Mets baseball blog

Johan Santana wins debut as Mets down Marlins 7-2

Turns out all the Mets needed in September was Johan Santana. The $137.5 million import limited the Marlins to a two-run homer by Josh Willingham in seven innings in his NL debut and the Mets put last year's historic collapse in the rearview mirror with a 7-2 Opening Day win over Florida Monday.

Santana's outing ended with his 100th pitch, a strikeout of Matt Treanor after an appeal by Brian Schneider to first base ump Jeff Kellogg. As Santana headed to the dugout with his new team leading by four runs, the sizable pro-Mets portion of the crowd of 38,308 at Dolphin Stadium rose to salute him, and a Venezuelan flag draped over the upper-deck facade flapped in the wind. Continue

Mets prediciton for 2008

Mets win a tight division race 92-70. Santana wins 17 games and the Mets add a big bat before the all-star break. Mets beat Indians in the world series.

Johan Santana starts new era for Mets

Sometime after 4p.m. Monday - after however long it takes Marlins lefthander Mark Hendrickson to navigate the Mets' lineup in the top of the first, which could take awhile - the Johan Santana era officially begins.

And with the $137.5 million addition on board, the Mets can officially bury their 2007 debacle, which culminated with the very same Marlins scoring seven first-inning runs against Tom Glavine en route to an 8-1 victory against the Mets in Flushing on Sept. 30. (Okay, not the very same Marlins, since Miguel Cabrera and Dontrelle Willis have been traded to Detroit, but close enough to make the Shea faithful see.) Continue

Pelfrey is the 5th starter

According to the NY Post Pelfrey is the fifth starter, given El Duque's health this is not a surprise.

El Duque might start season on DL

Mets officials appeared to be leaning toward placing Orlando Hernandez on the DL to start the season, paving the way for Mike Pelfrey to make at least two starts, the first opposite Tom Glavine on Saturday in Atlanta, the Daily News has learned.

Joe Smith also looked close to claiming the final spot in the bullpen, a vacancy created with Duaner Sanchez not yet ready for regular-season action. However, team officials were prepared to wait until the 3 p.m. roster deadline Sunday before affirming those decisions. Continue

Amazin' grace

The Mets have as sumed many per sonas across the years, some of them laughable, some of them loveable. This one is laudable. They do not own the rich history of their baseball neighbors, the Yankees. They have spent too many seasons acting as an organization like kid brothers, pining for what they don't have.

But what they do have is legacy of the highest order. They are the spiritual descendants of the Dodgers and the Giants, inheriting the DNA of the two National League clubs who were quickest to embrace the demolition of the color barrier six decades ago. They are the ones who hired the first African-American manager in New York City, the ones who empowered Omar Minaya. Continue

El Duque brings back high leg kick

Orlando Hernandez's big leg kick is creeping back. But even with a quality pitching line against the Orioles Friday, the initial reaction seemed to suggest that El Duque could use more time building arm strength for the season.

If Hernandez starts the season on the disabled list, Mike Pelfrey would open as the fifth starter, and his first turn would be opposite Tom Glavine next Saturday in Atlanta. Pelfrey also would get the call six days later against the Brewers at Shea, since El Duque wouldn't be eligible to be activated until April 13. Continue

Devastated Ruben Gotay is put on waivers by Mets

The Mets have two exhibitions left before Monday's season opener against the Marlins. In the meantime, they're playing a waiting game, and it appears that the roster won't be finalized until after tomorrow's trip to Memphis.

Any hope that Ruben Gotay had of breaking camp with the team was wiped out yesterday when team officials told him he had been placed on waivers. The emergence of Fernando Tatis this week put Gotay in jeopardy because of the Mets' desperation for a righthanded bat as well as insurance for the injured Moises Alou. Continue

Pedro Martinez to start final home opener at Shea Stadium

Pedro Martinez has given his blessing to Johan Santana starting on Opening Day against the Marlins. Regardless, the 36-year-old righthander will have his own ceremonial moment. Martinez, who made his final spring tune-up in a minor-league intrasquad game Wednesday will pitch the final Shea home opener on April 8 against the Phillies in his second '08 start.

"I'm pretty sure they're interested in seeing Johan as well," Martinez said, referring to the Shea faithful. "But I think before Johan gets to the mound, they're going to have to settle for the old goat and a very familiar face - even though I'm pretty sure they're going to enjoy it just as much as I will." Continue

Fifth avenue

Claudio Vargas could be a candidate for the Mets' No. 5 starter vacancy. The 29-year-old right hander was released yesterday by the Brewers in a salary dump, and Mets GM Omar Minaya said his club will have a strong interest now that Vargas reportedly has cleared waivers. "That's a good name," Minaya said. "We're going to take a close look at him."

The Mets are considering all fifth-starter options because Orlando Hernandez and Mike Pelfrey, who will split one more start this week, have been flops. Continue