- Wright may or may not play today depending on TC's call this morning

- Hairston felt no pain (looking like he will be the starting CF with Baxter the likely backup to open the year)


- Torres is feeling "better" but won't be running for a few more days

- Carrasco and Beato both expected to open on the DL


- Bay likely just a bruise

- Olson a bruise, will throw today

- Kirk thinks he is "close" to returning. This likely means he's not opening the year in CF. Just not enough time.


http://espn.go.com/blog/new-york/mets/p ... ng-3-26-12

Really happy to have Wright back. Wish it was on the tee vee.

Barring a setback I don't see any way Hairston isn't the CF over MDD, Loewen or Baxter (don't believe Kirk is even in the mix despite Sandy hyping him up).

I'm not really remembering Hairston as looking any more comfortable out there in CF than the guys who don't look comfortable this spring that caused MDD to suddenly become part of the conversation, but at least he can hit a bit.

I'm wondering if they'd do a platoon-ish with he and Baxter/Loewen or Hairston would just be given the full run - probably just Hairston until Torres comes back.

Given the amount of injuries that have occurred, it's important to note that the OD 25 man roster most likely won't be effected that badly.

-Of the starting position players, all (except possibly Torres) should be ready for OD. And if Torres isn't ready, it looks like he'd be ready a few days after.

-All of the starting pitchers are fine.

-Of the bullpen, the three injuries are a guy who probably wasn't going to make the team (Beato), and a guy no one wanted to make the team (Carrasco). The other (Byrdak) should be ready shortly after OD.

-Unless you wanted them to carry Kirk for a week and send him down, there are no injuries to the guys vying for bench spots.

I wouldn't make any guesses to when Torres will be ready before he starts running. How he feels walking around really means nothing vs. when he has to turn it on and run the bases. Carrying Kirk makes no sense. He hasn't been able to play in weeks and still isn't back. He said he expected to be back "soon". Hard enough for a rookie, almost impossible after 2+ weeks of doing very little and the opportunity for him to push himself to hard to "impress" in his short stint and re-injuring himself far outweighs the positives. Obliques are not an injury to mess around with.

David!



Would be nice to get Torres back soon...they need a real CFer...and I've anointed him my 2nd favorite Met!

I wouldn't count on Kirk at all, as Metro said.

If Torres isn't ready, I would guess Valdy is the extra hand they carry for a week or so, for 40 man reasons. Assume thats why he's still in camp at this point as what other spot is he realistically "competing" for? Turner's? Turner has done everything he can to lose it I guess (although he leads the world in MLB.com labeled "line-outs") but I don't think thats ever really been a consideration. Looks Like Hairston should be back in time, too, meaning an OD lineup of something like:

Tejada SS
Murphy 2B
Wright 3B
Ike 1B
Bay LF
Duda RF
Hairston CF
Thole C

Probably isn't out of the question yet, and a bench of:

Nickeas, Turner, Cedeno, Baxter, Valdespin

is probably the best bet as of today. Obviously throw Torres in there, Hairston to the bench and Valdespin to Buffalo if he's back.