Home Run Citi

Mets 8 Nationals 2

The Mets won thanks to the long ball. Jeff Francoeur went 2 for 4 with 2 home runs and 3 rbi. Rod Barajas went 2 for 4 with 2 solo home runs. David Wright went 2 for 4 and was robbed of a home run by the wind. Mike Pelfrey pitched well in 6 innings giving up 2 runs, 4 walks, 4 hits while striking out 4. His splitter looked good last night and he was able to get out of some jams. The bullpen pitched three scoreless innings. It was great to see the Mets get a quality start and hit some long balls. The Nationals seemed to over manage the game. In the seventh after David Wright doubled off the wall, Mike Jacobs came to the plate and the Nationals brought in a lefty, which prompted Manuel to pinch hit Fernando Tatis. Tatis delivered the clutch hit.With the way Jacobs has been swinging the bat it would have been better to leave in the righty and face Jacobs then bring in the lefty and face Tatis.

The Ike Davis Watch Davis went 1 for 3 with a home run and 2 runs scored last night for Buffalo. Mike Jacobs went 0 for 2 with a walk, and Fernando Tatis had a pinch hit rbi single.

Not The Start They Wanted

Marlins 7 Mets 6

This is not the start the Mets wanted for John Maine. He gave up two home runs which is the biggest issue with Maine. The Bullpen was not good as well. Mejia in his major league debut gave up three hits and a run in his one inning of work. Sean Green gave up a home run in his one inning of work. Takahashi gave up two hits, a walk and a run in 1/3 of an inning. The Mets did not get the big hit when they needed it. Jeff Francouer did walk again. Fernando Tatis' base running blunder on a passed ball reminds Mets fans of last year.

The good news is that Jon Niese goes tonight for the Mets. He very well could be the key to the rotation. It is also expected that Ruben Tejada will make his major league debut tonight. Jose Reyes also looks on pace to return Saturday.

The Ike Davis Watch continues as Mike Jacobs, in the cleanup spot again, went 1 for 5 with 2 strikeouts. At this point the Mets cannot have Jacobs batting fourth and performing so poorly after Wright and in front of Bay. If Jacobs keeps this up it will be interesting to see if Carter or Davis gets called up, but I do believe the Mets are going to give Jacobs the benefit of the doubt for at least April.

Welcome Back

I've taken a long break from writing this blog, but now I'm back and ready to go for this new season. Yesterday was opening day and while I wish I could have been at Citi for it I had to settle for just drinking some beers in my room with some of my fraternity brothers.

METS 7 MARLINS 1

I know the Mets organization could not have written a better start to this season after the hell that was spring training. Santana was good not great. Wright got the monkey off his back with his first home run of the season. K-Rod pitched a 1-2-3 ninth. Bay looked great in his debut. Even, Jeff Franceour drew a walk.

The real test for the season starts tomorrow with John Maine starting for the Mets. It will be interesting to see how the rest of the rotation plays out, as this will determine how the Mets will do this year. At this point I would hope for Maine to get through 5 maybe 6 innings and not give up any long balls.

The Ike Davis Watch has also begun as Mike Jacobs went 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts in the cleanup spot and Fernando Tatis, as a defensive replacement, was subpar.

Leadership

I love how that whenever the Mets lose or they make a mistake the Mets are criticized for having a lack of leadership, and almost immediately after that David Wright is thrown under the bus for not stepping up and being a leader. While it is true that it seemed like Carlos Delgado, before he got hurt, was one of the leaders and it does seem like now David Wright is taking the more visible leadership role. For example he makes more trips to the mound to talk to the pitcher than ever before and there is of course his, much publicized, dugout talk with Mike Pelfrey in Baltimore. I think the saying "you're never as bad as you as seem and never as good either" applies here. When your losing there is more spotlight placed on the lack of leadership that outsiders believe there is on a team, and when things are going well you're never as great a leader as everyone makes you out to be. When the Mets and David Wright were playing well there was talk of making him a captain and when David is struggling his leadership is called into question. I do believe David Wright is a leader on this team as well as guys like Alex Cora, Sheff, and Johan are. There is so much that goes on behind closed doors that its hard to get a feel for what a clubhouse and the leaders within are really like. John Franco was recently quoted as saying the Mets need to be having more fun out there and while I respect John Franco hes totally off base. Hes an outsider looking in so hes opinion is just as valued as yours on mine should be. Every clubhouse is different some are loose and more relaxed, like the 2006 club and some are more "professional" both are good and both have worked in winning baseball games. The questioning of the Mets "lack of leadership" has more to do with the media and fans yearning for someone to berate a player every time he makes a mistake or strikeouts or walks a batter. If that were the case that player wouldn't be a leader he would be hated by his teammates. I think this leadership question needs to be put to rest until you here someone within the clubhouse say, " we're a sinking ship and no one is leading us."