Daily Archives: April 1, 2008
Brian Bassett’s theJetsBlog.com has joined MetsBlog.com, WasWatching.com and GiantsFootballBlog.com as the newest member of the 
Blog Network.
…i am very excited to see brian join the mix…as a Jets fan, i have been reading his site for years…he does an outstanding job…welcome aboard, brian…
Jayson Stark of ESPN.com gives his take on Johan Santana‘s opening day start by calling him the ‘the perfect cure for the 6-month-old nightmare that won’t go away.’ 
According to Stark:
“With every astonishing pitch that came out of Santana’s hand Monday, those messy September headlines seemed to gravitate a little closer to the nearest recycling bin — because when Johan Santana is pitching, his new teammates dream only of what’s possible, not of what’s behind them”
…yes, can we please throw away 2007 and move on now…
…johan looked great and now onto a dominating performance by Pedro Martinez today…
In the first inning of yesterday’s game, Luis Castillo cost the Mets 
an early when he stopped at third with two outs on a bloop double by Carlos Beltran.
…he would have scored too, had he been running hard from first base the entire time…plus, it was two outs, so he should have been busting it from the crack of the bat anyway…
However, following the game, Willie Randolph explained to reporters that Castillo is still ‘a little banged up,’ and so he is not running at 100 percent, which is why he stopped at third.
Randolph later joked that he would bench Castillo for not running hard, mocking the reporters a bit for being so harsh, saying, while laughing, “Wow, ok, I’ll chastise him later, I’ll get the whip and beat him,” which the reporters and he shared a laugh over.
Castillo was 1 for 3 with a run scored and two walks.
During last night’s game, both David Wright and Jose Reyes were caught trying to steal.
…it’s funny, because i am genuinely surprised when reyes gets caught…i mean, i just sort of take it for granted that he can steal at will…i guess he’s not a machine, even though the ump blew the call and he should have been safe…
Additionally, with a four-run lead, Willie Randolph used three relief pitchers to get through the eighth inning, initially skipping Aaron Heilman, who eventually pitched a scoreless ninth.
…i got the sense that willie was managing this game like it was September, with a slight sense of urgency, which was great to see…there should be no messing around at this early date…no, ‘I need to feel out my guys,’ routine…while i normally understand the long-view, it does not apply to this current season during which a strong start may prove to be vital…get some wind in your team’s sails, willie, then you go all big picture on us…
Tagged Willie Randolph |
In last yesterday’s win over the Marlins, Johan Santana allowed two runs, three hits and two walks, while striking out eight of 26 hitters.
…you know, i watched him pitch in spring training, but it didn’t really sink in that santana was really, truly on the Mets, until i saw him take the mound yesterday on opening day…what a feeling…his sinker, looked great, he was in total command, he used their lineup against them, he moved the ball all around the zone and his change-up and slider made the Marlins look silly at times…welcome aboard, johan…
…best part, the crowd of Mets fans – in Miami – gave santana a standing ovation as he walked from the opposing team’s mound…
Santana, talking to reporters after the game:
“I wasn’t trying to put anything in my head or anything. Just another game, another opening day, different uniform, lot of expectations. But I felt good, I’m excited…Nervous, butterflies, whatever you want to call it, it’s part of the game, but it’s about you being able to control it. It’s not about letting the emotions take over. It’s how you control your emotions and how you control the game…And that’s the way I am. I wasn’t trying to do anything different, nothing crazy. Just being myself…and that’s about it.”
Randolph, on Santana, talking to reporters after the game:
“He was unbelievable…He kept his cool. I thought there were some border-line calls that could have been called strikes, I’m not complaining about the umpiring, but he kept his cool because I think he got a bit frustrated at some balls that were close. He didn’t waiver. Again, he didn’t lose his cool, he stayed with it and got outs when he had to. And that’s what you look for in your stopper, your number one guy…That’s what you look for when you give the ball to a guy like that…It’s a pleasure to watch him work.”
For more on Santana, read the Bergen Record, New York Post, Newsday, New York Times and the Star-Ledger.
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