I have made a momentous decision to write about every Mets game played in 2023, which will involve watching every Mets game.

I’m curious to see when this consecutive game streak will end. When will I pull a Matt Harvey and not be able to post up?

Will the weight of real world commitments make this promise a delusional dream?

We will see. But, right now, the streak is at: 1.

Victory is mine.

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“Even Napoleon had his Watergate. ” – Yogi Berra

Donald J. Trump is the first former president to take an “L” on Opening Day, after being indicted by a New York grand jury regarding hush fund payments to porn star Stormy Daniels, orchestrated by his former bag man, Michael Cohen. Unlike the Mets and Yankees, who broke out of the box with wins, this New York product took a body blow that will surely guarantee his nomination as the Republican Party’s candidate for president in 2024.

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41-13

Since 1970, the Mets are 41-13 on Opening Day. They are a dominant force on Opening Day and that has not always translated into continued success throughout the season. With their 5-3 Opening Day win over the Miami Marlins, at the scene of Edwin Diaz’s demise, LoanDepot Park, the Mets continued to show out in the first game of 162.

This is definitely the highlight of the Mets 1970 Opening Day win over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field. It would be the last Opening Day played at Forbes Field.

From SABR:

Earlier in the game, an inebriated fan stumbled into right field to talk to Clemente.7 The ejected drunk possibly inspired some youths to also trespass in the final inning. Though it was still sunny, the cold afternoon and extra innings wore on the teens, who had played hooky to attend Opening Day.8 Once the Mets took a 5-3 lead in the 11th, many fans began to throw debris and names at the Mets right fielder, Swoboda. “I can stand the names they called me,” Swoboda smirked, “but do you know what a beer bottle does to a head? It’s not like in the movies, where they just bounce off.”9 As more trash surrounded Swoboda, umpires asked public-address announcer Art McKennan to warn fans to refrain from tossing objects onto the field.

The littering continued as Clemente drew a walk to start the 11th against the new Mets pitcher, left-hander Tug McGraw. McKennan pleaded a second time as left fielder Willie Stargell leaned on his bat to watch five grounds-crew members haul out brooms and boxes to clean the right-field warning track. (During the cleanup, no one noticed a teen race across the field to the center-field fence.) He scaled the batting cage stored against the 457-foot mark to easily hop over the 12-foot brick wall.10

Once play resumed, McGraw faced the two left-handed hitters Hodges assigned to him, Stargell and Oliver. McGraw induced them both to foul out to third baseman Foy. With two outs, several teens took turns pouring onto the field. At first just a couple jogged untouched toward the batting-cage exit. Soon, security appeared, which spurred more teens to take the challenge. Groups of two or three randomly outraced the panting guards to the batting cage. Eventually the cage collapsed, forcing the final escapees to scale the chain-link fence surrounding an adjacent light tower.11

After nearly two dozen youngsters bolted over the wall, plate umpire Augie Donatelli directed three police officers to patrol the warning track for the final out.12 At this point, McGraw struck out Alley to end the game and the shenanigans.

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MAX & Company

Getting the nod to toe the slab on Opening Day, Max Scherzer was typical Max Scherzer until the 6th inning when he started to tire — fastball leaking over the dish — and surrendered three runs allowing the Marlins to tie the ball game punctuated by Marlins first baseman’s Garrett Cooper’s 442 feet two-run clout to deep right center. Previously, Cooper was 2-for-20 versus Scherzer. Not known for his glove, Cooper made two spectacular plays in the field — one a diving stop on a blistering liner off the bat of Jeff McNeil.

A Mets bullpen missing the lockdown late game presence of Edwin Diaz shut out the Marlins over the final three innings. The only bobble was Drew Smith giving up a lead-off double to Jorge Soler in the bottom of the 7th. Smith responded by getting Avisail Garcia to fly out to Brandon Nimmo in center and then struck out Bryan De La Cruz and Jacob Stallings to end the threat. New acquisitions Brooks Raley and David Robertson erased any dreams of a Marlins Opening Day victory. Raley struck out the side in the 8th and Robertson pitched a perfect 9th.

At first blush, the newly constituted Mets bullpen was up to the task without Edwin Diaz. It’s a long season and this bullpen will be tested. Diaz’s virtuoso performance in 2022 can’t be replaced, but Mets general manager, Billy Eppler, has given Mets manager, Buck Showalter, an improved skill set in the pen.

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Sandy Alcantara

There may not have been a better Opening Day pitching matchup than Max Scherzer and 2022 National League Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara. One is a future Hall of Famer and one is starting to put up Hall of Fame numbers.

In 2022, the Mets knocked around Alcantara in two games — and Alcantra was dominant (2 earned runs & 8 strikeouts over 8 innings.) in a June 19th affair at Citi Field. The former continued on Opening Day with the Mets knocking our Alcantara in the top of the 6th. The top of the Mets lineup produced two runs ignited by a one-out Brandon Nimmo walk in the 6th. Nimmo experienced light action in spring training because of a sprained right knee and right ankle suffered on a takeout slide at second base, but demonstrated he was ready to go on Day 1. (Nimmo had 162 million reasons to be ready.)

Nimmo’s Big Day: A Double/A Walk/1 Run Scored/ 3 RBI

After losing to the San Diego Padres in their 2022 National League Wild Card Series, the Mets need to display they have the offensive pieces to compete against elite pitching. A win versus Alcantara has to instill confidence in a starting lineup, with the exception of newly-acquired catcher Omar Narvaez, that is unchanged from 2022.

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Lollygagging

In the top of the 6th, with Alcantara on the ropes, the Mets have runners at the corners with two outs. Jeff McNeil fouls off a pitch. Hustling on the play, Pete Alonso takes off from first and is nearly at second base. Alonso lollygags it back to first and he is hit with a time clock violation. How is that violation assessed?

Jeff McNeil is penalized with a strike. He is now facing an 0-2 count. Mets announcer Keith Hernandez is apoplectic.

McNeil saves the at-bat with a clutch single to right scoring Starling Marte from third and moving the lollygagger to third.

How underrated is Jeff McNeil? I still am torqued that Trevor Story was supposed to start at second base in the World Baseball Classic. Team USA manager Mark DeRosa realized McNeil’s worth with pressure-filled, late game at-bats. The persecution of contact hitters has to stop. Include Marlins lead-off hitter Luis Arraez in that persecuted group.

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Burying The Lede

Justin Verlander was placed on the Injured List with a teres major strain in his right armpit. It’s considered low grade. The typical recovery time from a teres major strain is three months, but this is considered a low grade strain. Tyler Megill will replace Verlander in the starting rotation and is scheduled to get the Opening Day start at Citi Field for the second consecutive year.

Verlander will continue to throw but will not throw from a mound.

If anyone is shocked that a 40-year-old pitcher is experiencing wear and tear, they shouldn’t be. But paired with the injury to Edwin Diaz, Mets fans are in an emotional tailspin. In February, the World Series was in reach. A month later, Mets fans are confronted with the loss of their lights out closer and a pillar of their starting rotation.

It cannot be stressed enough how important Tyler Megill and David Peterson will be to the Mets’ World Series hopes and the future of their pitching staff.

Verlander was signed in the off-season to replace Jacob deGrom. deGrom got knocked around I by the Phillies in his first start for the Texas Rangers. After knocking out deGrom, Philly’s pitchers imploded and were torched for 9 runs in the bottom of the 4th. Aaron Nola was gassed from dealing with the pitch clock and the Rangers treating him like a BP pitcher. Long innings are going to tax pitchers and catchers in 2023.

It breaks my heart to see the Phillies lose. I’m inconsolable.

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Going Under The Knife

Mets righty reliever Bryce Montes de Oca will undergo Tommy John surgery.

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Jersey Guy

As a Jersey guy, I got goose bumps watching twenty-one-year-old Anthony Volpe run out of the dugout to be the starting shortstop for the New York Yankees. I can only imagine the range of emotions Volpe felt with the Opening Day crowd’s cheers washing over him. The bleachers creatures salute was a moment.

I’m rooting hard for this kid to succeed.

Anthony Volpe playing New Jersey high school hardball for Delbarton.