Marlins 4 Mets 1

May the battle for the NL East cellar begin.

Here is the lineup the Mets will send to bat against Marlins pitcher Clay Hensley:

Angel Pagan – CF
Willie Harris – 2B
Dan Murphy – 3B
Scott Hairston – RF
Lucas Duda – 1B
Jason Bay – LF
Josh Thole – C
Ruben Tejada – SS
Chris Capuano – P

It appears that Jason Bay will not be benched after all — or at least, not yet. Interesting to see Scott Hairston in the lineup against the righthanded Hensley. Yes, Hairston is on fire, but his hot streak has at least something to do with facing pitchers against whom he has excellent history. Whatever. Maybe he’ll stay hot and hit enough to become a legitimate trading chip.

Here is the lineup of Fish that will swim to the plate:

Emilio Bonifacio – 3B
Omar Infante – 2B
Logan Morrison – LF
Hanley Ramirez – SS
Gaby Sanchez – 1B
Mike Stanton – RF
Mike Cameron – CF
John Buck – C
Clay Hensley – P

If you missed it, former Met Mike Cameron was acquired a few weeks back from the Red Sox to solidify centerfield and help create a new clubhouse culture. Of course, that “intangibles” stuff is pure malarkey. I’m sure the Marlins would be 12-4 over their last 16 even if Milton Bradley was added to the clubhouse instead of Cameron. And Jack McKeon‘s guidance has nothing to do with it, either. Riiiiiiiiiight.

Hensley is typically a middle reliever, and this will be his first start since July 24, 2008. It is also his first appearance since going on the DL with a shoulder sprain in early June. He has been conditioned to throw about 65-85 pitches, so expect him to be out of the game early — perhaps by the fourth frame, if the Mets use their typical patient approach.

According to Metsblog’s Matthew Cerrone, Terry Collins suggested that Jason Bay could lose playing time to Scott Hairston — who has 4 hits in his last 6 at-bats while Bay in his last 35 at-bats is hitting .100 with 0 RBIs dipping his average to .234.

Bay commented to MLB.com on his recent struggles.

“If I’m in the lineup, I’m in the lineup. If I’m not, that’s not my decision to make. I kind of felt like before the break started, things started going well. Obviously I haven’t carried that momentum, but I’m still going out there trying to get that momentum that I had. … Imagine how frustrated the fans are – you think that I enjoy it? You think I enjoy what I’m doing out there? I’m more frustrated than anybody. But I’ve got to come back and do it every single day, and I can’t get too caught up in the frustration because I gotta come back and do it everyday. You gotta keep battling”

Collins is expected to speak with Bay prior to Monday’s game.

Is benching Bay the right move or should he be allowed to play through his struggles at the plate?

Looks like somebody has a case of the Mondays.  The Mets lost 2 of 3 to the Phillies over the weekend, which isn’t bad considering the Mets fielded a AAA lineup plus Jason Bay.  Tonight, the Mets play a makeup game with the Marlins at Citi Field, and Jose Reyes will play a rehab game in Brooklyn.

Time to take a spin around the blogosphere:

• MetsBlog takes a look at Jason Bay’s struggles, and notes that the fans have been relatively easy on him.
• Amazin’ Avenue has a Minor League wrapup that includes David Wright’s continuing rehab and Val Pasucci’s Hobbs-esque exploits with the bat.
• Real Dirty Mets says the Mets are a roller coaster, and there’s nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the ride.
• Mets Lifer is just happy that the injury-devastated “worst lineup in baseball” won a game. 
• Midwestropolitan invents a new baseball cliche with the help of Jason Bay.
• Rising Apple is losing patience with the increasingly frustrating Mike Pelfrey.
• Metstradamus thinks Mets fans should be realistic about the trade deadline.

And for all the latest Mets news, keep checking out Mets Today.