Contrary to reports from last night, Manny Acosta will NOT make the Mets’ Opening Day roster — he has been designated for assignment — and Blaine Boyer WILL be the final piece to the bullpen puzzle.

Personally, I agree with Matt Himelfarb, in that there isn’t all that much difference between Acosta and Boyer. Though, Boyer is “new” and “different” so maybe that makes him better in our minds.

To me, Acosta was similar to Jorge Sosa: someone who could throw really hard and get swings and misses, be effective for a short term, but inevitably get pounded and give up the long ball because he throws one speed and tends to get too much of the plate at too high a location. Acosta could change leagues and look awesome for a month, but eventually go back to being the guy he is — but because he looked lights out for a little while, the team might kid itself into believing he can do it again, and thus be continually put into situations to fail.

In other news, Adam Rubin is reporting that Jason Bay is injured and could be headed for the DL. Before you say “hooray, Nick Evans makes the team!”, you must understand that because Evans is already on waivers, he can’t be added to the 25-man roster. Thus, Lucas Duda (who has options remaining) is likely to make the team instead.

Is it me or does this roster mismanagement remind you of a previous regime?

Also, as Matt Cerrone points out,

… this could mean that, on days when Carlos Beltran gets a day off, the outfield will be Duda, Angel Pagan and Willie Harris. What just happened?

Though, Andy McCullough reports (via Twitter) that there’s a possibility Evans clears waivers this afternoon, in which case he could be added back to the roster to take Bay’s place.

Is your head spinning yet?

From all reports, it appears that Carlos Beltran will be on the Mets’ 25-man roster on Opening Day. This despite the fact that Beltran has played all of five innings — as a DH — in an MLB spring training game, and has completed 10 innings of game action in right field thus far this spring. His big test comes on Tuesday, when he is slated to start in right field in a Grapefruit League contest vs. the Nationals. If he can make it all the way through without a setback, great, but what does that mean? His ability to play nine innings of healthy baseball is not necessarily the test that needs to be passed before deeming him ready for a spot on the 25-man roster. Rather, we need to see if he can play nine innings of baseball a day after, and two days after, playing nine innings of baseball. There’s little point in carrying him at the beginning of the season if he can play only once or twice a week; why the Mets aren’t keeping him back in extended spring training for at least another week or so is mysterious (ticket sales?).

In any case, putting Beltran on the Opening Day roster means Nick Evans doesn’t make the club — he’s already been placed on waivers, with the intention of sending him to AAA Buffalo if he clears. According to Adam Rubin, we’ll find out by Wednesday whether Evans makes it through.

Will he clear, or is there a Major League team that might claim him?

According to The New York Times, the Mets have asked Jason Isringhausen to stay back in Port St. Lucie to further build up his arm strength. Additionally, they have asked Blaine Boyer to consider a minor-league assignment, rather than exercising his option to become a free agent. Earlier in the day, Pat Misch was placed on waivers.

These moves mean that Manny Acosta makes the team, filling the final bullpen spot. This decision should please MetsToday’s occasional guest columnist Matt Himelfarb.

Per The Times, Isringhausen is open to staying in Florida — and why not? His training regimen started when he reported to Port St. Lucie, after tooling around in softball games, so he knows he’s probably not in shape to pitch against MLB hitters on a regular basis. Further, posed with the option of staying in sunny Florida for a few extra weeks to get in shape or hanging out in the bullpen during the cold, wet, winterlike conditions the New York area will experience in early April, and the decision is easy — stay warm!

As for Boyer, it will be interesting to see what he decides to do. The Mets were concerned that the flamethrowing, gopherballing Acosta would be claimed by another team if exposed to waivers. But, Boyer has proven this spring to be healthy and just as effective — plus, he has a history of success prior to his arm problems. If a team would claim Acosta, then one would assume there is a team out there that would pick up Boyer if he made himself available. Time will tell.