PORT ST. LUCIE — Jerry Manuel‘s provocative lineup talk this spring might have been just for show. Manuel said the order he sent out here tonight for Johan Santana‘s Grapefruit League start against the Nationals will probably be the lineup the Mets field Opening Day next month in Cincinnati.
And for all Manuel’s offbeat pronouncements since the Mets arrived in camp, tonight’s order looked awfully similar to the second half of last season.
That means Jose Reyes batting leadoff, with Luis Castillo in the No. 2 hole, David Wright and Carlos Beltran alternating in the third and fifth spots and Daniel Murphy in the bottom half.
So much for Manuel being a mad scientist …
“Close, very close,” Manuel said when asked to compare tonight’s lineup with what the Mets will look like April 6. “It’ll be good to see them play together, see some at-bats, how we can handle the game, how they play defensively. Should be good.”
The only wild card aside from Murphy occasionally alternating with Castillo in the No. 2 spot is right fielder Ryan Church‘s playing time.
Manuel said the left-handed hitting Church’s strong spring might have helped him avoid a straight platoon with righty Fernando Tatis, but Manuel wouldn’t guarantee it.
“That’s a possibility, that’s a possibility,” Manuel said when asked if Church would be allowed to start against lefties. “If he’s hot, then we’ll ride it out.”
But judging from tonight’s order, Manuel still appears hesitant to go with Church on a full-time basis. Tatis started in right against the Nationals with the Mets facing lefty John Lannan.
As usual with Manuel, though, consider everything written in pencil.
“The lineup is something I mess with all the time, so it’s never really [set],” he said.