As mentioned in the last recap, I won’t be able to see this game live. So, please post your notes in the comments, and I’ll be doing a recap later this evening.

In the meantime, here are the lineups:

Mets
Jordany Valdespin CF
Daniel Murphy 2B
David Wright 3B
Ike Davis 1B
Scott Hairston LF
Mike Baxter RF
Ruben Tejada SS
Josh Thole C
Collin McHugh P

Rockies
Charlie Blackmon RF
Jonathan Herrera SS
Jordan Pacheco 1B
Carlos Gonzalez LF
Wilin Rosario C
Tyler Colvin CF
Chris Nelson 3B
DJ LeMahieu 2B
Tyler Chatwood P

The Mets lineup is shaken up, as you can see. I understand that Terry Collins is trying to do something different, but I’m not sure I understand positioning two of the colder hitters (Valdespin, Murphy) at the very top of the order and some of the warmer hitters (Baxter, Tejada) further down.

More significantly, I don’t understand how Collins can “reward” Valdespin with a start in center and the leadoff spot after ‘spin has lately been lackadaisical in the field, making mental errors on the bases, and disrespecting umpires. It’s as if those “little things” mean nothing to Collins — which is astounding, considering all the lip service the manager has been spouting about fundamentals, hustle, etc., etc. No wonder Valdespin has yet to mature — the Mets keep rewarding him for misbehavior.

Maybe I’m just a crusty old-schooler but that has nothing to do with the laws of cause and effect, and nor does it have anything to do with Collins’ hypocrisy.

On the bright side it will be interesting to see Collin McHugh make his MLB debut, if for no other reason than he’s new — and don’t we all love shiny new things?