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Written by Mark Healey
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Tuesday, 01 April 2008 |
Yes, Johan Santana pitched well in his debut in orange and blue (and
black), and David Wright's three-run double capped a six-run fourth to
win the season opener, 7-2. However, rather than get caught up in Opening Day hoopla, there
was one thing that begged for analysis. In the first inning, Luis
Castillo was on first base after drawing walk following Jose Reyes' three-pitch
strikeout. With two outs, Carlos Beltran blooped a fly ball to that fell for a double that should have scored Castillo easily, seeing as one is taught in
Little League to "bust it" when there are two outs.
Castillo did not. score, and didn't really run very hard at all when
the ball was first hit, and only turned it on when the ball was clearly
dropped. That lost run run didn't figure in the final tally, but given that there are still many fans who hear the words "bored baseball" ringing in their ears, it wasn't the way to be playing ball in the first inning of a new season, especially on the heels of last year.
Mett Cerrone of Metsblog.com reported that "...following the game, (Mets manager) Willie Randolph ( photo by Bill Menzel) explained to reporters that Castillo is still ‘a little banged up,’ and so he is not running at 100 percent, which is why he stopped at third."
This, of course, made the New York media contigent continue to ask similar questions.
According to Tim Reynolds from the Associated Press, Randolph seemed seemed "baffled" by the lengthy postgame line of questioning regarding Castillo, so he tried joking about it.
"I’ll chastise him later," Randolph said, tongue firmly in cheek. "I’ll get on him. I’ll get the whip and I’ll beat him, I’ll beat him later, all right? Wow, what about Santana?"
Castillo didn't seemed too "banged up" when he stole second base just two innings later. And while Randolph may be feeling otherwise (and based on the way he played the game, it should bother him), it's understandable why he wouldn't let anyone know what goes on in his clubhouse.
But as Mets fan are well aware, those "no big deal" moments can multiply and bite one in the keister.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 01 April 2008 )
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