Game Preview: Mets @ Marlins

The Mets (0-1) will try to get their first win of the season against the Florida Marlins (1-0) tonight at 7:10.

Jonathan Niese takes the mound against Ricky Nolasco. Niese has had his struggles this spring, but he is still a strikeout pitcher and I feel he might adapt to the #2 role better than Mike Pelfrey adapted to the #1 role. Plus, I've always liked Jonathan Niese...so there's a little bit of bias.

According to the team's Twitter account, the Mets are 10-7 all-time following an Opening Day loss. The Mets also haven't won a game in Miami since September 27, 2009.

The Mets lineup is as follows:

1. Jose Reyes- SS

2. Angel Pagan- CF

3. David Wright- 3B

4. Carlos Beltran- RF

5. Ike Davis- 1B

6. Lucas Duda- LF

7. Brad Emaus- 2B

8. Josh Thole- C

9. Jonathan Niese- LHP

David Wright Strikeout Counter: $0.20

Opening Day: Marlins 6, Mets 2

Well, that was fun.

Once Mike Pelfrey gave up the grand slam to John Buck and the Mets didn't get a hit until the 7th inning, the game was over.

Willie Harris went 2 for 3 tonight in his Mets debut while Carlos Beltran showed he can still hit the ball and had the RBI double that broke Josh Johnson's shutout.

Mike Pelfrey couldn't make it through 5 innings after allowing the grand slam to John Buck. However, Pedro Beato contributed 2 innings of scoreless relief in his Mets debut. Gotta love a kid from Queens.

Tomorrow, Jon Niese takes the mound against Ricky Nolasco.

David Wright Strikeout Counter: $0.20

Happy Opening Day!

Tonight, the New York Mets take on the Florida Marlins in their first game of the regular season. Mike Pelfrey gets the ball for our Mets. I, for one, am optimistic about the Mets this year. They played scrappy all spring, which is what I like to see. Gone are the Mets of yesteryear, of when you could call a game in the third inning. Our dead weight is gone, and is has absolutely had a positive affect on the team.

Even though Sports Illustrated and ESPN have picked us to finish dead last, I feel like the Mets could be contenders in the main scheme of this. I don't have high expectations of them, but at the same time, I don't count them out either. Who knows, maybe they could surprise everybody.

David Wright Final (Spring) Strikeout Counter: $1.10

I Think We'd At Least Do Better Than the Nationals

This week, Sports Illustrated will release their annual MLB preview. A lot of things that the preview says are probably fair and accurate. The Phillies will win the NL East. I will hate it, but it will probably happen. The NL Wild Card team will probably need to win 90 games. The Wild Card team has won 90 games in each of the past four seasons, so that's a fair assumption.

But if Sports Illustrated really expects me to believe that the Nationals will finish with a better record than the Mets, then they have another thing coming. Granted, it's one game between 4th place and the cellar, but there is no way, unless the whole team gets hurt again (God forbid) that the Mets will finish in last place.

The Mets have been playing scrappy all spring. They don't go down without a fight like they used to. Sure, the Mets may have lost the two games that I went to, but at least they made it interesting. They're hitting the ball, they're pitching. Jose Reyes is stealing bases like he used to. David Wright is finally stepping up to be a team leader.

Will the Mets win 90 games? No. Will they break .500? Probably. And I'd like to think of them as that spoiler team in September. But apparantly, Sports Illustrated has already counted this team out. Not me!

David Wright (Spring) Strikeout Counter: $0.80

The Mets Will Contend (If I Have Any Say)

I went to my first spring training game in March of 2006. My dad says, "Go see if you can get any autographs." After two hours of waiting, I come up with the cu de gra, David Wright in what I call a miracle accident. In 2007, I decide to try again. Hey, I got it once, how hard can it be to get David Wright to sign another baseball? Actually, pretty hard.

Which takes us to March 16, 2011: Vindication Day. I got to Hammond Stadium bright and early because I knew David had gotten on the bus. I patiently waited as David took batting practice and fielding practice. When he came back, he stopped to sign a couple of autographs. One of those autographs is the baseball to your left. Vindication four years coming.

For those who have maybe stumbled upon this blog, long story short: for every year I did not acquire a David Wright autograph, the Mets have re-defined the terms "collaspe," "choke artists," and "suckage." Casey Stengel, I'm sure, is rolling over in his grave. However, my "miracle accident" year, 2006, was the year the Mets made it all the way to the NLCS.

This year, by scoring the cu de gra of current Met autographs, I am hoping that this team's luck turns around. We've already eliminated what was left of our negative past by releasing Luis Castillo and Oliver Perez. We have a new front office, new management, and even though they lost both the spring games I went to last week, they made it interesting until the very end.

Our pitching is still our strength, even with questions about a lefty specialist and Jason Isringhausen's elbow. Chris Young, in my opinion, is returning to the ace that he was in San Diego. Jon Niese continues to confound batters with his offspeed pitch.

My concerns lie within the offense. Both Jason Bay and Jose Reyes need to have good years. I don't worry about Angel Pagan or Wright; they just need to stay healthy. This year, we even have reliable options on our bench, including Scott Hairston, and everybody's favorite Murphy, Daniel.

The Mets have all the pieces to contend this year. They just need to get out there, play their hardest, and hopefully, hopefully, my autograph superstion holds true.


David Wright (Spring) Strikeout Counter: $0.60

Mets Release Oliver Perez

The Mets have released Oliver Perez, and for the second time in three days, Mets fans have rejoiced.

According to Sandy Alderson, the organization felt that Ollie's velocity never got back up to a level where he could be a consistent pitcher.

I feel that the Mets gave Perez every chance to make this team. It's just that you're trying to make the team as a lefty specialist...you..um...need to be able to throw lefties out.

By releasing Perez, the Mets have eaten away $18 million. Best $18 million the organization has spent.

David Wright (Spring) Strikeout Counter: $0.60

Mets Release Luis Castillo

The Mets have finally cut ties with much-maligned second baseman Luis Castillo, eating away $6 million of Castillo's contract.

According to GM Sandy Alderson, the team made the recommendation to Jeff Wilpon, and Wilpon approved. This was a "baseball decision," according to Alderson.

Castillo has already left the Mets complex in Port St. Lucie.

Luis Castillo seemed like such a godsend when he arrived from Minnesota in 2007. A solid option at second base, nothing we have seen since the days of Fonzie and Rey-Rey. In the end, Castillo became the player that symbolized the Omar Minaya overpay/underperform era. In the end, Castillo made Mets fans experience victory and defeat in about 10 seconds.

Second base is as much as an offensive position as it is a defensive position. And Castillo hasn't hit a home run since like 2009. It wouldn't be so bad if he was at least getting on base, but he wasn't really doing that either.

Finally, the time has come to say, au revoir, Luis. Maybe the Phillies can use you.

David Wright (Spring) Strikeout Counter: $0.60