On Opening Day, the Mets defeated the Braves by a score of 1-0.
Back in February, a Mets fan could only dream that Johan Santana’s rehab would progress perfectly through Spring Training, leading to a triumphant return on Opening Day. But the pessimistic fans, scarred by years of mishandled and unfortunate injuries, scoffed when Terry Collins suggested that Santana would be the Opening Day starter. For 4 2/3 innings, Santana exceeded the expectations of even the most optimistic of Mets fans.
Johan gave up no runs on 1 hit, walked none and struck out 5. After about 70 pitches, he started to lose an MPH or two, and lost command. With a man on second in the fifth, he walked the number 8 hiter (Tyler Pastornicky) and the pitcher (Tommy Hanson). After falling behind 3-1 to leadoff man, Michael Bourn, he induced comebacker to end the inning. Santana finished with 84 pitches thrown, 0 runs 2 hits, 2 walks and 5 Ks. Had he gotten out of the fifth sooner, he may have continued into the sixth. However, Collins wisely pulled Santana, and went to his bullpen for the final innings. His late struggles raises a specter of doubt in what could have been an ideal scenario.
Ramon Ramirez, Tim Byrdak, and Jon Rauch looked strong in relief. Byrdak was particularly impressive, striking out two straight left-handed batters with one out and a man on third. Byrdak tore the meniscus in his left knee just a few weeks ago, and returned strong for Opening Day. And Frank Francisco pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for the save. See – no reason to worry…right?
The Mets’ only run came in the sixth on an RBI single by David Wright. They failed to add insurance in that, or any other inning, as the Mets lineup struggled against Braves Pitching. But Johan and the Bullpen needed only one run.
Andres Torres re-strained his calf muscle pursuing a drive to center. SNY’s Kevin Burkhardt speculates that he may miss 2 weeks. He left the game in favor of Scott Hairston. Torres was a question mark for Opening Day, and one wonders if he may have come back to soon.
Before the game, Gary Carter’s family was on hand for a moving tribute to the late Mets great. The Kid 8 logo was added to the new, blue outfield wall in left field.
26 comments
ConnorUAF
4/5/2012-4:40pm at 4:40 pm (UTC -4)
Great game today! The bullpen looked fantastic. Tim Byrdak, three weeks removed from surgery, was as you mentioned extremely impressive.
It was also nice to have Johan come back. Hopefully, Terry will stretch him out and have him throwing 110 pitches per game again.
(** he allowed two hits by the way, not 1**)
saltygary
4/5/2012-4:44pm at 4:44 pm (UTC -4)
Great win to start the season. Hopefully Santana didn’t push himself too hard.
The rotation is going to need to put those inning up so the pen doesn’t get wiped out. My biggest concern for this team is not having a starter that can get through the sixth most nights.
Stick
4/5/2012-4:47pm at 4:47 pm (UTC -4)
a win is a win baby. couple of quick impressions:
- Bay looks done. He also seems to have gone into Castillo mode. Don’t move the bat and hope the pitcher misses the strike zone.
- Davis and Duda need to shake it off vs. LHP. Davis is more of a concern, since IMO Duda has looked better in the past. And Davis was dismal on that K.
- very nice to see Wright looking sharp, and taking a ball the other way.
- murphy can hit.
- and finally, the pen made a good statement that ST is overrated, at least for veteran pitchers!
Prismo
4/5/2012-4:48pm at 4:48 pm (UTC -4)
Very solid game – happy that Wright had a couple nice hits. Bullpen looked excellent…
I would say I’m upset about Torres’ injury but…I’m not upset. After he got picked off the bag and made a bad play in the outfield…and having low expectations for him in itially regardless…I’m okay. I hope they bring up Kirk!
Stick
4/5/2012-4:59pm at 4:59 pm (UTC -4)
yeah, assuming there is a replacement available that can play, I won’t miss him.
gategem
4/5/2012-6:06pm at 6:06 pm (UTC -4)
On the pickoff the first baseman missed the tag.
saltygary
4/5/2012-5:04pm at 5:04 pm (UTC -4)
Congrats on winning the MMO contest Mr. NJ. Mine should have at least gotten honorable mention:
“Why aren’t you at Citi-Field? We only have restraining orders against Bernie Madoff and Randy from Bayonne.”
Mr North Jersey
4/5/2012-5:09pm at 5:09 pm (UTC -4)
Thx SaltyGray and everyone else that voted for mine.
Oklahoma Met
4/5/2012-5:14pm at 5:14 pm (UTC -4)
Was not looking forward to the season up until the opening segment and the Gary Carter tribute. That put a smile on my face about the Mets for the first time this spring. The game just made it stay there. This, as they say, was just 1 of many, but it was a perfect opening day imo. LGM
Paul Festa
4/5/2012-5:31pm at 5:31 pm (UTC -4)
The Gary Carter tribute was handled perfectly. I loved it.
Mr North Jersey
4/5/2012-5:16pm at 5:16 pm (UTC -4)
On a day that Davis, Bay and Duda go 0 for 11 it was nice to see the pitching pick up the offense and shutout the Braves.
ConnorUAF
4/5/2012-5:24pm at 5:24 pm (UTC -4)
It’s still a little early to expect hitters to really produce. Another week or two.
srt
4/5/2012-5:22pm at 5:22 pm (UTC -4)
If you love pitching duels, this was the game to start the season. Man, that was a nail biter.
Johan is the man. Was shaky in the 5th but in true Johan fashion got out of the jam of his own making. Could not have asked for more.
David Wright is clutch. There, I said it.
Had about zero % confidence in that BP holding a 1 run lead through 4 innings. Glad to see my confidence indicator was wrong.
Another Opening Day Win!
Oklahoma Met
4/5/2012-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
Ha! You were not alone in the lack of bullpen confidence department. Byrdak came up HUGE!
srt
4/5/2012-6:41pm at 6:41 pm (UTC -4)
And ironically – surgery and all – he’s the only BP arm I had confidence in, when they took the mound. Nice to be wrong in this case.
gategem
4/5/2012-6:09pm at 6:09 pm (UTC -4)
A glorious way to open the season. You could not have asked for more from Santana. For one day the bullpen did its job.
NJstuckinTX
4/5/2012-6:36pm at 6:36 pm (UTC -4)
Would this classify as a Clutch Wright hit?
srt
4/5/2012-6:42pm at 6:42 pm (UTC -4)
LOL… to everyone but the ‘Core’ it would be.
Hazmet
4/5/2012-6:58pm at 6:58 pm (UTC -4)
The “I know baseball because I played in HS when I peaked in life” core?
kingman 26
4/5/2012-7:09pm at 7:09 pm (UTC -4)
Those frigin loser jackasses wouldn’t recognize a peak if they were dropped out of a plane over the Himalayas.
Oklahoma Met
4/5/2012-7:18pm at 7:18 pm (UTC -4)
That really, quite literally, made me laugh out loud Kingman. Thank you for that!
saltygary
4/5/2012-7:22pm at 7:22 pm (UTC -4)
When the hit occurred I took a peak over there at their lil’ bitch box and most couldn’t get excited because Wright got the hit. Started bitching about Sandy when Torres got injured and again went quiet when Francisco got the save. These aren’t fans.They are rooting for their ideology not for “their” team. All the while TRS is on a mission to convert them.
All discussion about them over here should be put to rest. They are not worth the breath or thought. By discussing them over here only brings our quality down.
Hazmet
4/5/2012-7:31pm at 7:31 pm (UTC -4)
SG – I agree and I never comment on them but when I read here the other day that they apparently started dissin’ on 4D because she’s a she and never played HS baseball so she couldn’t know anything about baseball it really irked me. 4D is one of the most knowledgeable fans I’ve ever run across, period, hands down. So I was just kinda venting.
saltygary
4/5/2012-7:38pm at 7:38 pm (UTC -4)
I hear ya man I’ve called them out on that crap before. She is knowledgeable and intellectual and they can’t handle it. Their low esteem living in their mamma’s basement ass’s think they are all tough hiding behind a computer. If they said that crap to their own mothers, they would of gotten the crap smacked out of them and they know it.
kingman 26
4/5/2012-7:11pm at 7:11 pm (UTC -4)
Yes, they always win opening day, but aside from Ike and Duda, there was a lot to like today.
Murph’s a 1-tool player, but being able to hit for average is a good tool. Nice hit for Wright, the defense was OK, the pen was excellent, and best of all, Johan appeared healthy.
Yeah, it’s one damn game, but I maintain that the rotation can be the strength of this team barring injury.
1-0 wins rock.
saltygary
4/5/2012-7:25pm at 7:25 pm (UTC -4)
This is what it is all about. All the hemming and hawing about how bad they will be, but the season started a new (just like Paul’s great piece this morning described), and they won the game and are still in first.
They will still be bad, but I am happy today. If you can’t get behind today’s game then don’t watch baseball.