The Mets completed their Opening Night roster only minutes before Friday's game against the Marlins. Pitching coach Rick Peterson gave the first hint when he approached Chan Ho Park in the hectic clubhouse and told him he would be starting in place of Ambiorix Burgos. Swapping one relief pitcher for another seemed subtle at the time, but the decision already had been made to ask Park to accept a demotion to Triple-A New Orleans, where he would become a starter again and provide insurance for the rotation.
The Mets liked Burgos and his mid-90s fastball better in the bullpen, and the other roster vacancy went to Lastings Milledge, who simply had to prove he was healthy after suffering a bruised right hand Sunday. Milledge was nailed on the hand by two pitches this spring, but he rebounded from both and also repaired a damaged reputation to make it back to the majors. Continue
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