No Offense, But Mets Still Open CitiField Today

Shades of 2008: the Mets yesterday wasted a masterful performance by Johann Santana, losing the game - and the series - to the Florida Marlins by a 2-1 margin. Santana struck out 13 in seven innings of work, his only blemish being 2 un-earned runs allowed to Florida in the second inning resulting from a dropped ball in left by Daniel Murphy.

The problem was the Mets think just showing up during a Santana start equates to victory. Guys... despite having the best pitcher in baseball on the mound for you, you still have to hit the ball and score some runs.

And when the likes of Josh Johnson takes a no-hitter into the six, pitches a complete game, and loses a shutout with 2 outs in the ninth, that's not going to cut it. And what's with this guy against the Mets? He's 5-0 lifetime against the Amazin's.

Santana (1-1) had made 18 starts in a row without a loss, winning 10 consecutive decisions. His 13 strikeouts were his highest total in two seasons with the Mets.

So today, Mike Pelfrey makes history as he takes the mound for the first game at CitiField. Thanks to a Met-friendly schedule-maker, the team opens the Stadium against the woeful San Diego Padres (most predicted a last place finish for the Padres, but they somehow have started the season 5-2). As an added treat, Tom Seaver will throw out the first pitch to Mike Piazza catching.

7:10pm start: History in the making - if you're lucky enough to be there in person, relish the day. But I guarantee one thing: if the Mets don't score any runs, they're not going to win the ballgame.