Tomorrow is March 15th and there will be about three weeks to opening day. The roster spots that are still open are starting to take shape. Here is where we are at:

Bench

As I have mentioned, there is a real chance that the Mets will go north with six subs- at least until they need a fifth starter. All along I was right in believing that Marlon Anderson would make the team. He is hitting .421 this spring and guaranteed over a million dollars. Cory Sullivan and Jeremy Reed have become the best competition in camp. Both play three positions, have a moderate history of major league success, and hit left handed. My money is on Reed since he has had the more recent benchmark of success. This is where the baseball “intangibles” that the readers hate will come into play. Too bad they are left handed or I would have tried to make the case for keeping both. I trust that Jerry Manuel will make the right decision. Worst case scenario we can use the former MLB playoff tiebreaker system – flip a coin. It appears that Nick Evans will be sent down to play full time so that possible temporary sixth bench spot probably will go to Bobby Kielty.

Bullpen

Two spots left who will they be? The last time I visited this scenario I thought Matt DeSalvo had a great shot to make the team and that Duaner Sanchez was in trouble. Turns out I was half right. Darren O’ Day and Bobby Parnell have been getting a ton of press. Parnell impressed against the Tigers on Friday. Early in the spring I thought he was destined for AAA because of the lack of room. Sanchez’s ineffectiveness has changed the entire dynamic. Is it possible to keep both? With Redding out that is very possible. Bring Parnell and O’Day north to see what they could do in game action. You never know what you could get out of a Rule V pick, but I would prefer seeing him in games that at least count. Eventually one will have to cede to Redding. This scenario would leave Brian Stokes, who I like, out in the cold. Fortunately for Stokes, three weeks is a lot of time for things to change.

Starting Rotation

Did I say things are becoming clearer? If you count Tim Redding’s injury, than yes, but right now it’s a battle of who can be the best of the worst. I can’t see how three weeks is going to be enough for Freddy Garcia to grab a spot in the rotation. The Redding injury doesn’t change much since it sounded like the Mets wanted him out of the bullpen from the beginning. This leaves the ageless wonder, Livan Hernandez, to man the fifth spot. Yikes! I still think it would be worth bringing Pedro in on an incentive based deal (if he would take it) to see him against real competition (Dutch Netherlands doesn’t count). First one not to collapse before the finish line wins – and that appears to be El Duque’s brother.

Tags: Bobby Kielty, Bobby Parnell, Cory Sullivan, Darren O' Day, Freddy Garcia, Jeremy Reed, Livan Hernandez, New York Mets, Tim Redding