Neither the world nor the season ended just because the Mets forgot that they never lose on Opening Day/Night. Still, the whole John Fogerty “beat the drum, hold the phone, the sun came out today” sensation usually associated with the first game of the year grew rather hollow once I realized what I was waiting for ever since last October 3 turned into Marlins 6 Mets 2, with Mike Pelfrey surrendering a 2010-style grand slam to John Buck while Josh Johnson was loosening up with six innings of highly effective long-tossing.
By the seventh, we were down to Mets By The Numbers rediscovery Duke of Iron beseeching the gods to give us a hit. Good god did we want a hit. Good god did we not want to get no-hit on Opening Night. Our sense of humor is only so nuanced. Willie Harris became the gods’ vessel for letting us off the hook by delivering us from purgatory with a line drive hustle double. From there, the Mets’ single inning of fighting back pumped much-needed air into my deflated inner tube of rooting. Alas, with a chance to turn a two-run rally into something extraordinary, Scott Hairston appeared as anxious as any impatient, insecure Mets fan. “We can’t go 0-1! I have to swing as hard as I can!” I’m sorry Hairston didn’t connect but I’m glad he appeared to care that much.
Though most of the Mets were distressingly ineffectual on their first night of their latest new era, we can take away a few positives: Pedro Beato was not bad; Brad Emaus was quite professional; Harris proved a nice addition (as a second-place hitter, no less); Terry Collins’s eyes remained fixed in his sockets despite having to discuss the disappointing result immediately thereafter; and look at Carlos Beltran — he can be, so it seems, right field.
Biggest positive: There will be a win, maybe as soon as tonight. There may even be a second win at some point. Keep beating the drum, keep your phone on vibrate and check out how sunny it is today. One-hundred sixty-one games remain.
Hi Greg,
Yes, there will be a win. Maybe tonight.
But this original new breeder knows how long it is to wait – nine in 1962, eight in 1963, four in 1964, two in 1965. When we finally won an opening day in 1970 we wound up losing our status as world champions. In fact, didn’t we also lose opening day in three of the four times we went all the way to the world series – 1969,1986 and 2000 (only 1973 was exception)? So perhaps losing on opening day is a good omen after all for winning game number one certainly hasn’t been the past four decades.
Can hear Tug yelling down “Ya Gotta Believe” followed by Casey saying “Can Anybody Here Play This Game?” Combining the two unfortunately summarizes the gloom most of us project for 2011: “Ya Gotta Believe Somebody Here Can Play This Game”.
Too early not to Believe, Joe.
Nothing better than waking up and reading the Sunday papers after an exciting NY Mets win. Glad they didn’t have to wait until game three. I’m looking forward to R.A., acting the ace for the series win.
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