The Game

The new look Mets took on the Florida Marlins today, in an effort that produced a 7-2 victory. The Mets featured 4 new faces in their starting lineup today from their starting lineup at the end of last season: catcher Brian Schneider, right fielder Ryan Church, Left Fielder Angel Pagan and starting pitcher Johan Santana. All eyes were on Johan today, as he and new battery-mate Schneider worked together effortlessly going 7 innings and allowing just 2 runs.

The beginning of the Mets season opener wasn’t too eventful for the first three innings. Johan Santana appeared to be in mid-season form, getting 5 of his 9 retired Marlins to fly out. Former New Jersey Net Mark Hendrickson only allowed a double to Carlos Beltran and a bunt single to Luis Castillo through the first three. It even looked as though a pitcher’s duel could have been in the works. But then came the 4th inning.

Carlos Beltran started off the frame with a double, Carlos Delgado followed with a walk. Then Angel Pagan delivered his first hit as a New York Met, in a clutch spot. He hit a line drive down the left field line for a double, driving in Beltran from second. Then came Ryan Church to the plate, knocking in an RBI single against the lefty Hendrickson. Brian Schneider then lined out in the inning, followed by a strikeout from pitcher Johan Santana. With 2 outs, Hendrickson had a chance to get out of the inning facing Jose Reyes. That didn’t fare too well for Hendrickson, who gave up an RBI single to Reyes, making it a 3-0 ballgame. Luis Castillo would then work out a walk, and then things would get confusing. Hendrickson, having thrown 32 pitches in the inning at this point, was scheduled to face David Wright. Only when Wright walked up to the plate, Ricky Nolasco, a Florida Marlins reliever, began to warm up. Instead of having Nolasco warm up earlier in the inning, Marlins manager Freddi Gonzalez opted to have Hendrickson face Wright, who would promptly clear the bases with a 3 RBI double. That would bust the game wide open, leaving Hendrickson and the Marlins to fight a 6-0 deficit.

The important part of that inning for me, besides Wright’s 3 RBI double, was Ryan Church’s RBI single in a big spot. Church hasn’t had much of an opportunity in his big league career to face off against lefties (prior to the game only 209 career ABs against LHPs), but he’ll get his share of opportunities this season to prove his worth as an all-around player, and ditch the categorization, “Platoon type.”

The Marlins wouldn’t have much offensive success against Johan Santana. The Marlins got 2 runs from a home run off the bat of Josh Willingham, who hit 21 of them last year. Other than the bottom of the 4th inning, the Marlins didn’t have a clue against Johan; he’d go 7 innings strong allowing just 3 hits with 2 runs, and striking out 8.

The Mets bullpen started out the season looking stable. Matt Wise made his Mets debut, he’d give up a single to utility man Alfredo Amezaga, and would get Hanley Ramirez to pop out. After giving up a hard hit single to Dan Uggla, Wise was pulled from the game and Scott Schoeneweis entered to face former Met Mike Jacobs. Schoeneweis looked solid, getting Jacobs to weakly ground out. Willie Randolph would play it safe and have Jorge Sosa in to face the righty Josh Willingham with the game still at 6-2. Sosa struck out Willingham to end the frame, and keep the game secured.

The top half of the 9th was a sloppy one for Marlins defense. With no outs, pinch hitter Marlon Anderson hit a single to left field. He’d be sacrificed over to second base on a bunt from Jose Reyes. Catcher Matt Treanor pounced on the bunt and looked to throw to second base, but shortstop Hanley Ramirez wasn’t covering. During the very next at-bat, pitcher Matt Lindstrom threw a wild pitch that caromed off of the back- stop right back to the catcher, Treanor. Treanor threw low to the third baseman Jorge Cantu, who couldn’t handle the throw. The ball then rolled into no-man’s land, as a result of Hanley Ramirez’s not backing up Cantu. The defensive miscue resulted in another run for the Mets, making it a 7-2 game.

Aaron Heilman was dominant to close out the game. He’d strike out Jorge Cantu and Cody Ross, then get veteran Luis Gonzalez to ground out. Overall just 5 hits were given up from Mets pitching, with 5 pitchers used. Mark Hendrickson’s start didn’t go well from the 4th inning on; overall he’d go 5 innings and allow 7 hits with 6 earned runs. He’ll start the 2008 season with an ERA of 10.80.

This was a very good game for the confidence of Mets fans. Catcher Brian Schneider called a very good game, Ryan Church had a clutch hit against a league average left handed pitcher, Angel Pagan proved himself worthy to fill in for Left Field while Moises Alou is on the DL, Marlon Anderson continues his superhuman performance coming off the bench, and of course Johan Santana pitched excellently in his first game as an Amazin’. You would have liked to see Carlos Delgado get a hit today, but he appears to be ready for the season and didn’t embarrass himself at the plate. He worked out a walk in the 4th and scored on the Ryan Church base knock.

Overall, simply a great day for the Mets in their effort to get the fans’ minds on the 2008 season, and off of September of 2007. Tomorrow Pedro Martinez will take the hill against young Rick Vandenhurk in a game scheduled at 7:10.

The Haiku

Santana sparkles
Schoeneweis left, Sosa right
Willie may have it!

The Win Probability Added Graph

The Credits

Recap by Milo Taibi
Haiku by Howard Megdal