With Johnson and Tank out to start the season, the 25 man roster is pretty easy to work out.

C Miguel Olivo, Matt Treanor
1B Mike Jacobs, Aaron Boone
2B Dan Uggla
SS Hanley Ramirez, Robert Andino 3B Miguel Cabrera
RF Jeremy Hermida, Joe Borchard
CF Alfredo Amezaga, Cody Ross
LF Josh Willingham

No matter what Fredi says, Alfredo is our starting CF, splitting time with Cody Ross. Alex Sanchez was never in contention, as he is awful.

SP Dontrelle Willis, Scott Olsen, Anibal Sanchez, Ricky Nolasco, and Yusmeiro Petit.

Petit is the logical choice to finish out the rotation, and he could be there all season, since as soon as we get Josh Johnson back Anibal will get hurt.

RP Kevin Gregg, Henry Owens, Renyel Pinto, Matt Lindstrom, Randy Messenger, Paul Mildren, and Sergio Mitre.

Gregg will close, because he's the most experienced guy back there, with Owens, Lindstrom, and Messenger holding down the 7th and 8th. Pinto is our lefty, and he will be solid. Mitre gets the spot starter/long relief role, and Mildren gets to  ride the back of the pine until Tank is ready.

So what can we expect from this squad? Our strength is still the rotation. I see Dontrelle having a big year, Olsen progressing nicely, Sanchez tearing it up before he gets injured, Nolasco holding it down until we can move him to the bullpen next year, and Yusmeiro (he really needs a nickname; Big Y?) having a solid rookie campaign.

The bullpen might be the best we've had in a while. I really like the arms we have back there, especially Gregg, Pinto, and Owens. Owens will probably get hurt as well, based on his delivery and the earlier report about his shoulder (elbow?), but whenever he goes down, Tank will be up.

We still are stacked with pitching prospects, with Jose Garcia, Gaby Hernandez, Sean West, Chris Volstad, Aaron Thompson, Ryan Tucker, Jacob Marceaux, Brett Sinkbeil, and Rick Vanden Hurk starting the year in the minors. I see Garcia, Hernandez, and Vanden Hurk all seeing some big league action this year.

Our lineup will be about the same as last year, but expect a big boost from Hermida, but some regression from Uggla and Ramirez. The defense should be a year better, but our depth is worse (so long Wes Helms!)

This team has a lot of potential, but plays in the NL's toughest division. The Mets will win the division again, but we can grab the wild-card spot. Our main competition is the Phillies, so hopefully it comes down to the last week of the year, so we can sweep those dirty chokers again, a la 2003. I think next year is our year to be quite honest, but it's baseball, so who knows. I can't see us pulling off any major deals, but here's to Dontrelle for Rocco Baldelli. We're losing the D-Train soon anyway, we might as well plug our biggest hole with him.

In the event that none of what I predicted comes to pass, I was tripping on acid when I wrote this.

Thank you Larry Beinfest, and GO MARLINS!!!