NewsPelfrey tabbed for Citi Field opener
New York (3-3) vs. San Diego (4-2), Monday, 7:10 p.m. ET
By Anthony DiComo / MLB.com
04/12/09 3:40 PM ET
MIAMI -- Like the pitcher that he is, Mike Pelfrey clearly remembers one thing about Citi Field from his brief exposure to it last week. "There's a 415 written out there on the wall," Pelfrey said, referring to the fence in right-center field. "I might as well just throw the ball down the middle and let them hit it. They're going to have to hit it twice to get it out of there." |
Pelfrey doesn't know yet how the mound will feel, because he didn't pitch on it during either of the Mets' two Spring Training games against the Red Sox. But once he figures it out, he can report back to his teammates. Pelfrey will become the first player to pitch in a regular-season game at Citi Field, starting the team's home opener Monday evening against the Padres.
"It's going to be a crazy atmosphere with the fans," Pelfrey said. "I'm going to go into it like it's going to be another start, but the reality of it is it's the opening of Citi Field. It's going to be an awesome time." Awesome, perhaps, in the traditional sense: awe-inspiring. The Mets have seen Citi Field before, but never like this -- with a fan base cheering for a game that counts, where the home-field advantages are real and the implications are, too. The things the Mets learned last weekend, they can now put to use. Perhaps the most important of those things are the outfield quirks, which admittedly won't affect Pelfrey as much as they will Daniel Murphy, Carlos Beltran and Ryan Church, manager Jerry Manuel's projected starting outfield for Monday's game. Still learning the left field position to begin with, Murphy dropped a routine fly ball in Sunday's series finale in Florida. Put one of the circuit's oddest outfield fences behind him, and Murphy's flaws could become an issue. Then again, Murphy and the rest of the Mets' outfielders will have an advantage over the Padres, who have never been inside Citi Field. The Mets may not be able to navigate the outfield with their eyes closed, but they have seen it. The Padres have not. And nearly as great of a home-field advantage may come above the outfield fence, where a sellout crowd is expected to make Citi Field as loud as Shea Stadium was. "Citi Field seems a lot more intimate," third baseman David Wright said. "The fans are right on top of you and everybody knows when they get into a game, they voice their pleasure or displeasure. I think it's going to be good for us, because it is an event for us. The fans are going to be closer, and it will give us that much more of an advantage." Playing in front of that crowd, for Pelfrey, is an honor. Not to mention that to be the first Met to pitch in a regular season game at Citi Field is a testament to Pelfrey's place in the franchise -- he, along with Johan Santana, is expected to remain a crucial part of this starting rotation for years to come. Needless to say, Pelfrey is rather excited to help christen his new home. "I've never been part of the playoffs, but I'd imagine it's going to be like a playoff atmosphere with all the fans and everything and all of the excitement," Pelfrey said. "We'll see. I think I'll pretty much be able to handle my emotions and stuff like that, and just make it another game." Which, pomp aside, it is. The Mets are battling in what appears to be a vastly improved division. They won only three of six games on their season-opening road trip to Cincinnati and Miami, dropping three of their final four. Now, they'll turn their sights to the Padres, a team off to a fine start. Their young starting pitcher, Walter Silva, also wants to become the first pitcher to win at Citi Field. And the Mets want to ensure that he does not. "I'm looking forward to getting home," Manuel said. "I love the ballpark. It's a beautiful ballpark. I like the spirit of our team right now, how we fought, how we played in Cincinnati, I think we've got some good things going, I really do. I really feel good about it." Pitching matchupNYM: RHP Mike Pelfrey (1-0, 7.20 ERA)
Pelfrey is to throw the first regular-season pitch in the history of Citi Field. That he enters this historic start with a winning record is, he concedes, a matter of good fortune rather than good pitching. He succeeded against the Reds on Wednesday despite a 44-pitch first inning and allowing four walks, five hits and four runs in five innings. Pelfrey's pitch count was at 104, so at least his stamina was enhanced. His lone career victory against the Padres -- he has opposed them twice -- came last August at Shea Stadium. Solo home runs by Adrian Gonzalez and Kevin Kouzmanoff produced the runs against him. Jody Gerut has four hits in seven career at-bats against Pelfrey. SD: RHP Walter Silva (0-0, 3.60 ERA)
Silva's Major League debut on Wednesday at PETCO Park against the Dodgers drew mixed reviews. The 32-year-old allowed two runs on five hits over five innings. He walked four, including Dodgers pitcher Chad Billingsley twice (yes, two walks to the pitcher), though he did manage to get nine groundball outs. The Padres would like to see Silva be more economical with his pitches as he threw 95 in five innings in his debut. Tidbits
Dwight Gooden was on hand at Dolphin Stadium to watch Sunday's game against the Marlins. Gooden, who appeared at the last game at Shea after years away from the team, will be on hand for Monday's opener, though he is not a part of the official pregame ceremonies. ... Former Mets Rusty Staub, John Franco, Mike Piazza, Tom Seaver and announcer Ralph Kiner will all take part in the pregame festivities. ... The Mets are 30-17 all-time in home openers, including 30-15 at Shea Stadium. ... The eight active Padres who have faced Pelfrey are a combined .355 against him. ... In striking out 10 of the first 19 batters he faced Sunday, Santana recorded the 44th career double-digit strikeout game of his career and his fifth with the Mets. Tickets
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• Tuesday: Off-day
• Wednesday: Mets (Oliver Perez, 0-1, 16.62) vs. Padres (Kevin Correia, 0-0, 4.50), 7:10 p.m. ET
• Thursday: Mets (John Maine, 0-0, 3.60) vs. Padres (Jake Peavy, 1-1, 3.52), 7:10 p.m. ET
Anthony DiComo is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.
