Game Recap: Mets 2 -- Reds 1

If there was a script the Mets had to follow for the first game of 2009, this game followed it exactly.

On The Mound
The Mets turned to Johan Santana for the second straight opening day, and he did not disappoint. Ninety-nine pitches later, 62 for strikes, Santana exited the game in the sixth inning. He allowed only three hits, walked four and struck out seven. Santana allowed the sole Reds run to score on a Brandon Phillips sac-fly in the bottom of the 6th inning.

Two of those walks came in the first inning, back to back. Santana needed 31 pitches but was able to wiggle out of the inning and pretty much settled in from there. In fact, Santana held the Reds hit-less until the bottom of the fourth inning when Jay Bruce drilled a ball to the left centerfield wall.

Jerry Manuel wasn't going to push Santana in the first game of the year. Santana was dealing, though he struggled with the walks a little. He got the outs when he needed to and that's all you can ask.

From there, the newcomers took over. Sean Green relieved Santana, getting a tough out with two on and two out. Edwin Encarnacion lined out to left field, ending the inning and the threat. Green came out for the seventh as well, inducing three ground balls for a quick inning.

Green looked confident on the mound and got a very key out in a very tough situation.

J.J. Putz came in for the 8th inning, as the Mets have planned since acquiring him in December. Putz walked one in his inning, but escaped otherwise unscathed. Francisco Rodriguez entered for the 9th inning in a one run game and did what the Mets are paying him for. He needed only 10 pitches to retire the Reds in order, striking out Ramon Hernandez to end the game.

Beautiful. As a Mets fan, I've been trained to worry late in games, so my heart was still in my throat when these two entered the game. They made it painless and easy and I couldn't be happier.

At The Plate
The lore of Daniel Murphy grows and grows.

Murphy picked up both RBIs for the Mets today, including hitting a solo home run off of Reds starter Aaron Harang in the top of the fifth inning. Murphy also grounded out to first base with the bases loaded the next inning, allowing Luis Castillo, who had doubled, to score the eventual game winning run.

A lot of people are very high on Murphy, and though I think he's going to be good, I'd like to see what he can do with a full season. Can't get a better start to the season than this. Great job by the left fielder.

Ryan Church and Carlos Delgado each picked up two hits for the Mets today. Jose Reyes, David Wright and Carlos Beltran also picked up hits. Wright was also thrown out at the plate in the fifth inning. He was out by a decent amount as Beltran ripped a single to right field. Razor Shines sent him, but he was out by a mile. He was also caught in a rundown and eventually tagged out.

Reyes and Church each swiped a base a piece.

The weather definetely played a factor for a few of the Mets hits today. Wright probably shouldn't have been sent home, though Gary Cohen, Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling all thought it was a good send by Razor Shines. Hindsight is 20/20.

In The Field
Church and Wright both made beautiful plays in the field, helping the Mets keep runners off the basepaths. Church made a slide, bobbled the ball before settling with it and then threw to first for a double play in the second inning.

Wright made a beautiful snag of a ground ball in the 7th inning, falling to his left and getting his glove out to field the ball. He then scrambled to his feet and made a perfect throw to Delgado at first base.

On Deck
Off day tomorrow. Mets will play the Reds again in Cincinnati at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday night.

Happy Yom Kippur

Shawn Green says...
Happy Yom Kippur to all those who are of the Jewish faith.

Shawn Green announces his retirement

Shawn Green, who played for the Mets during the past two season, announced his retirement from baseball on Wednesday.

Green was partially open to a deal for a West coast team, but nothing popped up and he decided it was the right time.

From the Post:

Green, who is building his dream house in Irvine with his family (wife Lindsay and daughters Presley and Chandler), added, "I wanted to stay here with my family. Not travel around the country anymore. I enjoyed playing a lot. I enjoyed New York. But for me, it was time to be home."

Shalom aleichem.

oh yeah! this team freakin rocks!

I almost forgot these guys were capable of this kinda stuff.

It was 7-1...then it was 7-5 after a mighty slam from C-del, then it was 7-6 after a great play from ronnie belliard which got jose reyes at first, but the run still scored.
Then in the 9th, right after Paulie couldve went for a inside the parker if that ball just skipped a little higher.

Mr. Gary Cohen saw the future.
"So one out and one on, here comes Beltran, and one swing can win it for New York..."
and BANG! there is goes, just to the right of Azek Trimboard's K Sign...
and it was no longer Albert's Show...And Carlos Delgado became the opening act for Mr. Carlos Beltran. That 2-run game winning home run just felt magical to me. I knew it was ours when Lo Duca singled. i just felt it. thats the team we have this year.


like Jimmy V said "Never Give Up, Don't Ever Give Up."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A Jew In Flushing.

We got Shawn Green.
'Zona is paying $6.3 mil.
gave up Evan Maclane who recently threw a 5-hit shutout. but hey...i like it.

Were also going after Moises Alou. (yuck)
He's 40, in his walk year, and prone to injury.
sure hes having a better year offensively...but he has 200 less AB's and has missed/will miss the next week with a leg problem.

oh. and he pee's on his hands.
so no thanks.

swwwwweeeep.

thats right, back-to-back sweeps...

reyes-3 hits. loduca-2hits. delgado--crushed a 2-run HR in the 5th.
Shawn Green- 1-3 walk, k, RBI. not too shabby. and he likes the place.

g.mota rocked again. 1 IP, 0 hits, 2 k's.

Castro to 60-day DL :: Perez Up.
Milledge down :: Bannister up.

Friday: Bannister
Saturday: Perez
Sunday: Maine

Another sweep? or is that just too damn greedy??