years. If shortstops with cannon arms who hit .290 with 200 hits, 110 runs, and 60 SBs grew on trees, everyone would have one. Instead, you can count those guys on one hand.

All the preseason stuff about PEDs related to Jose’s thyroid issue fall under “stupid ideas of others”, so don’t be influenced! This guy is the offensive catalyst to the team, and his defense is strong up the middle. Take it to the bank that the pitchers last year missed having him at SS. Jose still has terrific range, and after a terrible start with thyroid issues hanging over him, Jose is starting to pick it up at the plate, and just as importantly, on the basepaths (12 SB). At the end of the year, his numbers will look very familiar to his previous years numbers , which can be found one paragraph up. Don’t be silly. HOLD.

52 Pickup: Bullpen is in constant state of flux with guys bouncing from pen to rotation and back, and Ollie eating a spot and doing nothing. Some stability would help. David Weathers, who is sitting home doing nothing, figures to lend some stability. Pat Misch has pitched well for Buffalo (4-1 3.02) this season, after pitching well both in spring training and late in season last year in rotation, but is not on 40 man roster. Mets would need to make a roster move to bring him up.

Rotation has been sapping bullpen depth, and clearly Mets need another starting pitcher. Roy Oswalt has asked Astros for a trade, Mariners have been an epic disaster and it has been widely speculated the Mariners will look to deal Cliff Lee. Kevin Millwood hasn’t publicly asked for a trade but must be begging to get out of disappointing last place Baltimore. Millwood is 0-5 despite 3.89 ERA and 3:1 K/BB ratio. He is a FA at year end and should also be available soon.

Carlos Beltran said today he is running at 80% and expects to be playing in extended spring training games within the next week. His current timetable puts his return right after the All Star break.

For second time in a week, Mets manager Jerry Manuel speculated about Luis Castillo hitting the DL, then entered him late in that night’s game. He previously stated that Castillo may not see time vs. RHP until foot is better. Alex Cora would start in his place. Cora’s option vests with 80 starts, he’s started 19 of Mets’ 52 games this season.

Daniel Murphy is scheduled to see some time at 2B for AAA Buffalo. Mets tried 2B experiment with Murphy after 2008 season in Arizona Fall league but quickly abandoned it. This would be first time he plays 2B since the 2008 AFL. He is also scheduled to see time in LF and at 1B.

Mets may have interest in recently DFA’d Tigers SP Dontrelle Willis. Joe Capozzi of Palm Beach Post reports Mets, Brewers, and Marlins have expressed interest, and has confirmed Arizona has interest as well.

Is Alfonzo coming back? (PHOTO BY ICON/SMI)

FRANK GRAY
STACHE WRITER

The New York Mets have long been without a presence of leadership and quiet consistent confidence. There are several players that exude those attributes in Mets lore. One of them is Edgardo Alfonzo. While with the Mets, he became a leader and an example. He was what is called, ‘clutch’. Not many players can claim that anymore, especially in Queens.

The team has been searching for quality back up players and all the while spending and wasting valuable money on starters that don’t belong in the major leagues. According to MLB Rumors.com, Alfonzo had recently expressed interest in playing in the MLB again and more specifically with the Mets. The team has a need on the bench and even more so, a need at second base.

That position is currently being patrolled by Luis Castillo, who is having a poor season. His batting average (.246)and on base percentage (.340) are lower than his career averages. He does have seven stolen bases and two triples this season so far, but he is not getting on base and doing what he was paid to do entirely.

While the emergence of Ike Davis has pushed Daniel Murphy back to the minor leagues to learn second base, there is still a void at that position. The team brought in Frank Catallanotto to be the utility infielder, but his bad bat forced the team’s hand into to cutting ties with him. They still search for that key contributor.

The rare player who can play multiple positions and hit well in a pinch. Alex Cora has been the player that can play multiple positions, but his bat has been inconsistent. Alfonzo was a great player, who still may have something left in the tank. He has been battling numerous injuries in the past several years and multiple teams gave up on him.

He has been playing in Japan and has proven himself as capable of playing at the big league level again. If the Mets are willing to pay for and take a chance on broken down players like Kelvim Escobar, why is Alfonso not worth a look?

He is at least worth the opportunity to pass his knowledge onto the younger players from the dugout. This team lacks that experienced leader. They struggle on the road because of a lack of confidence. They need a player that will bring a quiet confidence to their club house.

A positive example of what it means to be a winner and what they should strive to be. Not just a locker room speaker, or a guest appearance, but a mainstay in the club house and the dugout. A constant reminder of what they ought to strive for. He could bring just that.

Francoeur thought Hitting a Home Run was so Nice, he did it Twice

BY MATTHEW FALKENBURY
ASSISTANT EDITOR

As all of you already know, there were alot of things missing when it came to the Mets in 2009. One of those things has comeback and I’m not talking about Jose Reyes.

I’m talking about the Home Run Call of Gary Cohen. Last season the Mets only hit 49 homers in Citi Field and hit three homers in a home game only twice in 81 games. Tonight we cut that total in half as we look to show the world that Citi Field is not Yellowstone National Park.

Jeff Francoeur and Rod Barajas would each go deep twice, all four times to Left Field and helped the Mets rout the Nationals 8-2. The game saw so many long balls that Gary Cohen couldn’t contain himself and thought David Wright’s double in the 8th inning was gone and so broke out the ITS OUTTA HERE call. Of course it was only a double and Wright was seen in the dugout catching heat for not getting that ball into the seats.

The other story tonight was the very solid and impressive performance from Mike Pelfrey. I wrote an article last year about the struggles of Mike Pelfrey, and tonight helped me think that maybe this year will be different. I think of Pelfrey and Derek Lowe is the guy who I would compare him too. It took Lowe years to get it together and he even was a closer for a time, but he finally put it together and now is a very solid pitcher. I think the Big Pelf took a huge step forward and remember in 2008 he had a horrific Spring and still had a very good season.

After the Jump we will talk about some of the other good things and some of the bad things I saw from the win tonight at Citi Field.

Good Things:
Falling Behind and Still Fighting
The Metsactually were behind 2-0 in this game early on and it looked like Garrett Mock the Nationals Starter was gonna settle in to a grove. Then after a couple of Solo Homers by French and Barajas, the Mets got his pitch count up and eventually him out and they went to work on the shotty pen of the Nats. The end result was a 8-2 win.

Solid Pitching from Mike Pelfrey
After the John Maine mess, Mike Pelfrey was able to step and follow the strong start by Jon Niese with one of his own. He was able to work around some trouble, including getting Kennedy, I-Rod and Desmond with the game tied at 2 in the top of the sixth and Josh Willingham on second base after a lead off double.

Alex Cora’s Defense at 2nd
He made a big time diving stop in the top of the 4th on a Nyjer Morgan grounder that saved Pelfrey from giving up an RBI Single with 2 down and kept the score at 2-1, where Barajas would tie it in the bottom half with a lead off homer. Then he made a great play on a drag bunt to start the Top of the 5th to help keep the annoying Willie Harris from reaching base and not allowing the Nats to get a rally going after blowing the 2-1 lead.

Bad Things:
The Throws to First Base
I dont know if the Mets infielders relize that the First Basemen arentexactly Keith Hernandez over there, but their throwing worries me. They are making these guys moving around too much and they have too many throws in the dirt. Its nothing too serious, but worrysome none the less.

Whats Ahead: The Mets will have welcome back the best Shortstop in Franchise History in Jose Reyes as Oliver Perez makes his season debut against tough Nationals Pitcher in Long Beach, LI native John Lannan.

Game Ball: The Game Ball goes to the new bash brothers, Rod Barajas and Jeff Francoeur for helping to put away the Nationals with each hitting two home runs as they were 4-8 with 4 runs and 5 runs driven in.

Alex Cora gets the nod atop the Mets' lineup. (PHOTO BY ICON SMI)

BY MICHAEL GANCI
EDITOR

Jerry Manuel has confirmed that today’s starting lineup for the opener at Citi Field is set, and the lineup will be as follows.

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

There are definitely a couple of question marks to me. But, to be fair, I am willing to give Jerry the first three innings before I bash him uncontrollably. Believe it or not, Mike Jacobs hitting cleanup is not a move that I have a problem with. But there are two other spots that I am not happy with.

First of all, we have the lead off spot. Luis Castillo is patient and has experience as a lead off hitter from his days in Florida. Also, we have Gary Matthews Jr., who has shown this spring that he has a pretty selective approach at the plate, but the Mets’ think Alex Cora will be the best bet? Is that the sentimental pick?

The other problem I have is with the six spot. Jeff Francoeur should be hitting there, plain and simple. You need a guy who has experience with driving runners in, and Francoeur is that guy in this offensively-challenged lineup. While Matthews Jr. had a stellar spring, he is either supposed to be a guy who hits at the very top or very bottom of the lineup.

Also, I am quite surprised that Henry Blanco is not starting today. Wasn’t it Johan Santana that was in love with him and lobbied for the Mets to sign him?

I am getting nervous. One thing is for sure. The only place the Mets’ winning percentage can go from this moment is up.

The Mets opening day lineup isn't going to be pretty

Today we got closer to seeing a nightmare Mets opening day lineup become a reality. It was already unlikely that Reyes would start on Monday versus Florida, but now we know that for sure. Alex Cora will be the replacement. Just like the younger potential Reyes-replacement Ruben Tejada, Cora can’t hit. But wouldn’t it be nice if GM Omar Minaya at least pretended to try to field a defensively competent team by promoting Tejada (albeit prematurely)? A middle infield of Castillo and Cora is downright terrifying.

The only thing the Mets could do to make that infield defense even more awful is to start one of the worst defensive first baseman in the league. Ah yes. That’s also a reality now thanks to Daniel Murphy’s strained knee. He’ll also start the 2010 slate off on the disabled list while former Mets prospect Mike Jacobs starts on Monday. I agree that the Mets should be cautious with Reyes and Murphy, but I’d rather them put a greater emphasis on defense. Couldn’t Tatis, who was going to make the team anyway, replace Murphy at first? Instead Jacobs gets a free pass onto the roster even though fellow lefty power hitter Chris Carter has more untapped potential.

Despite the lack of talent at first, sending Ike Davis down to the minors was the correct decision to start the year. After all Davis is not a defensive wiz either, and having him start on opening day would be a bit desperate, even for the Mets. Let’s hope that as a result of the cautious treatment of Reyes, the Mets get less and less desperate as the year goes on.