Opening Day ruined by Inadequate Ballplaying

The New York Mets came home to New York to play against the Washington nationals at Citi Field. After suffering two horrible losses to the Phillies, the Mets had an aggravating loss to the Nationals. Who is to blame? The whole team frankly. Yesterday should have been a great day. Opening day at Citi Field, with an easy win against Washington. But no. With a combination of bad calls and and an inability to get the job done, the Mets once again piss us off. I don't really know what to say.

Young leads Mets to major win in Philly

When the NY Mets came into last night's game against the Philadelphia Phillies, everyone assumed that it would be a slaughter. There was a slaughter, but it was by Chris Young and the Mets.

Young had an amazing performance last night in Philly. Pitching 5 1/3 innings he had seven strikeouts, four walks and just one run. Young also the began the run of great offense in the third inning. He open up the third inning with a single and scored off of David Wright's RBI double. Young then brought in the last run of the inning with a single. For the whole game Chris Young had three hits. No Mets pitcher has had three hits in a game since Tom Glavine in 2005. Besides the one run, it was an absolutely stellar performance.

Chris Young was not alone in this butt whooping. David Wright had his 15th career 4 hit game, which ranks second in the Mets franchise history, under Jose Reyes (19). Last night Wright had four hits, two runs and a stolen base.  I am calling Wright 'Captain Reliable', because he always is the player you can count on. The entire line-up, except Nickeas was able to get a hit and get on base. Both Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan were able to get on base twice. In the first inning they were able to execute a perfect double steal. A thing of beauty.

I'm not going to get all amped up and start singing praises and make plans for the playoffs due to this win. It is nice that the Mets went in to Philadelphia, not intimidated by their rivals and beat their butts good. Suck it Philly.

Mets overcome blown save with win in the tenth

David Wright and the rest of the New York Mets were definitely a little more determined to go home with a win last night against the Florida Marlins. After giving up two runs in the first inning and blowing the save in the ninth, the Mets still came out of there with a victory.

Jon Niese gave up two runs in the first inning to Omar Infante and Hanley Ramirez. Surprisingly that is all the noise the Marlins made until the ninth inning. Wright made play of noise in the fourth inning with a solo home-run. Carlos Beltran was able to score of off a double by Ike Davis. Chin-lung Hu was able to cross home plate with some assistance from his teammates to give the Mets the lead. Fransisco "K-Rod" Rodriguez came to the mound anxious to take down the Marlins and give the Mets the win. Too bad that didn't happen. Rodriguez gave up a run to Brett Hayes, tying the game.

So the Mets came out in the tenth with a sense of ferocity. They came out swinging. Jose Reyes and Angel Pagan were able to get on base with singles. David Wright brought Reyes home with a single, giving the Mets the lead again. Willie Harris doubled to right field, giving Pagan and Wright the chance to score. Blaine Boyer came out, giving up one run, but earning the save.

The desire the Mets showed last night to win the first game of the season was very comforting. I just hope they can keep it up.

Here We Go

During Spring Training I was suffering a condition that many NY Mets fans fall victim to, a naive sense of optimism. I was washed away in the wave of hope that came with GM Sandy Alderson and Manager Terry Collins coming aboard. The team seemed motivated and determined not repeat the sins of the past. Carlos Beltran seemed healthier, Jose Reyes was full of spunk, and Jason Bay got over his concussion. I was even patient with the pitching squad building up their strength and speed. Then as we got closer to the beginning of the season the cynicism kicked in. Now I hope that we win at least 80 games. This is the curse of the Mets fan. We all want to be loyal excited fans wishing for the best, but really all we do is hope the team doesn't suck to bad.

Last night, in sunny Miami, was the start of the 2011 season for the New York Mets and the Florida Marlins. With Johan Santana out for the first half of the season, it is up to Mike Pelfrey to take the helm. Unfortunately Pelfrey faced off against the Marlin's star pitcher Josh Johnson.

I am not going to put all the blame on Pelfrey, or compare Pelfrey and Johnson as pitchers. That would be unfair. Pelfrey did load the bases in the fourth inning and give up a grand slam. So I am mad at him for that fiasco. The question I have is what happened to the rest of the team during the game? Johnson pitched a no-hitter for six innings. There was a spark of action from Carlos Beltran and Willie Harris in the seventh, but nothing I would get  super excited about. The Mets just were unable to make anything happen against a pitcher who could actually throw in the mid 90s.

It was only the first game. As David Wright said, "It is what it is: a loss. Let's move on." So all I have to say about tonight's game is, go out there and kick some ass.