It's finally arrived. The Mets will get their 2012 schedule started with a contest against a NL East foe, the Washington Nationals at Digital Domain Park.
New York will send Dillon Gee to the mound for openers. Gee is firmly entrenched in the middle of the regular season rotation, so this will be the start of him rounding into shape. He was a pleasant surprise last year, going 13-6 to lead the team in wins. Of course, his season started much better than it finished after getting off to such a hot start.
It's also a fresh start for third baseman David Wright, who had a miserable 2011 campaign filled with injury and disappointment. It's safe to assume moving the fences in at Citi Field won't hurt any, but it will be interesting to watch how he plays this month. That won't start tonight however, as Wright is still recovering from a rib cartilage issue.
Lets not forget about Ike Davis either, looking to prove he's the real deal after such a tough year.
In the other dugout Monday night is a promising young Nationals team. Washington finally has some pitching to boost, with Stephen Strasburg returning for what hopefully will be a full season along with the newly acquired Gio Gonzalez. The Nats have already played two games in Spring Training, dropping both to Houston.
It's a great time of year...baseball is back.
Time: 6:10 p.m. ET
TV: SNY and MLB Network
Here is the complete Mets Spring Training schedule:
Here is the 2012 Spring Training schedule for the Mets:
Mon, Mar 05, 2012 6:10 pm Nationals @ Mets
Tue, Mar 06, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Astros
Tue, Mar 06, 2012 1:10 pm Cardinals @ Mets
Wed, Mar 07, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Marlins
Thu, Mar 08, 2012 1:10 pm Marlins @ Mets
Fri, Mar 09, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Braves
Sat, Mar 10, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Nationals
Sun, Mar 11, 2012 1:10 pm Marlins @ Mets
Mon, Mar 12, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Tigers
Tue, Mar 13, 2012 1:10 pm Cardinals @ Mets
Wed, Mar 14, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Tigers
Thu, Mar 15, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Marlins
Fri, Mar 16, 2012 1:10 pm Tigers @ Mets
Sat, Mar 17, 2012 1:10 pm Braves @ Mets
Sun, Mar 18, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Astros
Tue, Mar 20, 2012 6:10 pm Nationals @ Mets
Wed, Mar 21, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Cardinals
Thu, Mar 22, 2012 1:10 pm Astros @ Mets
Fri, Mar 23, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Braves
Sat, Mar 24, 2012 1:10 pm Cardinals @ Mets
Sun, Mar 25, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Nationals
Mon, Mar 26, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Cardinals
Tue, Mar 27, 2012 1:10 pm Braves @ Mets
Wed, Mar 28, 2012 1:10 pm Nationals @ Mets
Thu, Mar 29, 2012 6:10 pm Astros @ Mets
Fri, Mar 30, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Cardinals
Sat, Mar 31, 2012 1:05 pm Mets @ Marlins
Sun, Apr 01, 2012 1:10 pm Tigers @ Mets
Mon, Apr 02, 2012 12:00 pm Mets @ Braves
Tue, Apr 03, 2012 2:10 pm Yankees @ Mets
Wed, Apr 04, 2012 12:05 pm Mets @ Yankees
For more on the Spring Training and the Mets, be sure to check out Amazin' Avenue and SB Nation New York.