Me too, Jerry. Me too.

"I'm excited," Manuel said. "We're healthy. We're looking forward to it. We can't wait to get going."

--on the beginning of the season... tomorrow!

a week late

Usually, the MLB season starts this week. This season, it's starting a week later than usual, because of the WBC. I'm a WBC supporter (though I think there's a better time of the year to pay the classic than during spring training), but today I'm sweating that extra week. If holding my breath would make April 6th come sooner, I'd do it. Alexis was wearing her Mets hat when I got home last night, and I wore orange today; baseball season is clearly in the air in Brooklyn.

Like any good Mets fan, I'm a bit concerned about pitching, but like any good baseball fan, I'm dismissing spring training results as any sort of predictor for how even the beginning of the season will unfold. It's simply not predictive.

It's nice to have a manager who thinks the way I do; today in Port St. Lucie, Jerry said this: "The Major Leagues will tell you," Manuel said. "Spring Training just won't."

That's Our David

this article, from Marty Noble, nearly made me cry.

I'm in the middle of a post about the USA-Puerto Rico game, but I didn't want to delay in expressing how awesome, in the classic sense of the word, it was to see David Wright hit the walk-off single for the USA on Tuesday night. It had never occurred to me that I'd want to root for team USA; I'm far to into Latin baseball to have considered it, really. But that was David Wright, and he's playing 81 games in Queens this year. He's ours... and he was the hero. There was a dog-pile of major-leaguers on the field on top of Wright in March. It was the sort of sight that makes a baseball fan, and a Mets fan, feel all kinds of things we're not used to feeling in March.

I loved every second of it.

the DH in spring training

According to the rules of spring training, the manager of the home team (National or American league) gets to decide whether the teams can use a DH. Jerry Manuel made it known early that he and Dan Wharthen had no intention of using the DH in spring training, for the most rational reason possible: National League pitchers have to hit. They need practice, too. So Jerry has been putting the pitcher in the #2 spot, to make sure the starter gets a chance at the plate.

Strictly speaking, a team using the DH has a giant advantage over a team letting their pitchers hit. The Mets have played three spring training games thus far. All were against teams using the DH, while the Mets let their pitchers go to the plate.

And we've won 2 of 3, losing the last one by just one run.

Rock on, Jerry.

Mets Baseball! On Television!

They've got the full broadcast team working today's spring training game, and I am loving every second. So much, it's inspired me to clean the living room, just to stay in earshot of the game.

I'd jump up and down and squeal with excitement, but not only wouldn't that translate to the blog, I'm a little embarrassed by how thrilled I am to be watching baseball, even exhibition games.

Its 6-0 Mets against Florida, and Nelson Figeroa just threw a 1-2-3 inning to end the 6th which is always a good thing. I also notice that Delgado is playing first (and just hit a nice double), and that Reyes is in the game (not just in the game, he just hit his second home run of the game), as are Wright and Beltran (who just hit his second homer of the day). This must be because these are the guys who are going to play in the WBC, and Jerry Manuel wants to send them off in as best shape as possible.

Have I mentioned recently that I love Manuel?

P.S. We won on a three-hit shutout. I'm a happy girl.