Opening Day 2008. Welcome back to Mets Chat Room. I introduced this last season and was thrilled by the feedback.

Questions? Comments about strategy? If you just want to vent? Here’s the place. I’ll be on throughout the game and will comment as often as I can.

Hope all of you have a great season.

METS

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
LF Angel Pagan
RF Ryan Church
C Brian Schneider
LH Johan Santana

FLORIDA MARLINS

SS Hanley Ramirez
2B Dan Uggla
1B Mike Jacobs
LF Josh Willingham
CF Cody Ross
3B Jorge Cantu
RF Luis Gonzalez
C Matt Treanor
LH Mark Hendrickson

The Mets will launch an online fan vote on Mets.com to determine their eighth inning “Sing-A-Long” song. Voting begins today on Mets.com and concludes Monday, April 7 at 12:00 noon, the day prior to the Mets final Opening Day at Shea.

Vote on Mets.com and select from the 10 songs listed below, or submit a write-in suggestion.

•    Brown Eyed Girl, Van Morrison
•    Build Me Up Buttercup, The Foundations
•    I Love Rock N’ Roll, Joan Jett and the Blackhearts
•    I’ll Be There For You (Theme From Friends), The Rembrandts
•    I’m A Believer, The Monkees
•    Land Of 1000 Dances, Wilson Pickett
•    Livin’ On A Prayer, Bon Jovi
•    Movin’ Out, Billy Joel
•    Sweet Caroline, Neil Diamond
•    Waitin’ On A Sunny Day, Bruce Springsteen
•    Fan selection _(Title/Artist)

After six weeks, the Mets are having a team meeting. Willie Randolph said he won’t go overboard talking about the end of last year.

You know, about the collapse.

Watching the Marlins take BP. Rained this morning, but sunny now. It’s Florida. It will rain again.

Some Mets are passing time before a team meeting watching Caddyshack.

Begs the question: Which is the best line in the movie?

Remember to go to Mets Chat so we can talk throughout the game.

Questions, comments and comlaints are all welcome. I’ll be posting throughout the day, and will talk during the game.

See you then.

Finally. It has been a long spring.

Opening Day. I think this would be a good time for you to share your favorite Opening Day memories.

Mine came when my dad took me and my brother out of school to see Opening Day in Cleveland.

School wasn’t pleased, but dad didn’t care.

Like it or not, the Mets have their team. I think it is important for them to get out of the gate quickly, if for no other reason than to turn the page officially on last season.

Logically, there is no connection between last year and this season. However, sometimes logic doesn’t enter into the equation.

And, a reminder, like we did the last month of last year, I invite you to join Mets Chat for live blogging during the games.

I have no interest in Braves-Nationals tonight. Think I’ll watch The Family Guy then a movie before calling it a night.

See you tomorrow. I’ll leave you to tell us your thoughts on the season.

METS

SS Jose Reyes
2B Luis Castillo
3B David Wright
CF Carlos Beltran
1B Carlos Delgado
RF Ryan Church
LF Angel Pagan
C Brian Schneider
LH Johan Santana

GM Omar Minaya said the reasoning on taking Brady Clark over Fernando Tatis boiled down to patience: “We felt coming off the bench (Clark) would give us a better at-bat.”

Tatis had more power potential, but was also more likely to strikeout and fail to advance a runner.

Conventional wisdom was the fifth starter job would go to Orlando Hernandez if he were healthy, but despite a strong outing in Friday’s exhibition against Baltimore and feeling good the next day, Hernandez said he wasn’t ready.

“I feel I can pitch in the major leagues, but I think it would be better if I had two or three more starts to get more comfortable with my feet,” Hernandez said. “I think this is what’s best for the team.”

GM Omar Minaya said there is no time table, but left little doubt a healthy Hernandez wouldn’t have to wait long.

Hernandez said he’s not feeling pain in his right foot with his new wind-up, but he’s not comfortable with it.

On the DL: Ramon Castro (right hammy, retroactive to March 21); Duaner Sanchez (right shoulder, retroactive to March 27); and Orlando Hernandez (right foot, retroactive to March 29).

DFA: Brian Stokes.

Reassigned to minor league camp: Ricardo Rincon, Fernando Tatis and Nelson Figueroa.

Added to roster: Brady Clark and Raul Casanova.

“We keep playing,” were Mike Pelfrey’s first words after coming out of manager Willie Randolph’s office.

Pelfrey beat Orlando Hernandez out for the fifth spot in the roation.

“I always thought if he were healthy it would be his job,” Pelfrey said of Hernandez.

Meanwhile, outfielder Brady Clark is in; infielder Fernando Tatis is out.

Clark said he didn’t put any extra pressure on himself when Moises Alou went down thinking this was his big chamce. He also said he didn’t read anything into Tatis getting a lot of attention.

“I can’t worry about things that are beyond my control,” Clark said.

Fernando Tatis is nowhere to be found right now. There’s no locker for him, either.

Joe Smith just came out of Willie Ramdolph. It was more of a smirk than a smile.

He made the team as the seventh reliever, beating out Brian Stokes, Ricardo Rincon and Nelson Figueroa.

“He told me that they believe in me,” Smith said.

Orlando Hernandez is in Randolph’s office now.