Opening Weekend!!

After the Mets started 3-3 on the road, The Mets opened their home schedule this past Friday. I try to make it a point to go to Opening Day every year. And since 1999, I've been to every one but two (2000 and 2002). I love the feeling and energy at Opening Day and if I have any say, I won't be missing any of them anytime soon. Besides' they've done pretty well in the 10 games I've been to before this year, posting a 7-3 record.

I went to this year's Opening Day with a number of friends I met on Twitter. Mary, Patti, Joni, and Cynthia were a pleasure to hang out with at the game! I also ran into Kerel, author of the Mets blog On The Black. You can check out his blog here.

As for the game...

During the National AnthemMy view on Opening Day

Sadly, my opening day record would not improve Friday, as the Mets lost 6-2 to the Washington Nationals. Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez had the hit of the game for the Nats, hitting a 2-run bases-loaded single off Bobby Parnell in the 8th. Add that the Mets couldn't produce anything against the Nats bullpen (3 2/3 IP, 1 H, 2 BB, 3 K) and this one was over.

I also went to today's rubber game. Thanks to Christine and Danny for inviting me. I also went with Lisa, Benny, and Courtenay.

My view on Sunday

Chris Young pitched a great game, giving up only 1 hit and 1 run in 7 IP. But while Parnell let the lead grow on Friday, D.J. Carrasco couldn't hold the lead in the 8th. By that point, the Mets offense had shut down, striking out 16 times and getting only 4 hits after the 1st inning (4 hits in 1st inning alone). And with Pudge's RBI single and Laynce Nix's 3-run shot off Blaine Boyer in the 11th, I witnessed my 2nd home loss of the season. Last year it took until July 5th, my 14th game of last season, to witness my 2nd home loss.

My next game is on Tuesday against the Rockies. In the 10 years I've been keeping score at games on a regular basis, only 2008 did I start with an 0-3 home record. Hopefully that doesn't happen this year. Let's Go Mets!!

Game 6 - Mets vs. Nationals - May 26, 2009

Finally the Mets have made some moves to refill their depleted bench, placing both Ryan Church and Jose Reyes on the 15-day DL. To take their roster spots, the Mets received Wilson Valdez, a utility infielder from Cleveland, and called up 21-year old Fernando Martinez from the minors. Because of his age, the Mets were only going to call Martinez up if he was going to play every day. Consider yourself warned. . . The F-Mart era has begun!!

As for the game itself, the Mets defeated the Washington Nationals 6-1 at T-Shirt Night. They had a couple of firsts in the game. First, Fernando Martinez went 0 for 3 (with a HBP) in his major league debut, although he did get his first RBI, driving in Luis Castillo on a fielder's choice. He did look very anxious during the game (his 2 K's were ugly), but you have to cut him some slack. After all, he's just 21.

Second, Livan Hernandez became the first Mets starting pitcher this season to go into the 8th inning . . . and the 9th inning . . . and pitch a complete game. Hernandez, throughout his ML career, has been known to be an innings-eater. And although he might be getting up there in age, he showed that he could still go through a full game. While he did give up 9 hits, his only blemish was a solo shot given up to Adam Dunn (btw, Dunn got his 1,000th career hit in the 2nd inning).

Other players that had a good game for the Mets were Gary Sheffield (3-run laser shot to left field in the 7th) and Angel Pagan, who went 2-4 at the plate with a run and and SB, and also threw out Josh Bard at the plate in the 5th on a single to short center by Craig Stammen, the Nationals pitcher.

With the win, the Mets are now 5-1 in games I've attended, my only blemish being Opening Night. And while they haven't hit that well to games that I've gone to, they've pitched extremely well. My next game is almost a month away (unless someone invites me) so I'll be looking forward to that.

One final note about the game: the seats that my friend and I sat in were interesting (top deck, past 1st base). The aisle seat was facing 2nd base / short left field, while the second seat in the row (my seat) was facing in the direction of the pitchers mound. I applaud the fact that the Mets had all the seats set up so that they'd face the infield, but to have the aisle seat in the first few rows of this section face a different direction than the rest of the section? A bit weird.