We've Survived!

Competitive Spring Training action begins today, as the Mets face Detroit at 1PM. For those of you lucky enough to get SNY, you can TiVo it this afternoon or watch the replay at 6.

Oliver Perez will make the start, probably pitch about two innings, and be followed by Alay Soler (he's still on the roster?), Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Jon Adkins.

The starters for the next four games are Tom Glavine, Chan Ho Park and Mike Pelfrey. Remember, all eyes are on which five guys will start the season off in the rotation.

Rotation battle speculation update:
Dayn Perry says the 5th spot is Chan Ho Park's to lose. Matt Cerrone concurs.

As for the bullpen, there are way too many guys to even speculate who will make the team, other than Billy Wagner, Aaron Heilman and Scott Schoeneweis. Duaner Sanchez may or may not be ready in time. Other candidates include Pedro Feliciano, Jon Adkins, Ambiorix Burgos, Jorge Sosa, Joe Smith, Juan Padilla, Jason Vargas and Dave Williams.

The other battles are for the 4th and 5th outfield spot, and the backup infielders.

The projected 25 man roster:

C Lo Duca
C2: Ramon Castro or Sandy Alomar
1B: Carlos Delgado
2B: Jose Valentin
3B: David Wright
SS: Jose Reyes
IF: Julio Franco
IF: Damion Easley or Anderson Hernandez
RF: Shawn Green
CF: Carlos Beltran
LF: Moises Alou
OF: Endy Chavez or Ben Johnson or David Newhan or Lastings Milledge
OF: Lasting Milledge or Endy Chavez or Ben Johnson or David Newhan
SP: Tom Glavine
SP: Orlando Hernandez
SP: ?John Maine?
SP: ?Oliver Perez?
SP: ?Chan Ho Park or Aaron Sele or Jorge Sosa or Mike Pelfrey or Philip Humber or Jason Vargas?
RP: Billy Wagner
RP: Aaron Heilman
RP: Scott Schoeneweis
RP: ?Pedro Feliciano?
RP: ?Duaner Sanchez?
RP: ?Jorge Sosa?

Of course, that's assuming the Mets go with 11 pitchers. If they are worried about the ability of their starters going deep and want to have a 12 man staff, then they'll have to go with just 4 outfielders (Can you really imagine Endy Chavez not making Willie Randolph's team?), or 5 infielders (Damion Easley, we hardly knew ye).

Let's get on with it!