Feast On Bad Teams Early - Shannon Shark

The longest and most boring Spring Training in memory has ended, and I have the honor of the Opening Day column.

We've moved into our new home at Citi Field, and despite some obstructed views in the Promenade (watch out if you're in the first three rows) the stadium seems universally loved, and by universally loved even Yankees fans are admitting it's better than the lemon in the Bronx.

The Mets open to an easy schedule, what with the Reds and the Marlins (as Steve Somers might say) before coming home to feast on those jerks the Padres who are making us play a night opener. I hope the Padres lose 121 games in front of 700,000 fans for ruining our opener. (Some union nonsense about not being able to play a day game after a cross-country flight. Waaaah).

So here's what we have...

A first baseman playing for a contract in a ballpark that's going to see about seven home runs all season. I can hear Howie Rose now, “Delgado crushes it to deep right center, and it's caught in front of the 415 sign!”

A second baseman we all hate. Not much at catcher.

Wright, Beltran and Reyes..all they need to be is Wright, Beltran and Reyes and all will be right with the world.

Hopefully Pelfrey and Murphy are what we all think they are (and wouldn't two more home-growns be a great thing for this franchise.)