Prior to last night’s game, Jerry Manuel told reporters Friday’s lineup will look a lot like the lineup he intends to use for Opening Day.
In other words, Jose Reyes will hit leadoff, followed 
in order by Luis Castillo then David Wright, though Wright and Beltran may flip-flop around Carlos Delgado on certain days when a left-handed pitcher is on the mound.
Meanwhile, though Daniel Murphy could eventually get at bats hitting second, he will start the year batting towards the bottom of the order, especially against left-handed starters, along with Ryan Church, who may also sit against lefties in favor of Fernando Tatis.
To read more about Castillo, and where he is at this spring, read Jim Baumbach’s report for Newsday.
By the way, on SNY’s Mets Weekly, Julie Alexandria and I break down what will likely be the Mets Opening Day roster.
Mets Weekly airs Saturday at 12:30 pm on SNY.
I have to say Murphy’s Spring Training has been so refreshing to watch. I hope this kid is the real deal.
Was reading Rubin’s blog and he left a comment about how Jerry said his 7th inning men will be Parnell and GREEN. So yes hes expecting Green to get lefties out..
*ahem, Sylar*
parnell is going to great, hes looked phenominal last few outings… great pedigree
murphy is just a good baseball player nothing amazing, but can get the job done
santana was stellar && you know he gave it a little extra last night to inspire the troops (ollie, pelf, maine) to get it going
entire team looked phenominal last night. love tatis subbiin in for church, beltran & delgado are locked in… wright is wright .. reyes is reyes.. even castro looked great last night.. castillo worked counts did his thing…
lookin good
Matt? Here is Jerry letting us know what his lineup will be. But then you go and change it all up. Do we just not believe Jerry? or what?
I agree about Parnell, he is going to be in the 7th and 8th inning rotation with Green and Putz. No secong lefty needed…
I don’t know, I think I’d rather see Murphy bat 2nd, at least on days when Tatis or Castro aren’t starting. Doing this will prevent our bottom 3 being Church/Murphy/Schneider, all lefties.
church murphy schneid, against a righty. why do we need to break that up again? when later ina game if a loogy comes in we have tatis, cora, even castro maybe even evans available to sub in.
Cora bats lefty. Not switch which is what I’m assuming you were implying.
I think Cora is going to suck…rather find chris woodward at the bar and bring him back….
Matt,
I think you may have meant Wright and Beltran may swap against certain RIGHTIES….as why would Jerry drop Wright lower against a lefty??? Wright owns lefties.
I think murphy would be great at #2 maybe even better at #2 than castillo, but castillos strength is at #2 and murphy looks like (hopefully) a hit machine which would of course make him useful anywhere in the lineup. Thus, hit castillo second through april and see how it goes. if castillo works out 3-2 and still manages to strike out or hit a weak grounder to second reconsider the order. Deep down im pulling for murphy at #2. Why? because lets say Jose reaches first. Then I FEEL like its always a buzz kill with castillo. But again ill stick with castillo in the two hole but only for 4-6 weeks.