Opening Day Applesauce

by Joe Budd on Apr 6, 2009 10:04 AM EDT in Applesauce

The wait is finally over. Here we are. The team is not exactly how we envisioned it a few months ago, but all in all, a relatively quiet spring. That is never a bad thing. Anyway, here's a little news for you before 1:00.

Around the Mets

Following a weekend split at Citi Field with the Red Sox, the Mets have traveled to chilly Cincinnati (high of 42 degrees today) to open the season with the Reds. Johan Santana will make the start, facing one of the Red aces, Aaron Harang. First pitch is at 1:10.

Jerry Manuel will send out the following lineup this afternoon:

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

Newly acquired Met outfielder Gary Sheffield will start the season on the bench as he works his way into the regular lineup. Omar Minaya sent right handed 1B/OF Nick Evans back to AAA to make room for Sheffield.

Here is a tremendous story about Met great Jerry Koosman. H/T to Mets Police. Koosman is one of my all time favorites because he proves that it's harder to be a 20 game loser than it is to be a 20 game winner (1977 8-20 with a 3.49 ERA).

Some good news from the Citi Bank front. It appears as though they will have very little to do with the opening day festivities.

Mike Silva believes that this year's team is the one to exorcise Shea's demons.

New York Sports Dog thinks that David Wright has opened his stance a little bit. I haven't noticed this, but has anyone else?

Coincidentally, New York city officials are raiding Willets Point businesses and shutting them down for code violations in advance of the Met home opener.

Gary Sheffield says that David Wright is the person to blame thank for getting him to sign with the Mets.

Around the NL East

Derek Lowe made a spectacular debut last night for the Braves (in stark contrast to Oliver Perez's last spring outing). The good news in this is that he beat the Phillies 4-1.

Philadelphia fans booed Philly starter Brett Myers after his third home run allowed. Philly championship grace lasted 20 minutes.

The Washington Nationals are opening their season against the Florida Marlins (who are excited to have 20-30K fans in the seats), but they're already hoping for a lousy season so that they can get Stephen Strasbourg (link includes video!).

In more National news, third baseman Ryan Zimmerman has ruled out in-season negotiations for renewing his contract.

Around MLB

Replacing Ichiro's spot in the lineup would be hard for anyone, but I feel bad that that will be Endy's first introduction to Seattle fans.

In news from the recession, 14 major league teams are opening the season with a smaller payroll than last year.

This article just jumped out at me. I went to school in Chicago and was struck by how much Cub fans love Wrigley Field (probably more so than the actual Cubs). Maybe Carlos Zambrano is just jealous that the fans are coming for the stadium and not him.

Injury news: Dodger Jason Schmidt will start the season on the 15 day DL. He will be joined there by Diamondbacks Tom Gordon and Max Scherzer.

And finally, this sent shivers down my spine. Baseball and snow NEVER go well together.

That's all for today. Hope everyone enjoys today and most importantly, LET'S GO METS!

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14 teams cutting payroll

of course, that means that 16 teams are either increasing payroll or staying the same. No mention of that in the headline or the article, though. And two of the teams that are cutting payroll were the two highest payrolls last year, and they’re not cutting by much. It’s hard to call the media objective when they run things like that.

by cjmulrain on Apr 6, 2009 10:19 AM EDT reply actions

Not to mention the word cut implies they all were intentionally lowered

The Red Sox obviously weren’t trying to cut payroll considering the huge contract they offered to Tex, they just missed out on the free agent they wanted and the Yankees obviously didn’t go into the market hoping to cut costs. I don’t understand why the article doesn’t list all the teams but I imagine the Braves also have a lower payroll and like the Red Sox that’s because they got turned down by most of the free agents they went after.

by Gina on Apr 6, 2009 11:00 AM EDT up reply actions

It's a pretty rad day

Opening Day + a long lunch hour = great way to ignore the fact that we’re due for snow here tomorrow. 1:10 can’t get here soon enough.

Let’s Go Mets!

'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 6, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions

I just keep wincing....

…whenever I see Schneider and Castillo at the bottom of the lineup. What a black hole.

by Lunkwill Fook on Apr 6, 2009 10:39 AM EDT reply actions

glass = half full

Everytime through that black hole, you’re adding ~8 to the opposing pitcher’s pitch count.

That’s gotta count for something…

The Nye Mets are my favorite squadron.

by hotspur on Apr 6, 2009 10:54 AM EDT up reply actions

But you have to be happy with 1-6.

Before being banned from the Phillies site last year (early on), I told them that their 1-6 was pretty damned formidable. They actually argue with me (to an extent). Look what happened. They won the WS. Our 1-6 displays power, speed and relative consistency. I think it bodes well for us. But yes, 7-9…I shudder.

" YES! BASEBALL IS BACK! YES! "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 11:09 AM EDT up reply actions

I'm not as sure about our 1-6

I think 3 of one our 1-6 are obviously awesome and the other 3 are more question marks.

by Gina on Apr 6, 2009 11:10 AM EDT up reply actions

Gina, I will not stand for this negativity this early in the season. ;-)

" YES! BASEBALL IS BACK! YES! "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

how many good #8 hitters are there?

i mean, if you’re batting down there, you’re probably not that great.

by gogomets on Apr 6, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

But you're a professional! :-)

" YES! BASEBALL IS BACK! YES! "

by LOUtheMETandNATSfan on Apr 6, 2009 11:13 AM EDT up reply actions

#8 hitter

I don’t mind either Castillo or Schneider in the 8 hole. I DO mind Schneider in the 7th hole. One automatic out at the bottom of the lineup is fine. Two is a little much.

by Lunkwill Fook on Apr 6, 2009 11:21 AM EDT up reply actions