Hope For The Mets Fan?

If your a New York Mets fan then you had to have an upset stomach watching ace pitcher Johan Santana exit Mondays Opening Day game against Cincinati in the sixth inning and turn the game over to bullpen witha 2-1 lead.  After last season's second consecutive September swoon and Santana having recieved seven no decisions after turnign the game over to bullpen; one had to think it could not get any worse. 

Well maybe things have gotten better...at least for one day.

On Opening Day the Metropolitan bullpen was stellar as Sean Green, J.J. Putz, and closer Francisco Rodriguez combined to get the final 10 outs of the ballgame as the Mets held on for a 2-1 victory over the Reds.  Obviously it is just one game but you have to credit General Manager Omar Minaya for recognizing the problem with the bullpen and totally revamping the pen in the off-season.  In fact, the only returnee from last year's horrid bullpen committee is Pedro Feliciano.

It was clear that the woes of the 2008 bullpen affected the whole team down the stretch of last season.  Not one player, manager Jerry Manuel or one fan had faith that anyone could get an out when it counted.  Monday's Opening Day performance gives the Mets fan hope for 2009.  There is now proof (while a small sample) that 2009 can be much different from 2008 other than the last digit on the year changing.  The Mets appear to have a bullpen that can be trusted anchored by a former closer in Putz and one of the best closers in the game in Rodriguez.

As a Mets fan last season I prayed that every starter could go the distance without every having to use the bullpen.  However, even though I and other Mets fans knew that was unrealistic that is just an example of how your expectations will change if your bullpen is THAT bad.    The Mets first victory of the season is a confidence boost for everyone (the players, the organization and the fans) and as the final out was recorded on Monday, Omar Minaya had to be smiling.  

I know I was smiling and I still am. 

However, for the Mets fan the season really starts in September as the past two seasons smiles in April have turned to to frowns after Labor Day.