The Mets’ Good Start, With Witnesses

It’s been quite the couple of days, hasn’t it? Only nine games into the shiny, new season and Mets fans have already seen a month’s worth of action, seems like. A little over a week ago came the surprise series win over the Nationals. Then came the equally surprising 1-2 stumble against the Braves in Atlanta. In the first two games of that series, fans’ worst fears were spotlighted: yes, strong starting pitching was evident, but a pop-gun offense and inept defense conspired to torpedo some of the goodwill that had been carried down from the Capitol. Only the calming, Buddha-like presence of Bartolo Colon salvaged the last game of the Atlanta series, and the Mets finally came home on somewhat of a high, yes, but also a bit on edge. Laying an egg in the home opener could prove them – in the words of manager Casey Stengel, after the team’s second opener ever – “a fraud again!” Turns out, we needn’t have worried.

With the sky a brilliant blue and the temperatures a better-than-balmy 72, forty-plus thousand mostly Mets fans gathered in the Citi Field parking lots. Early. Your intrepid columnist arrived shortly after 10:00 AM for a 1:05 PM start. The aroma of Italian sausage and spilled beer permeated the nostrils. The warm air, the sights, sounds, smells and conviviality reminded one of a late September tilt at the Meadowlands between the Giants and Eagles from back in the day: this was a crowd that was dead serious about its tailgating. The sun was out, the drinks were flowing, the burgers, hot dogs and guacamole were plentiful, and our hosts even managed to bring something special with which to toast the new year: a bottle of GTS cabernet. Yes, we had Tom Seaver’s wine and loved every drop.

Having heard horror stories about endless lines to get into the park, it was decided to head to the entrance at 11:45 or so. The line was so long at the entrance, though, that seats were arrived at by 11:52 – including a restroom stop. The rumors of metal detectors were greatly exaggerated. The usual Opening Day festivities followed after about forty minutes. Floral horseshoes, helicopter flyovers, an enormous American flag and tributes to fallen police officers carried us through the Anthem, up to Jacob deGrom – our very own Hirsute Hero – taking the mound to phace the Phillies. It was at about this point that the roar started. It was a relatively unfamiliar sound, one that had only been heard on a few select occasions at Citi: the night the park officially opened in 2009, Fireworks Night in 2012 vs. these same Phils, the 2013 All-Star Game. All these were also sell-outs, of course, but this was decidedly different. This was a crowd that was here for the Mets and not something else. It wasn’t here to admire its new surroundings, it wasn’t here to get something free, it wasn’t here to get on national TV. The crowd was organic, starting “Let’s Go Mets!” chants without prompting from the scoreboard or PA. And it never stopped roaring, from the first pitch to the last. Post-game, the word on everybody’s lips was “electric.” That’s a pretty apt description. This group definitely plugged in.

deGrom looked slightly sharper than he had in his game 2 loss in DC, but still not in possession of the command he’d shown all last year. Despite the temps and roars, it’s good to remind ourselves that it is still April, after all, and we were only a bare six games into the fresh year: nobody’s at full steam yet, not even Matt Harvey, but more on him later. Even so, deGrom kept the game taut and his stat line was impressive, even if the “eye test” revealed something somewhat lesser. The Phillies could not plate a run, garnering seven singles and one walk during deGrom’s six-and-a-third inning residency. The Mets were somewhat louder against Aaron Harang, having a fourth inning double, sacrifice fly and infield dribbler account for their lone tally through six. Believe it or not, it was enough. They added an insurance run in the eighth, but for most of this roaring bunch, the outcome was a foregone conclusion by the time deGrom made his exit. The outcome over here was a mild sunburn – “Who needs sunscreen in April?” – and a satisfyingly long wait to exit the parking lot.

Usually, they day after is a comedown. This year really is different. Normally, the game following an opener yields a lackluster turnout. Normally. The day after forty-three thousand maniacs screamed themselves hoarse, another thirty-eight thousand and change came out to see Harvey and to continue roaring. In one of the more bizarro games you’ll ever see, the Mets beat the Phils again. That doesn’t even begin to cover it. It started with Harvey, of course, but along the way, we saw two hit Mets, two hit Phillies – including Chase Utley, squarely between the numbers on his back – a phantom catcher’s interference call, a phantom tag/touch at home plate, a long replay delay, a Jeff Francoeur home run and David Wright limping off with a strained hamstring. As if his credentials weren’t already firm, Harvey cemented his position as The Man in New York sports at the moment. As soon as his 96 MPH fastball settled between Utley’s shoulder blades, Harvey – already a demigod to Mets fans – grew wings. His action showed that the Mets were through taking any kind of guff. The roars ratcheted up in volume precipitously, the My Bodyguard moment clear for all who cared to see it. Through all the spills and chills, the Mets ultimately came through with a victory, Harvey’s second in two tries. Almost an afterthought, the next night Jon Niese pitched some gutsy – at times brilliant – ball, sending the Phillies packing.

Yes, the season is very young. The Mets are playing very well. We can only hope to keep roaring.

Follow me on Twitter @CharlieHangley.