Is Manuel really going to follow through on these bold ideas? In many
instances last season, he didn’t. He threw ideas out there, made fairly
definitive statements, then backed off the plans, did the exact opposite or
acted as if he forgot his words completely.

Most of that took place in the Mets’ troubled bullpen, such as when Manuel
said he was going to take a look at rookies Eddie Kunz and Bobby Parnell in
key spots, then didn’t.

No one can blame Manuel, who was an interim manager fighting to get the
full-time gig, for flailing about with the Mets’ awful relief staff down the
stretch. It’s possible any move he made would have backfired, and giving
important innings to the two untested righthanders would have smacked of
pure desperation.

But Manuel’s the one who said he was going to try it. No one made him say
it. Then he didn’t try it.

So will we really see Castillo hitting leadoff, Reyes third and Murphy in
leftfield on Opening Day? How about the first time the Mets face Cole Hamels
or go into a batting slump?

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