Edgy MD

And then there's Walt Williams.

I'm not necessarily down with the percentages. The ratio of leg length to torso length is widely varied.

Alas, I will keep on the lookout. The person who spotted it was unable to pursue, as she had kids in her car. More than one person said they've seen the dog haunting that park. A big ass-ugly road with fast moving vehicles cuts through that park though. My neighbor rescued a dog from the cemetery behind my house two days ago, and we may be adopting that one, but I may have to pay the universe back by finding the shih-tzu.

Well, it did go over three hours, and with all that Opening Day traffic to beat, Keith would have certainly given us some high-end, mid-season-quality prima donna grumbling.

I had to bail out of today's game at 5-3 when I got word of a lost shih-tzu in the area, only a mile from where I'm at. I've been waiting six months for today, but priorities are priorities and I went out dog-hunting. I circled a radius for a long ways around where the dog was spotted, but I had no luck, apart from losing my phone and my eyeglasses at some point when I got too hot and slung my jacket off. So I headed home and confessed my fuckup to my poor, much-put-upon wife, but used my laptop to locate my phone ... ish. As I tracked it, I noticed the Mets were up 9-5 after a Pirates homer. I zoomed out again, retraced my steps in the vicinity of where my laptop said my phone was, and finally, there it was, atop a grassy knoll. "DADDY!" it cried, and I cried "BABY!" right back at it, with the eyeglasses lying right next to it. I zoomed home just in time for the last out, and I'm sorry to say, as important as mojo is, I will not be able to lose my phone again on Saturday. My wife could not take it. I'm afraid I already spoiled a big chunk of her birthday today. But the horrible tradition of no baseball on the first Friday of the season continues, with the Pirates returning to Metland on Saturday. Career Pirate Mitch Keller goes for the Buccos. Mitch was good enough to start 32 games for Pittsburgh in 2025, and to lose 15 of them, because that's the way baseball works now. Career Met David Peterson defends for the homeboys. Peterson was an All-Star in 2025, but faded down the stretch, finishing with an ERA a tick lower than Mitch Keller. Since the Alleghenys are facing a lefty, look for their lineup to flip-flop a little, with Joey Bart catching and in the middle of the order, Oneil Cruz dropped back in the lineup, and Jake Mangum to be ... somewhere. The first 15,000 fans through the gate will receive a replica 1986 Mets World Championship Ring. I always thought the authentic versions of those rings were kind of tacky, even by 1980s standards, but whatever. They never ask me.

So that's what 2026 looks like.

You'd think that 5.000 OPS would be hard to sustain, but Brandon Lowe is hanging in there.

Polanco has the come-off-the-bag-and-swipe-down-a-tag maneuver down.

Harshity harsh!

Wow, our first simulpost of the season.

Harsh!

Cruz' instincts have always been questionable as an outfielder, but that error was him just having his head thinking about the previous play.

Pirates have the bullpen up.

I've been spending most of the first inning trying to synch the Peacock feed with the radio broadcast. I'm about one second behind right now.

Were there any booz for Polanco during the intros?

I want Jett Williams and Brandon Sproat back.

Richard Lovelady wore 57 and 58 in 2025 and is rocking 55 this season. A few more years and he'll really be able to dial it down to breathable atmosphere.

Hit - Lindor Double - Baty Triple- Taylor Home Run- Alvarez Walk- Soto HBP- Semien Run
RBI- Polanco Sacrifice Fly- Vientos Stolen Base
Caught Stealing- Soto Successful ABS challenge - Semien Unsuccessful ABS challenge - Robert Strikeout- Peralta Win- Peralta Save- Williams Hit Batter- Weaver Loss- Peterson Balk-Manaea TieBreaker ... Date of first Carlos Mendoza ejection. - August 8 (the guy has a loose lid on it, but what is there to fight over anymore?)

The Pirates lineup is now announced, and the speculative lineup above was almost perfectly accurate, with the lone exception of Henry Davis and not Joey Bart batting ninth and catching. It is now edited and officialcakes.

Mets lineup official. Pirates lineup is speculative. # PITTSBURGH POS. # NEW YORK POS. 1 Oneil Cruz (L) cf 1 Francisco Lindor (S) ss 2 Brandon Lowe (L) 2b 2 Juan Soto (L) lf 3 Bryan Reynolds (S) lf 3 Bo Bichette (R) 3b 4 Marcell Ozuna (R) dh 4 Jorge Polanco (S) 1b 5 Ryan O'Hearn (L) rf 5 Luis Robert, Jr. (R) cf 6 Jared Triolo (R) ss 6 Brett Baty (L) dh 7 Spencer Horwitz (L) 1b 7 Marcus Semien (R) 2b 8 Nick Gonzales (R) 3b 8 Carson Benge (L) rf 9 Henry Davis (R) c 9 Francisco Alvarez (R) c Paul Skenes (R) sp Freddy Peralta (R) sp

Little can be considered a surprise after perhaps the most aggressive year-to-year makeover in Mets history, so one has to place room for a little drama at the end of camp and the addition of Carson Benge makes that complete. More on that below as we spread the table for a new season. Get to know them now, kids. With players brought in at that end of their deals, other players arriving on short-term agreements, and a third class that has opt-outs at their disposal, a lot of these guys may be gone before you have had a chance to have them over to dinner. This is a team built to contend, but also a team built to get the hell out of the way if other prospects assert themselves. Transactions, 3/24/2026 GOING Released Starting Pitchers Aaron Rozek L/L DoB: 34931 High Level: AAA (2025) Aaron Rozek had been a AA and AAA Twins dude that the Mets grabbed in the minor-league phase of the December Rule V Draft. Minor-league picks don't have to be kept on a roster or offered back like MLB picks, but the Mets obviously had seen enough. Maybe he returns to Minnesota, or maybe points beyond. He had been ticketed for the Syracuse rotation this year, so his jettisoning could mean a big opportunity for Bryce Conley, or possibly lefty Zach Thornton — the latter of whom looked terrific when floated up to big-league camp this spring, so please don't confuse him with former Mets prospect Zack (with a K) Thornton, who peaked at AAA in 2016 Transactions, 3/25/2026 GOING GOING GOING GOING GOING Designated for Assignment Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse Placed on 15-Day Injured List, Retroactive to 2026-03-22, Recovering from Left Lat Surgery Designated for Assignment Designated for Assignment Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Bryan Hudson Craig Kimbrel A.J. Minter Ben Rortvedt Vidal Brujan L/L DoB: 1997-05-08 High Level: MLB (2025) R/R DoB: 1988-05-28 High Level: MLB (2025) L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 High Level: MLB (2025) L/R DoB: 1997-09-25 High Level: MLB (2025) S/R DoB: 1998-02-09 High Level: MLB (2025) GOING GOING NEUTRAL COMING COMING Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse IL with Right Knee Meniscus Tear Transferred from Outfield Added to Roster Added to 40-Player Roster and Promoted from Syracuse Outfielders Outfielders Infielders Relief Pitchers Outfielders Cristian Pache Mike Tauchman Brett Baty Richard Lovelady Carson Benge R/R DoB: 1998-11-19 High Level: MLB (2025) L/L DoB: 1990-12-03 High Level: MLB (2025) L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 High Level: MLB (2025) L/L DoB: 1995-07-07 High Level: AAA (2025) L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 High Level: MLB (2024) Here come the final roster maneuvers! Bryan Hudson, purchased from the White Sox back in February, had the inside track for the second-lefty position most of spring, but also spent most of the spring pitching poorly. The Mets had been playing waiver-claim-tug-o-war with the Nats over Richard Lovelady for a couple of months, so being out of options wasn't going to save Hudson, as Lovelady was OoO too, and at least one team had shown a disposition to claim him if he went through another one of those interminable DFAs that his life is full of. So congratulations to Dicky on stealing Hudson's bacon and making the Opening Day squadron. There was never an official announcement of Craig Kimbrel going to minor-league camp (or Christian Pache or Mike Tauchman for that matter), but we've hit you-don't-have-to-go-home-but-you-can't-stay-here territory. Kimbrell, to his credit, has decided to stay with the organization. Whether that means working on his act in extended spring training or accepting a AAA assignment isn't clear, but apparently he feels his best bet is staying with the team and building on whatever goodwill he has established this spring. We all know about Tauchman's injury, but no IL assignment has been announced. His meniscus was first torn back in September, leading to his non-tender by Chicago (A), so maybe he is doing some thinking before consenting to going under the knife. The news about Carson Benge has repercussions all through the system. As much of a top prospect and a comer as the guy was, he had to pass about 10 guys this spring to get where he has gotten. Congratulations to Gwreck for calling Vidal Brujan cutting when the entire stubborn Mets Roster Central staff had him in the fold. We don't know if they saw him jettisoned in favor of keeping Jared Young around despite the Benge addition, but that's how it shakes out. And that means, since Benge (being the rookie who needs reps) and Juan Soto (being the man) Brett Baty has no room in the outfield, and most non-DH work he gets will be at first, second, and third. Mets Roster Central was late to declare him an outfielder, and now has been late to declare him once again an infielder. Stubborn we are. But damn it, we have a roster. Get to know them while they are still here.

Little can be considered a surprise after perhaps the most aggressive year-to-year makeover in Mets history, so one has to place room for a little drama at the end of camp and the addition of Carson Benge makes that complete. More on that below as we spread the table for a new season. Get to know them now, kids. With players brought in at that end of their deals, other players arriving on short-term agreements, and a third class that has opt-outs at their disposal, a lot of these guys may be gone before you have had a chance to have them over to dinner. This is a team built to contend, but also a team built to get the hell out of the way if other prospects assert themselves. Transactions, 3/24/2026 GOING Released Starting Pitchers Aaron Rozek L/L DoB: 34931 High Level: AAA (2025) Aaron Rozek had been a AA and AAA Twins dude that the Mets grabbed in the minor-league phase of the December Rule V Draft. Minor-league picks don't have to be kept on a roster or offered back like MLB picks, but the Mets obviously had seen enough. Maybe he returns to Minnesota, or maybe points beyond. He had been ticketed for the Syracuse rotation this year, so his jettisoning could mean a big opportunity for Bryce Conley, or possibly lefty Zach Thornton — the latter of whom looked terrific when floated up to big-league camp this spring, so please don't confuse him with former Mets prospect Zack (with a K) Thornton, who peaked at AAA in 2016 Transactions, 3/25/2026 GOING GOING GOING GOING GOING Designated for Assignment Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse Placed on 15-Day Injured List, Retroactive to 2026-03-22, Recovering from Left Lat Surgery Designated for Assignment Designated for Assignment Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Bryan Hudson Craig Kimbrel A.J. Minter Ben Rortvedt Vidal Brujan L/L DoB: 1997-05-08 High Level: MLB (2025) R/R DoB: 1988-05-28 High Level: MLB (2025) L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 High Level: MLB (2025) L/R DoB: 1997-09-25 High Level: MLB (2025) S/R DoB: 1998-02-09 High Level: MLB (2025) GOING GOING NEUTRAL COMING COMING Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse Transferred to Minor-League Camp, Projected for Syracuse IL with Right Knee Meniscus Tear Transferred from Outfield Added to Roster Added to 40-Player Roster and Promoted from Syracuse Outfielders Outfielders Infielders Relief Pitchers Outfielders Cristian Pache Mike Tauchman Brett Baty Richard Lovelady Carson Benge R/R DoB: 1998-11-19 High Level: MLB (2025) L/L DoB: 1990-12-03 High Level: MLB (2025) L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 High Level: MLB (2025) L/L DoB: 1995-07-07 High Level: AAA (2025) L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 High Level: MLB (2024) Here come the final roster maneuvers! Bryan Hudson, purchased from the White Sox back in February, had the inside track for the second-lefty position most of spring, but also spent most of the spring pitching poorly. The Mets had been playing waiver-claim-tug-o-war with the Nats over Richard Lovelady for a couple of months, so being out of options wasn't going to save Hudson, as Lovelady was OoO too, and at least one team had shown a disposition to claim him if he went through another one of those interminable DFAs that his life is full of. So congratulations to Dicky on stealing Hudson's bacon and making the Opening Day squadron. There was never an official announcement of Craig Kimbrel going to minor-league camp (or Christian Pache or Mike Tauchman for that matter), but we've hit you-don't-have-to-go-home-but-you-can't-stay-here territory. Kimbrell, to his credit, has decided to stay with the organization. Whether that means working on his act in extended spring training or accepting a AAA assignment isn't clear, but apparently he feels his best bet is staying with the team and building on whatever goodwill he has established this spring. We all know about Tauchman's injury, but no IL assignment has been announced. His meniscus was first torn back in September, leading to his non-tender by Chicago (A), so maybe he is doing some thinking before consenting to going under the knife. The news about Carson Benge has repercussions all through the system. As much of a top prospect and a comer as the guy was, he had to pass about 10 guys this spring to get where he has gotten. Congratulations to Gwreck for calling Vidal Brujan cutting when the entire stubborn Mets Roster Central staff had him in the fold. We don't know if they saw him jettisoned in favor of keeping Jared Young around despite the Benge addition, but that's how it shakes out. And that means, since Benge (being the rookie who needs reps) and Juan Soto (being the man) Brett Baty has no room in the outfield, and most non-DH work he gets will be at first, second, and third. Mets Roster Central was late to declare him an outfielder, and now has been late to declare him once again an infielder. Stubborn we are. But damn it, we have a roster. Get to know them while they are still here. Your Mets Coaching Staff Manager Bench Coach Pitching Coach Hitting Coordinator Third Base Coach First Base Coach Bullpen Coach Ass't Pitching Coach Carlos Mendoza Kai Correa Justin Willard Jeff Albert Tim Leiper Gilbert Gomez José Rosado Dan McKinney DoB: 1979-11-27 DoB: 1989-07-14 DoB: 1990-09-09 DoB: 1992-08-16 DoB: 1996-07-19 DoB: 1992-03-08 DoB: 1974-11-09 DoB: 1989-06-06 Hitting Coach Strategy Coach Catching Coach Coaching Assistant Bat'g Practice Pitcher Equipment Manager Bullpen Catchers Bullpen Catchers Troy Snitker Danny Barnes J.P. Arencibia Rafael Fernandez Kevin Mahoney Kevin Kierst Eric Langill Dave Racaniello DoB: 1988-12-05 DoB: 1989-10021 DoB: 1986-01-05 DoB: 1988-08-03 DoB: 1987-05-11 DoB: 1964-07-09 DoB: 1979-04-09 DoB: 1978-06-03 Your Mets Training Staff Director of Player Health Head Athletic Trainer Assistant Athletic Trainer Reconditioning Coordinator Reconditioning Therapist Head Performance Coach Assistant Performance Coach Performance Coordinator Brian Chicklo Joseph Golia Bryan Baca Sean Bardanett Josh Bickel Dustin Clarke Tanner Miracle Jeremy Chiang DoB: 1972-07-17 DoB: 1978-??-?? DoB: Circa 1980 DoB: 1988-06-23 DoB: 1996-??-?? DoB: 1987-??-?? DoB: 1991-??-?? DoB: ????-??-?? Your 2026 New York Mets Starting Pitchers Clay Holmes Nolan McLean Freddy Peralta David Peterson Kodai Senga R/R DoB: 1993-03-27 R/R DoB: 2001-07-24 R/R DoB: 2996-06-04 L/L DoB: 1995-09-03 L/R DoB: 1993-01-30 Relief Pitchers Huascar Brazobán Luis Garcia Richard Lovelady Sean Manaea Tobias Myers Brooks Raley Luke Weaver R/R DoB: 1989-10-15 R/R DoB: 1987-01-30 L/L DoB: 1995-07-07 R/L DoB: 1992-02-01 R/R DoB: 1998-08-05 L/L DoB: 1988-06-29 R/R DoB: 1993-08-21 Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Devin Williams Francisco Alvarez Luís Torrens Brett Baty Bo Bichette Francisco Lindor Jorge Polanco R/R DoB: 1994-09-21 R/R DoB: 2001-11-01 R/R DoB: 1996-05-02 L/R DoB: 1999-11-13 R/R DoB: 1998-03-05 S/R DoB: 1993-11-14 S/R DoB: 1999-11-13 Infielders Outfielders Marcus Semien Mark Vientos Carson Benge Luis Robert, Jr. Juan Soto Tyrone Taylor Jared Young R/R DoB: 1990-09-17 R/R DoB: 1993-12-11 L/R DoB: 2003-01-20 R/R DoB: 1997-08-03 L/L DoB: 36093 R/R DoB: 34356 L/R DoB: 1995-07-09 Also on 40-Player Roster Starting Pitchers Relief Pitchers Tylor Megill Christian Scott Jonah Tong Alex Carrillo Reed Garrett Joey Gerber Justin Hagenman R/R DoB: 1995-07-28 R/R DoB: 1999-06-15 R/R DoB: 2003-06-19 R/R DoB: 1997-06-06 R/R DoB: 1993-01-02 R/R DoB: 1997-05-03 R/R DoB: 1996-10-07 On 60-Day Injured List with torn right UCL. In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse. In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse. In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie. On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery and nerve relocation surgery. In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie. On 60 Day Injured List with fractured rib. Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders A.J. Minter Dedniel Núñez Jonathan Pintaro Dylan Ross Austin Warren Hayden Senger Ronny Mauricio L/L DoB: 1993-09-02 R/R DoB: 1996-06-05 R/R DoB: 1997-11-07 R/R DoB: 2000-09-01 R/R DoB: 1996-02-05 R/R DoB: 1997-04-03 S/R DoB: 2001-04-04 On 15-Day Injured List — Left Lat Surgery On 60-Day Injured List — right UCL surgery. In minor-league camp. Projected for Binghamton. In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie. In minor-league camp. Projected for St. Lucie. In minor-league camp. Projected for Binghamton. In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse. Outfielders MJ Melendez Nick Morabito L/R DoB: 1993-11-29 R/R DoB: 2003-05-07 In minor-league camp. Projected for Syracuse. In minor-league camp. Projected for Binghamton. Designated for Assignment Relief Pitchers Catchers Infielders Bryan Hudson Ben Rortvedt Vidal Brujan L/L DoB: 1997-05-08 L/R DoB: 1997-09-25 S/R DoB: 1998-02-09 DfA'd, 2026-03-25. DfA'd, 2026-03-25. DfA'd, 2026-03-25. View full article

I thought we agreed it went by as-they-appear, so a debut at the plate speaks for itself as the players appear in an order, and defensive-position-order when a player debuts on defense. So, making assumptions about tomorrow's lineup, the order will be: Peralta Polanco Semien Bichette Robert, Jr. Benge ... as all are expected to debut on defense in the top of the first.

Consecutive topics in the forum this morning: