One Day at a Time

Game 1 - Mets

Mets 7, Marlins 2

Record: 1-0

Though I haven't bothered to weigh in and say so very much, the 2008 season looks altogether brighter for the Mets thanks to one big-market, big-dollar splash; kicking off said season against the Dollar Tree Marlins hammered home those descriptors rather emphatically. Whatever little bit of good Florida managed to do last year (help knock off the Mets' postseason chances, for one), they'll be doing even less of it this year. Staff ace Mark Hendrickson . . . okay, I'll stop there.

Obviously yesterday's opener was less about how depleted the thimble that is the Florida Marlins franchise is and much more about Johan Santana. He threw a quality start and looked good doing it, that's for sure. We expect much more out of him, and we're thrilled to have him. I'd gush more about how nice it is to have such a boon on the club, but everybody's already done that in the last 24 hours.

What was even nicer to see, maybe, was a rock-solid bullpen. And Angel "Oxymoron" Pagan replacing the Vatican relic in LF nicely. And Luis Castillo moving not quite as gingerly. And Ryan Church not looking completely awful. These are elements we'll have to remain wait-and-see on for a while, but it was pleasing to the eye to see their first foot a good one.

Just one game. Just one win. We gotta play 'em one day at a time. I'm just happy to be back here at MLC and hope I can help the ballclub. I just wanta give it my best shot and, Good Lord willing, things'll work out.

Game on.