Opening Day

[Guest AG/DC]

Do you prefer the top-starter or the longest-tenured veteran if he's the close-to-the-top starter.

[soupcan]

I prefer the 29 year-old, in-his-prime, currently-best-pitcher-in baseball to the still-recovering-from shoulder-surgery, 36 and a half year-old.

That being said, I wouldn't have an issue with Pedro getting the start.

[metirish]

I voted Johan even though my heart wanted to vote Pedro, would not take issue either way.

[Guest sharpie]

I think it's gotta be Johan. It's not like Pedro is Seaver and had his best moments as a Met.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I'm the lone vote (so far) for Pedro.

Gotta give the veteran his props. If it was Game 1 of the playoffs, that would be a different matter. But whether Santana starts Game 1 or Game 2 of the regular season won't have any noticable impact on the way the season goes for the Mets.

It would be nice if it worked out that Pedro started the season opener, and Santana the home opener. I haven't looked at the schedule with this in mind, so I don't know how likely this is.

[Guest AG/DC]

Funny, I was going for Pedro, and my heart said Pedro, and my finger clicked Johan.

Don't let me near a voting booth.

[Guest themetfairy]

Why don't we let them pitch an inning or two of spring training before we make any final decisions?

There's also the auxiliary question of who pitches Opening Day, as opposed to the following week's Home Opener.

[Gwreck]

I project that Santana will get the ball on opening day, 3/31 at Florida. The way the schedule lines up, if Pedro pitches game #3, he will get the ball on 4/8, the home opener.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

I have no major issue with either of them making the opening day start. Santana was brought in to be the ace of the staff and as such he should pitch the season opener. In a perfect world, Pedro would then pitch the home opener at Shea.

[Willets Point]

Ollie!

[Guest vtmet]

Either one would be a great choice, but I'm voting Pedro for a few reasons...

Pedro is 10-1 in day games as a Met (I think that his only rocky day games as a Met came early in '05 when he was still unsure of NL hitters);
Santana is equally menacing to hitters whether it's day/night, but Pedro has been better during the day;

We need Pedro to feel important this season...having him pitch like "Pedro" but as a #2 starter compliments Santana well...Santana is the ace, but let Pedro be King for the day...plus if Pedro has a good year, it would be nice to have him wanted to finish out his career as a Met...

Just like Pedro had added pressure in '05 coming over from the AL without knowing the NL hitters/parks as well (he did struggle in his first start), there will be the same element of newness/pressure for Santana...give him a game to study Pedro, the hitters and a NL park to get adjusted before having to go out there and be the ace...

[metirish]

Looks like Pedro's agent is angling for an extension at some point.

] �As long as he�s able to pitch without the discomfort and the pain, he�s going to want to play for a long time,� Cuza said. �He enjoys the game.�

[nymr83]

Pedro- if you don't throw him on day one he may already be injured by the time day two rolls around.

[Benjamin Grimm]

metirish wrote: Looks like Pedro's agent is angling for an extension at some point. ] �As long as he�s able to pitch without the discomfort and the pain, he�s going to want to play for a long time,� Cuza said. �He enjoys the game.�

I do hope Pedro comes back to the Mets in 2009. That is, assuming he's healthy and productive in 2008. Before the Mets make any plans for him for beyond this year, they need to let a good part of 2008 play out.

[Elster88]

themetfairy wrote: Why don't we let them pitch an inning or two of spring training before we make any final decisions?

If you don't feel comfortable choosing until you see some ST that's your prerogative of course.

Personally, I don't need to see either of them in ST to make the call that Johann should be the Opening Day starter. I don't think Pedro gives a crap considering he wasn't the OD starter in his first year on the team. Nor does he have a long history with the Mets that has earned him any favoritism.

The question of the home opener is largely irrelevant in my mind. Pedro will get his love from the home crowd whether it's the first, second, third, or whatever home game.

Am I spelling Johann wronng?

[Elster88]

vtmet wrote: give him a game to study Pedro, the hitters and a NL park to get adjusted before having to go out there and be the ace...

I don't see how a game of watching helps.

[G-Fafif]

Pedro. MUCH respeck, yo.

Check back in October if there's another first game that requires a starter, however.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Elster88 wrote: I don't think Pedro gives a crap considering he wasn't the OD starter in his first year on the team.

Actually, he was. That was the game in Cincinnati where Looper gave up a game-winning homer. Glavine was the Opening Day starter in 2006 and 2007, but it was Pedro in 2005.

Elster88 wrote: Am I spelling Johann wronng?

It's Johan, not Johann. (Though I've seen it both ways.)