Open Thread: Citi Field Opener: Mets vs Red Sox

by Eric Simon on Apr 3, 2009 5:56 PM EDT

Citi Field's first ever Met game, weather permitting. There's still time to get your game form in for the swag contest, though spring training games don't count for anything but fun so don't kill yourself filling it in. We'll start for real on Monday.

Livan Hernandez goes against Jon Lester to start. Here's the Mets lineup:

SS Jose Reyes
LF Daniel Murphy
3B David Wright
1B Carlos Delgado
CF Carlos Beltran
RF Fernando Tatis
DH Bobby Kielty
C Ramon Castro
2B Luis Castillo

Tweet Comment 30 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

This is exciting

Brand-new ballpark, new and greatly improved look for SNY. And Lester can’t get the ball over so far!

"One of the nice things about baseball is that there are no rules you can't break." - Jim Bouton

by Prince on Apr 3, 2009 6:33 PM EDT reply actions

Love that SNY finally has HD graphics

by Major on Apr 3, 2009 6:48 PM EDT up reply actions

Yup

A marked improvement over the former Arial graphics.

"One of the nice things about baseball is that there are no rules you can't break." - Jim Bouton

by Prince on Apr 3, 2009 6:49 PM EDT up reply actions

MLB.tv

is looking great this year. The quality is way better than last year, and it actually works in full screen for me for the first time since 2003 (and back then, you didn’t WANT it to work in full screen…it was ugly). I was really tempted to get the Extra Innings package, but the way MLB.tv is looking right now, I think it’s good enough to stick with and save myself the much needed cash.

by cjmulrain on Apr 3, 2009 6:57 PM EDT reply actions

wow

they have a new thing where a little pop-up screen shows up in the right hand corner when something important happens in another game, so you can watch a highlight in picture-in-picture, and even swap it with the game you’re watching to see it in fullscreen. Anyway, I just watched a highlight from the Cubs-Yankees game, gotta say, new Yankee Stadium looks pretty much the same as old Yankee Stadium on the field. I hate the Yankees, and I hated Yankee Stadium, but I actually really like what they’ve done with the new park.

by cjmulrain on Apr 3, 2009 7:46 PM EDT up reply actions

I'm starting to like what Livan brings as the 5th starter

by Major on Apr 3, 2009 7:02 PM EDT reply actions

he's looking decent

I mean, if he can replicate his ‘05-’07 performance, and just be a league average pitcher who eats innings, isn’t that exactly what you want from your 5th starter? Hopefully when Redding gets off the DL Livan will be pitching well enough to let Redding comfortably become the long man with the option of being the 5th starter if Livan gets hurt or starts to suck

by cjmulrain on Apr 3, 2009 7:19 PM EDT up reply actions

If Redding comes back

Would the mets send Parnell to buffalo? I’m not sure I would want that

by Major on Apr 3, 2009 7:21 PM EDT up reply actions

well

I’m hoping whoever is pitching the worst would go down, but I guess it’d probably have more to do with who has options and whatnot.

by cjmulrain on Apr 3, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes

And that is not always good for the Mets.

by Major on Apr 3, 2009 8:24 PM EDT up reply actions

Why have any pitcher with the number 48?

by Major on Apr 3, 2009 7:13 PM EDT reply actions

Oh, I can't wait to have the food at Citi Field

Imagine going to see the Mets and being able to eat something other than hot dogs or Carvel!

"One of the nice things about baseball is that there are no rules you can't break." - Jim Bouton

by Prince on Apr 3, 2009 7:23 PM EDT reply actions

Shea

had some decent food, you just had to know where to find it. Mamas of Corona’s was real good, and they had one decent Mexican stand. Still, nothing compared to what Citi looks like it’s offering.

by cjmulrain on Apr 3, 2009 7:35 PM EDT up reply actions

I always thought

the italian sausage with peppers and onions was pretty good deal in comparison to the cost of a plain hot dog.

by JoshNY on Apr 4, 2009 8:34 AM EDT up reply actions

Irish Hammer Part II!

Nice hit.

"One of the nice things about baseball is that there are no rules you can't break." - Jim Bouton

by Prince on Apr 3, 2009 7:27 PM EDT reply actions

This stadium

is HUGE. And I kinda like it. I’m ridiculously excited for the first time Reyes hits one into the gap.

by cjmulrain on Apr 3, 2009 7:36 PM EDT reply actions

Although did you see that hit he had before?

Thats a home run in most stadiums.

"I dunno. I never smoked any Astroturf"
-Tug McGraw

by squid92 on Apr 3, 2009 7:38 PM EDT up reply actions

It really did look like where homeruns go to die.

King of the bling come to lay down the evidence//Not George Bush, L-Millz be da president

by Sam Page on Apr 3, 2009 9:11 PM EDT up reply actions

I just got home

and the discussion here got me to turn on SNY. Everything looks real nice — the picture, the graphics, the field, Hippo . . . just great.

On a much, much less exciting note, I got a good close look at Coca-Cola Field in Buffalo today, as the law firm where I was interviewing is located next door. It’s a very nice looking minor league park, big and open, and there is a whole lot of blue and orange outside the stadium. Considering Buffalo is looking at possible snow next week, it may not be the most pleasant place to open the season for the Bisons, but I’m hoping for some real nice summer weather to catch a few games out there.

'Oh yes, I know all about that duty-of-a-citizen stuff. It doesn't go. There are exceptions to every rule, and this was one of them. When a man risks his liberty to come and root at a ball-game, you've got to hand it to him. He isn't a crook. He's a fan.'

by Catsmeat Potter-Pirbright on Apr 3, 2009 8:04 PM EDT reply actions

SNY has done a good job

upgrading the graphics. Everything looked pedestrian and generic on SNY in prior years. I’m glad they decided to use HD graphics to make the game look smooth. I get the feeling like the stadium and the network together are defining the character of the Mets from a corporate point of view and so far I like it a lot

by Major on Apr 3, 2009 8:43 PM EDT up reply actions

Citi Screen

Does anybody know what sections at Citi are behind the home plate screen, and what sections the screen stops?

To me it looks like their are 4 sections with screen and then the last 2 Delta sections are not behind the screen. Anybody?

by whynot on Apr 3, 2009 8:14 PM EDT reply actions

Heilman in against the Stanks in the 6th

by Major on Apr 3, 2009 9:06 PM EDT reply actions

Dear G-d not the swag contest!!

You like to torture me don’t you Eric? That’s fine. I’m happy to continue my run of second-place finishes. I’m like the Wilpons that way.

by Simons on Apr 3, 2009 11:26 PM EDT reply actions

Mets/Red Sox

Are on MLB Network and MLB Network HD right now. Perez is struggling early.

-This comment brought to you by Mr Pappagiorgio aka Mister P
Welcome to Loud City [BRING THE THUNDER] | WTLC on Twitter | WTLC on Facebook | SBNation

by Mr Pappagiorgio on Apr 4, 2009 1:30 PM EDT reply actions

Ollieeeeeeee

Nice tuneup before the season

by James Kannengieser on Apr 4, 2009 1:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Yeah for people without mlb.tv/mlbn

It’s the free game today.

Also why take Perez out so early, it’s not a real game and the only one he’s gonna get in shape is pitching in live games.

by Gina on Apr 4, 2009 2:10 PM EDT up reply actions

Probably best to just get him out of there after giving up 6 runs including a grand slam all in the first inning. I’d be devastated if I gave up the first homerun in the fields history, especially a grand slam.

-This comment brought to you by Mr Pappagiorgio aka Mister P
Welcome to Loud City [BRING THE THUNDER] | WTLC on Twitter | WTLC on Facebook | SBNation

by Mr Pappagiorgio on Apr 4, 2009 2:17 PM EDT up reply actions

But my point is why so close to the season are we taking him out

He HAS to get into game shape, we can’t afford for him to spend a month trying to get in shape then another month being ollie trying to figure his mechanics and what not out again.

by Gina on Apr 4, 2009 2:20 PM EDT up reply actions