As neatly as it turned out, it's tempting to wonder if the Mets scripted it just this way. A one-run lead after seven innings. J.J. Putz pitches a scoreless eighth. Francisco Rodriguez a scoreless ninth. The 2009 bullpen holds a lead to which the 2008 'pen would have set fire. Sure, they might rather have plated some of those 11 runners they left on base in the first six innings, but they got the Opening Day win anyway, and they did it in a way that sends their fans a message.
"Look," the message says. "We fixed our bullpen."
This was the great catastrophic problem of 2008 and the central focus of Omar Minaya's offseason. The back end of the Mets' bullpen last year cost them their season. Cut off every major league game in 2008 after six innings, readjust the standings, and the Mets win the NL East by 12 1/2 games. So out they went and signed K-Rod, and traded for Putz, and ... well, that's not supposed to be a problem anymore.
Opening Day is by no means as important as it's often made out to be, but it can be symbolic. And when you're the Mets, coming off two straight September collapses, symbols can be important. You want your fans (and your foes) to get the message: this season is going to be different, and here's why.
Scenes From Opening Day
St. Louis Cardinals' Skip Schumaker, left, jogs across the field as he is introduced along with the rest of his team before the start of an Opening Day baseball game between the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates Monday, April 6, 2009, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson)
Jeff Roberson, AP
Former President George W. Bush throws out the season opening first pitch with Nolan Ryan looking on before the baseball game between the Cleveland Indians and Texas Rangers in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Tony Gutierrez, AP
The grounds crew runs across the infield to spread a tarp as it starts to rain at Fenway Park during a practice after opening day was postponed due to the weather in Boston, Monday April 6, 2009. The Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays are rescheduled for Tuesday afternoon.
Charles Krupa, AP
A general view of the pregame festivities before the Philadelphia Phillies game against the Atlanta Braves on April 5, 2009 at Citizens Bank Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Today's game is the opening of the 2009 major league baseball season.
Ezra Shaw, Getty Images
Cameron Dallas, 10, front, and her dad Jay Dallas, of Mansfield, bundle up to stay warm before Opening Day as the Cleveland Indians play the Texas Rangers at the Rangers Ballpark in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009.
Max Faulkner, Fort Worth Star-Telegram / MCT
Arizona Diamondbacks' Stephen Drew, right, slides safely under the tag of Colorado Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta during the third inning of an MLB baseball game Monday, April 6, 2009 in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)
Matt York, AP
Cleveland Indians catcher Kelly Shoppach, left, looks back after grabbing the throw to see Texas Rangers' Marlon Byrd (22) sliding safely home in the second inning of a baseball game in Arlington, Texas, Monday, April 6, 2009. Byrd and Hank Blalock scored on an RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia. (AP Photo/Tony Gutierrez)
Tony Gutierrez, AP
Groundskeeper Angel Avila carries shoveled snow off the field at US Cellular Field after the Chicago White Sox's home opener baseball game against the Kansas City Royals was postponed until Tuesday due to snow in Chicago, Monday, April 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)
Charles Rex Arbogast, AP
Led by pitcher Jamie Moyer, the Philadelphia Phillies are greeted as they pass through two rows of fans in center field during opening night ceremonies before the start an MLB baseball game against the Atlanta Braves, Sunday, April 5, 2009, in Philadelphia.
Tom Mihalek, AP
So the Mets go to bed tonight and take a day off tomorrow feeling good. Johan Santana looked sharp, and when he got in trouble in the sixth and got to 99 pitches, they brought in Sean Green, the "other guy" from the Putz trade, who got them through the sixth and seventh. Then Putz, the former Mariners closer, who worked through the eighth. Then K-Rod for a perfect ninth.
For good measure, Daniel Murphy, the young kid they're using as their No. 2 hitter, had a home run and both of the team's RBI. So they can pat themselves on the back for that move too.
Just one game, and it was against the Reds, and certainly the sky-is-falling Met fan will point to the team picture having been left on base. But as a first test for the new 'pen, it'll do. And it sure beats the way the next two days would have gone for them on the tabloid back pages if Putz or Rodriguez hadn't held the lead.
