The Professor: MVP

Although I didn't think my wish for Tyler Yates would come true so soon, it did and it was just as I imagined. The Mets improved to 4-0 after shellacking the Braves in Atlanta tonight. It goes to show you that anytime I mention something, it's usually wrong.

After singing the praises of the Braves strengthened pitching staff, the Mets pounded them for 11 runs, including 6 of them off the very, very improved bullpen that I fawned over not 12 hours ago. Well, I never said I was intelligent.

The real story was Oliver Perez and his terrific performance: 7 IP, 5 H, 1 ER, 6 K, 0 BB. He located his pitches well, kept the Braves off-balance, and when he started to get wild he composed himself and got back to business. It's only one start, but it was hard not to be impressed. Ron Darling said it at the top of the broadcast, with Perez's stuff he can very easily turn 2006's 3-13 record around to 13-3 in 2007.

In other breaking news, Gary Cohen spoke the truth when he declared The Professor the Mets early season MVP. Keith promptly agreed, and went on to tell some rollicking good stories about El Sid nearly being mauled by a giant Tiger Shark off the coast of Hawaii. Good times in Mets Fandom...good times indeed.

House of Horrors, Here We Come

If last season was any indication the Mets' troubles in Atlanta should be over. But, being the ever pessimistic fan that grew up watching the events that inspired Turner Field being dubbed "The House of Horrors," you can never be too sure.

Sending a message this early in the season by handling the Braves at home will only help the Mets down the road. A sweep would be euphoric, but 2 of 3 will do. A highlight will be (assuming they don't use a 5th starter yet) Smoltz v. Glavine on Saturday at 3:55.

I'll go out on a limb here and say that the Braves are the Mets biggest competitors in the NL East this season. The Phillies bullpen is terrible, their starters aren't as good as they've shown so far, and a lack of pitching means death in Citizens Bank.

The Braves improved almost every aspect of their team this offseason. Tim Hudson can't possibly be as bad as he was in 2006, and their bullpen is significantly better. Did I mention their bullpen was much, much better? They have an all-star catcher and a superstar CF in a contract year. Renteria should be better sans the problems of Boston, Chuck James looks like the real deal, and we shouldn't see any Tyler Yates unless it's in Rich Rodriguez-esque mop-up situations.

It should be a return to the rivalry years of 99'-01' from the looks of everything. And I don't know about you, but if history is any factor that's a little scary.

• Tonight, Perez looks to repeat Game 7 against Mark Redman at 7:35, SNY & WFAN
  

It's a Fact, The Mets Are Good For Business

<-- Aaah, memories.

According to Newsday, ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball opener featuring the Mets and Cardinals was the highest rated opening day/night game since 1994, drawing a 6.9 share in New York and attracting 3.5 million viewers nationally. Not quite football, but better than bowling.

Tonight's game may be the most anticipated of the early season for one reason: Braden Looper. Not too many people have forgotten the waste of a closer's taunting of the Mets last season after Game 7. If only this game was at Shea...Here's hoping when the Cards visit Queens the rotation falls in such a way that Mr. Looper can receive the worst all-around booing since John Rocker was good.

In fact, here's a heck of a suggestion from Metstradamus "Maybe instead of a ceremonie, Braden Looper can sing the "Jose Jose" song in front of the sold out Wednesday crowd. Am I a bad person for being a little extra excited that Looper is pitching tonight?" I for one certainly don't think so.

• The Mets are thankful that Heilman is not Brad Lidge...yet.


• The full-effects of searching for Dominican food in Miami at 2AM are still being felt.


• Mike Vaccaro doesn't care that the front of the rotation is a combined 82-years-old.

Mets, Cards 8:05 SNY & WFAN. Maine and Looper...I'm excited.

Graced By The Genius!

Top of the 2nd in St. Louis Gary, Keith, and Ron go live to the Professor himself in the dugout. The Professor spoke of magic numbers, 38 batters, and butterflies flying in formation into gloves.

Disappointingly enough, there was no mention of ketchup or ice cream.

Just a quick side note, someone needs to get in Gary's headset and tell him that Kip Wells was never "an ace in Pittsburgh." Mets 1, Cards 0. El Duque looks sharp so far, maybe we can get a few more innings out of him.

1 Down, 161 to Go

With every starter - including Glavine - getting in the hit column on Sunday night, there wasn't much more a Met fan could ask for in a season opener. The Hebrew Hammer began silencing the critics early, Jose Valentin saved Joe Smith and Aaron Heilman simultaneously, and Carlos Delgado's wife should be receiving gifts from every man, woman and child rooting for the Mets for having that baby a week ago rather than Sunday night.

The biggest question that arose from the victory was Willie's choice to bring Smith out of the bullpen in the eighth instead of Heilman. I didn't have a problem with the move and I don't see how you could argue against it. At the time the Mets were sitting non-save situation type lead and just looking to wrap up the victory. Heilman is admittedly not feeling fantastic and I think if Smith impresses the club enough you'll see a lot more of him late in games then anyone expected.

• I don't know how to say "Spring Training doesn't mean anything" in Hebrew.
• You expected the great D from Beltran, but not so much from the other guy.
• John Harper doesn't agree with me or Mr. Randolph.
• 21 losses in March really doesn't mean much.
• Carlos Beltran is the second best player in the NL according to Mark Hale...Adam Wainwright was not available for comment.

Tonight: El Duque takes on arthrit....I mean Kip Wells at 8:05

Would You Give This Man A Ticket?

In just over 21 hours you can be the first of your friends to make an off-color remark about inebriation, stray animals, traffic lights, and of course Tony LaRussa.

As if there wasn't enough to be worried about as a Mets fan, Pelfrey got roughed up in his final outing today. By the Devil Rays and that potent AL lineup...it really makes you wonder if Omar should have been so short with the leash on Chan Ho Park and Aaron Sele. What I wouldn't pay to see an experienced veteran in that fifth starter spot. Oh well, we'll just have to hope they can pull off more victories than the Nationals.

At the very least you figure Pelfrey could have "lost the handle" on one and hit Kazmir in the head...in the dugout...I'm not bitter, I'm just eating a a microwavable dinner seasoned with tears over the memories of the havoc that ensued from giving Jim Duquette complete and total autonomy.

I couldn't think of a better time for the season to begin.

• Metstradamus runs down the chances for a repeat of 2006.
• Ricky Ledee wants Da Edge, Mr. Passover, and anyone else in the Mets OF to know that their jobs are no longer safe.
• The boys over at HotFoot are pretty sure that Steve Phillips is just as bad at picking division winners on BBTN as he was at actually running a major league franchise.
• Lastings grabbed the last(ings) roster spot.

Tomorrow: 8:05, ESPN2, Chris Carpenter gets his ass kicked in HD, be there.

Step Lightly While Amongst the Metropolitan Hierarchy

What Tommy's gonna look like when Pelfrey gets him alone -->

I guess Billy Wagner's good-natured hazing of Da Edge was just the tip of the iceberg. I have to say though, if I was a 41-year-old who gets his teeth knocked out by a runaway cab...I might not be fucking around with a 6-7, 190 lb 23 year-old.

On to the Spring Training wrap-up...

• Billy Wagner feels that this has been one of his better sping trainings
• Willie is leaning towards Wright in the #2 hole
• Pedro is shooting for the All-Star Break
• Chris Woodward thinks the Braves are "ticked off" about not winning the division in 2006
• Adam Rubin runs down the team, position by position

Billy Wagner's Back Is Already Getting Tired

Filthy Sanchez is out for at least 3-4 months, most probably the entire season

Here's hoping Joe Smith turns out to be better than Royce Ring and Grant Roberts.

Say It Ain't Chan Ho (It Ain't)

Pelfrey has been officially named the fifth starter according to the NY Daily News' Adam Rubin.

Thankfully for us fans this means we don't have to worry about Chan Ho and Aaron turning into this season's Geremi and Lima Time.

The fifth starter won't be needed until April 15th, and management hasn't told Pelfrey whether or not he'll be assigned to the minors until then essentially allowing the team to carry a 7-man bullpen and a 6-man bench. At this point leaving Pelfrey in the Big Easy until Tax Day would make the most sense, enabling the bench to be a bit deeper and giving the aspiring record producer a shot at the big time.

Hopefully Da Edge will still be able to spin records (and swing a bat) after being plunked again yesterday.

• Tonight - Tom Glavine makes his final spring start against the Dodgers' favorite piece of trade bait, Brad Penny. Tune in to SNY for all the exciting commentary of Gary, Keith and Ron....If you're lucky they'll discuss Keith's exciting array of highlighter colors again.
  

"You Know, I Won 18 Games in 2000!"

<-- Possibly the worst Christmas present...ever.

I've never been happier that Chan Ho is so upset. David Lennon is reporting in Newsday that Mike Pelfrey has all but been named the fifth starter. Mr. Ho Park isn't too thrilled with the news.

"To be honest, I feel more comfortable as a starter," Park said. "That's who I am. I've been here 13 years. Yes, I have experience as a reliever and have had some success with it.

"But I came here looking for a job as a starter, that's for sure. If they ask me to be a reliever, honestly, I'm unhappy. I'm not happy. I have to figure out what is best for the team."

If you discount last season's 4.81 ERA in San Diego's HR graveyard, Mr. Ho Park has not posted a sub-5.00 ERA since 2001...But, yeah, he's allowed to complain after his stellar 14 IP, 9ER, 14 H, 7 BB, 6.57 ERA spring campaign.

But the good news is our favorite Korean mop-up man will have some veteran company in the Mets' class of the NL...eh frighteningly suspect bullpen....Oh, and Filthy Sanchez had a "precautionary" MRI on his surgically repaired, "what was that popping sound," right shoulder.
The 2007 Mets! Your Season (with a paper-thin bullpen and suspect rotation) Has Come!
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In other news...Pelfrey cruised through the first two innings before having a rough third. Overall he still looks better in that #5 spot than Chan Ho Sele.

The bright side? Jose Valentin is not dead. He smoked a two run double to the fence in left-center before collapsing of exhaustion at second base...Mets team doctors defused any worries by explaining that a player's first physical exertion of the spring may result in similar phenomena.