Mets v. Reds Opening Day: The Running Diary

By: Nathan Archambault

It’s chilly and rainy in Cincinnati, but the game starts on time. Snow is in the forecast, and not the kind former Jaguars WR Reggie Williams got busted for over the weekend.

Jose Reyes opens the game with an infield single and a stolen base. Something we may see again before the year is out.

Reds Opening Day starter Aaron Harang lost 17 games last year, tied for the lead league. Oof. Luckily, he can only lose 1 game today.

Taking a cue from Bill Belichick’s stylist, Johan Santana is wearing cut-off sleeves.

Santana strikes out the first two Reds, locking up the 2009 Cy Young Award.

Doing his best Jose Reyes impression, Ryan Church starts off the second with an infield single and stolen base. Do I smell a new Mets lead-off hitter?

The new commercials on espn.com’s gamecast are so annoying I had to turn it off. Can’t a man watch TV and surf the Internet at once??

Santana just blew a chance to blow the game wide open by flying out with the bases loaded. He looks angry and dangerous when he bats. Dangerous like he may just come after you with that bat.

Jay Bruce just effortlessly lifted a ball opposite field off the top of the left centerfield wall. Absolutely effortless. The first hit off Santana comes in the bottom of the 4th, by the way, to go along with 3 walks and 5 Ks through 3 and 2/3 innings.

Trying to even up his walks with his Ks, he walks Encarnacion for the second time.

Daniel Murphy gives the Mets their first run of the year, a solo shot to dead right. His third career homer. Harang allowed 35 dingers last year, so it’s no surprise someone with 2 career homers launches one off him.

David Wright gets thrown out at the plate by Jay Bruce. Bruce bobbled the ball, then uncorked a mediocre two-hop throw to get Wright by a few steps. Wright definitely stumbled a few times along the way. It’s a little early in the season to expect smooth running.

Harang is up to 108 pitches in the 5th, and the Mets only have one run so far. He’s done. Solid performance, though.

The Reds send in pitcher Micah Owings as a pinch hitter. I love it. He hit .364 in about 350 minor league at-bats. Disappointingly, Owings fate is not to get on base, but to become Santana’s 7th strke out victim.

Nothing to do with this game, but I just learned that Coco Crisp plays World of Warcraft. How am I not surprised. His name is Coco.

Santana was undefeated in his last 17 starts last year. Yikes. The third time in his career he’s gone at least 15 starts without a loss.

Standing in for flu victim Willy Taveras, Reds centerfielder Darnell McDonald has what would have been an amazing diving catch tip off his glove in left center. Luis Castillo glides into second with a stand-up double. Nice gams, McDonald.

That MLB The Show ‘09 commercial with Dustin Pedroia comes on again. Did other teams know high inside heat was Pedroia’s weakness or did they learn it from watching this commercial? Is it something he’s actively working on to improve his character in MLB The Show 2010?

Just learned that Darnell McDonald spent 11 years in the minor leagues. The Mets announcers rip him a new one for not taking second base on a ball bobbled by LF D Murphy. As a lifetime minor leaguer, he deserves it.

Things start to heat up as Joey Votto slaps a single in center. McDonald races for third, the throw beats him, but bounces past Wright. Runners on second and third, nobody out for Brandon Philips. Seems like a ripe opportunity for Santana to shut ‘em down and leave ‘em there.

Mets announcers call for the Mets to challenge that McDonald stepped on second. Leave the guy alone, he spent 11 seasons in the minors! A reply clearly shows he touched second. Keith Hernandez slams the desk in anger.

After giving up one run, Santana is shockingly taken out. Of course, his nemesis Edwin Encarnacion is due up, so it makes complete sense. Would he be pissed if someone called him Edward? Or would he not even notice?

With the score 2-1, the Mets have a chance to blow a save in their first game of the year. Last year they were second in the league in blown saves.

Just checked in on the Indians-Rangers game. Last year’s AL Cy Young winner Cliff Lee has given up 10 hits and 7 earned runs through 5. Kevin Millwood, on the other hand, looks like Cliff Lee last year.

Keith Hernandez is asked if he’s going quail hunting after the game. Keith is not amused by the making-fun of his beloved alligator gloves.

David Wright makes a great diving stop. Keith Hernandez wets himself. Both nice plays.

JJ Putz first inning with the Mets: an out, a walk, two more outs. Uh-oh. The Mets pen could be good this year. Until they all get hurt, anyway.

K-Rod makes his first appearance as a Met with a 1-2-3 9th inning. Game over, Mets undefeated in 2009.

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3 Comments

  1. Johan Santana living up to his name opening the season with a win - best pitcher in the MLB!!! Any true Mets fan that owns an iPhone NEEDS to get this baseball app to keep up with the season - it’s how I kept up with today’s game: http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewSoftware?id=309813391&mt=8

    Comment by #1 Baseball Geek on April 6, 2009

  2. [...] bookmarks tagged diary Mets v. Reds Opening Day: The Running Diary | Nati… saved by 2 others     trekwars bookmarked on 04/06/09 | [...]

    Pingback by Pages tagged "diary" on April 6, 2009

  3. I have long time played baseball, but now i am a certificated baseball coach. I agre with your article, you provided some good points for later discussions.

    Comment by Baseball Gloves on November 7, 2009

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