Opening Day 2009: Oh, what a Relief!

Granted the Mets only scored 2 runs in their season opener in Cincinnati against an up and coming Reds team, but you couldn't ask for a better result than a victory showcasing an amazingly improved bullpen that may just take this team to the promised land.

Sean Green, JJ Putz, and Francisco Rodriquez combined for over 3 innings of hitless relief (how many times did we see relief like that last year?) enabling Johan Santana to pick up his first win of the season. Santana looked pretty good himself, striking out seven and allowing only 1 run on 3 hits in 5 2/3 innings of work.

Seeing how the Mets need to upgrade the bullpen from last year was Omar Minaya's top priority over the winter, it was extremely important that the Mets relief corps come up big in the first game of the year - if only to send a symbolic message. And the message was well received. Think about all the games the bullpen blew for Santana last year. Is he a shoe-in for 20 wins this year? ... if he stays healthy, 20 (or more) is a distinct possibility.

Especially if the offense clicks. Lots of hits in the game, but not a lot of runs. They Mets will have to work on that, but it was nice to see Daniel Murphy start out the year with a big home run to put the Mets on the board in the fifth. He also drove in the Mets second run with a ground out scoring Luis Castillo, who went 1 for 3 with a walk in the eight spot in the order.

I don't want to hear "Oh, it's only the Reds". The Reds are a good team flying under the radar for now. Next up, Mike Pelfrey goes against Edinson Volquez - probably another low scoring contest, but with the Mets 2009 bullpen, I'm feeling pretty optimistic.