Finally, the first day of the Mets Spring Training schedule has arrived. I don't know about the rest of you, but the winter seems to have lasted forever around here in the NY/LI area. In fact, we just received our first serious snowfall of the season 3 days ago. This past winter's weather has closely followed the outlook of the diehard Mets fan; cold, bleak and unforgiving.

The signing of Johan was like spring coming early. We woke up one morning to find bright sunshine, realistic hope and blunt self-assurance. At Metsblog, Matthew Cerone tracks what he calls a "fan confidence rating; it hovered around 5-6 most of the winter. Since the Santana signing, its hovered at nearly 9 (now shown in %). Some fans are so confident, they're willing to bet body parts and children at this point...

Not only is the team apparently very juiced (bad choice of words?) for the start of the season, us fans are chomping at the bit as well. We've already seen Jose Reyes hit his first triple of the season in the Mets first intrasquad game, we also saw (or heard, as the case may be) David Wright go yard for the first time in 2008. Yeah, yeah, its only spring, it was only against a college team, it doesn't count. Well, tell that to a bunch of fans who have suffered through a harsh winter of discontent.

The 2008 season will have its ups and downs. Count on it. During the downs, the players only need to think about September '07 to get some perspective. During the ups, same deal. Gone, but not forgotten. A little humble pie is good for the soul. Don't dwell, but don't ever forget./end cliche

We've fretted over the dynamic between Pedro and Johan, but all outward signs speak to a match made in baseball heaven. Pedro seems genuinely happy to be part of what could be, barring injury, the best 1-2 punch in the NL. These two will feed off each other all season. Just standing next them, Ollie, Maine and Pelfrey should become better pitchers simply by osmosis. In fact, Pedro is feeling so good, he's wanting to not only stay a Met 'till the end of his career, he's hoping the team approaches him about re-signing. Johan has said all the right things and all signs point to a quick adjustment to New York. Too many times we've seen superstars come to NY and get eaten up by the media, the fans, and at times, their own heads. Look at how Carlos Beltran has fared; its taken him 3 seasons to become somewhat comfortable in his own skin here. On the other hand, Santana just has that "it" factor about him; nothing it seems, will phase him.

David Wright is still being himself. This kid is going to be a mainstay in NY for a long time to come. The better he gets, the harder he works. We don't see many ballplayers like this anymore. DWright and Moises Alou tried to carry this team through September. I wouldn't worry about either of them come crunch time. Alou is just a pro, we all know that. Keeping him healthy, well that's another story. Jose is going through growing pains, but I get the idea last season taught him a lesson he won't soon forget. Duaner Sanchez is back and is probably another one who learned a valuable lesson last year. Billy Wagner is already being himself, almost starting a beanball war with the U of M baseball team (calm down Billy, save it for when it counts). The entire bullpen should be stronger, deeper and better rested overall with the addition of Santana and the return of Duaner Sanchez. In Marlon Anderson, Endy Chavez, Ramon Castro, Ruben Gotay and Damion Easley the Mets have what is possibly the deepest bench in the NL, the best back-up catcher in baseball in Castro and the only team in MLB history to have their mascot inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame. Take that Philly!

Newcomers Ryan Church and Brian Schneider already seemed to be just as pumped as the rest of the team. Schneider improves the Mets defense behind the dish just by being here and Church just has to have a Xavier Nady-type year. Carlos Beltran looks and sounds like he's going to take charge in the clubhouse more; get those knees to 100% again and we're going to get an MVP caliber season out of him. The big question is whether Carlos Delgado can give us another 2006 caliber season or whether last season is all he has left. He's been working his tail off all winter and has showed up in great shape. Delgado has admitted to a streak of stubbornness where his swing was concerned and a lack of focus where head was concerned; I think we'll find out very quickly during April and May which Delgado we get in '08. Did I mention we need to keep Alou healthy?

Am I, or Mets fans as a whole, being too positive? Possibly. Probably. Ok, most definitely. But when was the last time Mets fans, as a whole, were seriously positive? Last season? Not me. I sat here hoping, not knowing, things would go our way, but deep down, I had that sinking feeling that reality was about to jump up and bite us again...and I have the teeth marks to prove it. We may not be as bad as Cubs fans, or even pre-2004 Red Sox fans, but we are always waiting for that proverbial other shoe to drop. Most of our post-season dreams have been just that; dreams. We've always had more hope than talent, more prayers than realism. 2006 changed everything. 2007 brought us back to earth. 2008? Its said that in order for you to win big, you gotta lose big...

I'll be listening via MLB Gameday Audio to the Mets take on the Tigers at Joker Marchant Stadium at 1pm EST. Mike Pelfrey gets the first short start, matched up against Jeremy Bonderman. Whatever happens, remember its the first exhibition game. Spring is coming. Baseball is back. Keep repeating that to yourselves.