Mack On – The Future of Second Base, ST Pitchers, Brant Rustich, Reese Havens, Toby Hyde

·         Queens is pretty simply this year. Daniel Murphy is going to play every day until he’s injured again. Justin Turner is the back-up, but only if Ike Davis stays healthy because, according to Terry Collins, Turner also in the back-up first baseman. It’s anybody’s guess past that.

Reese Havens will be the AAA second baseman until he’s injured…  I got stop all these negative waves. Rylan Sandoval looks to be the Binghamton starter while Wilfredo Tovar lines up at Lucy. The big question is Savannah and whether or not Danny Muno begins his switch to second back. He’s blocked by prospect JC Gamboa so now’s a good time to begin the process.

Cory Wimberly and Michael Fisher will fight it out for a utility slot in Buffalo while Luis Nieve may stick in the same role for St. Lucie.

Yucarybert De La Cruz, Carlos Leyva, and Sneider Batista will remain back in the extended camp waiting for the next wave of draft picks.

·         The Mets released the pitchers they will use in the first week’s worth of ST games:

o   Friday intrasquad - Dillon Gee, Jeurys Familia, Daniel Herrera, Jeremy Hefner, Matt Harvey, Miguel Batista, Tim Byrdak, Frank Francisco

o   Saturday intrasquad - R.A. Dickey, Pedro Beato, D.J. Carrasco, Armando Rodriguez, Chris Schwinden, Josh Stinson, Fernando Cabrera, Robert Carson

o   Sunday vs. top prospects - Mike Pelfrey, Ramon Ramirez, Manny Acosta, Chuck James, Jon Niese, Jon Rauch, Bobby Parnell, Garrett Olson

o   Monday vs. Washington at Port St. Lucie - Dillon Gee, Matt Harvey, Miguel Batista, Daniel Herrera, Tim Byrdak, Frank Francisco

o   Tuesday vs. St. Louis at Port St. Lucie (split squad) - Johan Santana, R.A. Dickey, Pedro Beato

o   Tuesday vs. Houston at Kissimmee (split squad) - Jeurys Familia, Jeremy Hefner, Josh Stinson

Missing:  Collin McHugh, Elvin Ramirez, Roy Merritt, Fernando Cabrera, Tobi Stoner, Mark Cohoon, Jeff Stevens, Erik Turgeon, Eric Beaulac, Eric Niesen, Jack Egbert, Dylan Owen

·         RP Brant Rustich continues his rehab. He has now completed five bullpen sessions, the best coming on Tuesday. Look for him to be moving on to pitching BP soon.

·         The Mets reported on Wednesday that 2B prospect Reese Havens will sit out a few days with a “stiff back”. Of course, we all hope that’s all it is, but, a bad back doesn’t heal. I can’t recall a single ballplayer that spent the early years of his professional career on the IR ever come back and be productive major leaguers. Genetics is, well, genetics. Sadly, it looks lke the Mets need to come up with a plan B for second base. Next in line would be Jordany Valdespin, followed by Phillip Evans and Danny Muno.

·         Toby Hyde is no longer an employee of the Savannah Sand Gnats.