Rodney Dangerfield Day IGT, 2026-03-28 (Pirates vs Mets, 4:10pm)

[Edgy MD]

I had to bail out of today's game at 5-3 when I got word of a lost shih-tzu in the area, only a mile from where I'm at.

I've been waiting six months for today, but priorities are priorities and I went out dog-hunting.  I circled a radius for a long ways around where the dog was spotted, but I had no luck, apart from losing my phone and my eyeglasses at some point when I got too hot and slung my jacket off.

So I headed home and confessed my fuckup to my poor, much-put-upon wife, but used my laptop to locate my phone ... ish.  As I tracked it, I noticed the Mets were up 9-5 after a Pirates homer.

I zoomed out again, retraced my steps in the vicinity of where my laptop said my phone was, and finally, there it was, atop a grassy knoll.  "DADDY!" it cried, and I cried "BABY!" right back at it, with the eyeglasses lying right next to it.

I zoomed home just in time for the last out, and I'm sorry to say, as important as mojo is, I will not be able to lose my phone again on Saturday.  My wife could not take it.  I'm afraid I already spoiled a big chunk of her birthday today.

But the horrible tradition of no baseball on the first Friday of the season continues, with the Pirates returning to Metland on Saturday.   Career Pirate Mitch Keller goes for the Buccos.  Mitch was good enough to start 32 games for Pittsburgh in 2025, and to lose 15 of them, because that's the way baseball works now.  Career Met David Peterson defends for the homeboys.  Peterson was an All-Star in 2025, but faded down the stretch, finishing with an ERA a tick lower than Mitch Keller.

Since the Alleghenys are facing a lefty, look for their lineup to flip-flop a little, with Joey Bart catching and in the middle of the order, Oneil Cruz dropped back in the lineup, and Jake Mangum to be ... somewhere.

The first 15,000 fans through the gate will receive a replica 1986 Mets World Championship Ring.  I always thought the authentic versions of those rings were kind of tacky, even by 1980s standards, but whatever. They never ask me.

 

[Centerfield]

I hate the day after Opening Day. It’s the longest day of the year. 
 

better after a win though. 

[Fman99]

I get the notion of leaving an open day on the calendar and in the schedule to accommodate for potential inclement weather, but I will say that waiting until Saturday for the next Mets game is some crap #hottake

[Lefty Specialist]

Whither the Shih-Tzu?

 

[whippoorwill]

Yeah how about the doggy?

[Edgy MD]

8 minutes ago, whippoorwill said:

Yeah how about the doggy?

 

13 minutes ago, Lefty Specialist said:

Whither the Shih-Tzu?

 

Alas, I will keep on the lookout.  The person who spotted it was unable to pursue, as she had kids in her car.  More than one person said they've seen the dog haunting that park.

A big ass-ugly road with fast moving vehicles cuts through that park though.

My neighbor rescued a dog from the cemetery behind my house two days ago, and we may be adopting that one, but I may have to pay the universe back by finding the shih-tzu.

[Centerfield]

Potential let down game. Between Opening Day and McLean Day. 

[metirish]

LGM , good news ,SNY has the game 

[metsmarathon]

Expecting a clean outing from Peterson. Show us what you’re capable of. 
 

looking forward for the metsies to put the ball into the sun some more, too. Little bit lower angle today so ya gotta smash those line drives!

[Brandon Glick]

[MFS62]

Speaking of the second game, the Syracuse Mets play their second game today (they won the opener).

I just checked. Their scheduled starter is TBA!!

GAAAAAAAA! 

It's the second freaking game of the season. How can they not know??? They had all of spring training to set up the rotation.

They did that same crap all last year, and it is irritating.

Strongly worded letter to follow.

Later

 

OE: I checked at 3:52PM. The starter will be J. Suarez. 

[whippoorwill]

O’Neil Cruz benched today

[Centerfield]

4 hours ago, metsmarathon said:

Expecting a clean outing from Peterson. Show us what you’re capable of. 
 

Which David Peterson we get in 2026 is huge for this team.  

[Edgy MD]

31 minutes ago, whippoorwill said:

O’Neil Cruz benched today

O'Neil's presence against lefties had been a declining thing anyhow, and very much up in the air at the start of the season.

On the other hand, the Pirates lineup does have a high Nick factor, which you always have to watch out for.

# PITTSBURGH POS. # NEW YORK POS. 1 Jared Triolo (R) ss 1 Francisco Lindor (S) ss 2 Ryan O'Hearn (L) 1b 2 Juan Soto (L) lf 3 Bryan Reynolds (S) lf 3 Bo Bichette (R) 3b 4 Marcell Ozuna (R) dh 4 Jorge Polanco (S) 1b 5 Nick Gonzales (R) 3b 5 Luis Robert, Jr. (R) cf 6 Brandon Lowe (L) 2b 6 Brett Baty (L) dh 7 Nick York (R) rf 7 Marcus Semien (R) 2b 8 Joey Bart (R) c 8 Carson Benge (L) rf 9 Jake Mangum (S) cf 9 Francisco Alvarez (R) c       Mitch Keller (R) sp   David Peterson (L) sp

[Centerfield]

We seem to have an every day lineup. 

[MFS62]

29 minutes ago, Centerfield said:

We seem to have an every day lineup. 

If this is anything like last year, that will be until a player gets hot for a few games. Then, the manager will replace him.

Later

[Edgy MD]

They will probably break out Vientos against lefties.

[Fman99]

Home and happy to be watching on SNY.  I love a 4 PM start time on the weekends.

Solid first inning for Dee-Peetey

[Lefty Specialist]

Petey looking on point so far.

[Edgy MD]

Polanco wearing some sexy multi-tone eyeblack to match the city connect jersey.

[Edgy MD]

I do not remember ever seeing a third-throw-over balk.

I'm sure I have, but I don't recall it.

[metirish]

Nice to see Hojo shilling for Car Shield 

[Edgy MD]

My in-game box score says

Disengagement Violations: Keller, M.

It reads like he got himself in trouble for being anti-social.

This is the moment here, with Ozuna up with two outs and the bags loaded.

[Edgy MD]

Ends the threat on a popup, but it was chilling seeing Polanco fighting the wind on that one.

[metirish]

Benge looking a little anxious up there 

[Edgy MD]

1 minute ago, metirish said:

Benge looking a little anxious up there 

That was some terrific pitching by Keller there, thought — hammering him up and in.

[Fman99]

Ol DP done after 5 1/3.  Bit of a pickle here.  It'd be cool if the Mets could score a run or runs 

[Fman99]

Proper work done there.  In Huascar we trust 

[whippoorwill]

Why do they keep booing Ozuna?

[Edgy MD]

2 minutes ago, whippoorwill said:

Why do they keep booing Ozuna?

Ozuna has a long track record as a Mets in-division villain.

These cold folks need some runs.