Homer Happy for a Day

When I woke up on Saturday, the game against the Nationals was already about a half hour in. The trendy topic of note on #MetsTwitter was how awful of a decision it was by Mickey Callaway to hit JD Davis, the Mets' new infielder brought in from Houston, in the four spot. He was after Robinson Cano but ahead of both Wilson Ramos and Michael Conforto. It did seem rather perplexing, but with southpaw Patrick Corbin on the mound for the Nats, the logic was that JD Davis hits lefties well. It didn't stop a solid amount of tweets in my feed to be the latest outrage trend sweeping Mets nation. And everybody was thrilled to eat their words.

Photo: Andy Marlin - USA Today Sports
Photo via northjersey.com

JD Davis not only hit the first Citi Field home run of the year for the Mets, it was the first run of the young season at home for the team, and the hardest hit homer in the Major Leagues so far this year according to statcast. He wasn't done, hitting another one to make it 2-1 after the Nationals tied it, and in the same inning that Michael Conforto crushed a goner as well.

Of concern, however, is and was the bullpen, who could not hold the lead for Steven Matz (who had an uneven 5 innings but kept the runs off the board.) Both Robert Gsellman and Jeurys Familia struggled mightily, the latter giving the lead over to the Nationals in the 8th inning. The homer brigade wasn't over, however, as Pete Alonso crushed a solo shot to center in the bottom half with Robinson Cano following to tie the game with a no-doubt-about-it bridge blast that was his first big moment in front of the hometown fans, and the Citi went nuts. Up until that point, the Mets had 4 homers to their credit, more than doubling that number with 5 yesterday. I don't think it was a coincidence that on the first day of the season temperatures soared close to 70 that the ball flew a little easier out of the offensive-soul-sucking Citi Field ballpark. Going from the sun of St. Lucie to the early spring chill is probably a big reason why it is being reported that the cold bug has been going around the clubhouse, but those affects were not felt by the team yesterday.

What was so nice about this game was how the offensive contributions were spread around, including the game-winning opposite field single by Keon Broxton, another Brodie Van Wagenen complimentary pick up from the offseason. Now, if only we can figure out what is wrong with the prolifically striking out Brandon Nimmo...

It's still so early, and whether it's 1978 or 2012 or 2018, we all know how important it is to take an early hot start with a grain of salt. Still, I like what I see (though the bullpen DOES need to Tighten Up like Archie Bell and the Drells...)and with the roster turning over the way it has as well as it being just the first few games of the Brodie Effect, it was important for the Mets to look as good as they have. They've just got to sustain it past the 13th game of the season this time.

BEAT. DEM. NATS. UP.

LET'S. GO. METS.