Opening Day just didn’t look the same to me this year. That could be because I was in Cincinnati.
Opening Day as you may know used to be a big deal in the Queen City, where they honored longevity by giving the Reds the first crack at starting each new season. That tradition went away some time ago but it was still a festive occasion, particularly outside the stadium before the game started. Once it did, all the energy vanished and the Reds went down easy.
I contemplated wearing my Tom Seaver Mets jersey to honor the former Cincinnati great but it wasn’t about me. The Reds’ starter, Andrew Abbott, wore 41 instead.
We sat just to the 3rd base side of the famous notch or whatever its called, in the 400s. It was my first tip to that stadium and will remark the stands along the first base side of the notch are laid out almost exactly like Citi Field. They have a dumb steamboat in the outfield where we have a fake bridge, and we have more outfield seating overall. On the third base side of the notch the 400 section is twice is deep and the 500 has fewer rows.
The game, a rematch of the 1975 World Series, went to Boston 3-0.
We were getting lunch outside the stadium when we learned that the Mets had somehow knocked Paul Skenes out of the box in the first inning. I was certain that was going to be a typical low scoring opening day like 3-0, 301, or 2-1 for either team but baseball can surprise you.
As noted Carson Benge made the team and changed his uni No. to 3; Richard Lovelady survived the relief pitching hunger games and got a new number, 55. Here’s to home games in 2026.
Instead there’s Max Kranick, who if you asked me seemed to a suspect for previous Mets experience but in fact never arrived last year despite all the Sulsers, Jays and Adcocks they ran through here. Kranick wears 32.
I think the word that best describes my mindset about this team is “curious.” It’s not necessarily excited or dreading. I mean they have to go out there and perform and hopefully they are ready, even if they didn’t look like it when I checked in last. It would be interesting had David Stearns communicated his gameplan on Signal with a journalist eavesdropping. But we have to take starting Clay Holmes on Opening Day as a solid move on faith.
There’s rain in the forecast on Thursday and high winds expected on Friday, so if you’re crazy enough to consider Citi Field in March, please dress accordingly. (Oh, I see Thursday has been called already).
Joining the Mets for the first time will be Zack Short in 21 (thanks guys for the updates), Harrison Bader (44), Joey Wendle (13), JD Martinez (28), and Tyrone Taylor (15). New pitchers: Jake Deikman (30); Adrian Houser (35); Jorge Lopez (52); Sean Manaea (59); Yohan Ramirez (46); Luis Severino (40); amd Michael Tonkin (51).
New staff: Carlos Mendoza (64); John Gibbons (68); Antoan Richardson (66); Mike Sarbaugh (88); and Jose Rosado (67). Sarbaugh was in 64 and took 88 when Mendoza moved up for JD Martinez.
So there it is. Carlos Mendoza today said he’d give up the No. 28 that reminded him of fleeting moments of youthful glory as a ballplayer so that JD Martinez will feel comfortable in his new home. Mendoza is switching to 64, which I fear is a little too undignified for a big-league manager. It also means third-base coach Mike Sarbaugh will need to find another number. 50 is theoretically available as its Phil Bickford whose been designated for assignment by the Mets to make room for Martinez on the 40.
Belated opening day greetings and welcoming nine new guys to the roster this year: John Curtiss (46); Tim Locastro (26); Omar Narvaez (2); Tommy Pham (28); Brooks Raley (25); and David Robertson (30). We’re still waiting to see Dennis Santana (
As exciting as it would have been I had a hard time seeing how Brett Baty or Mark Vientos would have fit on the Mets’ veteran-soaked roster. The Mets cut both guys yesterday and sent ’em to the minors where they’ll await injures or inconsistency in the third-base or DH positions.
Catching up on the news, Dennis Santana, who was acquired from Minnesota after Edwin Diaz went down, is wearing No. 65 in camp, taking the number formerly belonging to Rule 5 acquire Zach Greene, who was returned to sender. Former top draft pick Dylan Bundy was signed to a minor league contract the other day, giving depth now that Jose Quintana is out. I think we’d have been better off just resigning Taijuan Walker.
Reports say Tommy Hunter has made the roster, but that’s an easier thing to do now that Diaz is out. Stephen Nogosek has an edge for a bullpen spot due to his veing out of options. John Curtiss has pitched well enough to make the squad, and Brooks Raley could made the opening day roster if his injuries heal in time. Then there’s new closer David Robertson, and from last year’s group Drew Smith and Adam Ottavino.
The Mets officially added non-roster arrivals Travis Jankowski and Chasen Shreve to the 40-man and active roster, which will have 28 guys for the first few weeks. The shaggy Jankowski will wear 16 and Shreve, who was 
Other staff– Manager Buck Showalter in 11; Bench coach Glenn Sherlock returns to the No. 53 he wore as a Mets coach in 2019; Wayne Kirby, who wore No. 11 as a Mets player in 1998, will be sporting No. 54 as the portly first base coach; new hitting coach Eric Chavez will wear 51; and third-base coach Joey Cora will wear 56.
We’re piecing the numerical roster together as guys appear and the job would have been easier and less stressful had our overmatched young manager Luis Rojas not made a complete disaster out of last night’s opener, showing off his new team instead of trying to win.