However, fairness is irrelevant in sports. A manager’s job security always becomes an issue when he has lame duck contractual status and his team has lost six straight games.Losing streaks get everybody edgy, with questions directed to management, in this case, GM Sandy Alderson, who was asked the inevitable by The New York Post.

“That’s not something that has entered my mind or any mind within the organization,’’ Alderson said. “Has it entered the minds of others in the media or what have you? Yes.’’

Well, of course it has. It’s been on the back burner since pitchers-and-catchers in February. And, I don’t think for a second it hasn’t crossed Alderson’s mind, either.

Walter Alston used to work on one-year contracts, but he was Walter Alston and his Dodgers teams were perennial winners. They were an organization that believed in consistency. They were the exception to the rule.

By contrast, Collins manages the Mets, a franchise that last went to the World Series in 2000. Thirteen years later, and they are on their fifth manager. That’s not even three years each, and that’s no stability. While this trend doesn’t suggest good things for Collins, it might work in his favor for at least this summer. If the Mets aren’t going anywhere, there’s no reason to make a change and have owner Fred Wilpon pay two managers.

Bobby Valentine managed that World Series team, but frequently clashed with then GM Steve Phillips – one of four since 2000 – and with his personality wore out his welcome. Art Howe was the polar opposite of Valentine, and that didn’t work, either. I thought Willie Randolph had a chance, but he was hamstrung from the beginning when he wasn’t given full reign to hire his coaches and had to deal with clubhouse spyTony Bernazard, who usurped his authority. Jerry Manuel was overmatched, but that’s what you get when you sack a manager after midnight.

Now there’s Collins, who was brought in by Alderson to clean up the mess. However, Alderson doesn’t have free economic authority to spend, and consequently Collins doesn’t have the pieces. He’s basically a custodian; here to keep things clean.

The pieces he’s been given don’t fit, but here’s the rub, Collins is judged on what he does with those pieces, much like on those cooking shows where the contestants have to make something out of a basket of random ingredients.

“He came into the season without a contract for next year and may not have one for next year through this season,’’ said Alderson, meaning don’t expect an in-season extension. “But as I’ve told him and said before: This isn’t just about wins and losses. It’s about how we approach the game and fully taking into account what he has to work with.

“We talk from time to time and the [job status] subject comes up. I’m not trying to avoid the topic. It’s status quo. You go through a tough week and people like to immediately jump to conclusions and start discussing a doomsday scenario. A good first week isn’t necessarily any more of an indication than a bad fourth week.’’

So, there you have it: Collins is the care taker for 2013.

Alderson wants to know more if his roster can work and play nice with each other rather than if it has any talent. He’s telling us – again – that it doesn’t matter if you win or lose, but how you play the game.

Unfortunately, they keep score and results do matter. Major League Baseball isn’t new wave, liberal physical education where everybody gets a prize for showing up.

Winning does matter on this level. Teams pay big money to get players capable of winning and fans pay big money to watch those players.

If the losing continues, attendance will eventually drop as it has every year since Citi Field opened. But, the players will get their money. And, Collins could be out of a job. Not fair, but that’s how they play the game. It is also something Alderson needs to think about concerning his own job status.

Thoughts from Joe D.

While I don’t think any manager can get more out of this team than Terry Collins is — and that is mostly because he’s been dealt a rotten hand by GM Sandy Alderson — I see too many flaws in Collins for me to defend him.

As an in-game strategist I disagree with more than half of the decisions he makes. No manager is perfect, but Collins makes too many bad decisions, many of which have negatively impacted the results of a game.

I thought it was a bad idea to let Collins play this season out as a lame-duck manager. Any of my regular readers know that. I wasn’t worried as much about his status becoming a distraction as much as I was concerned over the impact it would have on Collins as the manager and his decision-making process.

He’s making far too many bad decisions now than at any other time since taking over for Jerry Manuel. I think it’s a result of managing with a monkey on your back or your boss constantly hovering over your shoulder.

I don’t believe Sandy Alderson wants Terry back and that’s fine by me. But it should have been delineated that way before the season began. They could have handled it differently and just announce that this would be Terry’s last season as manager before assuming a new role in the front office. That would have made more sense, avoided all the constant questions, and let Tery and the players breathe a little easier throughout the season.

I got the sense from something David Wright said last week, that he and the team need to perform well because they like Terry and don’t want to let him down. ERRRRRRGGGHHHH. Wrong answer.

Collins has had to manage a team that is unworthy of being called a big market team and attendance has never been worse than this recent three-year run. As bad as the results have been, I doubt Gil Hodges or Davey Johnson could have done better with the same bad outfield, bullpen and backend of the rotation. This isn’t Terry’s mess, it’s Sandy’s mess – and he should be the one responsible for any of the bad results as well as cleaning it up.

Alderson insisted that the team had to show the kind of selectivity at the plate that has been a hallmark of the general manager’s career.

As a result, the Mets are seeing 156.11 pitches per game in 2013, up from 145.82 in 2012, according to Puma.

That increase is being attributed to the team shunning the offensive philosophy that saw them struggle in the second half of last season, or so they say.

“It’s getting a good pitch to hit, and these guys are sorting through the pitches they are seeing to get something to hit,” Alderson explained to Puma.

“That approach is what really made us successful offensively in 2011 and the first half of 2012, and then we lost the approach. We couldn’t generate any offense in the second half of last year.”

The Mets have been doing surprisingly well, but is it a case of the philosophy or playing less than elite teams, or a combination of both?

Daniel Murphy, to use one example, seems to be much more aggressive at the plate than David Wright, and is enjoying a great start to his season.

I think 11 games into the season is not enough of a sample size to make any real determination, and if not for John Buck‘s tremendous exploits at the plate, things would be much different in the standings.

As I stated before the season started, the Mets had an easy schedule for most of April and so far they’ve  won series against the Padres, Marlins and Twins, while losing a series to the much more superior Phillies among those teams. That was something I hoped they would do and expected going into the season.

Lets see how they do against the Nationals, Dodgers and Phillies during the next homestand that begins on Friday. And lets see what happens when Buck comes back to earth. We’ll know a lot more about this team, the outfield, and the rotation by the early part of May.

There is five inches of snow with more forecast in Minneapolis where the Mets play tonight. The high for the series is forecast at a blustery 43 degrees. It will be colder with the wind.

I would love to see Twins owner Jim Pohlad sit with Commissioner Bud Selig in short sleeves tonight in a vain attempt to convince us the weather is fine. But, it isn’t and probably won’t be much better next week in Denver, where it also snows any time.

It is true scheduling isn’t about one team but all 30 and you can’t predict the weather. However, it is also true MLB created this issue, and first did so with the increase to 30 teams from 20 when the Mets were born in 1962.

The insistence of a 162-game schedule stretched the season from the first week of April into October. Factor increased playoff rounds with the last two – including World Series – lasting up to seven games and we’re brushing against November.

There’s too much money to be made over 162 games and the playoffs – the vehicle for the networks to shill for their programming – so they won’t think to cut there.

Nonetheless, Major League Baseball made things more difficult for itself with interleague play, and now, interleague play every day of the season.

With interleague play comes the unbalanced schedule, which means not every team runs the same race in a season. By definition, that means the schedule has no integrity to it, thereby making it unfair.

Unfortunately, Selig loves interleague play, so that won’t change, either. Interleague play has become part of Selig’s legacy, and I don’t think in a good way.

I don’t believe MLB’s economic growth is directly attributable to interleague play as it is to the steroid era which brought on the great power numbers; the construction of new stadiums in both leagues; almost 15 years of the Yankees and Red Sox on top which increases everybody’s attendance and TV ratings; better television deals because of cable; and to Selig’s credit, the international marketing of the sport and continued labor peace.

The great influx of money made MLB, its teams and the Players Association willing to accept the playing in horrible conditions, where injuries and pitcher’s arms are at risk. Instead of improved conditions, the players union settled for more money. Seriously, don’t worry about ending a career because you’ve got enough money to retire for life at age 32.

Things happen and weather is unpredictable, but MLB can still do things to put the odds in its favor while keeping most everything it has going for it now, things that came with the cost of tradition.

First, what genius approved an open-air stadium in Minneapolis? There’s inclement weather this time of year in the Northeast and Midwest, but Minnesota is a different animal. It can snow there for another week or so and almost any time in mid-October.

If they weren’t smart enough to build a dome where it snows seven months in the year, then play the Royals or Indians or White Sox in April, teams that are easier to reschedule later.

Yesterday, the Yankees were out of their division and had a rainout in Cleveland for a second straight day. They now will have a doubleheader on an off-day and play 17 games in 16 days. That makes for tired players and poor pitching, but who cares about putting the best product on the field?

“I don’t think you can go to cold weather cities in April if you’re only going to go there once,’’ Yankees manager Joe Girardi said. “I know the schedule’s not easy to make, but if you could just stay in your division longer or go to some warmer weather cities you might be able to get by a lot of this.’’

From a business standpoint, the Indians can’t like playing the Yankees in April, when the crowds are down. They’d rather play them later when there’s a chance for a sellout.

It’s pounding a square peg into a round hole to play interleague and non-divisional play in April. The first two weeks of the season should be within the division so make-ups are easier to reschedule.

I’ve suggested this several times, even talked with players and club officials who believe it is a good idea, and that is the scheduling of day-night doubleheaders.

In this case, MLB can make the unbalanced schedule work to its advantage. Because you’re playing 18 games within the division, have several day-nighters each month. Not only does this give the owners the gates they want, but provides more off-days to make rescheduling easier.

Nobody likes to play in horrible weather conditions, and nobody likes to sit in them, either. However, this is an issue because MLB lacks the willingness or foresight to change something within its control.

Expectations are clearly low for the Mets this year. However, they were also low last year, and the team gave fans at least three months of a season before falling off a cliff. Yes, on paper this team doesn’t look good, and they have been hampered by an astonishing number of injuries this Spring. However, this is baseball, and anything can happen. Certainly, a LOT of things will have to fall into place for the Mets to remain competitive. All I’m saying is it’s a possibility.

One of those key factors is that this team must survive April. A week out from Opening Day, the lineup is very much uncertain, and there are too many injuries to count.

Not only are the Mets going to battle injuries, they are going to battle the schedule. In terms of the opposition, it’s not spectacular but it’s not bad either. The challenge will be the combination of solid opposition, as well as a 10-game road trip early in the season, all while potentially being at less than full strength.

Pitchers Johan Santana, Shaun Marcum and Frank Francisco all will, or could, miss time. And on a side note, the reality is you may not be able to expect very much at all from Santana this year. And if that’s the case, the Mets may find they get very little in return for him if they look to move him around the deadline. Then, in the lineup and on the field, David Wright and Daniel Murphy may be unavailable for part of April. The bad news on Matt den Dekker and his broken wrist strikes a blow to the Mets’ outfield depth, so let’s hope the five that make the cut all stay healthy and productive.

Now, this morning, the Mets announced the encouraging news that Wright had taken batting practice and felt no pain. He appears on track for Opening Day at this point, but still, nothing is a certainty, particularly considering the unseasonably cold weather in the Northeast this year. You can bet there is no way the Mets will rush Santana, or Wright, particularly if the latter has the slightest setback.

Even if Wright is back, the Mets will still be shorthanded and face a less than easy slate of games.

The schedule opens with home series against the woeful Padres and Marlins, followed by that 10-game road trip to Philadelphia, Minnesota and Colorado. Many prognosticators believe much of the Phillies’ success this year will hinge on the ability of a talented, albeit aged-roster, to remain healthy. Still, this is a team that loves to beat the Mets.

The Rockies and Twins figure to struggle, but the Mets will be away from home. A challenging nine-game homestand follows, which will feature the reigning National League East Champion Nationals, who are frequently predicted to repeat, the high-spending Dodgers and the rival Phillies again. The month closes with the first two games of a six game road swing against the Marlins. In May, New York’s first visit to Atlanta will follow that three-game set in Miami.

The 10-game road is going to be a very interesting early barometer. One key will be how the Mets set themselves up for that road swing against the Padres and Marlins. A 5-1 homestand would sure help take the pressure off away from home. During the Terry Collins‘ era, the Mets have been better on the road than at home, so that could help as well. But there are no guarantees that trend will continue.

No one, including me, wants to overreact to the results in the first few weeks of April, and all the Mets need to worry about early this season is staying at or near .500. While doing that, the hope is to get healthy. And then as the season rolls on bring up the likes of Zack Wheeler and Travis d’Arnaud.

If the Mets can get to the Miami series on April 29th no worse than 12-13, they will have done well, all things considered. Hopefully, by that point, the team will be healthier and looking ahead to the summer months and the prospect of Wheeler and d’Arnaud. Doing this will be key to the Mets remaining relevant into the second half of the season.

It isn’t as if Major League Baseball has to appeal to the Supreme Court for changes. Some could be negotiated through the Collective Bargaining Agreement, where others are common sense.

Here are some changes that could be made to improve the quality of play, and yes maybe a few are tongue in cheek:

INSTANT REPLAY: Expansion is being considered and rightly so. If they have replay, do it right. Nobody expects it on balls and strikes, although the TV pitch tracker box shows a lot of mistakes. Unlike football and basketball, where action occurs all over the field, much of baseball’s action happens at fixed locations, such as the bases, foul lines and outfield wall. Cameras can easily be focused on those key spots. There are out and safe calls on the bases, as well as fair and foul, that could be overturned with a minimum of time. It would take a fifth umpire located in the press box with monitors. Should take no more than a couple of minutes to get it right, and MLB has the money for the extra umpire.

THE UMPIRES: There is an adversarial relationship between players/managers and umpires. Too many umpires have a short fuse and eject at the slightest debate. So, put a microphone on them they can’t control to record arguments. Not only will it show umpires sometimes being in the wrong, but it also can be taped and sold for extra marketing bucks. Who wouldn’t want a DVD of greatest umpire-manager fights?

SCHEDULING: The scheduling is a mess that creates problems. For example, why are the San Diego Padres opening the season at Citi Field? The weather is ugly in April, so the first month should be mostly within the division so games can be made up easier. If the Padres-Mets game is bagged, it will be hard searching for a make-up date. Why put the Padres, or any team, in position of crossing three time zones to make up a game? Just makes no sense.

THE GETAWAY GAME: The last game in any series, if not followed by an off day, should be in the afternoon. As it is, teams don’t get into the next city until 3 or 4 in the morning, and players are exhausted for the next game. Players can be seen in the clubhouse before the first game of a series guzzling coffee and Red Bull. The quality of play suffers when the players are tired, so why not put them in the best position to succeed? Alert players give the fans a better product. Also, it provides teams at least another couple of day games in a month and what’s not to like about day baseball?

THE DAY-NIGHT DOUBLEHEADER: If MLB insists on interleague play and the unbalanced schedule, there will continue to be 19 games a year against teams in the division. Familiarity does breed contempt, so perhaps this contributes to an attendance fall-off at the end of a season. If a day-night doubleheader were scheduled once or twice a month (at home and the road), it would clear 12 days, which could be used for extra off-days and make-up games. I’ve spoken to many players who would rather have the doubleheader if it meant another off day. This format could schedule shorten the season by up to a week and start the playoffs earlier. Anything to alleviate November baseball. I know they’ll never go for the traditional doubleheader because of not wanting to give up the gate, but this is feasible.

BODY ARMOR: This padding on the elbow has to go. If you’re protecting an injury, fine, but players are taking advantage of the padding and therefore don’t fear the inside pitch. Not fair. Barry Bonds spend the last four or five years of his career not having to worry about being plunked.

PITCHER SHIELD: Can’t a light helmet with a face shield for pitchers be designed to protect them from line drives to the head and face? They made helmets mandatory for base coaches after a coach was killed after being struck in the head. Does somebody else have to be seriously injured or killed before something is done?

SUSPENSIONS: When a player is suspended for throwing at a hitter or using a corked bat, his penalty should come against the team he was playing against at the time. Just seems a fairer way. And, why does the player usually have to wait until the next time his team plays in New York before an appeal? There’s teleconferencing and conference calls, so what’s the big deal?

There are countless of other possible changes, but these are a few that have been rattling in my mind. I’d like to hear if you have others.

“I feel like I’m a good hitter.” Duda said. “I’m going to continue to work hard and let the chips fall where they may.”

Ike Davis has shown no signs of slowing down and is batting .368 after picking up two more hits and a walk. He erased all concerns about last season’s ankle injury when he took off for second base and slid in safely with a stolen base.

WHERE’S JOHAN: Johan Santana continues to make himself the big story at Mets camp and not for the right reasons. Today he was nowhere to be found on the field practicing with his teammates or in the locker room where his chair stood empty. It turns out he needs extra treatment for his arm, Terry Collins said he’s day-to-day.

We also learned that Santana has been given permission to do his own thing. Collins and pitching coach Dan Warthen are going to let the lefthander dictate his own regimen and proceed at his own pace while keeping both of them in the loop regarding his progress. ”You tell me when you’re ready and when you’re ready to get in a game,” Collins told Santana.

It now appears that Santana will not make his first start of the spring next week which was supposed to be the plan according to what Collins said two days ago. It looks like everything regarding Santana has been scrapped and that they are back on square one. ”We certainly would hope something next week but if it’s not, it’s not,” Collins said.

HEFNER KEEPS ROLLING: My pre-season sleeper, Jeremy Hefner, continues to impress and tossed another three scoreless innings, allowing just one hit and walk while striking out a pair. He threw 23 of his 36 pitches for strikes. It’s not even a question anymore that if Johan Santana can’t start the season, Hefner will get his spot in the rotation. “He’s been fantastic,”: said Collins.

CENTER OF ATTRACTION: Matt den Dekker is also getting a lot of buzz in Mets camp, but for all the right reasons. The defensive whiz-kid made another jaw-dropping catch in center field this afternoon against the Astros, turning a likely double into an out. After the game, Collins said he wasn’t sure that many centerfielders could have made that catch. That’s like his fifth web gem in only two weeks. But like Keith Hernandez said during the broadcast, the Mets can’t afford a defense-only player in that outfield. “If he don’t start hitting, he’s going to Triple-A.”

ZACK COMING BACK: Zack Wheeler is expected to pitch in a simulated game on Sunday. The team’s top pitching prospect has not pitched since being scratched on February 27 due to a mild oblique strain. Wheeler threw a bullpen session on Thursday and it looks like he’s coming along.

METS NOTES: Marlon Byrd doubled and scored to lift his average to a team leading .400 and it won’t be long until Collins officially announces that he’s made the team… John Buck, who will start the season as the Mets everyday catcher, had two hits including an RBI double. But more importantly, he is scoring points with the Mets pitchers who all like the way he calls a game… Kirk Nieuwenhuis and Daniel Murphy are both expected back in the lineup after the weekend. Both have been dealing with nagging, but not serious injuries… The Mets will present Bill Parcells with a signed jersey on Sunday to honor him for being selected to the NFL Hall of Fame.

Okay, so while I teach John Delcos the nuances of blogging and social media, he’s giving me lessons on how to do an AP Style post game report. This is my first… How’d I do? Don’t be cruel…

On Saturday, February 23rd the Mets open up their spring training schedule with a game against the Washington Nationals. The game is schedule to be broadcast on SNY at 12:00 PM, and I plan on being in front of my TV and watching it…

Baseball is back, and what could be better?

For me, the 2103 season marks a personal milestone, it will be my 40th season as a Met fan. Not too bad considering I’ll be 50 in December. Mathematically, it means I will have spent 80% of my life rooting for the Mets.

People often ask me why… Why do I root for the Mets, they lose all the time? You live in New York, and you’re not a Yankee Fan? There is no simple answer, except to say the Mets are a part of me. I’d like to go into some reasons why I am, and will always continue to be a Mets fan.

First and foremost, I believe the Mets in many ways represent us. They go out and play with the best of intentions, they work hard, they try to do the right things, but more often than not they fall short of their ultimate goal – in their case, a World Series.

But, can’t the same be be said of all of us? Those of us who are lucky to have jobs, go to work day in and day out with the best of intentions. We do our best to excel and meet those expectations our employers have for us. But no matter how hard we try and despite our strongest efforts, we don’t always get that raise or promotion we strove so hard for.

The same goes for students who are still in school. They study, they work hard, but very few of them get those coveted 4.0 averages.

But isn’t it true that during those times when we do succeed… Those times when we do get that promotion… Those times when we do get that 4.0 average… Or those times when the Mets do win a World Series… There is no greater high or feeling in the universe.

I also like that the Mets are “counter culture”. In their infancy, the Mets were so unique, and so different from the Yankees, that they were embraced. We loved our Lovable Losers right from the start!

The same is true today. The Yankees are just a collection of pinstriped suits and wing tips, while the Mets wear their shorts and flip-flops. The Mets are, and should be unapologetic, in what I refer to as their Metscentric behaviors. This year the Yankees will have their annual old-timers day celebration, and all the all-time Yankee greats will show up at the Stadium and take a bow. The Mets, on the other hand will be having their annual Banner Day Parade. Fans from all over will march around Citi Field displaying their art work and love for the Mets. I participated in Banner Day back in the late 1980′s and what a thrill it was!

Some other great Metscentric things include: Mettle the Mule from the 1970′s, those old bullpen carts with baseball caps on them, the Home Run Apple, the Sign Man, Bob Murphy’s “Happy Recap’, Howie Rose’s ‘Put it in the Books”, the Curly Shuffle, Professor Reyes teaching Spanish between innings, Meet The Mets, Kiner’s Korner, and of course the King of all things Mets, Mr. Met! Who doesn’t smile when they see Mr. Met?

During a typical baseball season, I’ll catch between 120-130 Met games, either on SNY or WFAN. That’s a lot of baseball games, and I’ve forgotten so many of them. What I choose to remember are special moments like in 1973, when Bud Harrelson and Pete Rose slugged it out in the NLCS. The day Tom Seaver was traded. The dark days of the late 1970′s and how the magic did come back in the 1980s just as they said it would.

I’ve been to playoff games both in 1988 and 2006, what a thrill. October baseball is very nice, but Shea Stadium was a cold venue to watch a baseball game, but they never ran out of hot chocolate to keep us warm.

I still get tears in my eyes thinking about that night in September 2001 when baseball returned and truth be told, it was my proudest time of being a New Yorker and a Met fan. Last June, we received the biggest surprise of all, when after 50 years, Johan Santana threw the first ever Met’s no hitter.

As usual, the media, Yankee fans, and sadly even some Met fans are throwing in the towel on the 2013 season for the Mets. Truth be told it’s easier to be negative than be positive. But if you can’t be positive in the Spring, when you can you be?

A few years ago the Tampa Bay Rays were picked to finish last, and they shocked everyone. Last year’s Baltimore Orioles came from complete obscurity and gave the American League East a run for their money. So who says our Mets can’t do the same in the NL East? They have five very solid arms in their rotation and even Gil Hodges would tell you, “that’s where it all begins.”

The infield is set, and although it’s unpopular to say so, I think it’s a pretty damn good infield and stacks up well against our rivals. Sure there are question marks in the outfield, but what if one or two of these guys surprise us? And we didn’t exactly have a Herculean outfield in 2000, when we made it all the way to the World Series!

Why am I a Met fan? Why do I believe? Why do I have have faith in this team?

As Natalie Wood said in Miracle on 34th Street, “Faith is believing when common sense tells you not to”.

Unless the Mets are mathematically eliminated, I will always believe in them. And no matter how each season ends, every February my belief in the Mets is fully restored. For now and always; LETS GO METS!!

Let’s take a look at some of the notable dates to circle on your calendar in anticipation of the 2012 Mets season.

April 5- Mets Opening Day

The team will begin the season at home against the Atlanta Braves. Most likely, Johan Santana will not be pitching this game, and the nod may go to R.A. Dickey. Tim Hudson is also likely to be on the shelf for the Braves, so expect to see either Jair Jurrjens (if he’s not traded) or Tommy Hanson.

April 9-11- Mets host the Washington Nationals

We may not see Stephen Strasburg toe the rubber at Citi Field, but we will be able to see firsthand the improved Nationals, as well as the great Davey Johnson.

April 15- Jackie Robinson Day

The Mets always put together a tremendous ceremony for Jackie Robinson Day, but this year they will be on the road in Philadelphia. Hopefully, the Phillies do a good job.

April 24- Jose Reyes returns to Flushing for the first time

The Mets open a three-game series with the Miami Marlins, and Jose Reyes (without dreadlocks) will be back in town. He will likely get a positive ovation, since it was the team’s financial situation more than Reyes’ preference that led him to sign elsewhere. In other words, if the Mets had the money, Reyes would still be here.

May 7- Critical early season road trip

The Mets will play a tough road trip against the Phillies and Marlins. Returning home .500 would be a nice accomplishment.

May 18- Start of Interleague Play

The Mets head north of the border to take on Joey Bats and the Toronto Blue Jays. After this one series, there will be a break in interleague play.

May 27- Banner Day!

In honor of their 50th anniversary, the Mets will bring back a fan-favorite tradition, Banner Day. Get those bed sheets ready fans! It should be a ton of fun. (To staff writers here, we should make an MMO banner.)

June 1- Cardinals come to town

The Mets will host the World Champion St. Louis Cardinals and a familiar face in Carlos Beltran.

June 4- First-Year Player Draft

Hopefully, the Mets can snag a few good prospects in this year’s draft.

June 8- Subway Series No. 1

The Mets will head to the Bronx to play the Yankees.

June 22- Subway Series No. 2

The Mets will host the Yanks. Is it fair that the Mets have to play the Yankees six times while all the other NL East only face them three times just because of a supposed rivalry based on proximity?

July 10- All-Star Game

Kansas City will be the destination of this year’s All-Star Game. With Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols now in the AL, Ike Davis has a legitimate spot to make the roster.

July 13- Divisional road trip

Right after the All-Star break, the Mets another important road trip against the Braves and Nationals.

July 26- The Patented West Coast Road Trip

The Mets have other struggled when heading out west. The team begins an 11 game trip against the Diamondbacks, Giants and Padres that could make or break the season at a critical point.

July 31- Trade Deadline

If things aren’t going so well, David Wright and R.A. Dickey may have their bags pre-packed if the trade call comes (Wright probably more so than Dickey).

September 1- Rosters expand

If the team is out of contention, hopefully we’ll get to see some of the top organizational prospects, maybe even Matt Harvey and Zack Wheeler.

October 3- Final day of regular season

Barring a Mets miracle, the optimists (like myself) will already be looking forward to the 2013 season.