A touching ceremony that honored the Mets’ greatest player of all time. A raucous crowd on its feet and applauding during manager and player introductions for a club that revamped its roster, significantly increased its payroll and made itself a true contender. A ferocious starting pitcher stepping on the Diamondbacks’ necks. A powerful Mets lineup refusing to lie down, even against a noncompetitive team.
One of the most anticipated Mets home openers in franchise history lived up to the hype.
The Mets beat the Diamondbacks, 10-3, on Friday afternoon at CIti Field surrounded by a sellout crowd of 43,820. Fans roared as Francisco Lindor, Robinson Cano, Starling Marte, and Lindor again, belted home run after home run. Despite the onslaught of runs and double-digit hits, it wasn’t enough. Mets fans broke out in chants and cried out for more. The crowd remained on its feet well after the home run parade settled down.
“You want to go out and do everything you can for the fans,” Cano said. “They show you the love and the support, and you want to get a W.”
Before Lindor’s first home run in the fifth inning Friday, Marte had reached base in front of him. Marte, who is always looking to steal a base, said he believes the batter at the plate benefits from him being on base because the pitcher is paying close attention to Marte and, as a result, dealing more fastballs. Lindor said he also benefits from watching Marte’s at-bats from the on-deck circle, as it helps him get locked in.
It is evident, both from Lindor’s plate results and his attitude, that the shortstop has put last year’s disappointing year behind him. Lindor’s slow start upon arriving in Queens (he hit .182 with one home run in April) just days after he signed a massive 10-year, $341 million contract was met with incessant booing from the home crowd. Friday’s reaction from Mets diehards to Lindor’s at-bats was the complete opposite, in every way. It helped that he hit two home runs from both sides of the plate.
“It felt amazing to be welcomed,” Lindor said. “This is one of the greatest fan bases out there. It felt great to be able to hear my home crowd cheering me on and cheering the rest of the guys. It was special. I thank them for coming out today.”
Showalter added on Lindor’s mentality this year: “You can tell he’s comfortable with the challenge of being the shortstop for the New York Mets, and not having to be everything to everybody, every day, every second. He’s got some people here that cheer the way he plays the game.”
This is after all, a Mets team with limitless expectations.
Even without leadoff hitter Brandon Nimmo and on-base chief Mark Canha, who were both placed on the COVID-19 injured list, the Mets lineup did not provide breathing room. And, despite Jacob deGrom’s shoulder injury, the Mets rotation still features the best ERA (1.32) in the major leagues. New Mets right-hander Chris Bassitt is a significant reason the rotation has managed to hold its own.
Bassitt, pitching at Citi Field for the first time in his eight-year career, allowed just two hits in six innings to the Diamondbacks to cap his second start of the year. Bassitt struck out six batters across 98 pitches, lowering his ERA to 0.75 on the young season. Mets fans sitting behind the dugout, and others scattered around Citi Field, gave Bassitt a standing ovation as he walked off the mound after the sixth.
“I try to tune it out no matter what,” said Bassitt of the fan reaction. “The emotion of all that – just try to stay even-keeled … and not make the moment bigger than it should be.”
Fans who attended pregame ceremonies and stayed for the entirety of the three-hour, 25-minute matchup will have no voice by the end of it.
The Mets organization began the afternoon by honoring Tom Seaver, at last, with a 3,200-pound two-time life-size statue of the Franchise being unveiled at the front of the stadium. The ceremony was followed by player introductions for the home opener, where Max Scherzer and deGrom won for loudest ovations. Mets manager Buck Showalter was not far behind in terms of crowd noise, as the skipper has led the team to a 6-2 record to begin the year.
Showalter has maintained throughout his still-new tenure as Mets manager that he has not allowed the emotions to get to him. Even on a day like the home opener, when fans were loudly making their appreciation for Showalter known, he went about his afternoon, business as usual. He clapped hands with his players, reminded them to wash their hands, presented the lineup card to the umpires, and assumed his usual position on the top step of the dugout.
While Showalter may not be one for sentimentality, the gravity of a sold-out crowd arriving hours before first pitch and packing the stadium to see the win-now Mets’ star-studded roster was not lost on the manager.
“This is an electric place when you have days like this,” said Showalter. “There’s a great sense of urgency with our fans. When you’re frustrated, they’re waiting to embrace you – more than any place you’ll play. It’s up to you to give them something to embrace you about. Today our guys did.”
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