Here is SNY.tv’s Post Game Extra, featuring clips and quotes, as well as analysis from Ron, Keith and Gary, from today’s win over the Reds:
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From the daily archives:
Monday, April 6, 2009
With the Mets opening day win in the books, let’s see what else is going on in the National League East.
The Braves spoiled opening night for the Phillies by downing the defending champions yesterday, 4-1. Derek Lowe was the big story as he pitched 8 scoreless innings, allowing just 2 hits and striking out 4.
Atlanta’s offense was led by home runs from Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, and Jordan Schafer (who hit a home run in his first major league at bat).
The two clubs go back to work on Tuesday with Jair Jurrjens on the hill for Atlanta and Jamie Moyer making the start for Philly.
Elsewhere within the division, the Nationals head to Miami to open up the season against the Marlins. John Lannan will start for Washington with Ricky Nolasco on the mound for Florida.
In another bit of news regarding the Nationals, Ryan Zimmerman and the team have broken off talks on a potential contract extension for the third baseman.
Zimmerman doesn’t want to negotiate during the season because he feels it would be a distraction for the team.
For more news, notes, analysis and statistics from around Major League Baseball, be sure to visit Baseball Daily Digest.
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Today’s Game:
- The Mets (1-0) defeated the Reds (0-1) by the score of 2-to-1 today.
On the Mound:
- Johan Santana earned the victory, allowing one run on three hits and four walks, while striking out seven over 5.2 IP.
- Sean Green, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez combined for 3.2 hitless innings in relief.
At the Plate:
- Daniel Murphy drove in both Mets runs going 1-for-5 with a
homerun. Murphy’s homerun in fifth came after a terrific nine-pitch at-bat against Reds starter Aaron Harang. - Carlos Delgado and Ryan Church each had two hits.
Random Thoughts:
- Wow, what a difference an off-season makes. Each of Omar Minaya’s three key bullpen acquisitions were dominant in their first appearances of the season. I’d like to know the last time the Mets bullpen allowed three hitless innings. It certainly didn’t occur last September.
- I don’t know where I heard it, but Daniel Murphy mean business.
- Santana looked as if he was struggling with the frigid weather, as he uncharacteristically walked four batters; but he managed to pitch through his wildness. I was surprised Jerry Manuel pulled him with two outs in the sixth, but with Santana’s history against Edwin Encarnacion, and being on the verge of 100 pitches, it was the right move.
Game Ball:
- Today’s Game Ball is cut in quarters and given to Daniel Murphy, Sean Green, J.J. Putz and Francisco Rodriguez.
Tomorrow:
- The Mets are off tomorrow. The Mets return to action on Wednesday against the Reds in Cincinnati, with Mike Pelfrey facing Edison Volquez.
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By the way, I had to temporarily revert back to the old comment style for a variety of technical reasons.
I will do my best tomorrow to bring back Intense Debate.
Thanks,
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Today’s Game:
- Weather permitting, the Mets (0-0, 0-0 Road) start their 48th season with a three-game series versus the Reds (0-0, 0-0 Home) today in Great American Ballpark in Cincinnati, Ohio, starting at 1:10 p.m. EDT.
On the Mound:
- LHP Johan Santana (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will start for the Mets. Santana makes his fourth consecutive Opening Day start, second with the Mets. He is 2-1 with a 4.82 ERA in those starts. In four career games versus the Reds, Santana is 1-0 with a 6.75 ERA. He earned a no-decision in his last start versus the Reds on July 17, allowing five runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out two over 4.0 IP.
- RHP Aaron Harang (0-0, 0.00 ERA) will pitch for the Reds. He is making his four straight Opening Day start for the Reds. In four career starts versus the Mets, Harang is 2-1 with a 5.85 ERA. He has not faced the Mets since September of 2007.
At the Plate:
- Jose Reyes, SS
- Daniel Murphy, LF
- David Wright, 3B
- Carlos Delgado, 1B
- Carlos Beltran, CF
- Ryan Church, RF
- Brian Schneider, C
- Luis Castillo, 2B
- Johan Santana, P
Stats:
- The Mets are 30-17, including 13-10 on the road, all-time on Opening Day and have the highest winning percentage (.638) in Major League history.
- David Wright is batting .710 with 1 HR and 4 RBI in seven career at-bats versus Harang.
- Carlos Beltran, who is 13 RBI for 1000 in his career, is batting .342 with 2 HR and 9 RBI in 38 at-bats on Opening Day.
- Brandon Phillips is 28-for-77 (.364) with 5 HR and 23 RBI in career versus the Mets.
- The Reds were 3-4 versus the Mets last season and are 294-248 all-time versus the Mets.
Random Thoughts:
- It’s time to put the last three seasons behind us and start anew. A new season, a new ballpark and a new attitude.
- Despite my excitement for Opening Day, if this is going to be a start-stop kind of game due to the weather, I’d much rather the game be postponed, especially with the off-day tomorrow, so Santana does not have to waste a start.
Today’s Broadcast:
- Today’s game will air live on SNY and WFAN.
In-Game Chat:
- To chat live with fans during the game, go to the MetsBlog.com Bullpen, here; or voice your comments below.
Enjoy, and as always, Let’s Go Mets!
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Update, 11:40 am:
The tarp is on the field, the wind is swirling, and there is sleet and rain falling from the grey sky, but there is no indication yet from the stadium that the game will be called or delayed.
So, Mets players emerged from a team-only meeting with Jerry Manuel, and are now warming up on the field.
Original Post:
The Weather Channel projects it will be around 40 degrees at game time in Cincinnati, with a 50 percent chance of rain, 20 mph winds, and a slight chance of snow later in the day.
…the word is, it is raining pretty hard, and it’s 
frigid… the game in Chicago has already been canceled, by the way…
According to WFAN’s Ed Coleman, speaking on air a few moments ago, players have been telling him they feel the game will be played.
…the thing is, tomorrow is supposed to be a bit better, and it’s an off day…
…what’s most bothersome, i’d hate to see Johan Santana warm up, go out there for an inning, there be a massive delay, or the game is called, and then santana doesn’t pitch again until later in the week…
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Initially, I was against the signing of Gary Sheffield.
However, the more I think about it, knowing he understands his role, plus knowing he will earn just $400,000, not the $14 million he is due from the Tigers, I am starting to like it.
The key, for me, is that his expectations have 
been set low. Look, if he were coming to the Mets under then impression he would be a starting player, every day, who would bat third, and then he didn’t, and Daniel Murphy and Ryan Church were playing more than he, Sheffield would complain and be a problem, I am sure.
However, the Mets have been quote clear with him that he’ll initially be a bench player, and if he isn’t working his way back to form, that’s where he will remain. Of course, if he begins complaining and turns to ruffling feathers, because he isn’t playing, the Mets can always cut him loose with little consequence.
The only downside, in this regard, is does his presence create resentment and tension for Ryan Church or Daniel Murphy? Does he take some spotlight away from other players, and irritate them? Does he moan and cause problems for Jerry Manuel? All of which can have lasting ramifications through the season, even if Sheffield is eventually cut and no longer on the roster.
Ultimately, I expect Sheffield to play in 80 to 120 games, getting time in left, he’ll play right, he may even play first base, he’ll start some games, but an equal among of at bats from the bench, and he’ll be a presence in the clubhouse and with the media, as a right-handed, power bat from the bench, or behind Carlos Delgado, all of which the team has been missing.
The fact is, the Mets need Church’s defense in right field, especially in Citi Field. Also, Murphy is going to need days off, as well. So, I envision days when Church is in left, Sheffield is in right, and Muprhy is on the bench; I see days when Church is in center, Sheffield is in right, and Murphy is in left, when Carlos Beltran needs a rest; I see days when it is like today, and Sheffield is on the bench, and so on.
And, again, if he is unhappy and causing trouble, the Mets can cut him and not suffer a huge hit to the payroll.
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MetsBlog.com will be hosting an Opening Day Get-Together today at Public House in Manhattan, located at 140 E. 41st St, for the first game of the regular season against the Mets and Reds at 1 pm.
…we will have a few designated areas to hang out, sit, grab lunch, etc., plus they’ll have a drink special or two… there are plenty of flat-screen televisions, and the game-audio will be on as well…
…hopefully, the rain will not stop you from swinging by…
By the way, last week, I posted a box for people to submit their names if they planned to attend.
This was less for the actual name, and more to 
determine a headcount.
That said, according to the comedians who took time to take part, Lee Mazzilli, Edwin McCain, Shane Victorino, Shawn Victorini, Dick Cheney, Barack Obama, Johnny Sac and Tony Soprano, Niles Crane, Snoopy, Aaron Heilman and Willie McGee will all be attending.
…thanks for the laugh, actually… it was much needed…
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Today, at 1 pm, Johan Santana will start for the Mets, as the team begins its season against the Reds in Cincinnati.
Ben Shpigel of the New York Times explains how Santana is finally finding his rhythm as his second season with the Mets is about to begin.
According to Shpigel, “There was a pecking order 
in the clubhouse, including a dominant personality, Pedro Martínez, who is no longer around but whose happy-go-lucky nature has appeared to rub off on Santana.”
…i have been saying this all spring, actually, in that, pedro’s absence, has seemingly made santana boss, and it’s like the torch had been passed from pedro to johan in terms of who the emotional leader is of the pitching staff… last spring, santana was following pedro, and the other pitchers took their queue…
…this spring, santana was laughing a lot, always smiling, but working hard, and he was clearly the center of attention when it came to the pitchers, who took their queue from him, especially Oliver Perez…
For more on Santana, read Steve Popper’s report in the Bergen Record.
Speaking of starting pitchers…
The Braves will retire Greg Maddux’s No. 31 at home on July 17.
…naturally, on July 17, the Braves will play the Mets… typical…
In 65 career starts, Maddux was 35–18 with a 3.31 ERA against the Mets.
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In the Daily News, Peter Botte writes about how the pain from the last three seasons could affect the 2009 Mets.
“I think if anything it should motivate us, seeing that we’ve missed the playoffs the last two years,” David Wright told Botte.
“We need to get off to a good start and really focus on just winning each and every day and doing the little things that it takes to do that.”
…this has been a big part of manuel’s message this spring, and it was echoed a lot to the pitching staff by all of the coaches, in that baseball is about the little things, the task in front of you today, right now, whether it’s a specific pitch, specific at bat, or a specific game, be it in April or September… if the Mets can relax and focus, like manuel is preaching, the story of the last three seasons will be irrelevant, because the task at hand will be all that matters…
Speaking of Manuel, he announced the following Opening Day lineup before the team left for Cincinnati last night:
- 1. Jose Reyes SS
- 2. Daniel Murphy LF
- 3. David Wright 3B
- 4. Carlos Delgado 1B
- 5. Carlos Beltran CF
- 6. Ryan Church RF
- 7. Brian Schneider C
- 8. Luis Castillo 2B
- 9. Johan Santana LHP
…i like it… i believe in murphy, but he’s the key to this structure working… if he can pull the ball, and work the count, reyes should be allowed to get to third and put the middle of the order in some good RBI situations… then it’s up to delgado to be a force… he needs to be a force… if he stumbles, the middle of the lineup could implode… i do not worry about the bottom of the order, though i like castillo’s controlled bat and experience hitting in front of the pitcher… good luck, guys…
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