Posted by Sabrina B. @gametimegirl

Numerous fans might show up disguised as empty seats for the Mets season opener Thursday at Citi Field.

According to the team’s executive vice president of business operations, Dave Howard, “several thousand” tickets are still available for Opening Day against the Braves.

But Howard said the Mets remain bullish they can fill their 41,800-seat ballpark as they celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first opener.

“I think we have got a chance,” Howard said yesterday. “Tickets have been selling well, and since Johan [Santana] was announced as our starting pitcher it has given us a surge of energy. We have a shot at selling out. If not, we’ll be close to it.”

On the team’s website yesterday, fans could buy a block of 12 tickets — for $184 apiece — at field level for Thursday. But Howard said there has been a demand for many of the higher-priced seats while some of the less expensive tickets haven’t sold.

The least expensive ticket available for Thursday would cost $40, according to Howard.

For the Mets to get their sellout, Howard indicated solid sales would be needed over the next two days coupled with a Thursday walkup of anywhere from 2,000 to 4,000 fans.

The slow sales come after three straight years of the Mets finishing fourth in the NL East. The team slashed payroll from $140 million to $90 million in the offseason after All-Star shortstop Jose Reyes was not re-signed. Reyes accepted a $106 million deal from the Marlins.

Howard indicated the Mets put a certain emphasis on trying to sell out the opener.

“It’s one of our marquee games, and we’re doing everything we can to get to a sellout,” Howard said. “It’s one of the important games we have that we expect to sell out.”

The last time the Mets didn’t sell out a home opener was 1997, when they drew 21,981 — after a rainout the previous day — against the Giants at Shea Stadium.

Howard would like to think Santana’s reappearance after missing all of last season rehabbing his surgically repaired left shoulder could provide the boost needed for the Mets’ sellout dream.

“With R.A. Dickey pitching it would still be a very attractive game,” Howard said. “But Johan’s return obviously means a lot to fans.”

WRITTEN BY MIKE PUMA [email protected] & FULL STORY HERE