Free advice for Jerry and a fantastic video tribute

Jerry Manuel has tried 18 different lineup combinations since the All-Star break and the Mets are 5-13 and still can't hit.

Here's a radical idea. Bat Luis Castillo second and keep him there.

Whoa, you say. Castillo sucks. He's not getting on base and he's batting .235.

But here's the deal. He's not helping in the eight spot. His whole hitting philosophy is taking pitches and trying to draw a walk or get on base by any means necessary -- hitting the other way, bunting, whatever.

Jose Reyes has only 20 steals. If he gets on with Mr. Patient Castillo at the plate, he's got more chances to steal.

The idea is to put players where they are in the best position to succeed. Clearly, based on his approach and his career numbers, Castillo fits best in the two hole.

Nothing else is working, anyway. And moving Angel Pagan further down in the order -- either to third ahead of Wright, or down to sixth -- lengthens a lineup that is getting zero production from 5-9.

When Jason Bay comes back, the lineup should be -- and stay:

Reyes, Castillo, Pagan, Wright, Beltran, Bay, Francoeur / Carter, catcher, pitcher. Maybe then we'll get some consistent success.

As always, you're welcome.

BONUS TREAT:

Via Sports Illustrated's Extra Mustard comes this video tribute to the Montreal Expos.

Three things:

1. Awesome.
2. See, Mets fans? It could be worse. You could have your team taken away from you.
3. Someone should send this to the Washington Nationals and remind them that this franchise actually has a history that should be remembered.

The experiment is over; time for Reyes to lead off again

It was worth a shot.

Jerry Manuel had talked about it in Spring Training, the idea of "lengthening the lineup" and batting Jose Reyes third. With the Mets' offense struggling, he made the move and it worked for a while, although Reyes himself never caught fire.

Thursday night's 2-1 loss to the Marlins was a classic pitcher's duel between Johan Santana and Josh Johnson, and it's unlikely that any lineup combination would have triggered a landslide of runs. But it's become increasingly clear that the lineup Manuel has been using with Reyes in the three hole just is not working, and placing him back atop the order would not only help rejuvenate his game, but perhaps that of one or two of his teammates as well.

There was plenty of talk about Reyes' comfort level batting third, and nothing he has done since he was dropped down in the order has shown that he can hit in that position.

Reyes is a natural leadoff hitter. He clearly relishes the role of starting the game, getting on base, and getting into the pitcher's head.

Part of the reason Manuel gave for hitting Reyes third was to put him directly ahead of Jason Bay, with the hope that more fastballs would kick-start his offensive production. The problem was that in trying to get one player started, Manuel may have negatively impacted two others — Reyes and David Wright.

Just as Reyes is a natural leadoff hitter, Wright is a prototypical third hitter — a solid combination of average, power and speed, with the ability to hit to all fields.

Manuel has to make the move back in the weekend series against Florida. The lineup should be Reyes, Castillo, Wright, Bay, Davis, Francoeur, Pagan, Barajas.

Davis has shown that he can handle pretty much anything, so there is no problem slotting him as the lefty between Bay and Francoeur. Pushing Pagan down to the seven hole serves to lengthen things a bit, a switch hitter between the right-handed Francoeur and Barajas. You could change it up and move Pagan second and Castillo eighth, but I like the idea of Pagan batting ahead of Barajas, having one last shot at driving in runs before the pitcher's spot.

Manuel thought outside the box and tried something different with the lineup, and there was nothing wrong with that. But it just didn't work.

Time to get back to basics and get Reyes igniting things once more. Maybe then Wright and the rest of the order will catch fire as well.

Opening day lineup: Huh?

First pitch is in an hour, so let me get this off my chest. The opening day lineup is a horror show.

I've been clear on my feelings regarding Mike Jacobs. He may be the starter against righties, but there is no way he should be batting cleanup. You want to start Alex Cora over Ruben Tejada, the vet over the rookie, fine. But Angel Pagan has earned the right to start in centerfield, not only because of how he played last season but because he is a legitimate leadoff option.

Cora should not be batting leadoff. Gary Matthews Jr. should be a spot starter only in centerfield. Jason Bay should be hitting cleanup. Instead we have:

Cora
Castillo
Wright
Jacobs
Bay
Matthews
Francoeur
Barajas
Santana

Good god! I'd hit Castillo first before Cora. How about:

Pagan
Castillo
Wright
Bay
Jacobs
Francoeur
Barajas
Cora
Santana

I understand the L-R-L thing and "lengthening" the lineup, but that's a luxury you indulge in when you have the personnel. With Reyes and Beltran out of the lineup, you have to get your best available players the most opportunities.

Good luck, Johan!