Mets-Reds Preview:

Tonight's game is an interesting one for mindset.

Mike Pelfrey gets the start. If he throws a good game, then Mets fans will be lining up for playoff tickets tomorrow. We'll hear excitement that he's the "real deal" and this generation's Jerry Koosman, Ron Darling type.

If he goes four and a third then you can start calling Craig Carton now to rip Omar for not signing "another big pitcher."

The Reds are starting no slouch in Volquez (17-8 last year, the kind of upper-limit fantasy numbers Mets fans have for Pelfrey). On paper you'd favor the Reds.

I've killed past Mets teams many times over for their slow starts. The Mets have an opportunity to feast on the Reds, the "we don't even televise our games" Marlins and the "waaah we can't play at 4 p.m." Padres.

A fast start makes the season go a lot better and easier.

Will we have a confident Mets team on an early roll or the first official Mets panic of the year? We'll know in 15 hours.

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The Mets Police at www.metspolice.com