Now that it looks like Daniel Murphy will probably bat second, I think we have a pretty good idea of what the Mets' starting lineup will look like come Opening Day.
1. Jose Reyes
2. Daniel Murphy
3. David Wright
4. Carlos Beltran
5. Carlos Delgado
6. Ryan Church
7. Brian Schneider
8. Luis Castillo
Wright and Beltran might flip, but otherwise I think this is it. Delgado, Church and Schneider would make three consecutive lefties, but I don't know that there's a better way to construct the lineup. Whatever you gain by splitting them up you would lose (and then some) by giving Wright or Beltran fewer plate appearances. Then again, the optimal lineup has Wright batting fifth anyway, so maybe we'll see Delgado hitting cleanup and Beltran hitting third. So, I guess what I'm saying is that we know Murphy is hitting second, and we know these other guys will be in there somewhere. Other than that, pfft, who knows?