PITCHER
He’s baaaack! Johan went 6 innings with 5 k’s and only gave up a run on Opening Day. Mets fans can count on Johan to start off the season on a good foot. He finished the day with 103 pitches thrown and 69 were for strikes. The bullpen helped secure the lead for Santana and he walks away with his first win and first MUA. Ive got a feeling Johan meant what he said about him being the best pitcher in the east, and we are all going to have a front row seat of him making his case.
HITTER
So, I guess Wright is taking his lack of home run production critique personally. Wright hit a nice opposite field home run in the 1st inning to up the Mets up and worked out a nice 10 pitch walk off JJ in the 3rd to finish the day 1-3 with 2 RBI’s. Wright was charged with a throwing error in the 8th but by then, the Mets were up 7-1. Many believe Wright made a major step forward in the leadership department last year with all the injuries, im sure he will make a ton of new believers with what we saw today.
HONORABLE MENTION
Jason Bay wasted no time in introducing himself to Met fans with a single in his first at bat. Jason also hit a deep shot into center in the 6th and HUSTLED for a triple that would have made Jose smile. Jason finished the game going 2-4 and accounting for a run. Welcome to the Queens Jason, very glad to have you on board and doing your thing while I try to figure out a catchy nick name for ya…JayBay? Bayside?
44 comments
prismo
4/5/2010-5:50pm at 5:50 pm (UTC -4)
Woo Santana and Wright! I would’ve gone with David as well, over Bay. The two-run home-run to get the Mets on the board was definitely the biggest offensive play of the game. Bay was great too though, I’m sure he’ll win some MUAs of his own.
CaseStreet
4/5/2010-5:53pm at 5:53 pm (UTC -4)
No love for Nieve’s two shutout innings or French’s 2 RBI double and a walk? j/k
Santana is the man. He mans up every time he wakes up.
ceetar
4/5/2010-6:15pm at 6:15 pm (UTC -4)
Disappointed I didn’t get to see Tejada, but was psyched to see an attempted suicide squeeze.
The Marlins sure don’t look like a club that’s going to finish above the Mets, just via the bullpen and fundies.
GravediggerHebner
4/5/2010-6:37pm at 6:37 pm (UTC -4)
Completely agree with your picks. Wright with a 1st inning oppo-taco bomb coming off a 10 HR season and an off season of questions about power loss was HUGE. Johan, as he’s more than willing to tell you, is THE MAN.
As far as the nickname for Jason, I’m biased because I coined it but I like:
J Sizzle Bizzay
Kingman 26
4/5/2010-6:50pm at 6:50 pm (UTC -4)
J Sizzle Bizzay
Mr North Jersey
4/5/2010-6:48pm at 6:48 pm (UTC -4)
[OFF TOPIC] Don’t forget MLB Extra Innings is free this 1st week so enjoy all the baseball you can.
stickguy
4/5/2010-6:53pm at 6:53 pm (UTC -4)
I wish someone had reminded me of this before I “wwatched” the game on Gameday!
gategem
4/5/2010-9:58pm at 9:58 pm (UTC -4)
I believe it’s only $179 for the package. A small price to pay to see your favorite team.
GravediggerHebner
4/5/2010-6:54pm at 6:54 pm (UTC -4)
Absolutely, about to settle in for Lincecum v Oswalt.
Mr North Jersey
4/5/2010-6:55pm at 6:55 pm (UTC -4)
awesome match up
GravediggerHebner
4/5/2010-6:57pm at 6:57 pm (UTC -4)
I hope it’s better than Beckett v Sabathia or Greinke v Verlander
metsfan4decades
4/5/2010-6:50pm at 6:50 pm (UTC -4)
And the Man Up Awards are back.
Just goes to show you how good a pitcher Johan really is. Even on a day where he didn’t have his sharpest stuff, he still limits the opposition to 1 run, 4 hits through 6 innings. Now that’s how you pitch.
Glad to see all doing their part – even from the bottom of the order from Rod. Only one I won’t mention this opening day is Jacobs…
The park looked great, the additions shown on SNY seemed to impress all. I hope to get there one day this season to see all of it.
stickguy
4/5/2010-6:56pm at 6:56 pm (UTC -4)
I got an NL only draft in 1/2 an hour. QUick, who are the best sleeper picks?
dirtysanchez
4/5/2010-6:58pm at 6:58 pm (UTC -4)
garret jones, jason heyward
GravediggerHebner
4/5/2010-6:58pm at 6:58 pm (UTC -4)
I don’t know how “sleeperish” these guys are but I am expecting big things from Kyle Blanks (OF, SD) and Colby Rasmus (OF, STL) and they are not highly ranked. Perhaps get the best you can at other positions then grab one of these OF late?
Rasmus bats 5th between Holliday and Ludwick and hit a HR today, and Blanks bats behind AGon and hit a triple today.
GravediggerHebner
4/5/2010-7:04pm at 7:04 pm (UTC -4)
Scratch that, Blanks is 0-3, I misread something somewhere. But he’s 6’8″ and hit 10 HR in 148 AB last year. Rasmus today 2-4 with HR and 2 RBI.
GravediggerHebner
4/5/2010-7:44pm at 7:44 pm (UTC -4)
Blanks just hit one over the very tall CF wall in AZ which is marked as 413 feet from home. That wall is at least 20 feet high. It was, as Public Enemy might say, a MegaBlast.
stickguy
4/5/2010-7:06pm at 7:06 pm (UTC -4)
thanks to both of you. If they tank, I will, of course, hold you personally responsible.
ceetar
4/5/2010-6:59pm at 6:59 pm (UTC -4)
Just make sure you stick around so you don’t get guys like Delgado and Tatis in the late rounds.
stickguy
4/5/2010-9:08pm at 9:08 pm (UTC -4)
I feel so dirty. I got Utley, Madson and Victorino. Hey, this is business we are talking about, and my money.
also got A gon. and a bunch of other people I don’t know, since I followed the new trend. I hired an Ivy league whiz kid to run my draft.
Of course, I am paying the tuition bill, so he owes me
ceetar
4/5/2010-10:08pm at 10:08 pm (UTC -4)
lol.
rustyjr
4/5/2010-6:59pm at 6:59 pm (UTC -4)
great game today – johan imo looked a little shakey at first but it was still a quality game met alot of our blogger bretheren and hung with ceetar you guys gotta check out the museum it is beyond awesome and the game was great – quick question what was the hub bub in the 8th inning about i saw neive say something to the ump and i thought he was about to get thrown out – did i mis something?
ceetar
4/5/2010-7:00pm at 7:00 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah..someone explain that to me as well. I did notice Jerry come out and talk to the umps.
I’ll (if I recover from the sunburn and headache) probably do a write up later. 500 pictures taken.
rustyjr
4/5/2010-7:01pm at 7:01 pm (UTC -4)
lol i took no pics and tatis as a defensive replacement – thats a oxymoron
GravediggerHebner
4/5/2010-7:02pm at 7:02 pm (UTC -4)
The 2nd base umpire called a ball because he said Nieve had gone to his mouth while on the surface of the mound, but replays indicated he was off the mound in front of it which would be difficult for the 2B umpire to see because the mound is in the way.
metsfan4decades
4/5/2010-7:05pm at 7:05 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, very strange.
Big Pelf should take note if the umps are going to be calling every little thing here to start the season….
rustyjr
4/5/2010-7:06pm at 7:06 pm (UTC -4)
well he also screwed up the call on that double – he was out from my vantage point
Hazmet
4/5/2010-7:19pm at 7:19 pm (UTC -4)
It was close but he was safe. Castillo didn’t get the tag down quickly enough and by the time his foot hit the bag the glove hit the leg. The ump had a terrible angle and it was close enough it could have gone either way since the ball beat him there big time. Glad a beautiful day was had for all TRDMBlogger’s in attendance. Great start.
rustyjr
4/5/2010-7:00pm at 7:00 pm (UTC -4)
hey dirty can you please add studius metsimus to our blog roll – he added us to his – thanks
dirtysanchez
4/5/2010-8:04pm at 8:04 pm (UTC -4)
done
rustyjr
4/5/2010-8:17pm at 8:17 pm (UTC -4)
Thnx
Mr North Jersey
4/5/2010-7:08pm at 7:08 pm (UTC -4)
So I hear McFaddens didn’t open due to no liquor license.
rustyjr
4/5/2010-7:11pm at 7:11 pm (UTC -4)
didnt stop many men from oggling the mcfaddens girls
ceetar
4/5/2010-7:15pm at 7:15 pm (UTC -4)
nah, it was open. at 11. couldn’t enter from inside the stadium though, and there was a crowd going in when I left (ended up having to drive past that way..long story..got a better way back to Jersey for me?)
Mr North Jersey
4/5/2010-7:22pm at 7:22 pm (UTC -4)
Best way back to Jersey is hanging out after game do some tailgating and wait for Parking lot to clear then enjoy ride home.
metsfan4decades
4/5/2010-7:22pm at 7:22 pm (UTC -4)
And it was hard to tell watching on TV but it appeared to me like the fans really booed the Mets trainers, and to some extent Ollie and Green – and even Jerry?
I just think it’s poor for anyone to be booed on opening day – just my opinion…..
rustyjr
4/5/2010-7:31pm at 7:31 pm (UTC -4)
Yeah I was shaking my head in disbelief but it was funny that the bullpen catchers got huge ovations – I felt bas forslappy Ollie & green
ceetar
4/5/2010-7:35pm at 7:35 pm (UTC -4)
Ollie, Trainers, Jerry, Hanley, Castillo, Green, in that order of extremeness. I held my tongue for Manuel. barely. just didn’t cheer him. Everyone else got claps (but not THE clap, save that for Tiger)
Hazmet
4/5/2010-7:39pm at 7:39 pm (UTC -4)
…i read “in that order of extremidies”… it must be the trainers at work.
rustyjr
4/5/2010-7:40pm at 7:40 pm (UTC -4)
Lol I thought the sheas were gonna clobber Jerry with the lucky horseshoe wreath
CaseStreet
4/5/2010-7:47pm at 7:47 pm (UTC -4)
I wouldn’t mind booing Jerry every time he takes a step out of the dugout. But to boo Mets 2009 MVP Castillo? That’s just wrong.
Hazmet
4/5/2010-7:46pm at 7:46 pm (UTC -4)
Just a comment on CitiField. Watching the game this afternoon for the first time I felt like I was looking at the home of the Mets. I don’t know why, whether it was the subliminal effect of the banners on the wall or the lowering of the CenterField wall or just a feel. It actually felt like a home field like it never did to me last year. Maybe it was just being a year removed from Shea now. I dunno?
Also, nice game by Matthews battling the wind in CF all day. Big hang with’em there.
ceetar
4/5/2010-8:58pm at 8:58 pm (UTC -4)
I know most will disagree, and all the extra Mets stuff helped, but it felt like home because it is home because it was home. We could anticipate baseball back and what it looked like. Last year it was still a growing process.
Hazmet
4/5/2010-8:14pm at 8:14 pm (UTC -4)
For our RJ:
Joe Morgan talking about Rusty Staub “man he could hit” on ESPN.
Was in reference to the Colt 45′s apparently Morgan, Staub and Wynn as youngsters starting out being broken up too soon. I never knew they played together.