Mets Morning News: Mickey money in managerial debut

Meet the Mets

The Mets maintained their odd distinction as the most dominant Opening Day team in the history of the majors, pounding the Cardinals 9-4 on Thursday. Three players — Brandon Nimmo, Adrian Gonzalez, and Kevin Plawecki — reached base four times; before Thursday, only three Mets all-time had reached base four times on an Opening Day: Todd Hundley (1995), Gary Carter (1985), and Jerry Grote (1969). On the hill, Noah Syndergaard surrendered four runs through six innings, but struck out 10 and walked none.

Choose your recap: Amazin’ Avenue short and long, Times, Post, Daily News, Bergen Record, MLB.com, Newsday, NJ.com.

Keith Hernandez and Ron Darling joined Mets fans in honoring late franchise hero Rusty Staub.

Nimmo’s patience — for playing time and at the plate — finally paid off, as he started in his first ever Opening Day game.

New season, new hit celebration.

Around the National League East

The Braves upended the Phillies 8-5 with a Nick Markakis walk-off three-run home run. Check out recaps from Talking Chop and the Good Phight.

The Marlins’ Jose Ureña threw out the first pitch of the 2018 season, and the Cubs’ Ian Happ deposited it over the fence as Chicago handled Miami, 8-4.

The Nationals’ Opening Day was postponed, but don’t think that will throw Max Scherzer off in the slightest.

Around Major League Baseball

John Sterling made a laughable call of Giancarlo Stanton’s first home run as a member of the Yankees.

You think Mariners fans were happy to have Ichiro back?

Whitney McIntosh ranked the best home runs from Opening Day.

Yesterday at Amazin’ Avenue

Allison McCague dove into the depth of the 2018 roster, determining the team is deeper at almost every position than they were in 2017.

Matt Varvaro remembered Todd Hundley’s incredible streak of homering in four consecutive Opening Days from 1994 to 1997.

Matt Callaway impressed Linda Surovich by living up to the promises he made when the team hired him.

Chris McShane argued that the health of Yoenis Cespedes and Michael Conforto could be more crucial to the team’s success than that of the starting rotation.

Ahead of the Mets’ season-opening series with their divisional rivals, Joshua Tessler examined the 2018 Nationals.

This Date in Mets History

In 2000, the Mets bested the Cubs in Tokyo on the strength of a Benny Agbayani pinch-hit grand slam, avenging an Opening Day loss the day prior.