IGT, 3/31, vs. Marlins, Game 1

[Guest AG/DC]

Mets

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

Play Ball!!!*


*And let's kick some ass!

[Guest John Cougar Lunchbucket]

Memorial Jonathan S. "52" Weissman Opening Day Role Call, all Cranepoolians please report:

[metirish]

Reporting in Sir.

Working today but with the 4:34 kick off I'm hoping to see most of the game, with all the introductions the game might not even start at that time, I'm hoping.

Go Mets.

[Fman99]

Aye aye, Captain.

Leaving work at 4 PM (got here early) and listening to the first few innings on XM on my way home. Cannot wait.

GO METS!

[bmfc1]

Happy new year, my friends.

[Guest AG/DC]

Here. Where I was born to be.

[Guest sharpie]

present.

[Guest themetfairy]

Here. MiniKnight and I will be watching this afternoon (it's convenient that the game starts after he gets home from school).

[seawolf17]

I'm on it.

[Centerfield]

Here but working.

[TransMonk]

Present, but working...I'll have to catch the enccore.

[soupcan]

Here. Seriously considering investing in a Slingbox.

[Guest Mr. Zero]

here now. hope to be at McGees on 55th street at 4:10.

[Gwreck]

Present but I will have to check out at 4:10. Just got back after a coupla days off and work will be brutal today. Taping the game to watch when I get home and I wanna watch unspoiled.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Does the game start at 4:10 or at 4:35? (I've heard both, but mostly it seems to be 4:10.)

I would have taken the day off, but I had seven days off in the last two weeks, so I'll be watching via GameDay until 5, and then listening to WFAN for the 90-minute drive home. Unless it's a quick game, I should be able to catch the last few innings on MLB Extra Innings while I'm making dinner tonight.

Santana will most likely be out of the game before I get to my TV, but there will be other chances to see him pitch, unless he pulls a Tim Leary.

[Valadius]

Reporting for duty. I should be here for gametime.

[soupcan]

="Benjamin Grimm"].. unless he pulls a Tim Leary.

How dare you!

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't believe in jinxes.

[soupcan]

Apparently not.

[DocTee]

Here, and today's a state holiday, so I am not working. (Thank you Cesar Chavez)

1:10 start on the Left Coast

[Bunt the First Two]

In place.

[Guest Mendoza Line]

In the office and will be firing up Gameday at 4:10. Or maybe 4:34.

[Gwreck]

Willie Randolph is present and accounted for -- he just sent me this email:

Willie Randolph wrote: Our team is ready to go. That's the message I want to send to you Mets fans as we prepare for today's opener in South Florida. The goal this year is to make our final season at Shea something special and I think we can. We've had a great spring. Our batting order certainly can produce runs. Jose Reyes has been spectacular in the field and on the bases. Carlos Beltran has recovered from his off-season knee surgeries and has been diving for balls in the outfield, while Luis Castillo is back to normal after his knee operation. I look for David Wright to once again play at his All-Star pace and we expect Carlos Delgado to have a bounce-back year. Brian Schneider adds a good defensive presence for us behind the plate, while I look for Ryan Church to play a solid rightfield. Our line-up is intact except for Moses Alou, who should be back in late April or early May. Guys like Endy Chavez, Damion Easley and Angel Pagan can fill in for Moises until he returns. You need to have a solid bench to win and we certainly do. Our pitching has been great all spring. The addition of Johan Santana makes our staff better from top to bottom. Pedro Martinez is healthy and hasn't missed a beat, while John Maine and Oliver Perez, who each won 15 games for us a year ago, are perhaps two of the young star pitchers in the major leagues. The bullpen will once again be anchored by Billy Wagner, one of the best closers in the game. Aaron Heilman, Pedro Feliciano, Scott Schoeneweis, Matt Wise and Jorge Sosa all can perform in a variety of roles for us. Orlando Hernandez, Duaner Sanchez and Ramon Castro will start the season on the Disabled List, but should be ready to go not too far into the season. With Orlando Hernandez on the Disabled List, Mike Pelfrey will pitch this Saturday against Atlanta. He deserves the chance. In closing I want to say one more thing. We all hated the way last year ended for us. For 98 percent of the season we were the best team in our division, but we let it slip away. When I spoke to the team this spring I didn't look backwards that much, I tried to look forward so we can all learn from what happened. The lesson is simple: don't take anything for granted and don't expect things to happen just because you think they will. The season is here. It's time to make it happen. Hope to see you back at Shea in April. Wille Randolph

[Benjamin Grimm]

Hey! I got that same message!

I thought he had composed it for me, personally.

It hurts me to discover that it was just a broadcast message. Makes me feel less special.

[Guest AG/DC]

Who is our opening day leftfielder? I'm guessing the Inherent Contradiction will get the call and bat seventh, with Church sliding up to sixth.

[soupcan]

Today's Lineup as per The Post:

Reyes
Castillo
Wright
Beltran
Delgado
Pagan
Church
Schneider
Santana

[Centerfield]

It doesn't say much for Church and Schneider that the guy we picked up for nothing slots in ahead of them in the lineup.

[Benjamin Grimm]

It's a lefty-righty thing, I'm sure.

[Farmer Ted]

My staff is well aware that I will become ill around 3:30 pm and depart for home where my drug of choice will be on television.

I will also be referring to my just-completed reading, Mets by The Numbers, to ensure that the writers and editors are hard at work on volume 2.